NASHVILLE, TN

Nashville (/ˈnæʃvɪl/ NASH-vil) is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, located on the Cumberland River.^[8] It is the 20th-most populous city in the United States and fourth-most populous city in the Southeast, with a population of 689,447 at the 2020 census (estimated at 721,074 in 2025).^[c][4] The Nashville metropolitan area, with over 2.15 million people, is the 35th-largest metropolitan area in the country. Nashville is among the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.^[9][10]

Named in honor of Francis Nash, a general of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, the city was founded in 1779 when this territory was still part of North Carolina. The city quickly grew due to its strategic location as a port on the Cumberland River and, in the 19th century, a railroad center. Nashville as part of Tennessee seceded during the American Civil War; in 1862 it was the first state capital in the Confederacy to be taken by Union forces. It was occupied through the end of the war. After the war, the city gradually reclaimed its stature. It became a center of trade and developed a manufacturing base.

Since 1963, Nashville has had a consolidated city-county government, which is composed of six smaller municipalities in a two-tier system. The city is governed by a mayor, a vice mayor, and a 40-member metropolitan council. Thirty-five of the members are elected from single-member districts, while five are elected at-large. Reflecting the city’s position in state government, Nashville is home to the Tennessee Supreme Court‘s courthouse for Middle Tennessee, one of the state’s three divisions.

As of 2020, Nashville is considered a global city, type “Gamma” by the GaWC.^[11] It is a major center for the music industry, especially country music, and is commonly referred to as Music City.^[12] It is home to three major professional sports teams: the Predators, Titans, and Nashville SC. The city is also the home of many colleges and universities including Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, Fisk University, Trevecca Nazarene University, and Lipscomb University. Nashville is sometimes referred to as the “Athens of the South” due to the large number of educational institutions.^[13] The city is also a major center for the healthcare,^[14] publishing,^[15] banking,^[16] automotive,^[17] and technology^[18] industries. Entities with headquarters in the city include AllianceBernstein,^[19] Asurion,^[20] Bridgestone Americas,^[21] Captain D’s,^[22] Concord, Gideons International, Hospital Corporation of America,^[23] LifeWay Christian Resources,^[24] Logan’s Roadhouse,^[25] and Ryman Hospitality Properties.^[26]