Executive producer Josh Schwartz compared the show's tone to Felicity, Everwood, and Gilmore Girls when describing the series.

Hart of Dixie marked the second time executive producer Josh Schwartz and star Rachel Bilson worked together, after previously collaborating on the Fox teen drama The O.C., which Schwartz created.

Nancy Travis left the series shortly after it began due to her commitments to the Fox sitcom Last Man Standing, and her character was written out after just the first two episodes.

Kaitlyn Black, who played Annabeth Nass, started as a recurring character in seasons one and two before being upgraded to series regular status for season three.

The show's first season received mixed reviews, scoring only 43 out of 100 on Metacritic, and TV Times magazine gave it its lowest score of the 2011–2012 season at just 12 out of 100.

Multiple critics, including those from TVGuide.com and USA Today, noted that the show risked being offensive to Southern audiences due to its portrayal of the South.

The series was renewed for a full 22-episode season shortly after its premiere, with CW president Mark Pedowitz citing confidence in the creative strength of the network's dramas.