Brentwood History

The first settlers came to the Brentwood area in the late 1700’s. Much of the land was granted to Revolutionary War soldiers by the State of North Carolina.

The original site of business activity in the area was at the Frost place on Old Smyrna Road. The general store, the grist mill and the post office were located there. With the coming of the railroad and the highway the town center shifted.

Brentwood grew and prospered and by the time of the Civil War, the area was one of the richest in the state. The soils were fertile and plantations flourished as was evidenced by the stately homes built. During the war many of these homes were used for providing food and treating wounded soldiers, both Confederate and Union. By the end of the War, there were very few farm animals or growing crops left. The war left its scar on the economy and many homes and plantations fell to ruin.

The Brentwood area recovered from the Civil War. In the 1920’s it was rediscovered. Gradually many of the plantation homes were bought and restored. As the Phoenix rose from the ashes, with the construction of the Interstate in the 1960’s Brentwood grew and prospered and by the 1990’s the area was again one of the richest in the state.

Based on information by

T. Vance Little, City Historian