Montgomery, Morgan County, Tennessee facts for kids

Montgomery was once a small town in Morgan County, Tennessee. It played an important role in the county's early history. Today, Montgomery is known as a "ghost town" because it no longer exists as a populated place.

The Story of Montgomery, Tennessee

Montgomery was a town in Morgan County, Tennessee. It served as the main center for the county for many years.

What Was a County Seat?

A county seat is like the main office for a county. It's the town where the county government is located. This means important buildings like the courthouse, where legal matters are handled, would be found there. People would go to the county seat for official business, like paying taxes or recording property deeds. Montgomery was the county seat for Morgan County from 1818 to 1870.

Where Was Montgomery Located?

When it was first established, Montgomery was about 13 miles west of Wartburg. Wartburg is the current county seat of Morgan County.

Why Did Montgomery Move?

In 1832, something important happened that caused Montgomery to move. A new county called Fentress County was formed nearby. Because of this change, the original location of Montgomery was no longer central enough for Morgan County. So, the town was rebuilt. The new location was about 1.5 miles west of Wartburg. This made it a better spot for the county seat.

The End of Montgomery

Montgomery served as the county seat for over 50 years. But in 1870, its time came to an end. The property in Montgomery was sold. The county seat was then officially moved to Wartburg. After this, Montgomery slowly faded away and became a ghost town.