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About Murray/Calloway
County
With easy access to the
interstate highway system, Calloway County's central location is within a
day's drive from the most of the eastern United States. Calloway County,
part of the Jackson Purchase Region, has an area of 384 square miles and
is 550 feet above sea level. The terrain is rolling wooded countryside
with corn, soybeans, wheat and tobacco as the primary crops.
Murray, the county seat, is situated in extreme southwest Kentucky, Murray
is only eight miles from the Tennessee state line, 15 miles west of
Kentucky Lake (and the Land Between the Lakes), and 125 miles northwest of
Nashville. Murray Calloway County is located in the Central Time Zone.
Interested in antiques? Just south of Murray is the county's only other
incorporated city, Hazel. Most of the Main Street shops in Hazel-to the
tune of 45,000 square feet of space-are an antique hunter's delight with
over 15 stores and malls.
Murray, Calloway County History
Calloway
County, was formed in 1822, the 72nd in the Commonwealth. Parcelled from
Hickman County, it encompasses 395 square miles. It was named in honor of
Col. Richard Callaway. (Note: throughout the history you will find two
spellings of this name: Callaway and Calloway - depending upon the books
used in the reference).
At one time it included what is now Marshall County. It is bounded on the
North by Marshall County, East by the Tennessee River, South by the
Tennessee state line and West by Graves County.
The county included: lands (in the western section) as flat as prairie;
once known as 'barren lands', but later covered with heavy timber.
The soils were particularly fertile and well adapted to the growth of
"Gold Leaf Tobacco"--the chief product of the county. At one time, there
were as many as 15 tobacco factories here.
The principal waterways included the Blood River, Clark's River, Rockhouse,
Bee and Jonathan Creeks.
The first settlement was probably in 1818, by David Jones and James
Stewart from Caldwell County. This was in the vicinity of the settlement
of Wadesboro. Wadesboro was also the site of the first county seat.
This community flourished with over 300 citizens. It became a center for
land speculation. Many emigrants as well as the speculators came here in
search of vacant lands when the public lands were offered for sale by the
legislature. It was indeed a thriving town with much accompanying
excitement and activity. It quickly lost its prominence when the lands
were parceled and sold. It fell into ruins with many of the citizens
moving away. The county seat was then moved to Murray.
During the time of the Civil War, Calloway County was a center for intense
Confederate feelings. As many as 500 men joined the Confederate ranks,
with approximately 200 to the Federal forces.
It was the scene of many skirmishes during the later part of the War. Many
small bands of marauders, wearing both uniforms frequented the area. They
plundered many, many citizens of their food, money, horses and were
responsible for 30-40 murders. But with peace and time the hostilities and
grievances of the war were stilled and the citizenry once again could
enjoy their beautiful county.
Fort Heiman, in the southwest corner of Calloway County, for a time was
occupied by Confederate forces under General Abram Buford, with one
brigade of cavalry, one regiment (3rd of Kentucky) infantry (under Col.
Holt), and a battery of light artillery. These were under the control of
Gen. Nathan B. Forrest when he made the successful assault on
Johnsonville, Tennessee in 1864. Col. A. P. Thompson, a native son of the
county, was killed in the attack on the fort at Paducah in March, 1864.
Richard Callaway, for whom Calloway County was named, had a long history
in Kentucky. He was part of the group of Col. Boone's in 1775 that began
the First Road of Trace from Long Island on the Holston River to
Boonesborough on the Kentucky River.
His name appeared for Boonesborough in 1775 as a representative of the
Colony of Transylvania.
The first ferry to be established in the state was at Boonesborough in
October 1779 and was by the act of the Virginia legislature given and
granted to Richard Callaway.
The first families to reach Boonesborough were among others, Richard
Callaway's, in or about September 1775.
Richard Callaway was credited with the first crop - corn - raised in
Madison County. He as well as at least 20 other men accomplished this in
1775.
History of Murray
Murray, circa. 1870's and county
seat was named for the Hon. John L. Murray (a member of Congress for 8
years). It was incorporated in 1844
In the early 1870's the population of this lovely town was 600 - 800. It
was a thriving and bustling business center boasting of six retail stores,
stream flour and sawmills, wagon and carriage factory, tanyard, twelve
mechanical shops, two tobacco factories, two hotels, two churches, a
newspaper (The Murray Gazette). The Murray Institute was here and offered
a fine education to both men and women.
Murray is the home of Murray State University, first known as Murray State
Teachers College and founded in 1922.
Nathan B. Stubblefield, a native of Murray, was a pioneer experimentalist
and inventor. It has been said that he was the first to transmit the human
voice through the medium we know now as, radio. The experiment was
performed in 1902 across a swampy area that is now part of the college
campus.
Much controversy, argument, recrimination surrounded this accomplishment.
His patent was recorded in 1908, a full 20 years after a patent was
granted for this achievement to Lucius J. Phelps, of New York.
Smaller Communities in Calloway
County
New Concord - Known is 1835 as
Concord was incorporated as New Concord in 1868. It had a population of
about 150 and offered five stores, a tobacco factory, wagon and carriage
shop, a church and academy.
Wadesboro - a small village north
of Murray had a store, hotel blacksmith shop, tanyard and two churches.
