Editing Brentwood, Tennessee (section)

===European-American settlement===
When early European-American settlers arrived in this area in the late 1700s from east of the [[Appalachian Mountains]], it was largely being used as a hunting ground by Native American tribes from [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Alabama]]. This resulted in many conflicts as the whites encroached on their territory and competed for their resources. In 1786, soon after the United States gained independence, [[Creek people|Creek]] or [[Cherokee]] warriors raided the Mayfield family fort, at a site that is now the intersection of Wilson Pike and Old Smyrna Road. Southerland Mayfield and two other men were killed, and the boy George Mayfield was taken captive. One of the Creek families adopted him, as was their practice with war captives. Most Native American tribes adopted young captives to replace individuals they had lost to illness or warfare. After ten years, George Mayfield was returned to European-American society.

Some of the first European-American families here were those headed by James Sneed, Robert Irvin Moore, Thomas Hardeman, Gersham Hunt, Samuel and Andrew Crockett, and John Edmondson, who arrived well before 1800. The Holts, Herberts, Frosts, Hadleys, Hightowers, McGavocks, and Owens soon followed. Many of these families had received land grants in this area because of the men's service in the [[Virginia]] or [[North Carolina]] militia during the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]]. Many of these families' historic homes have been preserved and may be seen in the 21st century.

What is now called the Cool Springs House in Crockett Park, was first owned by Dr. Robert Carothers and his wife Martha Crockett. They built it at where the intersection of Mallory Lane and Cool Springs Boulevard is now located.<ref name="www.coolspringshouse.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.coolspringshouse.com/|title=www.coolspringshouse.com|website=www.coolspringshouse.com|access-date=November 12, 2016}}</ref> Through the years, it passed through numerous owners and renovations. In 1974, the city of Brentwood moved the house to its current location of Crockett Park.<ref name="www.coolspringshouse.com"/> Its former site was in an area of rapid growth and development that threatened preservation of the historic asset.<ref>{{Cite news|last=DuBose|first=Jane|url=http://www.nashvillescene.com/news/article/13005589/paving-paradise|title=Paving Paradise|work=Nashville Scene|access-date=November 12, 2016}}</ref>

The Frost place on Old Smyrna Road was a center of frontier businesses, with a general store, grist mill, and post office soon developed located there. Settlers planted churches, predominately [[Methodist]], and built up community life. When the railroad was constructed through this area, it established a depot in the town. The city realigned around the depot, which was the link to the newest form of transportation. It became the center of commerce for the present downtown area. The village of Brentwood thrived as the area was developed for cotton plantations.