- The communities of Hickman County are mostly of historical significance now. Today, they mark a few geographical locations where bustling, rural communities stood a few decades ago. A few communities keep some of their traditions alive. Others, like Shady Grove and Pleasantville, provide valuable services like a volunteer fire department. Still other communities are in the process of forming--the north eastern portion of the county is locally called "East" or "East Hickman." East encompasses the old communities of Bon Aqua, Lyles, Wrigley, and the surrounding area. The bulk of the county's population is within the boundaries of the emerging community of "East."
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- Aetna
- Located on Hwy 48 in southern portion of county near the Lewis county line. Spring-fed Piney Creek runs through the area. Was settled after Indian treaty of 1818. Iron furnaces of mid to late 1800’s caused boom time for town. Depression of 1893 idled furnaces, and the furnaces shut down by 1911.
Pioneer families included: Milam, Murray, Wade, Kimmin, Hick, Morrison, Hinson, Walker, Berrymand, McClaren - Anderson Bend
- Named after a pioneer family of Andersons. Colonel Shinn of North Carolina fought in Revolutionary War and was given 2500 acres of land in Tennessee. Robert Anderson born in Buncombe County, NC in 1774 inherited land from Colonel Shinn and built a home on what is now Hwy 50 in 1805. Home of hewed yellow poplar logs still stands. First post office named Bluff Point and was established in 1855. Isaac Perry became first Post Master.
Pioneer families included: McCaleb, Bates, Miller, Young, Smith, Hunt, Baker, Walker, Hooten, Tucker, George, Prince, Stephenson, James, Bingham, Regeon, Henn, and Mobley - Bear Creek
- Located on south side of Duck River between Dean’s Switch and Beaverdam Road. William Shipp killed two bears and injured a third in Shipp’s Bend, and name of area taken from event.
- Beaverdam
- Named after a large beaver dam found on creek by early settlers. Area settled first in 1820’s. The Old Aetna Iron Furnace operated in area. A distillery was located on creek near iron furnace.
Pioneer families included: Wade, Peeler, Milam, Murray, MCLaren, McCollum, Kimmin, Berryman, Tinsley, Morrison, Warren, and Patton. - Beaverdam Springs
- James Arnold settled at springs in 1823. A group of Columbia, TN businessmen purchased land and established the Beaverdam Springs Resort. The mineral springs became famous for their medicinal qualities. Square dances were held each Saturday night. Land later sold to the Presbyterian Church for a camp, now called Na-Co-Me.
Pioneer families include: Arnold, Jones, Frierson, Wooten, Henley, Rainey. - Bernard
- First black high school in county opened 1925. Named Ali Vista View. Was small two-room building built by the Porter brothers. Building town down and another erected 1929. School became a four-year high school 1940. Building burned 1955, and the existing school building erected by county.
- Blue Buck Creek
- Named by a hunter who killed a male deer drinking at creek. The Swan Creek Phosphate Company opened plant about 1908. A nearby post office called Melba served community. Two churches located in community.
Early Settlers Included: John Williams, Robert Willey, Charles and William Wheat, Jared Cotton, Issac Farris, Peter Searcy, Joseph Bond, William Watts, Jack Devore, Alton McCaleb, John Skipper, George Perry, and Spencer Tinsley. - Blue Water
- Named after a stream called "Blue Water." Sam Lancaster settled on land at mouth of creek in 1830. Major McClaren built a mill on creek in 1829. An existing mill structure built by Lonnie Pascall was built in the early 1900's, and it was operated by Bob Fre4nch and son in the 1950's. Blue Water School operated until early 1900's.
Pioneer Families Include: Elkins, French, Durham, Chandler, Sullivan, Lynch, and Taylor. - Bon Aqua
- William Locke Weems discovered Four mineral springs, 1837
Area bordered by Big Spring Creek
He named area Bon Aqua
The springs became a famous health spa
Resort initially consisted of 40 to 50 cottages
Hotel burned 1888
Was replaced by structure with 101 rooms
Thomas Edison once visited hotel
Resort closed in the 1920's - Brushy
- Community lies along Brushy Fork Creek in southern part of county
Area settled early 1800's.
Pioneer Families Included: Banks, Holt, Loveless, Hinson, Breece, and Wiggs. - Coble
- Located 12 miles west of Centerville on Beaverdam Creek
Town of Whitfield was located across creek before Coble
Named for Coble family, one of early pioneers in county
Osco Shepard in early years operated stores in Coble
Shepard worked on bicycles and pulled teeth in his spare time
Thomas Edison came to Coble looking for cobalt deposits, 1906 - Edgewood
- Located about three miles south of Centerville
Runs along both sides of Hwy 50 E for about three miles
City began when Hwy 50 was completed in 1951
Community had been known as the Househollow
Named after the Edgewood Baptist Church in 1961 -
- East Hickman
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- Farmer's Exchange
- J R Sutton became a merchant and first postmaster around 1850
Farmers came from miles around to exchange produce with Sutton
Sutton named the area "Farmer's Exchange"
Timbering became a major industry in early 1900's - Grinders Switch
- Robert Griner, Sr settled in area 1807
Griner moved to Natchez Trace in Lewis County
He established an inn called "Griners Stand"
Area became known as hometown of Minnie Pearl
She grew up across the river in Centerville
The town is being developed into a living museum to Minnie
- Leatherwood
- Early site of:
Hanes Sawmill
Boehms Gristmill
Stagecoach Inn
Smith Cotton Gin
Cayce Blacksmith Shop
Jones Store
Boehms Store
Jones Valley School
The Christian Church
Methodist Church
Brooks, Davie, Hohnson & other grain mills - Little Lot
- Early settlers were mostly pioneers from Maryland
Hugh McCabe settled on Little Lot lands in 1810
McCabe donated one quarter of an acre of land for church and school
Parker Tyler said of the donated land and naming the town
"It's such a damn little lot, we can't give it a big name"
The town was then appropriately named Little Lot
First general store built by Ferdinand B Russell, 1853
Town was scene of many skirmished during Civil War
A devastating tornado hit town killing two in 1902. -
- Lyles
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- Nunnelly
- Established as a mining town, 1882
Named after the Nunnelly Ore Mines
Mines named after owner, Lawson H Nunnelly
Nunnelly came to county from North Carolina, 1810
Charcoal produced in Nunnelly used to fire furnace near Bucksnort - Only
- Village had its beginnings in early 1800's
Was originally named Dreamer
Tom Sutton was one of the early store merchants
When asked price, Tom would reply "only five cents", or "only a dollar"
Customers would refer to the store as the "Only" store
Postmaster Allen Hunt Brown officially changed town name to Only -
- Pinewood
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- Pleasantville
- Located in southern section of county on Hwy 100
William Bradley Cook was first merchant and post master
A large sawmill operated in community, 1890
Pleasant Whitwell taught school and preached in town, 1820
The first marriage between Aaron Edwards and Nancy Moody in 1817 - Shady Grove
- Located on Dunlop Creek, about a mile from the Duck River
Henry Nichols named the town in 1840's
He noted the area was surrounded by a shady grove of trees
Town has two churches- Methodist and Church of Christ
Duck River Post Office located here -
- Wrigley
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