History of Concord TN
The new town of Concord emerged from the shadow of the old village of Campbell Station. Concord was founded and platted in 1854, Fueled by its railroad and commerce on the Tennessee River, Concord grew rapidly, and by 1855 it had its own post office. It was most likely named after the Concord Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which predated the town.
The new town of Concord emerged from the shadow of the old village of Campbell Station. Concord was founded and platted in 1854, Fueled by its railroad and commerce on the Tennessee River, Concord grew rapidly, and by 1855 it had its own post office. It was most likely named after the Concord Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which predated the town.
The town was left mainly unscathed by The Civil War, and in the postbellum years, Concord established itself as a center for the marble trade. Slabs were shipped by barge and steam tug to the rail connection in Concord. Additional general stores prospered as the population grew. With banks and schools, drug stores, two mills, an inn, several churches, and an ice cream parlor, Concord was one of the most prosperous communities in Eastern Tennessee.
The era of automobiles and cars diminished the importance of rail and river transportation. The new highways largely bypassed Concord, leading to a slow and steady decline in the economic importance of Concord. The Great Depression closed many of the businesses, but an even greater impact was brought about by the construction of the Fort Loudoun Dam. In 1944 much of the town was inundated, and a dozen homes and the graveyard had to be relocated up the hill behind the town. More importantly, Concord became isolated from Knoxville and other surrounding towns. By 1987 as the stores except a gas station had been closed. More recently, Concord has shown signs of recovery as a bedroom community of Knoxville and as a well-preserved historic town. Today, Concord is an unincorporated town, which makes the population totals arbitrary. One source says 4,745 live there, another says 28,138, and another says 69,738!
