Shortly after the Civil War, freed slaves established Promise Land, the first African-American community of Dickson County. Early settlers included Nathan Bowen, Washington Vanleer, and the brothers John and Arch Nesbitt. In time, the community encompassed about 1000 acres and included 50 homes, several stores, two churches, and a school. Although only the St John Church and the schoolhouse remain, heirs of the original African American landowners still own much of the land.