You may be wondering, What's so special about Nashville? It's the new "IT" city with over 140 million tourists coming each year, over 80 people are moving to Nashville each day! So what makes it so special?
Nashville is a city rich in history, culture; a dynamic city known for its significant contributions to music. It's known for it's Southern Hospitality and charm mild weather, and many things to do and see. It's a perfect blend for the Arts and Nature. It’s a big city with small-town roots and southern hospitality. This combination makes Middle Tn one of the best cities to visit and to call home.
Best Places to Live 2024-2025 Rank: 50
Population: 700,764* Davidson County
Population of Middle TN: 1,838,103
Median Home Value: $388,516
Median Monthly Rent: $1,487
Median Household Income: $79,367
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%
Here are some fun and interesting things to know about Nashville:
1. Music City: Nashville is known as the "Music City" and is a major center for country music, with iconic venues like the Grand Ole Opry and The Bluebird Cafe. The city also has a downtown music scene with bars and clubs featuring live country music, rock, blues, jazz, and Americana. But it's more than just music. Nashville has a diverse live entertainment scene that includes Broadway shows, musicals, stand-up comedy, and more.
- Country Music Capital: Nashville is famously known as the "Country Music Capital of the World." It's home to the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and numerous recording studios.
- Live Music Scene: You can find live music almost any night of the week, especially on Broadway, a street lined with honky-tonks and bars.
- Music Row: A district in Nashville that houses numerous recording studios, music publishers, and record labels.
2. The Athens of the South
- The Parthenon: Nashville has a full-scale replica of the Parthenon, complete with a statue of Athena. It's located in Centennial Park and serves as an art museum.
3. Rich History
- Civil War Significance: Nashville played a crucial role during the Civil War and is home to several historic sites, including the Battle of Nashville battlefield and Fort Negley.
- Hermitage: The home of Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the United States, is located in Nashville and is a popular historical site.
4. Culinary Delights: Nashville is known for its vibrant culinary scene, offering a diverse range of dining options from traditional Southern cuisine to innovative modern dishes.
- Hot Chicken: Nashville is famous for its spicy hot chicken. Prince's Hot Chicken Shack and Hattie B's are popular spots to try this local specialty.
- Meat and Three: This traditional Southern meal includes one meat and three side dishes, and Arnold's Country Kitchen is a great place to experience it.
- The Catbird Seat: An intimate, chef-driven dining experience with a tasting menu that changes frequently based on seasonal ingredients
5. Diverse Neighborhoods: There are many walkable eat, live, shop areas around Nashville.
- East Nashville: Known for its artsy and eclectic vibe, East Nashville has a thriving community of artists, musicians, and young professionals.
- The Gulch: A trendy, upscale neighborhood with modern architecture, chic restaurants, and high-end shopping.
- Germantown
- Twelve South
6. Festivals and Events
- CMA Fest: The Country Music Association Festival is one of the biggest country music festivals in the world, drawing fans from all over.
- Tomato Art Fest: Held in East Nashville, this quirky festival celebrates all things tomato with art, music, and food.
7. Educational Hub Nashville, Tennessee has at least 16 colleges and universities within its city limits, including private schools, public options, and community colleges:
- Vanderbilt University: A prestigious private research university in Nashville.
- Tennessee State University: A historically black public university in Nashville.
- Belmont University and Lipscomb University: Other notable higher education institutions in the region.
8. Green Spaces and Lakes
- Centennial Park: Besides the Parthenon, this park features walking trails, a lake, and beautiful gardens.
- Radnor Lake State Park: A natural oasis with hiking trails and abundant wildlife, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.
- Natchez Trace Parkway: A scenic road that offers beautiful landscapes, hiking, biking, and historical markers.
- Old Hickory Lake Situated only 15 miles from Nashville, (the Home of Country Music), many country music stars have made Old Hickory Lake their backyard
- Percy Priest Lake: Popular for boating, fishing, and other water activities.
9. Unique Attractions
- The Loveless Cafe: Famous for its Southern-style biscuits and country cooking, this cafe has been a Nashville institution since 1951.
- Printer's Alley: A historic alleyway downtown that was once the center of Nashville’s printing industry and is now home to nightlife and music venues.
10. Sports and Recreation
- Nashville Predators: The city's NHL team, known for their passionate fanbase and exciting games at Bridgestone Arena.
- Nashville SC: The city’s Major League Soccer team, playing at the new GEODIS Park.
- Nashville's blend of music, history, culture, and Southern hospitality makes it a fascinating and vibrant city to explore.
- The Tennessee Titan's. Nashville is home for the Titans NFL team.
11. Nashville TN has a strong economy:
Nashville's economy has been growing, with the city ranking second in the nation for GDP growth in 2021 and 2022. Nashville has a thriving economy with opportunities in various sectors, including healthcare, education, music, and tourism, attracting many people for work and business opportunities.
Healthcare, Automotive such as Nissan and Bridgestone, and insurance industry, are some of the top employers in Middle Tn and we are home to over a dozen Universities and many other large companies that call Middle Tennessee Home.
- FedEx: Has operations in the Nashville area, providing numerous jobs in shipping and logistics.
- Nissan Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant: Located near Nashville, it's one of the largest automotive assembly plants in the U.S.
- Bridgestone Americas Manufacturing Group: Besides their headquarters, Bridgestone also operates manufacturing facilities in the region.
- Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center: One of the largest hotels in the city, employing a large number of staff.
- HCA Healthcare: One of the largest for-profit healthcare providers in the world, headquartered in Nashville.
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center: A major research hospital and one of the leading medical centers in the country.
- Amazon: The company has a major operations hub in Nashville, creating numerous jobs in logistics, technology, and customer service.