Local History
Our Distinct Place in Tennessee History
A County of Firsts
Lawrence County's history begins with Chickasaw and Cherokee lands, officially formed in 1817 and named for War of 1812 hero Captain James Lawrence, with early settlement by frontiersman David Crockett. Its history includes unique aspects like being the birthplace of a new genre of Southern Gospel music, boasting one of the first radio stations in the state of Tennessee, and a unique women's suffrage vote that preceded the 19th Amendment by over a year, while also featuring Civil War significance and historic ironworks.
The Birth of Lawrence County
Lawrence County was created by an act of the Tennessee Legislature on October 21, 1817 from lands ceded to the United States government by the Chickasaw Nation. Lawrenceburg, the county seat, was established in 1819. The county and the county seat were both named in honor of Captain James Lawrence, who was at that time a household name for his heroic death in the War of 1812.
Crockett’s Legacy
Among our county's founders was the legendary frontiersman David Crockett, an early settler of the area who claimed "I became so well pleased with the country about there, that I resolved to settle in it." He served as one of Lawrence County's first justices of the peace, the first colonel of the county's militia, one of the founding commissioners of Lawrenceburg, and one of the county's first representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.
Enduring History
Although Union and Confederate troops clashed in Lawrenceburg during the Civil War in 1864, our courthouse escaped destruction, and Lawrence County has never suffered a major courthouse fire. As a result, most of our county's records are largely intact, and a great number of them are available to you in our Lawrence County Room in the form of microfilm, books, and online databases.
Building Up
Early manufacturing was slow-growing because there was no efficient way to move products to market. That changed in 1888 with the arrival of the Columbia, Lawrenceburg & Florence Railroad, which opened access to iron ore deposits in southern Lawrence County and sparked the rise of towns such as West Point and Iron City. The area also became attractive to visitors, with Summertown in particular once boasting as many as eight hotels.
