LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — The Moore County Historical Society has become a unofficial sister organization to the Moore County Archive here in Lynchburg. Their official Facebook page contains hundreds of photo, document, and other relics that tell not only the story of the distillery but also the town of Lynchburg. Part of that unique history includes the consolidation of the Moore County and Lynchburg governments into a single entity in 1988, the Metropolitan Government of Lynchburg, Moore County, Tennessee.

There are only three metro governments in the entire state of Tennessee. Davidson, Moore, and Trousdale counties. Metro Nashville consolidated in 1950 followed by Metro Moore County in 1988. Interestingly, the referendum to become a metropolitan government in Trousdale County passed in 2001 by a single vote.

But why did Moore County become metro? Whose idea was it? And what problems did the new consolidated form of government seek to solve? What was the process like?

You can find out the answers to all these question and ask your own on Sunday, November 13, when former County Executive Bill Thomas speaks to the Moore County Historical Society on the topic of, “The Formation of Metro Moore County.” Thomas served as Metro Executive beginning in 1998.

The meeting will take place at the Lynchburg Masonic Lodge beginning at 2 p.m. All Historical Society meetings are open to the general public and free to attend. If you need additional details or question, contact Michael Northcutt at [email protected] (931-434-5797) or George Stone at [email protected] (931-581-2621). •

{The Lynchburg Times is the only locally owned newspaper in Lynchburg and also the only woman-owned newspaper in Tennessee. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}