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The railroad town below Normandy Dam

Normandy, TN: Area Guide

People who look at homes around Normandy Lake soon notice the town the lake is named for. Normandy is a small incorporated town in Bedford County, on the Duck River just below Normandy Dam, where Bedford County meets Coffee County. Here is what buyers and owners should know about the town and the countryside around it.

Where Normandy is

The town's National Register nomination places Normandy on the south bank of the Duck River at the mouth of Norman's Creek, on the eastern edge of Bedford County. It sits in a valley where Norman's, Carr and Cascade creeks reach the river, at the edge of the Eastern Highland Rim below the climb toward Tullahoma.

Normandy Dam stands just upstream of the town, on the Coffee County side. The lake's own National Register nomination puts the dam about eight miles north of Tullahoma, and the lake takes its name from the Normandy community downstream. Most of the lake's shoreline is in Coffee County. My Normandy Lake homes guide covers the lake itself.

A small town

Normandy is one of four incorporated places in Bedford County, along with the city of Shelbyville and the towns of Bell Buckle and Wartrace. The 2020 Census counted 108 residents in the town, according to the Tennessee State Data Center at the University of Tennessee. The National Register nomination notes that the town keeps a mayor and a three member board of aldermen. Shelbyville is the county seat.

A railroad town since the 1850s

The Tennessee Encyclopedia explains that the main line of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad created the Bedford County towns of Bell Buckle, Normandy and Wartrace. According to the National Register nomination:

• Railroad surveyors laid out the route along the Duck River in 1847, and the tracks reached the Normandy site in 1852.
• The new rail stop drew business away from the older village of Rowesville a few miles west, and a town grew up around the railroad crossing of Norman's Creek.
• Normandy was incorporated briefly in 1858 and again in 1921.
• In 1889 a local company laid out the Normandy Addition in 57 lots on blocks 150 feet square. That area is now the heart of town.
• The population peaked at about 250 in 1917, when Normandy was the fourth largest town in Bedford County.

The nomination also records that Congress authorized funds for a dam across the Duck River in 1969, work began in 1972 and the dam was closed on January 5, 1976.

The Normandy Historic District

The Normandy Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1985. The nomination describes about 40 acres of mostly residential buildings dating from the 1870s onward, roughly bounded by Maple and Poplar streets, Tullahoma Road, College Street and Old Manchester Road. Highlights it lists include:

• McQuiddy Hall, built on Tullahoma Road in 1871 and the oldest surviving building in the community
• The commercial row facing the railroad across the open strip called the Normandy Square, which TVA landscaped in the late 1970s after the dam was built
• The Presbyterian church, built of brick in 1910 with a two story tower and belfry
• Homes in saddlebag, cross gable, Pyramid Vernacular and Bungalow styles, many with wraparound porches and tin shingle roofs
• The old Normandy Public School on College Street, converted to a private residence

The Absalom Lowe Landis House on Thompson's Creek Road near Normandy was listed on the National Register in 1987, according to the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Buying a historic home? National Register listing recognizes a property's history. Ask the county about any local rules before you plan exterior changes, and plan inspections suited to an older house. My home inspection guide explains what a standard inspection covers.

The Duck River below the dam

The river below Normandy Dam is one of the area's best known outdoor spots. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) says:

• The tailwater from the dam down to Three Forks Bridge is stocked with rainbow trout from November through June
• The stretch from Normandy Dam to the second bridge downstream near the town makes a good canoe or kayak float
• Farther down, the river toward Hall's Mill is swift and rocky, with smallmouth bass and rock bass

TVA describes the Duck River watershed as one of the most biologically diverse river systems in the nation. Check current TWRA fishing regulations before you go.

Normandy Fish Hatchery

TWRA runs the Normandy Fish Hatchery on Huffman Road in Normandy. TVA notes that the dam supplies water to a fish hatchery immediately downstream. TWRA says the hatchery produces more than 1.8 million walleye, striped bass, crappie, hybrid striped bass and Florida largemouth bass each year, and its stocking supports the crappie and walleye fishing on Normandy Lake.

Cascade Hollow

Cascade Hollow Distilling Co., home of George Dickel, sits on Cascade Hollow Road near Normandy and is part of the Tennessee Whiskey Trail. The distillery's own directions from Tullahoma follow TN 269, Normandy Road, then cross the railroad tracks onto Cascade Hollow Road. It uses a Tullahoma mailing address, a reminder that mailing addresses around here do not always match the town or county a property sits in.

Bedford County is not Coffee County

This matters for anyone comparing Normandy with Manchester, Tullahoma or the lake shore in Coffee County.

• Property taxes. Homes in and around the town are assessed and taxed in Bedford County. The Bedford County Assessor of Property and Trustee are in the Courthouse Annex at 100 Public Square West in Shelbyville. Ask for current tax figures on any home you consider, and see my property tax guide for how Tennessee assessments work.
• Schools. Public schools are run by the Bedford County school system. Confirm the school assignment for the exact address with the district.
• Permits and zoning. Bedford County building codes and planning and zoning offices are at the courthouse in Shelbyville. Inside the town limits, also check with the Town of Normandy.
• Recording. Deeds are recorded with the Bedford County Register of Deeds, also in the Courthouse Annex.
• Check the county line. The lake shore and the dam are on the Coffee County side, so two homes a short drive apart can be in different counties. Check the county on every listing.

Buying a home near Normandy

• Utilities. Ask which providers serve the address and whether the home is on public water and sewer or a well and septic system. My septic guide explains what to check.
• The river and flood risk. Normandy sits on the Duck River. Ask about the flood zone and insurance for any home near the water before you write an offer.
• Older homes. Many houses in town date to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Budget time for inspections, and for homes built before 1978, review the lead based paint disclosure.
• Land and acreage. If you are looking at acreage nearby, my land buying guide walks through septic, surveys and greenbelt questions. Bedford County offices handle those items for land on that side of the line.
• Lake plans. If a dock is part of the dream, remember that TVA requires a Section 26a permit for docks and shoreline work on Normandy Lake.

I help buyers compare Normandy and the lake area with Manchester, Tullahoma and the rest of Coffee County, and we can tour homes in more than one place on the same day. Start with the buyer guide or send me a message.

Selling a home near Normandy

If you own a home in or around Normandy and are thinking about a move, I will prepare a price recommendation based on recent comparable sales and walk you through the Tennessee seller disclosure. Request a free home value report to get started.

Keep reading:

• Normandy Lake homes buyer guide
• Living in Tullahoma
• Beechgrove homes and community guide
• Coffee County real estate guide
• Buying land in Coffee County
• Septic systems when buying a home in Tennessee

Common questions

Matt Sargent is a Tennessee licensed affiliate broker with Keller Williams who helps buyers and sellers in Manchester and Coffee County. Call (615) 497 1658 or send a message.

Related guides

• Coffee County, TN Real Estate Guide
• Living in Tullahoma, TN
• Hillsboro, TN: Homes and Community Guide
• Beechgrove, TN: Homes and Community Guide
• All Manchester guides