Nashville

by The Linguist

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, officially known as the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. Located on the Cumberland River, Nashville has a population of 691,243 as of 2019, making it the 24th most-populous city in the United States. Nashville is the seat of Davidson County and anchors the Nashville metropolitan area, which has a population of 1,959,495.

Nashville is perhaps most famous for its status as the epicenter of the country music industry. Numerous attractions and studios related to country music, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, lend Nashville the nickname “Music City”. Nashville is also home to numerous colleges and universities such as Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, Fisk University, and Lipscomb University.

History

The first known European descendent to arrive in the Nashville area was James Robertson in 1779. He came from North Carolina and traveled overland, along with a large group of settlers, intent on settling the area. Robertson established the first European settlement in Middle Tennessee when he founded Fort Nashborough in 1780. The settlement was named for American Revolutionary War hero Francis Nash. In 1784, Nashborough was chosen as the county seat of the newly formed Davidson County.

For decades after the American Revolutionary War, the community grew slowly. Planter Andrew Jackson, who served as General in the War of 1812 and was later elected president of the United States in 1828, established his plantation, The Hermitage, in the vicinity. Numerous slaves were brought to the Nashville area to labor on the cotton plantations.

During the Civil War, Nashville, as a major Union stronghold, saw considerable military activity. After the war, freed slaves helped establish Nashville’s thriving black church community and founded many of the city’s black schools and businesses. In 1895 the first of the Southern Expositions showcasing art, commerce and industry, was held in Nashville. These expositions continued through 1925 and helped brand the city as a regional center for trade.

Nashville grew and prospered through the early 1900s. In 1963, Nashville consolidated with Davidson County, forming a metropolitan government. The city continued to grow rapidly, partly fueled by the growth of health care and publishing in the region.

Today, Nashville retains its historic mix of culture, commerce and education. The city has retained its “Music City” moniker and continues to be a hub for country music and songwriting. Major record labels including Sony/BMG still have offices in Nashville, and music production and publishing continue to play major roles in the city’s economy.

Population

As of 2019, Nashville had an estimated population of 691,243. The racial makeup of the city is 65.3% White, 27.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and 2.6% two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race made up 10.3% of the population.

The Nashville metropolitan area has experienced tremendous population growth in recent decades. Between 2000 and 2019, the Nashville metro area population rose from 1.23 million to 1.96 million, a 37.8% increase. The city of Nashville itself grew 27.2% during that period.

Nashville is currently growing at a rate of about 100 people per day or 36,500 people per year. Population growth is attributed to Nashville’s strong economy and the quality of life it provides.

Economy

Nashville has a diverse, prosperous and growing economy. According to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, the city’s GDP reached $140 billion as of 2019, making Nashville’s economy larger than that of Las Vegas, Indianapolis, Austin, and Kansas City. Nashville’s economy continues to outpace the national average in jobs and income growth.

Some of the major industries in Nashville include:

  • Healthcare – Nashville has over 400 healthcare companies including hospital management firms, medical laboratories, and many other health services. Major players include HCA Healthcare, Acadia Healthcare, and Envision Healthcare.
  • Music and Entertainment – Known as Music City, Nashville is home to more than 180 recording studios and 130 music publishers. Major labels Sony Music and Warner Music Group have offices here.
  • Automotive – The automotive industry is huge in Nashville with Nissan’s North America headquarters located in the city as well as plants for GM, Bridgestone, Hankook Tire and more.
  • Education – With nearly 20 colleges and universities in the metro area, higher education has a $5 billion impact on the local economy.
  • Tourism – In 2019, Nashville set new tourism records with over 15 million visitors spending $7.5 billion. Attractions like the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame along with the city’s famous honky tonks and live music draw visitors from around the world.

Major companies headquartered in Nashville include HCA Healthcare (One Park Plaza, Nashville, TN 37203 – (615) 344-9551), Tractor Supply Co. (5401 Virginia Way, Brentwood, TN 37027 – (615) 440-4000), Dollar General (100 Mission Ridge, Goodlettsville, TN 37072 – (615) 855-4000), and Genesco (1415 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37217 – (615) 367-7000).

The unemployment rate in Nashville as of November 2020 was 4.9%, lower than both the state and national unemployment rates.

Attractions and Landmarks

Nashville is filled with unique attractions that highlight the city’s vibrant music scene and culture. Here are some of the top things to see and do in Nashville:

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Located in the heart of downtown, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (222 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203) traces the history of country music through exhibits and memorabilia. See guitars from country greats like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams Sr. on display.

Ryman Auditorium

Built in 1892, Ryman Auditorium (116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219) earned the nickname the “Mother Church of Country Music” for hosting the Grand Ole Opry radio show until 1974. The Ryman continues to host concerts and musical productions in an iconic venue.

Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry (2804 Opryland Dr, Nashville, TN 37214) is a weekly country music show that has been broadcast live on the radio since 1925. Big names in country music perform alongside up-and-coming acts in an energetic live radio show.

Parthenon

Located in Centennial Park, the full-scale replica of the ancient Parthenon in Athens was originally built in 1897 for Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition. Today the Parthenon (2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203) serves as an art museum with a giant statue of Athena inside.

Sports

Nashville has professional sports teams in several major leagues:

  • The Tennessee Titans of the National Football League play at Nissan Stadium.
  • The Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League play at Bridgestone Arena downtown.
  • Nashville SC of Major League Soccer also plays at Nissan Stadium.
  • The Nashville Sounds, a Minor League Baseball team, play at First Horizon Park.

Sports tourism is also huge for Nashville. The city hosts the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship golf tournament along with the College Football Playoff National Championship which came to Nashville in 2022.

Transportation

Nashville International Airport (BNA) serves the Nashville and Middle Tennessee region. In 2019, BNA had over 18 million passengers and is experiencing rapid growth as one of the fastest growing airports in North America. It is served by 13 airlines with about 250 daily flights providing direct service to more than 60 destinations.

Public transportation in Nashville and Davidson County is provided by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). Bus service covers most major city thoroughfares as well as direct routes to popular suburbs including Brentwood, Bellevue and Antioch.

Interstate highways I-40, I-65, and I-24 serve the Nashville area. Briley Parkway circles the north side of the city while I-440 forms a partial loop around the south side.

Education

Nashville and Davidson County are served by two public school districts:

  • Metro Nashville Public Schools (2601 Bransford Ave, Nashville, TN 37204 – (615) 259-4636) operates 169 schools serving over 85,000 students. The district administers elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, magnet schools, alternative learning, and adult education programs across Nashville and Davidson County.
  • The public schools in the suburban city of Bellevue are part of the Williamson County School District (1320 West Main Street Franklin, TN 37064 – (615) 472-4000). Families who live in Bellevue are zoned to schools in this district that operates 50 schools in various communities south of Nashville.

Nashville is also home to over 20 colleges and universities including Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, Fisk University, Trevecca Nazarene University, Middle Tennessee State University, and Lipscomb University.

Additional Local Resources

Here are some other useful resources if you live in or plan to visit Nashville:

  • Metro Nashville Government Website – Official site of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County with info on departments, meetings, facilities and more.
  • Nashville Public Library – The Nashville Public Library system has 21 branch locations across Davidson County.
  • Nashville Parks and Recreation -Operates over 100 parks, greenways, recreation centers, golf courses and other facilities in Nashville and Davidson County.
  • Nashville SC – Nashville’s Major League Soccer team that plays at Nissan Stadium.
  • Mayor John Cooper Facebook – Facebook page of Nashville Mayor John Cooper.
  • Visit Music City – Official Nashville tourism website packed with info on attractions, hotels, restaurants and things to do.

Map of Nashville

Nashville is located in Davidson County in northern Middle Tennessee. It sits on the Cumberland River and is surrounded by the counties of Cheatham, Davidson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson.

Nashville Landmarks

  • Ryman Auditorium – 116 5th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219 (36.1610656, -86.7784667)
  • Country Music Hall of Fame – 222 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203 (36.1595178, -86.7703593)
  • Tennessee State Capitol – 600 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN 37243 (36.1645446, -86.7842467)