Downtown Hohenwald
Hohenwald is a city in and the county seat of Lewis County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,757 at the 2010 census. The name "Hohenwald" is a German word that means "High Forest". The town was founded in 1878 and later merged with a town named "New Switzerland" to the south. New Switzerland was founded in 1894 by Swiss immigrants in conjunction with the N.C.&St.L. Railroad. The city was incorporated on December 1, 1911.
Hohenwald is notable for several things. Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, died and was buried seven miles east of the town at Grinder's Stand in 1809. Rod Brasfield, an old Grand Ole Opry comedy star, made his home in Hohenwald and referred to it in his routines. Professional ballplayer Deason "Decon" Loveless came from Hohenwald. David Sisco, who in 1974 placed ninth in points in the Winston Cup Series, is a native of Hohenwald, as is celebrated author William Gay, whose books include "The Long Home, Provinces of Night, I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down," and "Twilight".
The third-largest animal trophy mount collection in North America is located at the Lewis County Museum of Local and Natural History in downtown Hohenwald. Hohenwald is also the home of the The Elephant Sanctuary, the largest natural-habitat sanctuary for elephants in the United States. Hohenwald is one of only a few Mid-American towns that have met the Transition Towns criteria. The Buffalo Valley addiction extended care community is located there providing treatment and long-term housing for recovering persons.