Located just south of Union City, Rives was originally known as Troy Station.

Settlers from South Carolina first came to the area in the 1820's and by the 1850's the town was flourishing because of the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.

Rives has a rich railroad history and at one time the town had several hotels to serve the passenger trains that traveled the area.

Law enforcement in the city is the responsibility of the Obion County Sheriff's Office, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), all land.

Tennessee State Route 216 passes straight through the center of Rives.