Saulsbury is a town in rural Hardeman County, Tennessee. It is located along State Highway 57 in southwest Hardeman County. As of the 2020 census, Saulsbury had a population of 112. Saulsbury is the least-populated incorporated municipality in Tennessee.
History
Saulsbury's historical roots stem from a former settlement named Berlin, Tennessee, which was located one mile south of the current location of Saulsbury. Two regional mail roads—one from Bolivar to Ripley, Mississippi, and another from LaGrange to Corinth, Mississippi. These mail roads met at an intersection which would form into a trading center. In 1839 a post office was established there, and Berlin would be incorporated in 1846, and within five years it would be home to 351 people. Upon the completion of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, Berlin was bypassed due to one landowner's refusal to sell their property to the railroad. A track was instead laid one mile north of Berlin, on land that was owned by Burrell Sauls and Berry Futrell. The finished railroad station and track would be called Sauls-Berry Depot. Eventually Berlin would be deserted as people moved to the new settlement and in 1856 Saulsbury was incorporated. One person was killed, four others were injured. Fourteen houses and mobile homes were destroyed, and twenty-seven others were damaged. Power lines and trees also sustained significant damage.
As a result, the town of Saulsbury installed a tornado siren at the local fire station, the only one in the area at the time. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.
Demographics
As of the census
Arts and culture
In the 1970s the Saulsbury Methodist Church, which was built in 1913, was deeded to town for the community library. Upon the completion of fundraising, the town was able to renovate the building; they installed heating and air conditioning, and made it accessible. A number of antebellum homes and buildings are preserved in Saulsbury. The town has three active community clubs: the Saulsbury Community Club, the Nifty Needles Women's Club, and the Friendship Club.
Infrastructure
Major Thoroughfares
- State Route 57