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The history of Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro's courthouse square, university community and neighborhood corridors support a deep independent-business scene.
People who shaped Murfreesboro
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Murfreesboro Storytellers (June 2017) TN History for Kids
A local history film shared by City of Murfreesboro, TN - Murfreesboro CityTV.
Watch on YouTube ↗Famous people born in Murfreesboro
See all 48 famous people
- 1811
A new county seat
The Tennessee General Assembly selected the site for Rutherford County's seat and named it Cannonsburgh.
Murfreesboro city reference ↗ - 1812
Murfreesboro is chartered
The town adopted the shortened Murfreesboro name when it received its formal charter.
Murfreesboro city reference ↗ - 1818
Tennessee's capital
Murfreesboro became the capital of Tennessee, a role it held until 1826.
Murfreesboro city reference ↗ - 1862
Battle of Stones River
Union and Confederate armies fought the major Civil War engagement known as the Battle of Stones River.
Murfreesboro city reference ↗ - 1911
A teachers college
The state created Middle Tennessee State Normal School, the institution that became Middle Tennessee State University.
Murfreesboro city reference ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk Murfreesboro’s historic Public Square, which surrounds the 1859 Rutherford County Courthouse. Check current opening hours before visiting Oaklands Mansion.
For deeper research, the Murfreesboro library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.