The
City of
Dresden serves as the county seat and currently has a population of 2,488 (1990). It was named by
Mears Warner (1799-1863), who initially came to Weakley
County as a commissioner to survey and lay out the future township. He requested the name in
honor of the birthplace of his father which was Dresden, Germany.
The
property where Dresden is presently situated was originally a 39 acre gift from John Terrell
and a 17.5 acre purchase from Simpson Orgon and Ewing Wilson. The property was divided into
90 lots with a central block of land to be used for the construction of a county courthouse. In April
of 1825 the first public auction for the sale of town lots was conducted.
Dresden was incorporated in 1827 and later expanded in 1843. The town was reincorporated in
1845 and later again in 1869. The corporate charter was repealed in 1885 in a shallow effort to
drive saloons from the town. It would be eleven years after that repeal before another city
government was formed. The most recent charter has since been amended several times, the last
two changes were in 1968 and 1980.
The Nashville and Northwestern Railroad completed a rail line through
Dresden in 1861. 
Unfortunately, there were already railroad stations at Gleason, Ralston, Martin and Gardner which
drastically effected trade in the community and drew business away from
Dresden. 
Before the
railroads were built, Dresden was the center of commerce for the entire county and prior to the
Civil War it enjoyed a prosperous business environment.
Notable citizens from Dresden include: Former Governor Ned Ray McWherter, Union sympathizer Emerson Etheridge, United States Congressman and Federal Judge Finis James Garrett
| Ned Ray McWherter | Emerson Etheridge | Finis James Garrett |
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