Murfreesboro is located in Rutherford County, which encompasses more than 600 miles in the center of Tennessee. A major interstate (I-24) runs through the county, providing easy access to all the Nashville area has to offer. The Stones River and J. Percy Priest Lake are the two major topographic features of the area, providing residents with a wide range of water-oriented recreational opportunities.

Middle Tennessee State University plays a significant role in the community. Established in 1911, the university has an annual enrollment of more than 18,000 students and offers 143 degree programs, five undergraduate colleges and one graduate college. MTSU is the third largest state university in the state and hosts many cultural, sporting and entertainment events. Superstar acts including The Who, Garth Brooks, Tina Turner, and Elvis Presley are among the many who have performed at MTSU’s Murphy Center.

Murfreesboro offers cultural attractions and entertainment for the whole family. The Murfreesboro Little Theater and the Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Center for the Arts are just two of the many points of interest and popular acts include The Tennessee Philharmonic and the Middle Tennessee Choral Society. Other recreational centers and facilities include Cannonsburgh Village, the Children's Discovery House, the Oaklands Historic House Museum, Stones River National Battlefield, and Rutherford County Courthouse and Main Street.

In 1811, the Tennessee State Legislature appointed “Cannonsburgh” as the county seat. The town was named for Newton Cannon, a young politician in Williamson County. Just one month later, the city’s name was changed to “Murfreesboro” in memory of the Colonel Hardy Murfree. Six years after Murfreesboro became the county seat, the State Legislature made it an official city. Murfreesboro’s location in the center of Tennessee led to its appointment as the state capital in 1818, but by 1826 Nashville had regained this distinction.

Murfreesboro established itself as an agricultural community, producing such crops as corn, cotton and tobacco. Today it has grown into a thriving community that enjoys a stable economy, an excellent quality of life supported by premier housing developments, excellent schools and ample employment opportunities. The city continues to respect and honor its past while looking optimistically toward the future.