LEIPER'S FORK, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tucked away in the hills and valleys of Williamson County along the Natchez Trace, you'll find the historic and iconic village of Leiper's Fork.

Leiper's Fork used to be called Bentontown, then Hillsboro. It got the name it has today in 1818 from the creek that passes through the village. The creek is named after brothers Hugh Leiper — who surveyed the area — and Captain James Leiper, who died in the Battle of the Bluffs at Fort Nashboro.

Some of the words used to describe the village today are quaint, enchanting and charming.

"It's intentional," Mayor of both Williamson County and Leiper's Fork, Rogers Anderson, said. "They want to have that tourism-feel to it. They want to have that time lost — 50 and 100 years ago and people come out there wanting to reminisce and enjoy the slower pace of life."

Anderson said the people help make the place special. The unincorporated village is home to about 650 people with many more living in the picturesque hills and valleys that surround Leiper's Fork.

"The attractability of it is I think [that] it's kind of nestled in the valleys out there," Anderson added. "There's a lot of history in that community and folks that have moved there can live and work right at home and live in a community that takes them back to a time in their life.

The Fork, as it is sometimes called, is famous for being home to the famous. That is the beauty of Leiper's Fork for these celebrities looking to escape the limelight for a little while. The inhabitants have an unwritten rule: let the famous enjoy being regular people when they are home.

"We live in a community with very special people that are known throughout the world," Anderson said. "But when they have their blue jeans on [and] when they have their tennis shoes on, they're one of us."

Visitors from around the world have taken in the sights and sounds at Leiper's Fork for live music, Southern-style food, eclectic artwork and to just get away from the hustle and bustle of life.

"It's the music in the evenings and the pretty weather that allows them to go into their garden area [and] their courtyard and our facilities," Anderson said. "We have a parks and rec facility out there and it's always full with people and activity, so it's a great, great spot."

Those who call Leiper's Fork home know that it's a special place and they plan to keep it that way. The whole village is on the National Register of Historic Places and is protected by the Land Trust for Tennessee, which saves it from overdevelopment forever.

"Leiper's Fork is very well-protected and insulated, but there's still room for people to come out and visit, enjoy it and see a little slice of something that used to be," Anderson said.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/on-tour-middle-tn/leipers-fork/