City of Smyrna history

The first city election was held in 1873.

By the beginning of 1897, large consignments of arms had been sent to Crete from Greece.

In 1915, the town incorporated, adopting a mayor and a commission form of government.

After the end of the First World War, Greece occupied Smyrna beginning on May 15, 1919, putting in place a military administration.

In January 1921 the Greek army, despite its lack of equipment and its unprotected supply lines, launched an offensive in Anatolia against the nationalist Turks, who had defied the Ottoman government and would not recognize its treaty.

The surviving Greeks left for Greece and parts beyond in 1923, as part of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, a stipulation of the Treaty of Lausanne, which formally ended the Greco-Turkish War.

Agriculture continued to be the principle economic activity in the community until the establishment of the Army/ Air Base in 1941.

Smyrna also boasts having had the first female mayor elected in the State of Georgia, Lorena Pruitt, in 1946.

Second only to the Istanbul region in industry, it produces foods, cement, cotton and woolen textiles and has petrochemical and engineering works. It also has a teacher-training school and the Aegean University, founded in 1955.

The economy of Smyrna prospered during the 1970's, and promised to improve in the 80's following the announcement of Nissan-the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to build a plant in the United States- to make its home in Smyrna.

The first vehicle was produced in 1983.

In 1990, the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority agreed to relinquish control and transfer the airport to the newly formed Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority.

The restaurant served authentic southern cooking and the atmosphere was rustic. It grew in size over five decades, but eventually closed in 1992.

The original cabin (where it all began) was purchased by the City of Smyrna and moved to its current location on Atlanta Road and dedicated as the new welcome center in 1999.

On March 14, 2000, the mayor and board of commissioners adopted a new charter and now operate under the city manager form of government.