Resource shifts and adjustments in three counties of Tennessee's central basin from 1860-1960

In Tennessee during the era of 1860 to 1960, change became one of the more persistent forces in society. The factors influencing change have not yet been fully explained, and the economic aspects have not been emphasized. Many of the changes or adjustments and the outlook for the future are not so apparent unless data for a long period of time are studied. Several studies have been made of the agricultural resources of the Central Basin Counties as they presently exist, but no previous program has attempted to document historically the shifts in resource use. This economic history of three selected counties of the Central Basin should provide insight into why greater shifts took place in the Tennessee agricultural economy and provide a better understanding of Tennessee agriculture as well as insight into what may occur. The study is organized historically and emphasizes the economic aspects of selected changes that occur from 1860 to 1960. The objectives of this study are: (1) To document production and resource allocation changes and patterns from 1860 to 1960 for Maury, Rutherford and Williamson, three contigious Central Basin Counties (Figure 1); (2) To search out, over time, the factors influencing change; and (3)To indicate the effects resource shifts and adjustments have had on the ability of the selected area and the Central Basin to compete with other regions in agricultural production.