Discover the History & Heritage of Robertson County, Tennessee
As each day passes, a part of history goes with it. Fortunately, in Robertson County, many individuals are dedicated to preserving that history and sharing it with others.
About the Robertson County Historical Society
The Robertson County Historical Society was organized in 1967 as a nonprofit corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The organization oversees both the Historical Society of Robertson County and the Robertson County History Museum. Governance is managed by a Board of Directors, which includes twelve elected members and the museum director.
Formation of Robertson County
The land that now comprises Robertson and Montgomery counties was originally known as Tennessee County, North Carolina. In 1796, Tennessee’s first general assembly convened in Knoxville to establish a new state government, officially adopting the name Tennessee.
During this process, an act was passed to divide Tennessee County into two separate counties. The eastern portion was named Robertson County in honor of James Robertson, a pioneer and early leader of the Watauga and Cumberland settlements, often referred to as the “Father of Middle Tennessee.” The act also mandated the selection of a county seat, leading to the purchase of fifty acres of land and the establishment of Springfield as the official seat of government.
Establishment of Springfield
The act further provided for the commissioners to raise money to build a courthouse and jail. The site selected for the county seat was geographically centered in the middle of the county, and, in accordance with the legislative act, the town was named Springfield. The town was laid out in 1798, and the first log courthouse was completed on July 15, 1799.
Agriculture and Industry
The fertile land in Robertson County was an excellent choice for the agriculturalists who settled here. They brought with them the skills of distilling whiskey and cultivating tobacco, two enterprises which have prospered.
Robertson County was once known worldwide for its fine whiskey, and, at one time, there were over seventy-five whiskey distilleries in operation in the county. Tobacco has been a commercial product since around 1820, and Springfield has been acknowledged as the dark-fired tobacco capital of the world. The agricultural-based economy has flourished over the years and expanded to include industrial development in this century.
A Lasting Legacy
Although the economic base has fluctuated and changed as civilization spread across Robertson County, the rolling hills and fertile land are as enchanting today as they were 200 years ago when they attracted the first settlers. Robertson Countians, both established and new, have taken great pride in their land and their legacy to pass it on intact and enhanced.