Murfreesboro is located about 45 miles from Nashville, it has been called a suburb of Nashville but technically is not. As one of Tennessee's fastest growing cities, those moving to Murfreesboro will discover that there is a lot to do and see in this historical city.
Economy:
The median household income for Murfreesboro is higher than that of the rest of the state of Tennessee. The cost of living there is quite a bit lower than the national average. Unemployment is only about 8.2 percent there. The major employers in Murfreesboro include a State Farms Insurance Operations Center, a Verizon Wireless call center, General Mills/Pillsbury, and Johnson Controls Inc. Because of its location at the geographical enter of the state, Murfreesboro is also a retail shopping hub for a great deal of the state.
History:
In 1811, the Tennessee State Legislature established a town to be the county seat for Rutherford County. Originally called ‘Cannonburgh', the land was renamed Murfreesboro at the request of the man who owned the land, in honor of his friend Colonel Hardy Murfree. Mainly an agricultural area, farms grew corn, cotton and tobacco in the area. By 1853 there were three colleges there. The city was the sight of a major battle in the Civil War, later to be known as the Battle of Murfreesboro. There were 23, 515 causalities in that battle, making it the bloodiest battle percentage-wise, of the entire war. After the war and into the 1900s, the city established another college, this time for women. It has made a steady path away from agriculture and into more modern areas of manufacturing and industry, and has continued to grow steadily.
Tourism:
Murfreesboro has a number of museums, including the Oakland's Historic House Museum, a 19th century house involved in a Civil War battle. The Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village shows a working village circa 1830 and includes a grist mill and a doctor's office. The Center for the Arts has exhibits and concerts. In January, there is the Main Street JazzFest. The beginning of July, the big festival of the year is Uncle Dave Macon Days, with music, buck dancing and a clogging contest.