The History of Maury County

    Settlement of the land began after the signing of the Dearborne Treaty of 1806, which opened up the Indian lands south of the Duck River. Maury County was created on November 24, 1807. The county is named for Abram Maury, a pioneer surveyor.

    In 1807, a small group of South Carolina Presbyterians arrived in Maury County and established a religious settlement known as the Zion community. The site of Columbia was land granted to Nicholas Long, a North Carolina revolutionary colonel. Passed down by heirs, it eventually sold to John White. One hundred-fifty acres were acquired on the south bank of the Duck River from John White for $500 for the county seat. There was talk of naming the town Commerce, but the name Columbia was finally chosen, honoring Christopher Columbus. Other communities settled in the county are: Mount Pleasant, Spring Hill, Culleoka, Hampshire, Santa Fe, Water Valley, and Williamsport.

   Maury County's early industry centered around the agricultural products of the area, and there were a number of mills and tanneries. Columbia had been a leading mule market for over a century and celebrates that history the first weekend of April each year (Mule Day celebration). The county had one of the state's first newspapers and was part of the railroad system as early as 1859. Approximately 15 turnpikes served the county, most centering in Columbia. Navigation occurred on the Duck River.

    Of the many distinguished family names associated with Maury County history, the best known is that of the Polk family. James Knox Polk was the eleventh President of the United States (1845-1849). His ancestral home, which has been restored, is located in downtown Columbia and is open daily to the public.

    In the years between 1810 and 1860, plantations flourished in Maury County, each with its majestic home. A large number of these were the work of Nathan Vaught, a master craftsman of the era. The Athenaeum Rectory built by Nathan Vaught in 1835 currently serves as headquarters for the Maury County Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA) and is open to the public. Elm Springs, built by Nathan Vaught in 1837, currently serves as headquarters for the Sons of the Confederate Veterans and is also open to the public.

    During the Civil War, Columbia changed hands several times between Confederate and Union occupations. Downtown was the scene of much activity with troops drilling, Federal fortification of the courthouse, and the housing of troops and prisoners. Oaklawn, a few miles south of Spring Hill, served as General Hood's headquarters on the night in 1864 when he let the northern army slip past in the dark, resulting in the disastrous Battle of Franklin. Rippavilla Plantation was used as a headquarters by both Union and Confederate generals. Part of the Battle of Spring Hill was fought on the plantation. Rippavilla is open to the public.

    The discovery of phosphate in the county before the turn of the century led to a mining boom. In a time when the daily wage was about 50 cents, a man could earn up to $25 a day digging phosphate. Mount Pleasant became the center of the phosphate industry, and through the years, the production of elemental phosphorus has brought wide industrialization of the county and a strong economy. Today, you can rediscover the heritage of the phosphate era by visiting the Phosphate Museum in Mount Pleasant. The Mt. Pleasant town square is a step back in time.

    In the mid-1980's, Maury County's economic future was shaped by the announcement that the nationally sought after Saturn auto plant was coming to northern Maury County. Today, Maury County boasts a diversified economy, a thriving Courthouse Square and downtown area in Columbia. Spring Hill, the northern most city in Maury County, is one of the fastest growing cities in the State. While the citizens of Maury County look forward, the past is preserved and respected.

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