We’re staying in the south on our trip around the great cities of the USA. This time, we’re off to a city that’s all about the music – Nashville.

Welcome to Nashville, TN!

Name – The city was named after Francis Nash, a general during the Revolutionary War. He was one of only ten Patriot generals who died in the war, and is regarded as a hero.

Location – Nashville is located in the middle of Tennessee, which is in the southeast United States.

Nicknames – First and foremost, Nashville is known as Music City. While it’s easy to see where this name comes from – as the city is home to the country music industry and has plenty of record labels, venues, and music stores – there’s also an interesting legend. In the late 1800s, a local group called the Fisk Jubilee Singers was touring the country to raise money for the Fisk University. The school’s mission was to educate slaves who had been freed after the Civil War. When they went to the UK in 1873, it’s said that Queen Victoria heard them and remarked that they must be from “Music City.”

There’s always music going on here.

Year Founded – A town was founded in 1779 by James Robertson and John Donelson near the site of Fort Nashborough. At the time, it was a part of North Carolina. It became an official town with the name Nashville a few short years later. By the end of the century, it was a part of Tennessee. In 1806, Nashville was incorporated as a city and it was named the state capital in 1843.

Population – The 2015 estimate had Nashville’s population at just over 654,000. The city has been growing rapidly in recent years, with around a 10% population growth between 2000-2010. Nashville’s population is 57% White, 27% Black, 10% Hispanic, and 3% Asian.

Transportation – You can get into Nashville at the city’s international airport, by bus, or by car. Nashville is not exactly known for its great public transportation. There’s a bus system, but most people choose to drive here or use ride share apps.

Famous Places – Not surprisingly, a lot of the sights in Nashville are related to music. Here you can visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Johnny Cash Museum. When it comes to famous venues, nothing beats the Grand Ole Opry.

The Parthenon (in Tennessee).

Other places of interest in Nashville include the Centennial Park, which features a replica of the Parthenon from Greece.

You can also visit the Tennessee State Capitol and State Museum here to learn all about the state and its government.

Culture – Of course, the culture of Nashville is all about the music. There’s a very vibrant music and entertainment scene here. Any night of the week, you’ll be able to find all sorts of live music all over the city. While it’s famous for country music, you can also listen to jazz, rock, bluegrass, hip hop – just about any kind of music.

Hattie B’s hot chicken will . light you on fire!

Food and drink are also very important in the local culture. As in many southern cities, a big thing here is “meat and three” – a restaurant where you pick one meat along with three side dishes. Of course, you’ve got to wash it down with some sweet tea. Nashville is also famous for its hot chicken. Just be warned – even medium is very hot!

Nashville also hosts a variety of events and festivals throughout the year – film festivals, fashion weeks, marathons, and even the Tennessee State Fair. Be sure to check the calendar before your visit to see what’s going on!

Catch a Titans game if you’re here in the fall.

Sports – Nashville has two major professional sports teams:

• NFL – Tennessee Titans
• NHL – Nashville Predators

The Titans made it all the way to the Super Bowl in 1999, only to get stopped on the 1-yard line to lose to the St. Louis Rams.

If you love good food and music, then Nashville is a great place to visit. Come spend a few days here to check out some of the museums, see a few shows, eat several delicious meals, and party hard with amazing live music.

Have you been to Nashville? What did you do there? If not, would you like to visit? Why/why not? Let us know in the comments!