Page Contents for Adams, Tennessee

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Community events.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Tennessee state capital is Nashville.
The population of Adams is approximately 566 (2000), 633 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 236 (1990), 224 (2010).
The amount of land area in Adams is 6.338 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Adams is 2.4 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Adams to Washington DC is 592 miles.
The distance to the Tennessee state capital is 32 miles. (as the crow flies)
Adams is positioned 36.58 degrees north of the equator and 87.06 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Adams elevation is 560 feet above sea level.
Adams median income is $ 32,500 (2000).
The Adams median home price is $ 69,200 (2000).

Location

about 10 miles northwest of Springfield, Tennessee, and 7 miles south of Guthrie, Kentucky. Other nearby communities include Adairville and Trenton both in Kentucky and Cedar Hill, Pleasant View, Springfield and Coopertown all in Tennessee.
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History & History Related Items

The first settlement at Adams, Tennessee was in 1780, when William and Martha Johnston and their family settled there on Red River, near Elk Fork Creek. The settlers in what would later become Adams took part in the famous revival along Red River in 1800. This revival was at first known as the Red River Revival. A couple of years later, having spread over most of the South, it became know as "The Great Revival." Some of the outdoor meetings, known as 'campmeetings,' had between 5,000 and 10,000 in attendance. This at a time when the area was still on the frontier, and population was still quite sparse. One of the regular camp meeting sites was Johnston's Campground, at Adams, on Sturgeon Creek. In the 1800's, this site was often referred to as the place "where all that speaking in tongues went on."

Adams, Tennessee was originally known as "Red River." During the War Between the States, the town was burned by the Union Army. Only three buildings were left standing. An important supply route for Confederate forces stationed at Fort Donelson ran thru Adams. This was a branch of the Edgefield and Kentucky Railroad. To protect this supply route, the Confederates constructed a small fort at Adams. Overlooking the river, the purpose of this fort was to guard the railroad bridge. The Fort consisted of a round blockhouse with three rings of breastworks. It was known as Fort Redmond, until it was abandoned and garrisoned by Federal forces. They renamed it "Red River Blockhouse Number One." Fort Redmond was the scene of two battles between Union and Confederate forces, twice being recaptured by the Confederates. On one such occasion, the Confederate forces consisted mostly of local farm boys, who assisted a company of the 2nd Kentucky cavalry in the storming and capture of the fort. It was perhaps in retaliation for this that the town was burned by the Union Army.

The small community became known first as Adams Station for a local businessman, Reuben Adams. This was when the first depot and post office were built around 1860. Adams was incorporated on 10 November 1869. This incorporation was repealed in 1899 and re-incorporation did not occur until around 1909. Station was dropped from the name on 10 February 1898. This site has some historical information and some nice pictures of the area.

Learn about the legend of the Bell Witch Haunting and more about the characters along with some pictures. Here is another site about the legend of the Bell Witch.
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Attractions

Historic Bell Witch Cave
Keysburg Rd.
Adams, Tennessee
Phone: 615-696-3055
Closed part of the year, please call for details.
This property and the cave was once owned by John Bell, who was associated with the famous legend of the Bell Witch.

Port Royal State Historic Park
3300 Old Clarksville Hwy
Adams, Tennessee
Phone: 931-358-9696
One of Tennessee's earliest communiites and trading centers. Interpretive walks and talks upon requests.

The BellWitch Opry, at the old Bell School on the main highway, every Saturday night at 6:30p, good country and bluegrass music

Bellwood Cemetery, the burial ground of John Bell's relatives and other notables, with an obelisk memorial to the Bell Family.
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Adams City Government

City of Adams

Adams City Hall and Fire Department
7721 Hwy.41 North
Adams, Tennessee 37010
Phone: 615-696-2593

Adams Chamber

Springfield-Robertson County Chamber of Commerce
100 5th Ave West
Springfield, TN 37172

Adams Community Events

July each year
Threshermen's Show
The third weekend in July is the occasion of the annual Threshermen's Show at Adams, in the Middle Tennessee county of Robertson. This event features antique steam threshing machines, steam engines, antique tractor pulls, mules pulls, Confederate re-enactors, a blacksmith's forge, and many more exciting events. Also on the grounds is a log cabin built in the early to mid1800's. The Threshermen's Show lasts for two days (Friday and Saturday), and draws between 4,000 and 5,000 people each year. It has been an annual event for more than 40 years.

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September each year
KateFest 2002
Held annually in September
Bell School Grounds
Adams, Tennessee
An Annual festival celebrating the local "Bell Witch" legend, which has gained worldwide notoriety over the years.
Live music, lectures and workshops by prominent researchers, book signings, food, kids' area, Bell Witch museum, "mystery dare" events, costumed guides, and lots more!

Adams Organizations

Springfield-Robertson County Chamber of Commerce
100 5th Ave West
Springfield, TN 37172
Adams

Miscellany

The population of Adams was:
1990 - 587
2000 - 566