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Rich in History

Wartrace, TN History

History

Established in 1853

Stay tuned for amazing additions to this page!

Andrew Jackson, seventh U.S. president and a Battle of New Orleans hero of the War of 1812, is said to have carved "this is War Trail Creek" onto a beech tree near present day Wartrace.  The name Wartrace evolved from the Native Americans' various words for war-path. When Tennessee's first railroad was built through Bedford County in 1852, the settlement became known as Wartrace Depot.

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Internationally regarded by equine enthusiasts as the cradle of the Tennessee Walking Horse and home of the first National Grand Champion Strolling Jim (1939), Wartrace is known for its civil war history, world famous hand crafted guitars and its preserved historic architecture.

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Wartrace has approximately 140 structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places, with the large majority encompassed under the "Wartrace Historic District." The historic district runs primarily along Main Street, Spring Street, Vine Street and Knob Creek Road. 139 houses and structures were approved for the register on July 31, 1991 and listed as Italianate, Queen Anne, Bungalow, Classic Revival, and Minimal Traditional styles. Previously on June 8, 1984, the Walking Horse Hotel (originally The Overall Hotel) was approved for the register. 

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The Town of Wartrace hosts a number of events every year, including a July 4th celebration, Halloween in the Park, Movie Nights, Music Under the Wellhouse, a town-wide yard sale in August, and other events throughout the year.

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We are pleased to invite you to visit Wartrace, the little town where time stands still!

In "The History of Tennessee" you can read about Bedford County as written in 1886.  Dr John Sydney Houston was our Mayor at the time and Wartrace was booming with life, industry, and sense of pride.  

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Click on the book cover to be transported to a time when our ancestors were carving out their futures and continuing to create our charming town that we know today.

Book Cover History Of TN Goodspeed

Honorable Mayors of the Town of Wartrace

Maps of Wartrace and Surrounding areas

Newspaper News

Wartrace in the News - Some Good Old Stories

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Wartrace Churches

Wartrace Schools