Originally called Silver Creek by Native Americans, the area was renamed for Revolutionary War soldier Colonel Joseph Hardin, who purchased 2,000 acres along Conner Creek in 1795. For much of its history, the valley was a quiet agricultural hub where travelers on the "Buttermilk Trail" would stop at local springs to buy fresh dairy from farming families. While it has recently transitioned into one of the fastest-growing residential and tech-corridors in Knox County, its roots are still preserved at landmarks like the Marietta Cumberland Presbyterian Church, founded in 1838.