Est. 1852 · Incorporated 1853 · Bedford County, Tennessee
Wartrace
Cradle of the Tennessee Walking Horse
A railroad town where the depot whistle gave way to front-porch quiet. Come as an outsider and leave as family.
Pay Water Bill
Online through NexBillPay, or set up ACH at Town Hall.
Pay online →Meetings & Agendas
Every board's schedule, agendas, and meeting documents.
See agendas →Permits & Forms
Building permits, rentals, records requests — every form in one place.
Find a form →Rent a Facility
Pavilions from $25, the gym, or Jernigan Field for big events.
See rentals →The little town where time stands still
A town built by the railroad, kept by its people
Andrew Jackson is said to have carved “this is War Trail Creek”onto a beech tree near present-day Wartrace. When Tennessee's first railroad came through Bedford County in 1852, the settlement became Wartrace Depot — and the town has kept its depot-era character ever since, with about 140 structures on the National Register of Historic Places.
We're internationally known as the cradle of the Tennessee Walking Horse and home of Strolling Jim, the first World Grand Champion. You'll find his pasture, our historic Main Street, and eleven historical markers all within a short walk.
Wartrace Depot · Station Stops
A short timetable of town history
At your service
Town Hall, made simple
Water & Sewer
Bills go out the last day of the month and are due by the 12th. Leak adjustments, new service, and ACH autopay.
View →Building Permits
Required before you build, move, add to, or alter a structure. Procedures and the application, start to finish.
View →City Court
Traffic court meets every other month on a Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Fees, first-offender policy, and how to pay a citation.
View →Parks & Recreation
Winnette-Ayers Park, the gymnasium, Community Center, and Jernigan Field — with rental rates and forms.
View →Police & Fire
Emergency numbers, the volunteer fire department, storm shelter locations, and free smoke-detector installs.
View →Resident Services
Brush pick-up, garbage options, property taxes, animal control, and answers to “how do I…?”
View →Public meetings
The Meeting Board
All meetings are held at Town Hall, 29 Main St. E., and are open to the public.
Meetings · Town Hall
Around the year
Events in Wartrace
- July
July 4th Celebration
Independence Day in the park, small-town style.
- August
Town-Wide Yard Sale
The whole town sets up shop for one weekend.
- September
Wartrace MusicFest
Free downtown music festival born from the 1979 Pickin' & Fiddlers Convention — performances at the Wellhouse bandstand and Jernigan Field.
- October
Halloween in the Park
Trick-or-treating and family fun at Winnette-Ayers Park.
- Summer
Music Under the Wellhouse
Live music evenings at the historic sulphur wellhouse downtown.
- Year-round
Movie Nights & more
Check the community calendar for movie nights and special events.
Town Hall
We're easy to find
29 Main St. E., Wartrace, TN 37183 · (931) 389-6144
Open Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m. — half day on Wednesdays.