A rich sense of history surrounds and influences Collierville, the second oldest town in Shelby County.

In the middle 1830's the Collierville settlement was located on Poplar Pike (then State Line Road ) and was once part of Tennessee and Mississippi, due to a surveyor's error (that was later corrected in 1838).  In 1836, Collierville received its name because an entrepreneur named Jesse R. Collier laid out a tract of land into lots and bought space in the Memphis Enquirer which advertised "The Town of Collier for Sale."  The town was first incorporated in 1850, east of its present site, with Richard Ramsey as the first mayor.

In the 1860's, "Sherman 's March to the Sea" caused an end to Collierville's first town. On Sunday morning October 11, 1863 Union General William T. Sherman and his solders defended the train depot

In 1867, Harrison Irby and Virginus Leake bought approximately ninety acres at our present town's location. The acreage was then divided and sold in lots. The date of Collierville's second incorporation was February 17, 1870 with James B. Abbington serving as mayor.

At that time, the Collierville Town Square was the business center of town and enhanced Collierville's ability to become a progressive community following the Civil War.

The Historic Town Square , listed on the National Register of Historic Places, continues to be a major source of pride among all Collierville residents today.  In the center of this business district is Confederate Park which is a monument to the southern tradition that has been lost in many larger cities. The Park has served as the site for various events and festivals.  In the past, such events were the Cheese Carnival and Watermelon Festival.  Many of these traditional events have continued and are celebrated as Fair on the Square, Mulberry Fine Arts Festival, Christmas in Collierville and many others.  Around 1876, a two-story bandstand was constructed in Confederate Park where it stood until 1955 when it was destroyed by a tornado. It was replaced ten years later by a wrought iron, cedar-shake, octagon-shaped gazebo that remains in the heart of the square today.

The 1900's were a time of tremendous growth for Collierville as it served as the "trade center" of the cotton industry for several surrounding counties. In the late 1920's when the boll weevil's untimely visit occurred, Collierville began to develop the dairy industry. By 1933, Collierville's importance as a dairy center led to the establishment of a cheese plant by Swift & Co. Soon, Collierville became the cheese-making capital of West Tennessee .

By 1953, industry was fast becoming a sizable contributor to Collierville's economy. Companies such as Hart's Manufacturing, Wonder Products, Walker Machine Products and The Bodine Company provided employment for many in the Collierville area.  Once a sleepy Southern town, Collierville is now a dynamic community that boasts friendly people, outstanding services, scenic beauty and prosperous businesses. Home to approximately 42,000 people and facilities such as Federal Express's state-of-the-art Information Technology campus, Baptist Memorial Hospital, Carrier Corporation and several other manufacturing companies, Collierville has become a much-desired community in which to live and do business.

Throughout Collierville's history, the commitment to quality living and dedication to preserving the past has remained constant.  As our Historic Town Square thrives, it serves as a reminder of our humble beginnings and as a beacon for a prosperous future.