Murfreesboro History

Murfreesboro History. . Luminaries such as James K. Polk, David Crockett and Andrew Jackson walked the streets while the Legislature was in session., Public demand for a more centrally located seat of government in Rutherford County had increased considerably by 1811, so a commission was chosen to select a location to replace the original site at Jefferson. After careful deliberation, the group chose a sixty-acre tract bordering the west fork of Stones River that belonged to Capt. William Lyle. When Lyle declined to suggest a name for the new town, the Tennessee General Assembly proposed the name "Cannonsburgh" after state senator Newton Cannon, who represented the area. After hearing about this decision, Lytle suggested the name Murfreesborough to honor his friend, Col. Hardee Murfree, who had just died. The name of the town was shortened during the time of the Civil War., In addition to serving as the county seat, Murfreesboro functioned as the state capital from 1818 to 1826. Luminaries such as James K. and Sarah Polk, David Crockett and Andrew Jackson walked the streets while the Legislature was in session. However, the citizens of Nashville were determined to have the capital in their city and lobbied the elected officials to effect a change. Nashville won in a close vote and when the Constitutional Convention was held in 1835, the decision was made permanent., Education has always been important in Murfreesboro. Besides the subscription schools, there were five institutions of higher learning in the town during the antebellum period. Teachers at Bradley Academy, Soule Female College, the Female County Academy, Union University, and Eaton College instructed the young men and women of the surrounding region.