When Hickman County was first formed out of Dickson County, it was much larger than it is today. Settlements were already established along the Duck and Piney Rivers. Much of the area south of the Duck River was hostile territory, but settlers set up villages. Many of those villages in what remains of Hickman County are still locally known, and a few still retain their small, quaint post offices. Others, especially early mining towns, are gone, leaving no trace or hardly a historical footnote. Even the early roads that followed the stream beds are gone with only a few traces. Centerville, the county seat, is located in the heart of Hickman County, Tennessee.

Today, the roads have been built and rebuilt, and new communities have been established. The major cities of the southeastern United States are within a reasonable driving distance. Industry in the area includes manufacturers of packaging materials, various wood products, structural steel, ammunition, pies, and fruit processing. Over 50,000 acres of timberland are owned by national pulp, paper, and timber corporations and are open to the public for hunting, hiking, and fishing.

Historically, many small communities served the needs of farmers and other residents. These communities often had their own schools, especially for lower grades. Over time, many of these communities became less identifiable as they merged into larger cross-roads communities.