The downtown area is similar to many other small southern towns, with a courthouse on a square, surrounded by retail and commercial businesses.

[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.7 square miles (30 km2), almost all of which is land (0.09% is water).

The area in which Lewisburg and Marshall County is located was long occupied by various cultures of indigenous peoples.

Historic Native Americans were here when French, Spanish and English explorers entered the area.

Some lynchings of African Americans took place at the Marshall County Courthouse in Lewisburg during the period of highest violence around the turn of the 20th century.

Until 1925, Lewisburg served the area principally as a trading and shipping center for its livestock and farm produce.

The world headquarters of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association has been based in Lewisburg since 1939.

Marshall County is significant partly because of three men who have served as Governor of Tennessee were living here when they were elected to office: Henry Horton, Jim Nance McCord, and Buford Ellington.

Due to restructuring and movement of industry offshore, it has suffered thousands of job losses in recent years, but it maintains a viable work force.