[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.5 square miles (25 km2), consisting entirely of land.

William Nolen, a war veteran,[7] his wife, Sarah, and their five children were passing through the area in 1797 when their wagon wheel broke.

[9] William Nolen purchased a portion of a land grant made to Jason Thompson, on which Nolensville later developed.

[10] In the early 19th century, a large migration from Rockingham, North Carolina, brought the Adams, Allen, Barnes, Cyrus, Fields, Glenn, Irion, Johnson, Peay, Scales, Taylor, Vernon, Wisener, Williams, and other families to the area.

Gen. John Wharton's Confederate cavalry unit was stationed in town briefly and Gen. Joseph Wheeler's command captured a Union supply train here on December 30, 1862.

A small group of soldiers from the 2nd Minnesota Volunteer Infantry successfully defended a Union wagon train against a much larger Confederate cavalry force in February 1863, with several of them earning the Medal of Honor for their actions.

[11] From the post-Reconstruction period into the early 20th century, Whites lynched a total of five African Americans in Williamson County.

The first mayor of Nolensville was Charles F. Knapper, elected along with Aldermen Thomas "Tommy" Dugger, III, and Parman Henry.

Nolensville has had 290 residential building permits since the 2010 census; it boasts of having the lowest property tax rates in Williamson County.

[17] Other signs of growth are the new multimillion-dollar town hall, proposals for multiuse developments, and a high level of investment in commercial real estate.

[26][27] These facilities host a variety of different organized activities, including youth sports leagues, fitness classes, and town holiday celebrations.

[28] Legislative power is vested in the board of commissioners, while day-to-day executive functions are handled by the town manager.