After Indian Removal in the late 1830s, the region began to fill with European-American settlers, some of whom used enslaved African Americans as laborers. The Civil War interrupted development; by the late 19th century, the community had two country stores and a few dwellings, and was surrounded by farms. Construction of railroads in the post-Civil War period, brought new businesses to the region. The community was incorporated on January 1, 1882, the same year that the Louisville & Nashville Railroad came through, to serve the marble industry.