Lewis County Tennessee has always been a destination for seekers and explorers. Early explores and settlers traveled through the lands that became Lewis County on the historic Natchez Trace, including Meriwether Lewis for whom the county is named. In the 1700’s and 1800’s, many early travelers on this route of southern and westward settlement decided to stay and claim their place in the county’s rich bottomlands and hardwood forests located along pristine streams. Prior to their arrival, the Cherokees called this rich and abundant area home.

The next group to come were the Swiss who settled the New Switzerland Historic Township in 1895. Their new community was platted in perfect squares with wide streets in keeping with Swiss traditions. Settlers from Germany also arrived during this period and organized Hohenwald – The City of High Forests. In 1897 the towns merged. Hohenwald became the [...]