The community was called Millwood in early times and continued so for many years. It was not until 1855, when Colonel George Whitfield Telford, a state senator who operated the Telford Manufacturing Company, donated about four acres of land to support local operations of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, that the name Millwood was changed to Telford Depot. At a date sometime after 1876 the word "Depot" was discontinued and the single name Telford adopted.[7][8]
During the Civil War, citizens of this part of Washington County voted to secede from the Confederacy, but they were unsuccessful in persuading others to do so. The independent nation called "Bricker's Republic" soon fell into relative obscurity.[9] A Civil War battle took place in Telford on September 8, 1863, when the 100th Ohio Infantry clashed with the Confederate-aligned Thomas' Legion just east of the depot. The Confederate force was supported by 4-Howitzer artillery unit commanded by General Alfred "Mudwall" Jackson.
Postal service
Telford has a post office and zip code. (37690) The post office is located at 1888 Old State Route 34, Telford, Tennessee 37690.
Notable people
Eliza McCardle Johnson, First Lady of the United States, (April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869)