The portion of Tennessee lying west of the Tennessee River was not opened for settlement until long after Tennessee became a fluorishing and wealthy state. The final treaty by which the Indians relinquished all of West Tennessee was signed October 19, 1818, by Isaac Shelby and Andrew Jackson on behalf of President James Monroe, and by the chiefs on behalf of the Chickasaws.

In 1823 The General Assembly of Tennessee passed an act to establish two new counties west of the Tennessee River, Dyer County being one of them.

A large part of this section was given in grants by the State of North Carolilna and some by the State of Tennessee, usually for services rendered to the state or the county.

As early as 1839 settlers began to clear forests and build homes on a ridge halfway between the Obion and Forked Deer Rivers. In 1850 Mr. Owen Philyou of New Bern, North Carolina, staked a claim and built a log house in the area where Newbern now stands. In the fall of 1851 Thomas McSpaddin and his brother erected a business house on the south side of Main Street--what is today the public square. It was occupied by the family and used as a dry goods and grocery store.

Today Newbern has approximately 3000 residents who call this peaceful small town home. Located only 9 miles from Dyersburg, many people enjoy the short ride to work in the city. But many don't have even that far to go!