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The Earliest Record of the Town that Became Algood is June 24, 1820
The Earliest Record
of the Town that Became Algood is June 24, 1820
Around the turn of the century, Algood was the largest town between
Knoxville and Nashville in both population and industry. As that
time it was known as the “Chicken Capital of the World”. The Putnam
County Library began in Algood. Algood was the first town in the
area to get electricity.
President Andrew Jackson once spent the night at White plains near
Algood when he was traveling home to The Hermitage from Washington.
Algood was first settled in 1857, but was not incorporated until
1911.
On April 24, 1858 James McKinney sold land to Mr. Algood, a
circuit-riding preacher. He moved Nancy Moore, his wife, to the new
farm and built a log house with two rooms divided by a “dog trot”.
The house was located on what is now Main Street near the old Algood
School.
A significant factor in Algood’s growth occurred in 1893 when a
spoke and handle company opened, becoming the first manufacturer to
utilize the abundant supply of wood existing at the time.
In 1894 a general store was established, and shortly thereafter, the
Nashville and Knoxville Railroad line was extended to Algood from
Cookeville on the west. The railroad also connected Algood with
Monterey to the east.
In 1911, a petition signed by several interested citizens of Algood
was sent to the governor, asking for passage of bill (Senate 884) to
incorporate the town.
From 1911 to 1970, Algood’s population growth was slow but steady,
and it remained under 1,000 until the mid-1960’s. Algood annexed a
large amount of territory which brought the 1970 population to about
1,808. By 1990, the population was 2,400.
Amendments in 1994 and 1995 changed the organization from a Board of
Mayor and Alderman to a City Council, consisting of a Mayor and four
councilmen, each having equal votes on all matters.
The 1998 Special Census resulted in a population of 2,866, a 19.4%
growth in the past eight years. Today the population is 3,172.
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