Wilson County Convention & Visitor's Bureau

Making of Wilson County

Tennessee became a state in 1796. Wilson County was created 3 years later in 1799. The county was named for Major David Wilson, a Revolutionary War hero. Ironically he had no known connection with Wilson County and the lands that it composed. Lebanon

In 1802 a commission of 5 men was sent out to find a place to build the county seat. They searched until they came upon a cane break near virgin cedar trees. There was a spring that flowed to an unnamed creek. The commission decided this would be the place where they would build their city and they named it Lebanon, after the biblical land of cedars. Because of its location, Lebanon would be accessible to all parts of the county for trading. Home of 5 Governors

At various points in their lives five Tennessee governors lived in Lebanon. Gov. Sam Houston lived and practiced law here in 1818. Gov. James Chamberlain "Lean Jimmy" Jones was the first native-born Tennessee Governor. Gov. Robert Caruthers whose term as Governor was delayed by Federal occupation during the Civil War lived in Wilson County, as did Gov. William Bowen Campbell hero of the Mexican War and namesake of Fort Campbell Kentucky. Gov. Frank G. Clement also resided in Lebanon for several years.

Sheriff Lady

The first female sheriff in the state was also here in Lebanon. Mrs. Griffin took the place of her husband after he was killed on- duty while attending to a domestic dispute. She only served 3 months, but made a giant leap in feminist history in doing so.

Pickett Chapel

Built in 1827, Pickett Chapel Methodist Church is the oldest brick building and house dedicated to God in Lebanon. Originally the Lebanon Methodist Church, it was sold after the war to former slaves. The building was placed on the National Register of Historical Properties in 1977.

A.P. Stewart

General Alexander P. Stewart, a graduate of West Point Academy and a member of the faculty of Cumberland University. When the Civil War began, Stewart was like most Tennesseans, against slavery and secession, but he was an adamant believer in the state’s rights to decide such issues. Following Tennessee voting to secede from the Republic, Stewart volunteered his services to the confederate army later becoming the highest ranking confederate general from Tennessee. Another piece of trivia...Major General William T. Sherman of the United States Army was General Stewart's classmate at West Point!

Robert L. Caruthers

Caruthers was a founder of Cumberland University and served in the State Legislature, the State Supreme Court and the Confederate Congress. During the Civil War he was elected governor of the Confederate state of TN. However, he was never inaugurated because confederates lost control of the state, which is one of the reasons TN has discrepancies for the number of governors.

Cumberland University

Founded in 1842 by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, it housed school for the study of arts, law and theology. The building was designed in 1844 by William Strickland and burnt during the Civil War. Strickland is the architect of the capitol building in Nashville. The present university was rebuilt in 1896.

The school is in the Guinness World Book of Records for the most lopsided win in college football history. The game was played before the NCAA had rankings, so small town Cumberland played the big boys at Georgia Tech and lost 222 to 0 on October 7, 1916.

Site of Castle Heights Military Academy

In 1931 Italian leader, Benito Mussolini hand picked 40 of his top men to come train for 3 months.

William D. Baird Industrial park

This is the first Industrial Park in Tennessee.

Cedar Grove Cemetery

This 19th century city cemetery contains the graves of the early city families, over 125 Confederate soldiers, and Governor Campbell and Caruthers. Beside former mayor Bill Baird is his beloved dog who even has a tombstone. There are several others who have had their adored animals buried beside them. This area was purchased by the City of Lebanon in 1846. However, the first mention of a City Cemetery was in the year 1823.

Home of the Stars

Mt. Juliet is the proud home of Charlie Daniels, Jason Meadows of Nashville Star, and Trace Adkins.

Videos filmed in the area

• Miranda Lambert made the city of Lebanon a landmark in her video, "Famous in a small town".
• Blake Shelton liked Watertown so much he has filmed two videos there, one being, "The more I drink" and the other, "Home".
• Mirah Carey spent time on the Music City Star and in the square in Lebanon filming her movie, "Tennessee".