Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the capital and biggest city in the state of Tennessee. It sits on the Cumberland River and is the largest city in the area known as Middle Tennessee.

The city was founded in 1779 and named after a hero from the American Revolutionary War. Because of its spot by the river and later as an important railroad hub, Nashville grew quickly. During the American Civil War, Union soldiers took control of Nashville.

Today, Nashville is famous for its music, especially country music, which is why many call it "Music City." The city has many colleges, like Vanderbilt University and Tennessee State University, earning it the nickname “the Athens of the South.” Nashville is also home to sports teams and many big companies, making it a busy and exciting place to live and visit.

History

Main article: History of Nashville, Tennessee

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Nashville, Tennessee.

18th and 19th centuries

In 1689, a trader set up a post on the Cumberland River near where the city now stands. In 1714, French traders built a small settlement called French Lick at what is now downtown Nashville. This became a place for trading fur with local Native Americans, but by the 1740s, the settlement was mostly gone.

In 1779, two explorers led a group to the site of French Lick and built Fort Nashborough, named after a hero of the American Revolutionary War. Nashville grew because of its spot on the Cumberland River and later as a major railroad center. By 1800, the city had 345 people. In 1806, Nashville became an official city and the county seat of Davidson County. In 1843, it was named the permanent capital of Tennessee.

The city was a center for growing crops like tobacco and hemp, and for breeding horses. It was one of the wealthiest cities in the South, partly because of its iron industry.

A sickness called cholera hit Nashville in 1849–1850, causing many deaths. Before the Civil War, Nashville was a busy city just as tensions were rising in the South.

The city's location made it important for both sides during the Civil War. In 1862, it became the first Confederate capital to be taken by U.S. troops. The Battle of Nashville in 1864 was a big victory for the Union side. After the war, a group opposed to voting rights for freed people was formed in Nashville.

In the years after the Civil War, Nashville became known for its music. The Fisk Jubilee Singers began touring and performing, helping to make Nashville a center for African American music and culture.

Earlier 20th century

By the early 1900s, Nashville was known for supporting certain histories of the Civil War. At the same time, Jefferson Street became the center of the African American community, with music like jazz and blues. In 1925, the Grand Ole Opry started, beginning Nashville’s role as a country music center.

Mid-20th Century

In the 1950s, Nashville changed its voting system so that more people could be represented. African American leaders were elected to the city council. Recording studios started opening up to record country music performers. A new style of country music called the "Nashville Sound" became popular, making the city a music recording center.

Nashville desegregated its schools in the late 1950s. In the 1960s, the city consolidated with Davidson County, forming a metropolitan government. The music scene grew to include rock and pop, and Nashville became a big record-producing center.

Postwar development to end of 20th century

After World War II, many people moved to the suburbs, leading to growth outside the city. In 1963, Nashville and Davidson County combined their governments. The city continued to grow, with new landmarks and music venues. In 1995, a football team moved to Nashville and became the Tennessee Titans. In 1997, Nashville got a hockey team called the Nashville Predators.

21st century

In 2010, heavy floods damaged many buildings and structures in Nashville, including music venues and sports stadiums. The city recovered and continued to grow. In 2015, Nashville elected its first female mayor. The city has faced challenges like rising housing prices and homelessness.

In 2020, a tornado caused damage in several neighborhoods. In 2023, a new mayor was elected, focusing on improving transportation. A vote in 2024 approved funding for transportation improvements.

Geography

Nashville is along the Cumberland River in the Nashville Basin. The land rises from 385 feet at the river to 1,163 feet in Radnor Lake State Natural Area. The city has many hills because of the Highland Rim around the basin.

Downtown Nashville has many places to visit, like entertainment spots, restaurants, and cultural sites. Big highways link the city to other areas. Nashville has grown with new tall buildings and public projects, such as parks and a new bus hub.

The city has many neighborhoods, each with its own style. Nashville is full of trees and plants, with both native and grown species. Summers are warm and humid, and winters are cool, sometimes with snow. Spring and fall can bring strong thunderstorms.

Demographics

See also: List of people from Nashville, Tennessee

As of the 2020 United States census, Nashville had 689,447 people. Many people live there, about 1,367 people in each square mile.

Most people in Nashville are between 25 and 44 years old. Some families have less money and live below the poverty line. Many people in Nashville come from other countries, like Mexico, Vietnam, and Iraq. The city also has many people from Kurdistan.

Metropolitan area

Main article: Nashville metropolitan area

The area around Nashville is the largest in Tennessee, with over 2 million people living in 13 nearby counties.

Religion

Most people in Nashville believe in Christianity. Many are Baptists, Catholics, or Methodists. A few people follow Islam, Judaism, or eastern religions like Buddhism.

Economy

See also: List of companies based in Nashville, Tennessee

In the 2010s, Nashville was called a "southern boomtown" by many writers. In 2017, it had one of the fastest-growing economies in the United States, with many new people moving to the city each day. Nashville was also named a great place for jobs in professional and business services. In 2013, it ranked fifth on Forbes list of the best places for jobs and careers. By 2015, Forbes placed Nashville as a top city for jobs that need special training.

Fortune 500 companies with offices in Nashville include BNY Mellon, Bridgestone Americas, Ernst & Young, Community Health Systems, Dell, Deloitte, Dollar General, Hospital Corporation of America, Nissan North America, Philips, Tractor Supply Company, and UBS. Some of these companies, like Community Health Systems, Dollar General, SmileDirectClub, Hospital Corporation of America, and Tractor Supply Company, have their main offices in Nashville. The city is also home to many popular food companies such as Captain D's, Hunt Brothers Pizza, O'Charley's, Logan's Roadhouse, J. Alexander's, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks.

Nashville is famous for country music and has become a big center for music recording and production. The big music companies, along with many smaller ones, have offices in Nashville, especially in the Music Row area. Nashville has been the home of guitar maker Gibson since 1984. Since the 1960s, Nashville has been one of the top music production centers in the United States. The music industry in Nashville brings in a lot of money and provides many jobs.

Health care is the largest industry in Nashville. The city is home to over 300 health care companies, including Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), the world's biggest private hospital operator. The health care industry adds a lot of money and provides many jobs to the Nashville area.

The automotive industry is growing in the Nashville area. Nissan North America moved its main office to a suburb south of Nashville in 2006, and its biggest factory is in another nearby town. General Motors also has a car factory about 35 miles south of Nashville. Bridgestone, a big tire maker, has its main North American office and factories near Nashville.

Other important industries in Nashville include insurance, finance, and publishing, especially religious books. The city is also where several big Christian groups have their main offices.

Nashville is well-known for its sweet treats, such as Goo Goo Clusters, which have been made there since 1912.

The technology industry is growing in Nashville. In 2018, Amazon announced plans to open an operations center in the city. In 2021, Oracle Corporation said it would build a large campus.

Real estate is becoming more important to Nashville's economy. The city has made changes to its zoning rules to allow homes, offices, shops, and entertainment spaces to be built together. Nashville has also invested in public parks, making the city more appealing to people who like walkable neighborhoods.

Top employers

According to the Nashville Business Journal, the top employers in the city are:

Culture

Nashville's culture is linked to its universities, especially Vanderbilt University. Two important groups of writers from the early 1900s, the Fugitives and the Agrarians, were connected to the university.

Popular spots in Nashville include Fort Nashborough and Fort Negley. Fort Nashborough is a copy of the city's first settlement, and Fort Negley is an old Civil War fort. Visitors also enjoy the Tennessee State Museum and The Parthenon, a copy of a famous building in Athens. The Tennessee State Capitol is one of the oldest state capitols still in use. The Hermitage, home to President Andrew Jackson, is a large home open to visitors.

Many important places that shaped Nashville's culture were added to a special list in 2019. This list includes places like the Bicentennial Capitol Mall, Public Square, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art, Clover Bottom Mansion, Belmont Mansion, Travellers Rest Historic House Museum, Mount Olivet and Calvary Cemeteries, Music Row, Printer's Alley Historic District, and the WSM-AM Broadcasting Tower.

Dining

Nashville is known for tasty local foods such as hot chicken, hot fish, barbecue, and meat and three.

Entertainment and performing arts

Nashville is famous for its music and entertainment, earning the nickname "Music City". The Tennessee Performing Arts Center is the main place for shows, home to the Nashville Repertory Theatre and the Nashville Ballet. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center opened in 2006 and is home to the Nashville Symphony.

Because of its strong connection to country music, Nashville is often called America's "Country Music Capital". Popular spots include the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Belcourt Theatre, and Ryman Auditorium. The famous Grand Ole Opry moved to the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974, but still performs there often.

Many music clubs and bars line downtown Nashville, especially around Lower Broadway, Second Avenue, and Printer's Alley.

Every June, the CMA Music Festival draws thousands of country music fans. The Tennessee State Fair happens each September.

Nashville was home to TV shows like Hee Haw and Pop! Goes the Country, and channels like The Nashville Network and RFD-TV. Today, Country Music Television and Great American Country are based here.

The Christian music industry is strong along Music Row.

Music Row is also home to gospel music and Christian music companies.

Nashville has jazz history too, with bands like The Nashville Jazz Machine and The Nashville Jazz Orchestra.

Radio station WMOT-FM in nearby Murfreesboro helped bring back jazz to Nashville. The Nashville Jazz Workshop also holds concerts and classes. Fisk University runs a jazz station called WFSK.

Nashville has many theatres, including Nashville Children's Theatre, Nashville Repertory Theatre, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, and others. The Barbershop Harmony Society is based here.

Tourism

Nashville draws many visitors because of its country music ties. People come to see the Grand Ole Opry and visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Opry Mills shopping mall, and the General Jackson showboat are all in an area called Music Valley.

Civil War history is also important to Nashville. Visitors can see sites from the Battle of Nashville, the Battle of Franklin, and the Battle of Stones River, as well as beautiful old homes like Belle Meade Plantation.

Nashville has many art places and museums, such as the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, the Tennessee State Museum, the Johnny Cash Museum, and others. Inside The Parthenon is a very tall statue of Athena Parthenos — the tallest indoor statue in the Western World.

Nashville is a popular spot for special celebrations.

Major annual events

Nicknames

Nashville has many fun nicknames:

• Music City, U.S.A.: This name was first used by a radio announcer in 1950 and is now the city's official nickname. Nashville is home to the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and many music companies.
• Smashville: This name is linked to the Nashville Predators hockey team and was created by a fan.
• Athens of the South: Because Nashville has many schools and a copy of the Athenian Parthenon, it is compared to the ancient learning city of Athens.
• The Protestant Vatican or The Buckle of the Bible Belt: With many churches, Christian schools, and music companies, Nashville is a key place for Protestant Christianity.
• Cashville: A nickname that became popular from a rap album by local artist Young Buck.
• Little Kurdistan: Nashville is home to the largest group of Kurdish people in the United States, estimated at around 11,000.
• Nash Vegas or Nashvegas

Nashville is also known as "The Hot Chicken Capital" because of its popular spicy fried chicken.

Sports

Professional

Nashville has four professional sports teams. Three play at the top level of their sports: the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL), the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL), and Nashville SC of Major League Soccer (MLS). The city also has one minor league team: the Nashville Sounds of Minor League Baseball's International League. A group called Music City Baseball wants to bring a Major League Baseball team to the city.

The Tennessee Titans moved to Nashville in 1998. They play at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Since moving, the Titans have won championships and played in a big game in 1999. The Nashville Predators joined the NHL in 1998–99 and have also won championships. Nashville SC started in 2020 and moved to a new stadium in 2022. The Nashville Sounds baseball team began in 1978 and has won many championships.

College and amateur

Nashville has four college sports programs. The city hosts the NCAA college football Music City Bowl.

Nashville Roller Derby is Nashville's only women's roller derby team. They play at the Nashville Fairgrounds Sports Arena. The Nashville Kangaroos are an Australian Rules Football team that play at Elmington Park.

Three Little League Baseball teams from Nashville have gone to the Little League World Series. Teams from nearby Goodlettsville have also gone in recent years.

Parks and gardens

Metro Board of Parks and Recreation cares for more than 10,000 acres of land with 99 parks and green spaces. This is more than 3% of the whole county area.

Warner Parks covers 2,684 acres and has a big learning center, scenic roads, hiking trails, and horse trails. It is also where the yearly Iroquois Steeplechase happens.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers looks after parks at Old Hickory Lake and Percy Priest Lake. These parks are great for fishing, water skiing, sailing, and boating. The Harbor Island Yacht Club is on Old Hickory Lake, and Percy Priest Lake is where the Vanderbilt Sailing Club and Nashville Shores are located.

Other parks in Nashville include Centennial Park, Shelby Park, Cumberland Park, and Radnor Lake State Natural Area. Four big parks are in the western hills of the city. These are Beaman Park, Bells Bend Park, Warner Parks, and Radnor Lake State Park. Nashville has many trees covering 56% of the city, more than many other big U.S. cities. Most of these trees are in the western hills.

In 2013, the mayor of Nashville shared plans for two new parks along the Cumberland River downtown. Building started on one park in the fall of 2013, and the other was planned to finish in 2015. These parks will have a music venue for 6,500 people and a place where people can get to the river. The mayor said these parks could become special places for people to enjoy for many years.

Law and government

See also: List of mayors of Nashville, Tennessee and Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County

Nashville and Davidson County joined together in 1963 to help each other. This area is called "Metro Nashville" or just "Metro". Metro gives important services like police, fire, electricity, and water. Metro has two parts—the "urban services district" and the "general services district". The urban area is the old city of Nashville, about 72 square miles. The general area covers the rest of Davidson County. There are six small towns inside Metro, such as Belle Meade and Berry Hill. These towns help with some services like police, but Metro handles most others.

Nashville is led by a mayor, a vice-mayor, and 40 council members who help make decisions. The current mayor is Freddie O'Connell. The council meets twice a month to talk about city matters. Nashville has important courts, including the Tennessee Supreme Court for Middle Tennessee.

Politics

Nashville has often supported democratic leaders, even when the rest of Tennessee supported republican leaders. Most leaders in Nashville are democrats, and this has been true for many years. Recently, Nashville still supports democratic leaders, even when the rest of the state chooses republican leaders. This makes Nashville different from other parts of Tennessee.

Crime

Crime rates in Nashville have been going down after a higher time during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, the city had its lowest number of serious crimes since 2014. The number of robberies also reached a historic low in 2025. This continues a trend of safer years in many big U.S. cities.

Education

See also: List of private schools in Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville has many schools for children. The city is served by Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, called Metro Schools. This is the second largest school district in Tennessee. Nashville also has many private schools, such as Montgomery Bell Academy, Harpeth Hall School, and University School of Nashville.

Nashville is known for its many colleges and universities. The largest is Vanderbilt University. Nashville is also home to several historically Black colleges, including Fisk University, Tennessee State University, Meharry Medical College, and American Baptist College. Other schools in Nashville include Belmont University, Lipscomb University, and Trevecca Nazarene University.

Media

Main article: Media in Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville has The Tennessean, a daily newspaper that many people read. Another newspaper, The Nashville Banner, used to compete with it but stopped in 1998. There are also several weekly papers and an online news service called NashvillePost.com.

The city has eleven television stations, but most people watch TV through cable. Nashville is the 26th largest TV market in the United States. There are also several radio stations, and Nashville is the 39th largest radio market. Some famous movies like The Green Mile and The Matrix were filmed in Nashville.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Many people in Nashville drive to work alone, some share rides, and others use public transportation. A few walk to work, and some work from home. The city is where three big highways meet, linking it to nearby cities. Public buses help people get around, and the city plans to improve walking paths and bus stops.

Highways

Nashville is where three major highways meet. These roads connect the city to places like Memphis, Knoxville, Clarksville, and Chattanooga. The highways also have smaller roads for travel around the city and its suburbs.

Public transit

WeGo Public Transit runs buses all over Nashville. The buses start from a central station in downtown. There were plans to add faster bus services and trains, but those were not chosen. Instead, the city plans to make walking easier and improve bus stops.

Air

Nashville International Airport is a busy place where many people fly in and out each year. It offers many flights to different cities and has special areas for car services.

Intercity rail

Nashville used to have many train services, but they stopped running a long time ago. There have been ideas to bring trains back, but it would cost a lot of money. Right now, there is a small train service that connects Nashville to a nearby town.

Bridges

Nashville has many bridges that help people cross over rivers and other areas.

Utilities

The city of Nashville provides electricity, water, and heating to many buildings. The electricity comes from a big power group, and water comes from the Cumberland River. There are also other companies that help provide these services.

Healthcare

Nashville has many hospitals and places where people can get medical help. Some of the biggest hospitals are run by Vanderbilt University and other healthcare groups. There is also a hospital that helps many people in the community.

International relations

Nashville has friends around the world called sister cities. Some of these cities are Belfast in Northern Ireland, Caen in France, Chengdu in China, Edmonton in Canada, Erbil in Iraq, Kamakura in Japan, Magdeburg in Germany, Mendoza in Argentina, Taiyuan in China, and Tamworth in Australia.

Nashville also has special friends called international friendship cities. These include Gwangjin in South Korea, Crouy in France, and El Port de la Selva in Spain.

The city has consulates from countries like Denmark, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, and Japan. These consulates help connect Nashville with people and cultures from around the world.