Peddler’s Ridge

High atop the northern Highland Rim lies Peddler’s Ridge, a place where the history of Macon County was written in the dust of winding backroads. Originally settled in 1828 by Virginia pioneer John Drury—whose 600-acre land grant and 1835 family cemetery still mark the landscape—this ridge earned its iconic name during the Great Depression. In an era when the decades seemed to vanish, and modern conveniences were a world away, country stores dispatched peddlers from Highways 10 and 52 to bring essential supplies to the families on Drury Ridge Road. It was a time of true “un-citified” bartering, where locals would trade fresh chicken eggs for much-needed groceries right from the peddler’s wagon. Today, a drive along the ridge offers more than just scenic views; it offers a connection to the enduring, resilient rhythm of a community that has always known how to make its own way.