Cowarts Baptist Church was founded in 1885 after dissension arose in the congregation of Smyrna. Originally located beside the cemetery, the church was destroyed by fire during the 1890s, rebuilt, and dedicated on this site on May 1, 1903 in front of the existing Cowarts School. In January 1894, the Cowarts School moved from its original location beside the cemetery to this site. On Friday, January 10, 1918, a cyclone struck about 2 p.m., destroying both the church and school; school was in session, and seven children and their professor were killed. The twister cut a 13-mile path through the eastern side of the county, leaving a total of 12 dead and an estimated 120 injured. Beginning in March 1918, Cowarts Baptist Church was rebuilt and has remained on the site.