History of Murfreesboro

Some of the information for this blog is from the Murfreesboro city site.

In 1811, the Tennessee State Legislature appointed a committee to select a new site for the Rutherford County seat. The site eventually chosen was 60 acres of land belonging to Captain William Lytle.

Naming of Murfreesboro
The General Assembly named the new town Cannonsburgh, honoring Newton Cannon, a young politician in Williamson County, but upon Captain Lytle's request, changed the name to Murfreesboro one month later. The naming was in memory of Lytle's friend, Colonel Hardy Murfree. In 1817, Murfreesboro was recognized as an official city by the State Legislature and, in 1818, was named the capital of Tennessee because of its central location. However, Nashville regained the title as the state capital in 1826.

The Early Years
In the early years of Murfreesboro, it was mainly an agricultural community, with corn, cotton, and tobacco being the main crops. By 1853, the Murfreesboro area was home to three colleges and several academies, prompting it to be called the "Athens of Tennessee" by a visiting religious reporter. Although education suffered from the military occupation and the trauma of the Civil War, by the early 1900's it began to regain momentum.

Civil War:

Confederate cavalry threatened Murfreesboro and Fortress Rosecrans in October 1863. Deterred by the fort's strength, the horsemen turned south of town, burned a bridge, and tore up railroad track before moving toward Shelbyville. In late 1864, the Confederates hoped to recapture Tennessee and move into Kentucky. The Battle of Stones River ended in a Union victory when Confederate General Braxton Bragg withdrew on January 3, 1863. Despite heavy losses, the battle marked a key strategic gain for the North and boosted morale after recent setbacks.

Key Factors in the Union Victory:

• Confederate Miscalculations: Bragg's staggered attacks allowed Union forces to maximize artillery effectiveness.
• Rosecrans’s Tenacity: Union General William Rosecrans held firm despite severe losses.
• Bragg’s Retreat: Heavy casualties and failure to break Union lines forced Bragg to withdraw.

Impact of the Battle:

• Strategic Gain: Secured Middle Tennessee and strengthened Union control over Nashville.
• Morale Boost: Provided hope after Fredericksburg and reinforced Lincoln’s resolve for the Emancipation Proclamation.
• Costly Victory: One of the bloodiest battles, requiring Union forces to recover before advancing.

Effect on Murfreesboro: Led to Union military occupation, altering civilian life.

Though costly, the Union victory at Stones River was a turning point and set the stage for future campaigns in Tennessee and the South.

Education
In 1911, Middle Tennessee State Normal School, for the training of teachers, was opened in Murfreesboro, joining Tennessee College for Women, which had opened in 1907. Today, Middle Tennessee State University is the home of 23,000, or more, students and has the highest undergraduate enrollment in the state.

Post World War II
After WWII, Murfreesboro and Rutherford County began to change from an agricultural based economy to industrial and manufacturing. Industrial growth has been steady since that time, contributing to a stable economy and phenomenal growth. In the past decade, Murfreesboro has enjoyed substantial residential and commercial growth. The city's population has increased 53.2% from 44,922 in 1990 to 68,816 in 2000. In 2017, Murfreesboro now has a population of more than 140,000. 

Murfreesboro is one of the fastest-growing cities, for communities over 50,000 in population, in the United States and it's not hard to see why. Murfreesboro provides the quality of life that attracts growth:

• Plentiful Housing
• Excellent Schools
• Employment Opportunities
• Outstanding Services
• Recreational Programs
• Medical Facilities