Mount Juliet (Images of America)

Mount Juliet was born on the headwaters of Stoner's (Lick) Creek, which was named after 18th-century long hunter Michael Stoner. The small agrarian community had a handful of families who raised cattle and were dedicated to digging into the rocky soil, planting crops to make ends meet. Plans moved full-steam ahead for the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad. God-fearing country folks filled churches, while others lifted their spirits at Eagle Tavern. Some historians say the city's moniker derived from a manor in County Kilkenny, Ireland. As time progressed, images of the bucolic setting faded, and a modern-day frontier of infrastructure took shape. Adjacent to Nashville, the country music capital, Mount Juliet was in a prime position for growth. The city became home for producing pioneer Owen Bradley, who helped make Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn legendary entertainers, and country icon Charlie Daniels. The "City Between the Lakes" is now one of the state's fastest growing communities, boasting nearly 400 new houses each year and a new business permit every two days.