Once called Harpeth and then Poplar Grove, this area was settled about 1800 by the Allison, Cannon, Ogilvie, and Wilson families. It was home to Congressman Meredith Gentry and William Demonbreun, son of pioneer Timothy Demonbreun, and its name changed to College Grove when the post office was established in 1860. Other pioneer families included Allen, Covington, Dobson, Haley, Hughes, McCord, Patton, Rogers, Scales, Seay, and Webb. Poplar Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Cary and Winn Male Academy stood on land donated by James Allison in 1859. The area suffered heavy damage while occupied by the Federals. Stage coaches operated here until 1905, and the Bank of College Grove opened in 1911.