It was almost 100 years later in 1905 that Watertown officially became a city. The last of the big three to incorporate was Mt. Juliet in 1974. Besides the increased residential growth, the construction of the Nashville superspeedway racing complex just outside of Gladeville along State Route 840 is expected to generate a flood of commercial development. But if there are any plans to become the county's fourth city, proponents of incorporation need to act quickly, according to County Planner Holly Sears. Central Pike runs through Gladeville.
State law prohibits the creation of a new city within three miles of a city the size of Lebanon.
Lebanon has proposed a 20-year growth plan, but that plan does not move city limits into what is considered the Gladeville community. Over the years, there has been talk about incorporation. The most recent attempt, in the early 1990s, fell into disfavor when some wanted to gerrymander two small African-American areas out of the proposed Gladeville city limits, according to former Wilson County historian and Gladeville resident Norma Walker. Associated Press content is Copyrighted by The Associated Press.