Long ago, Tellico Plains was a small Cherokee Indian Village, originally called Telliquah. The Cherokee inhabited this area, living off the crops they grew and the wild game they hunted.  This peaceful group took great pride in this bountiful land and took good care of it.  Soon came the settlers. Renamed to Tellico Plains, homes, stores, businesses, and factories were soon built and this began what was soon to be the fastest growing city in all of Tennessee.

Time passed and the two cultures became more tolerant of their different ways of life.  Trust and friendships grew, exchange of ideas and knowledge became more common and intermingling and intermarriage more accepted, binding our two cultures together giving us our rich heritage.  

In the early 1800's  the Tellico Iron Company produced many of the cannons for the Civil War. These cannons were shipped out to the Confederate Army, known locally as the "Rebels".  The Cannons were so successful in war tactics causing General Sherman to issue an attack order and destroy the Tellico Iron Company.  This was a major turning point in the Civil War.
  
Some of the post war industries included Tellico Slates (grave headstones), Union Tanning Company (Tannic Acid production), Tellico Lumber Company, the "Railroad", Stokely Cannery, and various textile factories, including Duckhead.