County of city: Rutherford County
Location of city: dead center in county; crossroads of US-41/US-231, US-70S & I-24, I-840
Named for: Coloenl Hardy Murfree
Created: October 27, 1811
Elevation: 610 ft (186 m)
Population: 136,372 (2017)
The Person:
"Hardy Murfree (June 5, 1752 – April 6, 1809) was a lieutenant colonel from North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.
"Murfree was born on June 5, 1752 at Murfree's Landing, North Carolina, later renamed Murfreesboro. His parents were William Murfree and Mary Moore.
"Murfree, a lieutenant in the Hertford County militia when the Revolutionary War began, was commissioned on September 1, 1775, as a captain in the 2nd North Carolina Regiment of the Continental Army. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Robert Howe, who was later a major general. Murfree saw action at the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778, and achieved his greatest renown for leading a successful diversionary attack against British defenses in the Battle of Stony Point on July 15, 1779. He was then a major serving under General Anthony Wayne, and was soon thereafter promoted to lieutenant colonel.
"On July 17, 1781, British forces led by Banastre Tarleton and Tarleton's Raiders attacked Maney's Neck on the Meherrin River near Murfree's Landing. Murfree led the militia that repulsed the attack at Skinner's Bridge.
"Around 1807, Murfree migrated to Williamson County, Tennessee, living on land granted to him after the American Revolution, and remained there until his death in 1809.
"Murfree was a member of the North Carolina chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati. He was a Freemason for all of his adult life, active in both North Carolina and Tennessee.
"Murfree married Sally Brickell on February 17, 1780. They had seven children: William Hardy Murfree (1781), Fanny Noailles Murfree (1783), Mary Moore Murfree (1786), Matthias Brickell Murfree (1788), Sally Murfree (1793), Lavinia Bembury Murfree (1795-1881), and Martha Long Ann Coakley Murfree (1801). Their great-granddaughter was the noted Tennessee writer Mary Noailles Murfree (1850–1922). His wife Sally died on March 29, 1802.
"Murfree died on April 6, 1809. In 1811 the Tennessee State Legislature renamed the town of Cannonsburgh to Murfreesboro in his honor." ~ Wikipedia
The Place:
"In 1811, the Tennessee State Legislature appointed a committee to select a new site for the Rutherford County seat. The site eventually chosen was 60 acres of land belonging to Captain William Lytle.
Naming of Murfreesboro
"The General Assembly named the new town Cannonsburgh, honoring Newton Cannon, a young politician in Williamson County, but upon Captain Lytle's request, changed the name to Murfreesboro one month later. The naming was in memory of Lytle's friend, Colonel Hardy Murfree. In 1817, Murfreesboro was recognized as an official city by the State Legislature and, in 1818, was named the capital of Tennessee because of its central location. However, Nashville regained the title as the state capital in 1826.
The Early Years
"In the early years of Murfreesboro, it was mainly an agricultural community, with corn, cotton, and tobacco being the main crops. By 1853, the Murfreesboro area was home to three colleges and several academies, prompting it to be called the "Athens of Tennessee" by a visiting religious reporter. Although education suffered from the military occupation and the trauma of the Civil War, by the early 1900's it began to regain momentum.
Schooling
"In 1911, Middle Tennessee State Normal School, for the training of teachers, was opened in Murfreesboro, joining Tennessee College for Women, which had opened in 1907. Today, Middle Tennessee State University is the home of 23,000, or more, students and has the highest undergraduate enrollment in the state.
Post World War II
"After WWII, Murfreesboro and Rutherford County began to change from an agricultural based economy to industrial and manufacturing. Industrial growth has been steady since that time, contributing to a stable economy and phenomenal growth. In the past decade, Murfreesboro has enjoyed substantial residential and commercial growth. The city's population has increased 53.2% from 44,922 in 1990 to 68,816 in 2000. In 2017, Murfreesboro now has a population of more than 130,000.
Most Livable Town In Tennessee
"Named the Most Livable Town in Tennessee, Murfreesboro is the 10th fastest-growing city, for communities over 50,000 in population, in the United States and it's not hard to see why. Murfreesboro provides the quality of life that attracts growth:
• Plentiful housing
• Excellent schools
• Employment opportunities
• Outstanding services
• Recreational programs
• Medical facilities" ~ City of Murfreesboro