Henderson

Originally a railroad stop in the 1850s on the Mobile Railroad, this quaint small town was originally known as Dayton, and later renamed Henderson Station. During the Civil War, the Confederate States of America (CSA) operated a major recruitment center in the current Front Street area. The town and its railroad depot were later occupied by the Union, and in 1862 it was attacked by Confederate guerrillas, who burned it to the ground. The women of the town took action to extinguish the fire and aid the Union troops. Today, Freed-Hardeman University is an anchor of this charming town, and like many of Tennessee's small communities, most locals can trace their connection to Henderson back through many generations.