Bledsoe is divided into three distinct areas by nature…the Cumberland Plateau, Walden’s Ridge and the Sequatchie Valley.
The Cumberland Plateau was named for the Duke of Cumberland by Dr. Thomas Walker, a Virginian. Sequatchie/Sequachee is of Cherokee origin and means “hog trough” or possibly opossum. There are two stories of the naming of Walden’s Ridge. One story supposes it is named for a hunter, John Walling who died there; the other suggests it was named for Elisha Walden.
Many early settlers were farmers. The rich fertile land around the Sequatchie River provided the perfect environment for corn crops that were the mainstay of the settlers.