Located approximately 25 miles south of Nashville, amid the rolling hills and pastoral countryside of middle Tennessee, the inviting Town of Thompson’s Station is a great place to live.
- Thompson's Station is steeped in history, from its earliest settlers in 1780, to the stirring Battle of Thompson’s Station and as a stop along Tennessee’s Great Train Trail.
- The town’s tranquil environment and convivial atmosphere is worlds apart from hectic urban lifestyles, yet still near to everything the world-renowned “Music City” and surrounding communities have to offer.
- Bridging both storied past and promising future, Thompson’s Station prospers through its historic heritage and proximity to Nashville, Franklin and Spring Hill. Welcome home!
Beginnings
Between 1778 and 1812, as a wave of Americans began migrating into the nation’s untapped interior, many settled in and around present day Nashville. In 1780, a young man named Edward Swanson was the first to stake a claim to land 2nd group arrived in the Harpeth River Valley in 1798.
Early Taxpayers
In 1800, only 24 people paid taxes on land in the area; by 1866, that number had increased to as many as 200.
Previous Names
The Town of Thompson’s Station was known as White House in the early 1830s, then Littlebury in 1836, apparently after the postmaster then, Littleberry Starks. It wasn’t until 1856, when Dr. Elijah Thompson donated the land on which the village was built that the name Thompson’s Station took root.
The First Trains
The first trains rolled into Thompson’s Station in August 1855, sparking the village’s growth as a shipping center. Farmers from surrounding areas drove their hogs, sheep and cattle to Thompson’s Station to be loaded onto trains and taken to market. The railroad remained a big part of the town’s life through the 1940s, when chemical companies relied on trains to transport the region’s phosphate rich dirt to processing plants. However, as the highway system and trucking transport grew, rail traffic faded and the town’s depot was torn down in the 1950s. A new depot was constructed in 1996 and now serves as the Town Hall.
Role in the Civil War
During the latter stages of the Civil War, Union troops garrisoned in Nashville and Franklin frequently reconnoitered and foraged for food as far south as Thompson’s Station and Spring Hill. In the spring of 1863, the Federal Army made several expeditions into the area to collect food and hay.
Battle of Thompson's Station
On March 5, in Thompson’s Station, Confederate General Earl Van Dorn defeated Union troops under the command of Colonel John Coburn, who was captured along with 1,220 of his men. The battle was decided by a cavalry brigade under General Nathan Bedford Forrest, which overran the Federal left flank and split the Union soldiers. During the spirited fighting, General Forrest’s famous mount, Roderick, was killed.
Roderick Place & Award of Courage
Roderick is reportedly buried in Thompson’s Station at Roderick Place, where a monument to the heroic steed was dedicated March 5, 2008. On that date in 2009, the inaugural Roderick Award of Courage was presented to Williamson County resident Maddie Adams, who used the Heimlich Maneuver to save her grandmother from choking.
Incorporation
As more and more new residents began moving into the area, Thompson’s Station held an incorporation referendum in 1990. The measure received overwhelming approval and, on August 15 of that year, the community officially became The Town of Thompson’s Station. The Town is governed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (the mayor and 4 aldermen). A total of 7,485 town residents were certified by the 2020 Federal Census.