History Concord, Tennessee

concord in 1942



concord today

the village of concord began develop in 1854. before time, area sparsely settled. large farms centered on tennessee river, , relied on nearby settlement, campbell’s station (modern farragut), trade , other urban needs. in 1853, construction of east tennessee , georgia railroad along north bank of tennessee river caused population , development shift area became concord.

concord founded , platted in 1854 on land owned james m. rodgers. mr. rodgers laid out 55 lots, , gave new town name concord. believed name inspired nearby concord cumberland presbyterian church, of rodgers member ( concord being common name churches @ time). began sell lots in 1855, later moved california. shortly before moved, several large tracts of land, still intact in sections of village.

concord developed rapidly after arrival of railroad. first dwelling in concord, boarding house, built shadrack callaway (first post master in concord). combining existing river transportation railroad made concord nucleus of several communities on north side of river, including campbell’s station, loveville , ebenezer.

house @ clay street & 2nd drive

one eve of civil war, congressman t.a.r. nelson , knoxville attorney oliver perry temple, both union supporters, delivered anti-secession speeches before hostile crowds @ concord. during war, in fall of 1863 prior battle of campbell s station, 24th kentucky infantry , 103rd ohio infantry camped near concord.

concord presbyterian church



masonic lodge

during time supplies appropriated several area farms including callaway’s landing , pleasant forest cumberland presbyterian church 1 mile north of concord dismantled. bricks used build fireplaces union army.

the railroad created transportation market communities in blount county, including friendsville , louisville, connected concord ferry, not have rail transportation until 1890s. steamboat traveling chattanooga knoxville , stopped @ callaway’s landing, hence name, connecting concord knoxville.

in 1880s concord became center of large tennessee marble production industry. several quarries located near holston (now tennessee) river in calloway’s ridge. town became center of marble shipping. quarries in louisville , friendsville area, on south side of river, shipped tennessee marble concord take advantage of town’s rail connections. in 1883, 4 marble companies operating: lima , east tennessee company, stamps wood & company, stewart company , republic company.

former concord baptist church

the juanita company built mill sawing , polishing marble; facility became property of enterprise marble company in 1886. last company quarry marble extensively enterprise marble company. none of buildings associated marble industry in concord remain today; many flooded when fort loudon lake impounded. foundation on crusher sat remains; crusher used produce terrazzo chips. crusher foundation located in rocky point area of concord park , visible concord road s railroad bridge looking east.

by 1887 concord second largest community in knox county, second knoxville. village of concord regional transportation center. tennessee marble, crushed limestone, lime, logs, , farm produce gathered @ public dock. passenger ferries , commercial boats landed there. railroad provided passenger connections knoxville , other cities. in addition rail transportation, paved road lenoir city knoxville traveled along railroad lenoir city olive road. road followed olive road loop road, concord road , north 2 miles kingston pike. kingston pike main east-west road out of knoxville 19th century until interstate 40/75 completed through area in 1960s. road network provided all-weather connections other highways in area.

in 20th century, town had grown include several general stores, brickyard, lime kiln, inn, saloon, 2 livery stables, undertaking establishment, 2 flour mills, railroad depot, private schools, bank, post office, ice cream parlor, drug store, specialty shops, barber shop , churches. in 1916, fire destroyed of business district rebuilt.

the great depression of 1930s brought economic hardship concord. new building materials lessened use of tennessee marble, , caused marble industry go decline never recovered. impoundment of fort loudon lake inundated one-third of town (most of business district) 1944. portions of railroad relocated higher adjacent ground , continued carry freight, did not provide passenger service. development of automobiles , new transportation routes contributed concord’s slow growth.

in 1970s area began rebound economically became bedroom community fast-growing city of knoxville. since then, residential development , land subdivision has continued apace, transforming concord , environs affluent urban community has left behind of rural roots.