The town of Big Sandy was named after the Big Sandy River. The first building was erected in 1871. Big Sandy was incorporated in 1903. Big Sandy is a thriving village on the Memphis division of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, about fourteen miles north of Camden. It is located on land formerly owned by J. B. Lindsey in 1871. He also built the first store, about two years later, which was occupied by G. T. Morris and William Caraway. The first dwelling was built by A.C. McRae and J. B. Lindsey.