The Location
William Nolen, his wife, Sarah, and their five children were passing through the area in 1797 when their wagon wheel broke. Forced to stop and survey his surroundings, Nolen noted the rich soil and abundance of natural resources, and decided to make what would become Nolensville his home. Built along Mill Creek, the town was incorporated in 1839. The town boasts many structures from the 19th century still in use as homes and businesses, within this historic area which in the 19th century was the center of Nolensville. Of note is the Waller Funeral Home which has been in existence since 1876, the Nolensville Mill Company from 1890 to 1986 and the Nolensville Co-Op Creamery from 1921-1957 which made butter known throughout the area.
The Area
Williamson County, Tennessee is located south of Nashville and was established on October 26, 1799 and named for Dr. Hugh Williamson, surgeon general of the North Carolina militia, member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Constitution. The county prospered until the Civil War came. The Battle of Franklin was one of the most decisive of the Civil War leaving over 8,000 dead or wounded in five hours of fierce fighting and turning every home and building in town into a hospital. Williamson County settled down to an agricultural based economy after the war. Tobacco became the main cash crop. It took nearly120 years for the county's economy to reach pre-war levels. The 1960's began a period of rapid growth, largely in part to the interstate system. Today, Williamson County's population is 183,182 (2010 census) and it is a wealthy county with a strong preservation effort of history and heritage along with a rich quality of life.
The Jack Trail GeoTour
The Jack Trail GeoTour is a series of geocaches along the backroads and small towns of Middle Tennessee. There is no fixed itinerary, like on a traditional trail, but rather a series of points of interest in a self-guided, goal-oriented plan. We have created a special passport, which you can download here, which lets you track your progress as you hunt specially placed geocaches along the tour. This passport will help you collect “code words” to qualify for special geocoins for completion of the GeoTour.
