On December 3, 1860, a man named William Crutcher purchased 533 acres in the southern part of Dickson County. This land contained the area that would become the city of Dickson. Crutcher built the first building in what is now Dickson. It was a small log building located near the site of the present Bank of Dickson on North Main Street.
During the Civil War (1862-1865), a Federal Railroad was built through Dickson County that traveled through William Crutcher's property just passed his log cabin. The railroad was built by African American Union Soldiers. The area near Crutcher's cabin became known as "Mile Post 42," because it was exactly 42 miles from Nashville.
"Union soldiers confiscated Crutchers building. They dismantled it and moved it to Cox Spring (an area behind present day Burger King on Mathis Drive) where they rebuilt it near the water source. They used the building as an office while they were constructing the Federal Railroad.
After the Civil War ended, the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad took over the operations of the Federal Railroad that the Union Army had completed. The railroad soon expanded and started carrying passengers.
October 7, 1867, Conrad Berringer purchased the land formerly owned by Crutcher that had become known as "Mile Post 42." He immediately had a town laid out and began selling lots. By 1873 the town was incorporated and named "Dickson."