Middle Fork, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Middle Fork, Tennessee
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 Middle Fork, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
Middle Fork, Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Henderson |
| Elevation | 568 ft (173 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 731 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1293662 |
Middle Fork, also known as Middlefork, is a small place in the southwestern part of Henderson County, Tennessee, USA. It's an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. People lived here even before Henderson County was officially created in 1821. The first church in the county, Middle Fork Primitive Baptist Church, started here in 1823.
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Middle Fork's Early History
Middle Fork was one of the first places in Henderson County to have a post office. It was located where the Lexington-Purdy Road and the Jackson-Saltillo Road met. This made it an important crossroads for people traveling through the area.
Post Office Changes
The Middle Fork Post Office first closed in 1892. It then reopened as Middlefork when Dr. Arnold was the postmaster. In 1904, the post office closed again. Its services were moved to the Luray Post Office. This happened when new mail delivery routes were set up from the railroad.
First Settlers
Some of the first people to settle in the Middle Fork area were Obediah Hendricks and John Crook. They were chosen for the first County Court when Henderson County was created in 1821. By 1836, Frederick Phelps and Nicholas Garrett had also made Middle Fork their home.
Ancient Connections
Middle Fork is only a few miles from Pinson Mounds. This is a very old site with large earth mounds built by Native Americans long ago. Many Native American tools and pottery pieces have been found in Middle Fork. These include arrowheads, drills, and scrapers. This shows that people lived in this area for a very long time.
Middle Fork During the Civil War
During the Civil War, many men from Middle Fork joined the fight. They served in several Confederate infantry (foot soldier) and cavalry (horseback soldier) groups from Tennessee. Henry Carver, who is buried at Middle Fork Primitive Baptist Church, was the first person from the area to die in the war.
A Small Skirmish
No big battles happened right in Middle Fork. However, a small fight called the Skirmish at Clarks Creek happened nearby on September 23, 1863. After this skirmish, some Union soldiers came near Middle Fork. They found several rifles that had been left behind. They took these rifles to a blacksmith shop, bent the barrels, and then threw them into a ditch.
Community Life and Schools
Middle Fork has been a place where people have lived and learned for many years.
Local Schools
Middle Fork School and Big Springs School both started in 1877. Later, a school for black children called Joyner’s Grove opened in 1908. Middle Fork School moved to its current location in 1895. The school building that stands today was built in 1920. It closed in 1960 when the county combined many smaller schools.
Changing Times
Over the years, some businesses in Middle Fork closed down. The cotton gin, which processed cotton, closed in the late 1980s. The last store in the community also closed around that time.
Places of Worship
Religious life is important in Middle Fork. The community has several churches. These include Unity Baptist Church, which started in 1848, Middlefork Road Baptist Church, Old Jacks Creek Baptist Church, and Palestine Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Famous People from Middle Fork
- Randall Wallace is a well-known screenwriter. He wrote the script for the famous movie Braveheart.
