Ethridge began as a railroad stop known as Hudson Springs, which stood a few miles south of the present site of the town, in the 1880s.

A political booster and store owner at the stop successfully petitioned the railroad to name the stop in honor of Emerson Etheridge, a prominent mid-19th century politician and post-Civil War candidate for governor.

[5] The current site of Ethridge, meanwhile, was located at the intersection of two mid-19th century cattle drovers' roads.

"[6] By 1914, Ethridge's population had grown to 400, and the town was thriving as a lumber transloading station.

During this period, Ethridge had five grocery stores, a meat market, two barber shops, a post office, a hotel, and a tire pump factory.

[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2), all land.

22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.