Historical Markers in
Humphreys County, Tennessee

Artillery at Johnsonville Battle of Johnsonville Battle of Johnsonville Building the Upper Redoubt Captain William Robert Anderson Court House Bell Crockett Cemetery Enochs Grist Mill Enochs Mill Forrest Shells the Depot Forrest's Opening Move Fort Hill Fort Hill at Waverly Fort Waverly Garrison Troops Hattie Wyatt Caraway Home Place of Loretta Lynn Hotel Dixieland Humphreys County Humphreys County War Memorial Hurricane Mills Jesse James Johnsonville Lower Redoubt McAdoo House Nashville and Northwestern Railroad Old Johnsonville Old Johnsonville Cemetery Pisgah United Methodist Church Porch-Reed School Reynoldsburg The Final Tally The Horse Corral The Tennessee River in the Civil War The Town of Johnsonville The Turntable The Union Supply Depot United States Colored Troops at Johnsonville Waverly Disaster Welcome to Fort Waverly & The Humphreys County and Civil War Museum Winfrey Cemetery Yellow Bank Trestle
The first known protest against British taxation in America occurred in Tennessee in 1768, more than a decade before the famous Boston Tea Party. A group of settlers in the Watauga Association signed a petition protesting the British government's attempt to impose taxes on them without their consent.
Tennessee random facts
Humphreys County, Tennessee is located in the central part of the state and has a rich and diverse history. The area that is now Humphreys County was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, such as the Chickasaw and Cherokee, who used the land for hunting and fishing.

European settlers began to arrive in the late 18th century, and the county was officially established in 1809. It was named after Parry Wayne Humphreys, a judge and congressman from Tennessee. The early economy of Humphreys County was primarily based on agriculture, with crops such as cotton, tobacco, and corn being grown on the fertile lands along the Tennessee River.

During the American Civil War, Humphreys County was divided, with some residents supporting the Union and others supporting the Confederacy. The county saw several skirmishes and raids, but major battles were not fought in the area. After the war, the economy of Humphreys County struggled, but rebounded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the development of industries such as lumber, mining, and manufacturing.

In the 20th century, agriculture remained an important part of the local economy, with the introduction of soybeans and the growth of the poultry industry. The construction of the Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River in the 1940s also brought economic benefits to the county, as it provided flood control, electricity, and recreational opportunities. Today, Humphreys County continues to thrive as a rural community with a diverse economy, including agriculture, industry, and tourism.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Humphreys County, Tennessee.

  • 1809 - Humphreys County was established on October 19.
  • 1823 - The first county seat was established in Reynoldsburg.
  • 1830 - The county seat was moved to Johnsonville.
  • 1864 - During the Civil War, the Battle of Johnsonville took place in Humphreys County.
  • 1870 - The county seat was moved again to Waverly, where it remains today.
  • 1900s - Agriculture, timber, and coal mining were major industries in the county.
  • 1944 - The Tennessee Valley Authority began construction of Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River, providing electricity and flood control.
  • 1963 - The completion of Interstate 40 through Humphreys County improved transportation and brought growth to the area.
  • 2000s - The county continues to develop and expand, with a focus on tourism and outdoor recreation.