The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was completed in 1859 and Humboldt was chartered in 1866.
Among the early settlers in Gibson County was the famous pioneer Davy Crockett. Crockett served on the first jury of the Circuit Court in 1824, and later was elected as the first U. S. Congressman of the new territory.
Humboldt is the home of the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival, held the first full week in May. The Festival was established in 1934 and attracts over 100,000 people every year. It is a nationally recognized event and has led to the establishment of the Strawberry Festival Historical Museum.
Modern Humboldt is the trade center for the surrounding area. The town is a pleasant blend of industry, retail trade and agriculture.