HISTORY

In the area surrounding what is now known as Tullahoma, there was evidence of Indian villages dating before the Revolutionary War. Historians have noted that the area was very desirable as a hunting ground for the Indians. Tullahoma, Tennessee, is currently the only city in the world bearing that name, but this wasn’t always the case. In the early 1800s, there was a small settlement in Mississippi named Tullahoma. When that community decided to improve its resources by joining forces with a neighboring town, they discarded the name “Tullahoma” and gave the larger town a new name. A short time later, a small group of those Mississippi townspeople from the original Tullahoma decided to migrate north to Tennessee. They settled in an area near the Cumberland Mountains where there was a plentiful water supply including therapeutic mineral springs. When it came time to identify their new town, they decided to use the name of the former Mississippi hometown that was at one time called Tullahoma - the Indian word meaning "red earth."

The City of Tullahoma began as a railroad camp during construction of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway; it was chartered in 1852. We celebrated our 150th anniversary as a city in 2002. Since it was chartered, Tullahoma has been a health resort, a steadily growing industrial center, the site of a large infantry training center (Camp Forrest) during World War II, and now, headquarters for the world's largest aeronautical research project - Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC).

The Civil War and its aftermath contributed to the city's growth; and by 1900, the population had reached 2,684. With its climate, altitude, and nearby mineral springs, Tullahoma gained a reputation as a health resort and truck farming area. The population rose to more than 4,000 in less than 10 years. Growth was stable and industrial development continued during the period between the two World Wars.

The biggest development happened in 1949 with the selection of Camp Forrest as the site of the multi-million dollar Arnold Engineering Development Center. This permanent aeronautical research testing center has brought thousands of new residents, including scientists, engineers, skilled technicians and their families to Tullahoma, from all over the world.

Illustration by Jim House

Tullahoma Railroad Camp in 1864

The oldest known structure in Tullahoma, Bussell-Ganoe Log Cabin