Patriot Bend is a geographic site beside the Buffalo River. The name is symbolic. It began as an idea to remember a pioneer family. Instead, it became a way to honor the Revolutionary War patriots who settled in Perry County after that war.
On July 4, 2026, the citizens of Perry County will celebrate the U.S. semiquincentennial: the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
A key part of that celebration will be remembering and honoring the first veterans, the Patriots of the American Revolution.
Each is an enduring link to Tennessee's early history and the generation that secured America's independence.
After the Revolutionary War, many veterans moved westward. By 1819, four had settled in Perry County. Between 1820 and 1830, their number increased to 17. In the 1840 Federal Census, ten remained. Of those, six were of the original 1820 cohort. (See chart of names)
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is responsible for standardizing the place names of geographic features within the 50 states and other areas under the sovereignty of the United States.
Last August, the BGN received the proposal to name the area Patriot Bend. On April 9, 2026, it approved the name. Patriot Bend will now appear on the USGS topographic map of the area as well as other maps and graphics that use Federal names.
It is unique. There are over two million names in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). This is the only one that identifies a river bend.
More importantly, it will help ensure future generations remember those Patriots, the first veterans.
Visit the shop site for commemorative keepsakes about this unique name for a geographic site. We've partnered with Printful to handle our fulfillment cleanly and sustainably. To maximize our impact, a flat $10 from every item purchased on this site goes directly to the Perry County Historical Society in its efforts to preserve local history and support genealogical research.
