Murfreesboro in Rutherford County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Geographic Center of Tennessee

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 19, 2022

1. Geographic Center of Tennessee Marker

Inscription. The Tennessee Constitutional Convention in 1834 considered where the permanent seat of state government should be located. A delegate from Williamson County argued that for reasons of equity and convenience, the state capital should be as near the geographic center of the state as could be achieved. The Secretary of State was directed to determine the center point. On Friday, May 30, the Secretary employed University of Nashville mathematics professor James Hamilton to make the determination. On Monday, June 2, Hamilton reported that the geographic center of the state "is one mile and a half east of Murfreesborough." The 1834 Convention did not settle on a site, but specified that the 1843 General Assembly "shall within the first week after commencement of the session, designate and fix the Seat of Government."

Relying on the Hamilton report, Rutherford/Murfreesborough promoters and supporters identified an accessible and available large flat rock two miles northeast of Murfreesborough as the central location for the state capitol. Building corners were staked on the large, exposed bedrock. The 1843

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Tennessee General Assembly, however, chose Nashville for the permanent Seat of Government.

Now, an abandoned quarry, the rock that was to be the state capitol is approximately 200 yards due east of this marker.

Erected by the Rutherford County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics.

Location. 35° 51.586′ N, 86° 21.717′ W. Marker is in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in Rutherford County. It is on Old Lascassas Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 307 Old Lascassas Rd, Murfreesboro TN 37130, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in Greater Nashville.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, October 19, 2022

2. Geographic Center of Tennessee Marker

least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Geographic Center of Tennessee (approx. half a mile away); James M. Buchanan (approx. 0.9 miles away); Chris Young (approx. one mile away); Middle Tennessee State Teachers College Training School (approx. 1.2 miles away); Evergreen Cemetery (approx. 1.2 miles away); The Confederate Circle at Evergreen (approx. 1.2 miles away); Known Confederate Veterans Among 2000 Buried Here (approx. 1.2 miles away); Wetland Plants and Animals (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murfreesboro.

Geographical Center of Tennessee — (Historical Plaque) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Greg Golfomitsos, circa June 1, 2024

3. Geographical Center of Tennessee — (Historical Plaque)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 855 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 19, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3. submitted on June 21, 2024, by Greg Golfomitsos of Plymouth, Massachusetts. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.