Located about 30 miles due east of Nashville out I-40 East, Wilson County is home to 88,000 people. Approximately 35,000 of that population resides in the county’s three main towns—Lebanon (county seat), Mt. Juliet, and Watertown—which provides a good indication that its 583 square miles still encompass a pretty rural setting.
Major David Wilson, a Revolutionary War hero, Wilson County was created in 1799 and has, over the years, been called home by many politicians and military figures. The county’s Civil War legacy is as strong as any in Tennessee, and in 1912, a statue of Confederate General Robert H. Hatton was erected on the square in Lebanon. He is buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery along with 125 other sons of the South. Around the time that Hatton and the 7th Tennessee infantry were defending Richmond in 1862, a fierce battle occurred in Lebanon, when Col. John Hunt Morgan and his Daring Raiders were surprised by Union soldiers. Morgan eventually escaped across the Cumberland River. The county’s military leanings have continued since. During World War II, the 2nd Army trained in Lebanon. Cumberland University served as the maneuvers headquarters for General George S. Patton. In fact, a monument at the university honors those men and their accomplishments.
Settled around the same time as Lebanon and nestled in among the hills of eastern Wilson County is the small town of Watertown. Originally known as the Three Forks Community, Watertown was renamed for the Waters family who resided there. In the early 1900s, a massive fire burned the town. It was rebuilt and today holds much of that original turn-of-the-century look. Watertown is a great place to visit for a quaint afternoon of antique shopping and good country dining.
Located in western Wilson County, Mt. Juliet was formed in 1835 and is now the second largest town in the county. Mt. Juliet is known by many as the “Purple Martin Capitol of Tennessee” and is home to country music entertainers Charlie Daniels and Tracy Lawrence. Meanwhile, Lebanon is nicknamed “The Antique City of the South,” drawing thousands of antiques and collectibles shoppers yearly. There is also a hugely popular outlet mall, Prime Outlets, which has over 60 name-brand stores that attract 2.5 million customers a year. Parkland Flea Market and Shopper’s Alley are two flea markets that are open on weekends, and Watertown is the home of the Original Mile-Long Yard Sale.
For those who like to stay active or just take in a bit of fresh air, Wilson County offers several nice public golf courses, as well as two state—and three local—parks for swimming, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, camping and fishing. Cedars of Lebanon State Park, located five miles south of Lebanon, has more than 650,000 visitors annually. Probably the biggest thing to happen in Wilson County of late—and a huge boon to area car racing fans—is the construction of the $125,000,000
Nashville Superspeedway, (615) 547-RACE, in Lebanon, one of only three concrete tracks on the NASCAR circuit. With its seating capacity of 50,000, along with state-of-the-art media center and lighting system, the track hosted its inaugural event on Apr. 14, 2001, with the running of the Busch Series Pepsi 300.
There are numerous dining spots in Wilson County, with cuisine to suit just about any taste buds. Among them is Mt. Juliet’s TaylorMade Café, (615) 758-2050, which operates out of a 1920s yellow frame house and specializes in sandwiches wrapped in flavored tortillas. The proprietors make their own salsa with fresh cilantro, jalapenos and other ingredients, with muffins and croissant melts offered for breakfast. The café also has an espresso bar with coffees from Bongo Java.
Lebanon hosts the weeklong Wilson County Fair in August, and besides other traditional community celebrations such as Fourth of July and Christmas, Wilson County events include the Watertown Jazz Festival in July and the Native American Pow Wow in Mt. Juliet in September. The county also plays host to various festive, theme-based excursion trains from Nashville throughout the year. Among the local businesses of note are the Moss Florist Seed Co. Greenhouses, (615) 758-5972, which celebrates their 50th anniversary this year. This garden center offers free gardening and decorating seminars and has a fresh flower market, a ceramic collectibles shop and a picture-framing service. Lebanon is proud to be the home of the original Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, and arrangements can be made for small groups to tour the Cracker Barrel Headquarters.
For more information contact the Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, 149 Public Square, Lebanon, TN 37087-2751; chamber phone: (615) 444-5503; tourism phone: (615) 453-9655; Web site: www.wilsoncounty.com.
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