IMAGES From Nostalgiaville TENNESSEE- Sumner County, TN

Memories are the Essence of Civilization

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AIRPORTS

ATTRACTIONS

BICYCLE ROUTES
SUMNER COUNTY ROUTE DESCRIPTION

1. Hwy 31W starting where I-65 crosses, through Millersville to the top of the "Ridge": The route is relatively flat with a wide gravel/paved shoulder through Millersville. North of Millersville, the shoulder narrows at the start of a one mile long steep grade to reach the top of "the Ridge". Traffic is fast and it can get close to the bicycle on the way up the ridge, so be careful!
2. Hwy 31W North to the Kentucky State Line: A nice scenic route with an 8 foot smoothly paved shoulder all the way to Kentucky. Easy rolling hills north to White House, but hills intensify to the moderate range for the rest of the route. The shoulder narrows because of added lanes in White House, and a little extra care is in order. Traffic is fast on this route, but you have the shoulder to get away from it and enjoy the ride
3. Hwy 109 from 31W through Portland and south to Gallatin: This is a straight, flat section of road with a narrow mostly packed gravel shoulder to Portland. Traffic is fast and aggressive, so great care is advised. The shoulder narrows through downtown Portland, but becomes more generous before leaving the south city limits. The route travels through rolling hills until it gets to the "Ridge". The hill is long and easy going toward Gallatin, and seems much longer and hard if you are headed toward Portland. After the hill, a long flat and small rise to the city limits and Gallatin will welcome you.
4. College Street from Portland to Hwy 52: A pleasant flat stretch out in the country. The shoulder is paved, but narrow, seeming to almost disappear at times, but traffic is light.
5. Hwy 52 from 31W to Portland. Great smooth, wide shoulders with light rolling hills and fast traffic. As you approach Portland with added lanes, it is best to take to the sidewalk.
6. Hwy 52 from Portland to Westmoreland: For the first mile out of Portland, the road is wide, but the shoulder is not! Be careful is in order. The next stretch with the big 8 foot silky smooth shoulders makes the "hairy" part worth while. Just past Oak Grove, heading east, the shoulder narrows for a short distance before getting good again all the way to the next county, Trousdale. Expect moderate hills all the way.
7. Dobbins Pike from Gallatin, north to Hwy 52 at Oak Grove and across to Fairfield Rd to Old 31E and north to Kentucky: The route looks easy as you leave Gallatin and head north, but rest assured the easy will change in a few short miles when you hit the "Ridge" A sweat laden mile awaits you on the hill, but once on top the rolling countryside is pleasant to the eye. Take care, as the road is crooked and narrow with moderate hills. Traffic is light but can be fast. The stretch north from Oak Grove has narrow, rough shoulders that are certainly better than none at all, but just barely. After the intersection of Dutch Creek Rd, breathe easier as the shoulder gets wider and better all the way to Kentucky. The shoulder disappears completely in Kentucky, so beware if you are northward bound.
8. Hwy 31E from Kentucky line South to Gallatin: Good riding... good shoulder... good scenery. Shoulder narrows for a short stretch down the ridge, but if you are lucky enough to be going down, you want even notice it. Coming up that stretch, you want notice it either, between grunts, because it's steep and long. After the ridge, you will encounter rolling hills all the way to Gallatin. By the way, the shoulder of 31E where it crosses into Kentucky just barely makes the grade of orange.
9. Hwy 231 from Hwy 31E east to Trousdale County: You will not want to stop at the county line on this road. A wide smooth shoulder, rolling hills, and great views will urge you on toward the east.
10. Hwy 25 from Gallatin to Trousdale County: A big wide smooth shoulder will carry you past some of the historical wonders of Sumner County such as the Fort Bledsoe Historical Park, and the wondrous old homes called Craigfont and Wynnewood. Cross scenic Bledsoe Creek as it flows into the Cumberland River, and just a mile off your route is Bledsoe Creek State Park. Don't try and go off-road in the park because the Ranger will not be a happy camper! Traffic is fast, so stay way over on that big shoulder, and always be alert.
11. Airport Road from Hwy 31E to Hwy 109, and the By-Pass all the way to Hwy 25: This one looks like a rainbow of colors on the map, but is an interesting scoot around the outskirts of Gallatin. Traffic can be heavy at times, and road shoulders are changing as you move on down the road, so take care and be alert.
12. Hwy 109 from Gallatin to the big bridge and into Wilson County. From Gallatin out to the By-Pass, the shoulder is generously wide and flat. Going gets a bit more tedious from there on to the bridge, but there is enough shoulder to not fear for your life if you are careful. Going across the bridge is a whole different story. Letting two 18 wheelers pass you on that bridge is guaranteed to mess up the underwear.
13. Gallatin Rd from Gallatin through Hendersonville and to the Davidson County line: The shoulders are OK from Gallatin west, and are plenty wide the rest of the way, even though a combination of gravel and pavement and a bit rough. The problem is the traffic. It is fast and noisy and even though you have some margin of safety from the width of the shoulder, you still feel beat-up from many miles on this route. You'll probably need to take to the sidewalks through Hendersonville. The shoulders get a little better as you cross into Davidson County, but the traffic does not.
14. Station Camp Creek Road from Gallatin Rd to Long Hollow Pike: This is probably one of the more dangerous roads in Sumner County to ride a bicycle on, but the scenery is outrageous. The road, absent of any semblance of shoulder, and crooked as a snake follows Station Camp Creek through a magical shaded corridor for almost four miles of blissful riding... if you don't get run over by one of the dump trucks from the local quarry. Enjoy... but beware.
15. The Hendersonville By-Pass from Gallatin Road to the Davidson County Line: This route has the dream shoulder, eight feet of smooth protection from the wanna-be race car (and truck) drivers who are practicing their trade and dodging the police radar guns. It's certainly not a place for unattended kids, but safe enough for experienced riders. Watch for rolling hills and great scenery.
16. Long Hollow Pike from Gallatin to Goodlettsville: A recent re-paving of this road has done wonders for its bicycleability... how's that for a new word? Moderate hills make this a challenging ride, but worth the effort for the great scenery. The shoulder is good, but the traffic is fast and can be heavy at times.
17. Tyree Springs Rd from Long Hollow Pike to White House: This route has a high degree of difficulty. The shoulder is narrow and rough, barely enough to keep fast traffic away. And there's the ominous "Ridge" again, rearing its ugly head. It's a long hard crooked hill with a narrow shoulder and fast traffic, but who said life was easy. If you have a hankering... then go for it!
18. Hwy 76 from White House to Hwy 109 just South of Portland: This is another replay of route #17 above without the dreaded "Ridge" to climb. The narrow shoulder will carry you through some nice rolling hills. The traffic is light, but still dangerous on the crooked road, so be alert.

BOAT DOCKS & RAMPS

EDUCATION (Higher)
Volunteer State Community College
Gallatin

• Founded on 100 Acre tract 1970
• Over 5000 Students Enrolled
• 1480 Nashville Pike
• Day and evening classes provided

College Heights Christian Academy
2100 Nashville Pike
Gallatin

U T Martin Nashville Office
141 Bluegrass Dr
Hendersonville

HIGHWAYS
U S Highways:
I-65, 31E, 31W, 41, 231

State Highways:
6, 25, 41, 52, 76, 109, 174, 257, 258, 259, 376, 386

HISTORICAL
GENERAL

• County established 1786
• Organized March 1, 1787
• Second oldest county in Middle Tennessee
• Gallatin is county seat
• Formed from the eastern half of Davidson by the North Carolina General Assembly

Avery Trace

• Was an early foot trail that ran from East Tennessee through Sumner Co
• The Trace passed through Castalian Springs before turning south to Davidson Co

Gallatin Road

• A main road connecting Nashville through Hendersonville to Gallatin
• Probably began as a buffalo trail
• Became a cleared road around 1790
• Was a stagecoach road passing through Hendersonville 3 times per week in 1830's
• Opened as a turnpike with toll booths 1939
• Widened and renamed Jackson Highway 1943
• Widened to four lanes and name changed back to Gallatin Rd 1950

Pilot Knob

• This hill is located adjacent to Station Camp Creek Road
• It is the highest hill in this part of Sumner County
• The hill can be seen from the Cumberland River
• River boat pilots used the hill to fix their location on the river

Station Camp Creek

• A camp was established by early hunters in 1771
• The location of the camp was where the creek now crosses Gallatin Rd

Stagecoach Tavern
Hwy 31W
Portland

• Is now a private residence
• Located 1.5 miles south of Hwy 52 off Hwy 31W
• Built by Carter Hough & Hemford for Louisville Nashville Stage Line 1837
• Building of railroad in 1859 caused abandonment of the line
• A scenic dry stone arch bridge used on the old road can be found near the site

Saundersville
Located by big spring on bluff of Cumberland River

• Originally called Madisonville
• Town gradually moved from bluff to road
• Population 1573 people in 1870
• Reed Hotel and Tavern, a stagecoach stop located in Saundersville
• Andrew Jackson spent nights on several occasions
• Saunders Ferry Road first road in Hendersonville
• Named after Hubbard Saunders

Tyree Springs
Tyree Springs Rd
Tyree Springs
A mineral springs resort established by R C Tyree between 1814 and 1822

• Presidents Andrew Jackson and James K Polk were guests
• Resort burned during Civil War and later rebuilt
• Finally closed in the early 1930's

PEOPLE
Named for General Jethro Sumner

• He was born in 1733 and died 1807
• Served in the Revolutionary War

Tennessee Gen Web

SCHOOLS

ELEMENTARY

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

HIGH SCHOOLS

Post Offices

HISTORICAL TIME LINE
DATE EVENT

HOMES
Oliver P Butler House
Fountain Head

• Built 1820's by Henry Sarver
• Later owned by Oliver P Butler, a county judge

Rogana
Bethpage Pike
Rogana

• Built by Hugh Rogan 1800
• Rogan came to Nashborough 1780
• Swapped 640 acres of land near present site of Vanderbilt University for site
• House was used for Mass station for Catholics in area until 1844

HOSPITALS

PARKS

OTHER BLEDSOE INFO

RAILROADS
GALLATIN:
RAILROAD SERVED BY: Seaboard Systems Railroad

HENDERSONVILLE:
RAILROAD SERVED BY: CSX Transportation

PORTLAND
RAILROAD SERVED BY: Seaboard Systems

STATISTICS
SUMNER COUNTY:
SIZE
Square Miles: 529

POPULATION
1900 26,072
1950 33,533
1970 56,107
1980 85,790
1990 103,281
1994 109,700

ELEVATION
Feet: 600 Ft

TEMPERATURE
Yearly Average: 59.4 F
January Average High: 47.6 F
July Average High: 90.2 F
January Average Low: 29.0 F
July Average Low: 69.0 F
Average Growing Season 180 to 220 days
Normal first freeze October 30 Normal last freeze April 7

PRECIPITATION
Yearly Average Rainfall: 45.0 In
Yearly Average Snowfall: 8.1 In

VISITOR CENTERS
Sumner County Tourism

By:William A. Sellers, Jr.

I lived in Gallatin, Tn. from 1950 until 1953. Was radio announcer at
Radio Station WHIN which was owned by a partnership of 5 men, two of which
were Randy Wood of Randy's Record Shop, and a Mr. Perkins who owned a
drug store in Gallatin.  Justin Tubb, the son of country singer ERnest
Tubb, began his career in show business as a DJ for station WHIN.  My wife
was a Registered Nurse and was employed by Dr. Robert Moore, who operated
a clinic in Gallatin.  When I first arrived in Gallatin, I had room and
board with a lovely couple John and Blanche Hancock.  Mr. Hancock owned
Hancock's Tobacco Warehouse. Most of my off hours in the evening were
spent sitting and chatting with the second trick telegraph operator Mr. V.O.
Roney at the Louisville & Nashville Railroad station. Our years in
Gallatin were very pleasant.     

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