Local History

 

 

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Located in Williamson County, Brentwood has a rich social and architectural history. Brentwood began as a rural community of planters and farmers, endured the depredations of Civil War, and developed as a business center in the railroad era. Today Brentwood is home to more than 35,000 people and is one of the most prosperous small cities in the South.

 

• Brentwood History
  Brentwood is very proud of its long and interesting history.  This page will take you the City's general history page including information on the Boiling Spring Academy and the City's Historic Commission.
  
• Brentwood Families
  A community's history is made up of the stories of the people who have lived there. Thanks to the efforts of Brentwood Historian T. Vance Little, information about early Brentwood families has been compiled. Taken from a variety of sources, these pages provide details about local families, their successes and sorrows.
  
• Brentwood Homes and Buildings
  The beautiful homes of Brentwood have long been its crowning glory. This collection of photographs and histories of Brentwood's most notable structures includes data compiled by the Brentwood Historical Commission and images by the Brentwood Camera Club.
  
• The 1900 and 1920 Census of Brentwood
  The census of Brentwood provides a glimpse of a sleepy rural community on the verge of change. The transcription shows all the residents of the 15th Civil District of Williamson County, the area commonly considered Brentwood.
  
• The 1899 Tax Records of Brentwood
  Researchers will discover much valuable information in the tax records for the City of Brentwood, including landowners and property value in District 15. Scanned PDF documents of the tax books are available, as well as a taxpayer index.
  
• Revolutionary War Soldiers
  Brentwood and Williamson County were settled in part by Revolutionary War veterans who came to the frontier to wrest it from the Indians and make farms out of the wilderness. These soldiers were often eligible for pensions in their old age. The pension files transcribed here tell the story of their service. Students of history will find the flavor of first-hand accounts of both famous and little-known events of the Revolution, and genealogists will fund valuable details about the veterans and their families.
• Southern Claims
  Middle Tennessee has a rich Civil War history. Since the Battles of Franklin and Nashville were fought in such close proximity, members of the Brentwood community were affected in one way or another.  Buffs and casual researchers alike will find these transcriptions of disallowed claims a first-hand look at local Civil War events.

ON SALE NOW!  The library is now selling T. Vance Little's most recent book, Gently Flows Harpeth.  The book costs $40.00 and can be purchased at the circulation desk. T. Vance Little was appointed the Brentwood Historian in 1988.  Mr. Little passed away in March 2009.