Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the capital and most crowded city in the state of Tennessee. It sits on the Cumberland River and is the biggest city in the area known as Middle Tennessee. With almost 690,000 people living there in 2020, Nashville ranks as the 20th-largest city in the whole United States.

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 a key railroad hub, Nashville grew quickly. During the American Civil War, Union soldiers took control of Nashville, making it an important place in history.

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 settlement called French Lick at what is now downtown Nashville. This became a fur trading spot 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 owned many workers who helped build important systems and roads. Nashville 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, including a former U.S. President. Before the Civil War, about 700 free Black people lived in small areas in northern Nashville, while over 3,200 were enslaved. By 1860, 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. There were violent actions against freed people and their supporters.

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 and deaths in several neighborhoods. In 2023, a tragic event occurred at a school, and tornadoes caused more destruction and deaths later that year. In 2023, a new mayor was elected, focusing on improving transportation. A vote in 2024 approved funding for transportation improvements.

Geography

Nashville is located along the Cumberland River in the Nashville Basin. The city's elevation varies from 385 feet at the river to 1,163 feet in Radnor Lake State Natural Area. Nashville is known for its hilly landscape, partly due to the Highland Rim region surrounding the basin.

Downtown Nashville features many entertainment venues, restaurants, and cultural sites. Major highways connect the city to other regions. Nashville has grown with many new tall buildings and public projects, including parks and a new bus hub.

The city has many neighborhoods, each with its own character. Nashville's many trees and plants make it a green city, with a mix of native and cultivated species. The climate is warm and humid in summer and cool in winter, with occasional snow. Spring and fall often bring severe thunderstorms.

Demographics

See also: List of people from Nashville, Tennessee

As of the 2020 United States census, Nashville had 689,447 people living there. This was a big jump of 88,225 people, or 14.67%, from the year 2010. The city is crowded, with 1,367.87 people living in each square mile.

Most people in Nashville are between 25 and 44 years old. The average household makes about $46,141 a year, but some families struggle and live below the poverty line. Many people in Nashville are immigrants from places like Mexico, Vietnam, and Iraq. The city also has a large group of people from Kurdistan.

Metropolitan area

Main article: Nashville metropolitan area

Nashville’s surrounding area is the biggest 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 small number 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 about 100 new people moving to the city every day. Nashville was also named the best place in America 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 the fourth-best 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 two music production centers in the United States. The music industry in Nashville brings in about $10 billion each year and provides around 56,000 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. As of 2012, the health care industry added about $30 billion each year and provided 200,000 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 expected to employ 8,500 people by 2031.

Real estate is becoming more important to Nashville's economy. Surveys show that Nashville is very attractive to real estate investors. 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 deeply connected to its many universities, especially Vanderbilt University. Two important groups of writers and critics from the early 1900s, the Fugitives and the Agrarians, were linked to the university.

Popular spots in Nashville include Fort Nashborough and Fort Negley. Fort Nashborough is a copy of the city's first settlement, while Fort Negley is an old Civil War fort. Visitors also enjoy the Tennessee State Museum and The Parthenon, a full-sized copy of the 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 one of the largest presidential homes open to the public and very popular with 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, known as "the District".

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 city also had a theme park called Opryland USA, which closed in 1997 to make way for a big shopping mall called Opry Mills.

The Christian music industry is strong along Music Row, with companies like EMI Christian Music Group, Provident Label Group, and Word Records.

Music Row is also home to gospel music and Christian music companies. On River Road, the CabaRay opened in 2018, offering dinner and shows in a style like in Vegas. There is also a piano bar and gift shop.

Nashville has jazz history too, with bands like The Nashville Jazz Machine and The Nashville Jazz Orchestra. The Francis Craig Orchestra played at the Hermitage Hotel from 1929 to 1945 and was very popular on the radio.

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. In 2017, reporters counted 33 such groups on Lower Broadway one night, and there were likely more. The city now has rules for party buses that travel around downtown. A TV show called Bachelorette Weekend follows a company that plans these 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. The name dates back to 1873 when Queen Victoria supposedly said the performers she heard must be from a "musical city" after listening to the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
• 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. It was once called "Powder City of the World" due to a short-lived gunpowder plant in 1918.

Sports

Professional

Nashville is home to four professional sports teams. Three play at the highest 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 is also home to one minor league team: the Nashville Sounds of Minor League Baseball's International League. An investment group, Music City Baseball, wants to bring a Major League Baseball team to the city.

The Tennessee Titans moved to Nashville in 1998. They now play at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Since moving to Nashville, the Titans have won several championships and competed in a big game in 1999. The Nashville Predators joined the NHL in the 1998–99 season and have won championships too. Nashville SC began playing in 2020 and moved to a new stadium in 2022. The Nashville Sounds baseball team was established in 1978 and has won many championships over the years.

College and amateur

Nashville is also home to 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 their home games 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 qualified for the Little League World Series. Teams from nearby Goodlettsville have also qualified in recent years.

Parks and gardens

Metro Board of Parks and Recreation takes care of over 10,000 acres of land with 99 parks and green spaces. This makes up 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 lots of 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

The city of Nashville and Davidson County joined together in 1963 to solve problems caused by growing cities. This combined area is called "Metro Nashville" or just "Metro". Metro provides important services like police, fire, electricity, and water. When Metro was created, it was split into two areas—the "urban services district" and the "general services district". The urban area covers the old city limits of Nashville, about 72 square miles, while the general area includes the rest of Davidson County. There are six smaller towns inside Metro, such as Belle Meade and Berry Hill, which handle some services like police on their own, while Metro takes care of most others.

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

Politics

Nashville has mostly supported democratic leaders for a long time, even when the rest of Tennessee leaned toward republican ideas. Most elected leaders in Nashville are democrats, and this has been true for many years. In recent times, Nashville has continued to support democratic leaders, even when the rest of the state has chosen republican leaders. This difference makes Nashville unique compared to other parts of Tennessee.

Crime

Data shows that crime rates in Nashville have been going down after a higher period 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, continuing 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 and has about 85,000 students at 169 schools. Nashville also has many private schools, such as Montgomery Bell Academy, Harpeth Hall School, and University School of Nashville. Together, these private schools have more than 15,000 students.

Nashville is known for its many colleges and universities, earning it the nickname the “Athens of the South.” There are around 43,000 students in higher education in Nashville. The largest is Vanderbilt University, with about 13,000 students. It is known for its strong programs in medicine, law, business, engineering, and education. 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 is the most widely read in the city. 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 get their TV through cable. Nashville is the 26th largest TV market in the United States. There are also several radio stations, with Nashville being 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 get to work by driving alone, with some carpooling or using public transportation. A few walk to work, and some work from home. The city is located where three important highways meet, connecting it to nearby cities. Public buses help people move around the city, and the city has plans to improve walking paths and bus stops.

Highways

Nashville sits at the meeting point of three major highways. These roads connect the city to places like Memphis, Knoxville, Clarksville, and Chattanooga. The highways also have smaller roads that help people 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 many friends around the world. These are called sister cities. Some of Nashville's sister 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 and municipality united in friendship. These include Gwangjin in South Korea, Crouy in France, and El Port de la Selva in Spain.

The city is also home to 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.