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| History | |
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Main article: History of Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville was founded by James Robertson, John Donelson, and a party of Wataugans in 1779, and was originally called Fort Nashborough, after the American Revolutionary War hero Francis Nash. Nashville quickly grew because of its strategic location, accessibility as a river port, and its later status as a major railroad center. In 1806, Nashville was incorporated as a city and became the county seat of Davidson County, Tennessee. In 1843, the city was named the permanent capital of the state of Tennessee.
Nashville riverfront shortly after the Civil War
By 1860, when the first rumblings of secession began to be heard across the South, antebellum Nashville was a very prosperous city. The city's significance as a shipping port made it a desirable prize as a means of controlling important river and railroad transportation routes. In February 1862, Nashville became the first state capital to fall to Union troops. The Battle of Nashville (December 15–16, 1864) was a significant Union victory and perhaps the most decisive tactical victory gained by either side in the war.
Within a few years after the Civil War the city had reclaimed its important shipping and trading position and also developed a solid manufacturing base. The post-Civil War years of the late 19th century brought a newfound prosperity to Nashville. These healthy economic times left the city with a legacy of grand classical-style buildings, which can still be seen around the downtown area.
Since the 1970s, the city has experienced tremendous growth, particularly during the economic boom of the 1990s under the leadership of then-Mayor and later-Tennessee Governor, Phil Bredesen, who made urban renewal a priority, and fostered the construction or renovation of several city landmarks, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the downtown Nashville Public Library, the Bridgestone Arena, and LP Field.
In 1997 Nashville was awarded an NHL expansion team which was subsequently named the Nashville Predators. LP Field (formerly Adelphia Coliseum) was built after the National Football League's (NFL) Houston Oilers agreed to move to the city in 1995. The NFL team debuted in Nashville in 1998 at Vanderbilt Stadium, and LP Field opened in the summer of 1999. The Oilers changed their name to the Tennessee Titans and saw a season culminate in the Music City Miracle and a close Super Bowl game that came down to the last play.
Today, the city along the Cumberland River is a crossroads of American culture, and one of the fastest-growing areas of the Upland South.
[edit] Tags:Lp Field,Davidson County,Tennessee,County,Davidson,D,Cumberland River,County Seat,James Robertson,John Donelson,Wataugans,Fort Nashborough,American Revolutionary War,Incorporated,Civil War,Rumblings Of Secession,Economic Boom,Tennessee Governor,Phil Bredesen,Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum,Bridgestone Arena,National Football League,Vanderbilt,Tennessee Titans,Music City Miracle,Super Bowl,The Last Play,Upland South,Robertson,Country Music, | |
| Topography | |
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Nashville lies on the Cumberland River in the northwestern portion of the Nashville Basin. Nashville's topography ranges from 385 feet (117 m) above sea level at the Cumberland River to 1,160 feet (350 m) above sea level at its highest point.[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 527.9 square miles (1,367 km2), of which 504.0 square miles (1,305 km2) of it is land and 23.9 square miles (62 km2) of it (4.53%) is water.
[edit] Tags:United States Census Bureau, | |
| Climate | |
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Nashville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa),[9] with generally cool to moderately cold winters, and hot, humid summers. Monthly averages range from 38.1 °F (3.4 °C) in January to 79.9 °F (26.6 °C) in July, with a diurnal temperature variation of 18.5 to 23 °F (10 to 13 °C). In the winter months, snowfall does occur in Nashville but is usually not heavy. Average annual snowfall is about 5.8 inches (15 cm), falling mostly in January and February and occasionally March and December.[10] The largest snow event since 2000 was on January 16, 2003, when Nashville received 7 inches (18 cm) of snow in a single storm; the largest on record was 17 inches (43 cm), received on March 17, 1892.[11] Rainfall is typically greater in winter and spring while autumn is the driest. Spring and fall are generally warm but prone to severe thunderstorms, which occasionally bring tornadoes — with recent major events on April 16, 1998; April 7, 2006; February 5, 2008; April 10, 2009; and May 1–2, 2010. Relative humidity in Nashville averages 83% in the mornings and 60% in the afternoons,[12] which is considered moderate for the Southeastern United States.[13] In recent decades, due to urban development, Nashville has developed an urban heat island (UHI); especially on cool, clear nights, temperatures are up to 10 °F (5.6 °C) warmer in the heart of the city than in rural outlying areas.
Nashville's long springs and autumns combined with a diverse array of trees and grasses can often make it uncomfortable for allergy sufferers.[14] In 2008, Nashville was ranked as the 18th-worst spring allergy city in the U.S. by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.[15]
The coldest temperature ever recorded in Nashville was −17 °F (−27 °C) on January 21, 1985, and the highest was 107 °F (42 °C) on July 28, 1952.[16]
Climate data for Nashville (Nashville Int'l), 1981-2010 normals
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Year
Record high °F (°C)
78
(26)
84
(29)
89
(32)
91
(33)
96
(36)
106
(41)
107
(42)
106
(41)
105
(41)
94
(34)
85
(29)
79
(26)
107
(42)
Average high °F (°C)
47.4
(8.6)
52.2
(11.2)
61.5
(16.4)
71.0
(21.7)
78.6
(25.9)
86.4
(30.2)
89.8
(32.1)
89.4
(31.9)
82.8
(28.2)
72.1
(22.3)
60.7
(15.9)
50.0
(10.0)
70.16
(21.20)
Daily mean °F (°C)
38.1
(3.4)
42.2
(5.7)
50.5
(10.3)
59.5
(15.3)
68.0
(20.0)
76.2
(24.6)
79.9
(26.6)
79.2
(26.2)
72.0
(22.2)
60.8
(16.0)
50.3
(10.2)
40.9
(4.9)
59.8
(15.4)
Average low °F (°C)
28.9
(−1.7)
32.1
(0.1)
39.5
(4.2)
48.0
(8.9)
57.3
(14.1)
66.0
(18.9)
70.1
(21.2)
68.9
(20.5)
61.2
(16.2)
49.4
(9.7)
39.9
(4.4)
31.8
(−0.1)
49.43
(9.68)
Record low °F (°C)
−17
(−27)
−13
(−25)
2
(−17)
23
(−5)
34
(1)
42
(6)
51
(11)
47
(8)
36
(2)
26
(−3)
−1
(−18)
−10
(−23)
−17
(−27)
Precipitation inches (mm)
3.75
(95.3)
3.94
(100.1)
4.11
(104.4)
4.00
(101.6)
5.50
(139.7)
4.14
(105.2)
3.63
(92.2)
3.16
(80.3)
3.41
(86.6)
3.04
(77.2)
4.31
(109.5)
4.23
(107.4)
47.22
(1,199.4)
Snowfall inches (cm)
2.4
(6.1)
2.1
(5.3)
.8
(2)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
.5
(1.3)
5.8
(14.7)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)
10.3
10.3
10.7
10.8
11.7
10.0
10.2
8.4
7.5
8.0
9.8
11.2
118.9
Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)
2.1
2.1
.6
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.9
5.7
Sunshine hours
139.5
146.9
192.2
231.0
260.4
279.0
279.0
263.5
225.0
217.0
147.0
130.2
2,510.7
Source: NOAA;[10] Weather.com (records);[17] Hong Kong Observatory (sunshine hours)[18]
[edit] Tags:Humid Subtropical Climate,Köppen,Severe Thunderstorms,April 7, 2006,February 5, 2008,April 10, 2009,Allergy,Asthma And Allergy Foundation Of America, | |
| Cityscape | |
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Downtown Nashville
See also: List of tallest buildings in Nashville
The downtown area of Nashville features a diverse assortment of entertainment, dining, cultural and architectural attractions. The Broadway and 2nd Avenue areas feature entertainment venues, night clubs and an assortment of restaurants. North of Broadway lies Nashville's central business district, Legislative Plaza, Capitol Hill and the Tennessee Bicentennial Mall. Cultural and architectural attractions can be found throughout the city.
The downtown area of Nashville is easily accessible. Three major interstate highways (I-40, I-65 and I-24) converge near the core area of downtown, and many regional cities are within a day's driving distance.
Nashville's first skyscraper, the Life & Casualty Tower, was completed in 1957 and started the construction of high rises in downtown Nashville. After the construction of the AT&T Building (commonly known to locals as the "Batman Building") in 1994, the downtown area saw little construction until the mid-2000s. Many new residential developments have been constructed or are planned for the various neighborhoods of downtown and midtown. A new high rise office building, The Pinnacle, was recently opened in 2010.[19]
Many civic and infrastructure projects are either being planned, in progress, or recently completed. A new MTA bus hub was recently completed in downtown Nashville, as was the Music City Star pilot project. Several public parks have been constructed, such as the Public Square. Riverfront Park is scheduled to be extensively updated. The Music City Center, a convention center project, has been approved for the downtown area and is currently under construction.
[edit] Tags:I-40,I-24,I-65,The Pinnacle,Music City Star,Music City Center, | |
| Parks and gardens | |
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The Parthenon in Nashville's Centennial Park is a full-scale reconstruction of the original Greek Parthenon.
Metro Board of Parks and Recreation owns and manages 10,200 acres (4,100 ha) of land and 99 parks and greenways (comprising more than 3% of the total area of the county).
Warner Parks, situated on 2,684 acres (1,086 ha) of land, consists of a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) learning center, 20 miles (32 km) of scenic roads, 12 miles (19 km) of hiking trails, and 10 miles (16 km) of horse trails. It is also the home of the annual Iroquois Steeplechase.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers maintains parks on Old Hickory Lake and Percy Priest Lake. These parks are used for activities such as fishing, waterskiing, sailing and boating. Percy Priest Lake is also home to the Vanderbilt Sailing Club.
Other notable parks in Nashville include Centennial Park, Shelby Park, and Radnor Lake State Natural Area.
[edit] Tags:Parthenon,Iroquois,Steeplechase,United States Army Corps Of Engineers,Old Hickory Lake,Percy Priest Lake,Waterskiing,Boating,Radnor Lake State Natural Area, | |
| Metropolitan area | |
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Main article: Nashville metropolitan area
Nashville has the largest metropolitan area in the state of Tennessee, spanning 13 counties and, as of 2009[update], had a population of 1,582,264.[3] The Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area encompasses the Middle Tennessee counties of Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson.[20] The 2009 population of the Nashville-Davidson—Murfreesboro—Columbia combined statistical area was estimated at 1,666,210.[7]
[edit] Tags:Combined Statistical Area,Middle Tennessee, | |
| Culture | |
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Much of the city's cultural life has revolved around its large university community. Particularly significant in this respect were two groups of critics and writers who were associated with Vanderbilt University in the early twentieth century: the Fugitives and the Agrarians.
Popular destinations include Fort Nashborough and Fort Negley, the former being a reconstruction of the original settlement, the latter being a semi-restored Civil War battle fort; the Tennessee State Museum; and The Parthenon, a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens. The Tennessee State Capitol is one of the oldest working state capitol buildings in the nation, while The Hermitage is one of the older presidential homes open to the public.
[edit] Tags:Vanderbilt University, | |
| Dining | |
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Although best known for its music, Nashville is a city filled with countless dining destinations. Some of the more popular types of local cuisine include hot chicken, hot fish, barbecue, and meat and three.
[edit] Tags: | |
| Entertainment and performing arts | |
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Ryman Auditorium, the "Mother Church of Country Music"
Nashville has a vibrant music and entertainment scene spanning a variety of genres. The Tennessee Performing Arts Center is the major performing arts center of the city. It is the home of the Tennessee Repertory Theatre, the Nashville Opera, the Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Nashville Ballet. In September 2006, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center opened as the home of the Nashville Symphony.
As the city's name itself is a metonym for the country music industry, many popular tourist sites involve country music, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Belcourt Theatre, and Ryman Auditorium. Ryman was home to the Grand Ole Opry until 1974 when the show moved to the Grand Ole Opry House, 9 miles (14 km) east of downtown. The Opry plays there several times a week, except for an annual winter run at the Ryman.
Numerous music clubs and honky-tonk bars can be found in downtown Nashville, especially the area encompassing Lower Broadway, Second Avenue, and Printer's Alley, which is often referred to as "the District".[21][22]
Each year, the CMA Music Festival (formerly known as Fan Fair) brings thousands of country fans to the city. The Tennessee State Fair is also held annually in September.
Nashville was once home of television shows such as Hee Haw and Pop! Goes the Country, and to the Opryland USA theme park, which operated from 1972 to 1997 before being closed by its owners Gaylord Entertainment, and soon after demolished to make room for the Opry Mills mega-shopping mall.
The Christian pop and rock music industry is based along Nashville's Music Row, with a great influence in neighboring Williamson County. The Christian record companies include EMI Christian Music Group, Provident Label Group and Word Records.
Kirk Whalum visiting the audience at a riverfront concert in 2007
Although Nashville was never known as a jazz town, it did have many great jazz bands, including The Nashville Jazz Machine led by Dave Converse and its current version, the Nashville Jazz Orchestra, led by Jim Williamson, as well as The Establishment, led by Billy Adair. The Francis Craig Orchestra entertained Nashvillians from 1929 to 1945 from the Oak Bar and Grille Room in the Hermitage Hotel. Craig's orchestra was also the first to broadcast over local radio station WSM-AM and enjoyed phenomenal success with a 12-year show on the NBC Radio Network. In the late 1930s, he introduced a newcomer, Dinah Shore, a local graduate of Hume Fogg High School and Vanderbilt University.
Radio station WMOT-FM in nearby Murfreesboro has aided significantly in the recent revival of the city's jazz scene, as has the non-profit Nashville Jazz Workshop, which holds concerts and classes in a renovated building in the north Nashville neighborhood of Germantown. Fisk University also maintains a jazz station.
Nashville has an active theatre scene, having several professional and community theatre companies. Most notable of the professional companies are Nashville Children's Theatre, Tennessee Repertory Theatre, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival, the Dance Theatre of Tennessee and the Tennessee Women's Theater Project. Of the community theatres, Circle Players has been in operation for over 60 years.
[edit] Tags:Grand Ole Opry,Ryman Auditorium, | |
| Tourism | |
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Perhaps the biggest factor in drawing visitors to Nashville is its association with country music. Many visitors to Nashville attend live performances of the Grand Ole Opry, the world's longest running live radio show. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is another major attraction relating to the popularity of country music. The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, the Opry Mills regional shopping mall and the General Jackson showboat, are all located in what is known as Music Valley.
Civil War history is important to the city's tourism industry. Sites pertaining to the Battle of Nashville and the nearby Battle of Franklin and Battle of Stones River can be seen, along with several well-preserved antebellum plantation houses such as Belle Meade Plantation, Carnton plantation in Franklin, and Belmont Mansion.[23]
Nashville has several arts centers and museums, including the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, the Tennessee State Museum, Fisk University's Van Vechten and Aaron Douglas Galleries, Vanderbilt University's Fine Art Gallery and Sarratt Gallery, and the Parthenon. Nashville West is one of the city's newer attractions.
[edit] Tags: | |
| Major annual events | |
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Event
Month Held and Location
Nashville Film Festival
Weeklong festival in April. It features hundreds of independent films and is one of the biggest film festivals in the Southern United States.
Country Music Marathon
Marathon and half marathon which normally include over 25,000 runners from around the world in April.
Veterans Day Parade
A parade running down Broadway on 11/11 at 11:11.11 am since 1951. Features include 101st Airborne division (Air Assault), Tennessee National Guard, Veterans from wars past and present, military plane fly-overs, tanks, motorcycles, first responder vehicles, marching bands and thousands of spectators.[24]
Iroquois Steeplechase
Annual steeplechase horse racing event which takes place in May at Percy Warner Park.
CMA Music Festival
A four day event in June featuring performances by country music stars, autograph signings, artist/fan inter Tags: | |
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