DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD: LIVING IN THE HEART OF NASHVILLE

About Downtown Nashville
Nashville was founded in 1779 and quickly grew because of its accessibility as a river port and major railroad center.
Nashville was incorporated in 1806 as a city and became the county seat of Davidson County. The city was named the capital of the state of Tennessee in 1843.
The city's significance as a shipping port made it a desirable prize as a means of controlling important river and railroad transportation routes during the Civil War.
In February 1862, Nashville became the first state capital to fall to Union troops. Though the war left Nashville in desperate economic straits, the city quickly recovered.
The post Civil War years of the late 19th century brought prosperity to Nashville. These healthy economic times left the city with a legacy of classical style buildings, which can still be seen around the downtown area.
Under its Metropolitan Charter, which became effective April of 1963, Nashville and Davidson County have a single government with authority encompassing more than a half-million people and 533 square miles. It has a vice-mayor and a legislative council of 40 members.
The Grand Ole Opry, built in 1925, combined with an already thriving publishing industry, positioned Nashville to become known as Music City.
Downtown Nashville features many modern and edgy restaurants as well as classic Southern diners. Shopping malls offer a huge range of merchandise and run the scale from old standbys to new storefronts.
Buying & Selling in Downtown Nashville
The median home value* in downtown Nashville is $241,400. Home values have gone up 12% over the past year. The median list price per square foot is $195. The median price of homes currently listed in downtown Nashville is $339,990
* Stated values were current as of December, 2017
More Information on Living in DOwntown Nashville
- Learn more about Nashville's Downtown neighborhood on the Nashville Downtown Partnership website.
- To learn more about living Downtown, visit the Urban Residents Association website.
Neighborhood Map
Things To Do In & Around Downtown Nashville
Broadway , starting off the Cumberland River and running through Downtown Nashville, is central to the city's country music entertainment district. Featuring numerous Honky Tonks and Dive Bars, Broadway also features numerous landmarks along its length.
Home of the exciting Nashville Predators NHL Hockey franchise, the Bridgestone Arena takes its name from Bridgestone Americas Inc., who moved it's headquarters to Nashville in 1992 following Bridgestone Corporation’s merger with Firestone Tire & Rubber Company.
With more than 500, 000 visitors annually, the building also plays host to a variety of non-traditional functions. Of note, the Bridgestone Arena Tower is home to the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, an XM Radio studio and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, which hosts more than 500,000 tourists annually.
Also Downtown is Nashville's Centennial Park. Originally a farm and then a state fairgrounds, the grounds were the site of the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Following the Exposition 72 acres were gifted to the city as a public park in 1902.
Built for the Exposition and anchoring the park is a full scale replica of Athen's Parthenon, complete with a replica of the mythical 100 foot statue of the goddess Athena said to have graced the interior of the original.
Also on the grounds are a one-mile walking trail, city fishing in man-made and stocked Lake Watauga, historical monuments, an arts activity center, a band shell, and events shelter, sand volleyball courts, dog park, and an exercise trail.
The Centennial Art Center and Centennial Sportsplex are also located in the park.
To See in Downtown Nashville
Internet and Cell Service in Downtown Nashville
Internet Service
DSL (AT&T)
Cable (Xfinity, MegaPath)
Cellular Service
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon
Note: Always verify service to a property address when evaluating availability.
Downtown Nashville Demographics
The current population of Nashville is 628,434.
The median age is 34.
At the 2010 census, the racial makeup was 63% White, 29% African American, 4% Asian, and 4% from two or more races.
Schools in Downtown Nashville
Elementary Schools
Buena Vista Enhanced Option Elementary School - PK–4
Middle Schools
John Early Paideia Middle Magnet - 5–8
High Schools
Economy
Nashville is a major music recording and production center. The Big Three record labels have offices in Nashville.
As of 2006, Nashville's music industry is estimated to have a total economic impact of $6.4 billion per year and to contribute over 20,000 jobs to the Nashville area.
Nashville is also a center for the healthcare industry. In 2014, health care generated $21 billion in personal income.
Fifteen major publicly traded healthcare companies are based in the area, including three of the five largest investor owned hospital operations.
The median family income is 56,377. Unemployment rate is 2.3%.
For more information, view a list of the top employers in Nashville.
Voting
58.45% of the people in Nashville are registered Democrats.
39.87% are registered Republican
1.69% are independent.
Weather
Downtown Nashville gets 50 inches of rain per year, while the US average is 39.
The average snowfall is 4 inches.
On average Downtown Nashville has 205 sunny days per year.
Highest temperatures are in July and average 89 degrees.
Low temperatures occur in January and average 26 degrees.
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Additional Resources if You're Moving to Tennessee
Searching for a house can be both exciting and stressful. Here are online resources to help you plan your move.
- The Nashville Chamber of Commerce "Getting Established" page is a great resource for information on a variety of topics and is a great place to start.
- Department of Motor Vehicles instructions to re-register your out of state driver's license and vehicle.
- Check out the neighborhood! Read up on Nashville's eclectic neighborhoods and find your ideal vibe.
- Have kids? Learn about schools and their ratings before you move.