29 Nashville Facts: History, Culture, Music And Much More
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Nashville has one of the highest populations in the US states and was made the capital of Tennessee, USA, in 1843.
Nashville was turned into a city in 1806 and has English as its official language today. It became the transportation, political, and cultural center of the Middle Tennessee area.
This city has a rich culture, historical significance, and a vast touristy list for people who visit the place. One of which is the Centennial Park which houses the Greek Parthenon's life-size replica giving it the name 'Athens of the South'.
One exciting part of history is that this city holds a maj0r position in the Civil War as it became a base for the Union military in 1862.
Andrew Jackson was a western hero and the seventh US president. He lived in Fort Nashborough, wherein he was buried, and his house was named The Hermitage.
Read on to know more about this city.
History of Nashville
Nashville has had two cholera epidemics in the 18th and 19th centuries, yet it is considered one of the wealthiest cities in the southern part of the USA. Read on to know more about the historical importance of this city.
Andrew Jackson the western hero, was a lawyer and a politician.
Jackson fought valiantly in the war of 1812 as a general.
He set up offices and later won most people's hearts with his military skills and bravery and managed to be elected as the president in 1828.
The Great East Nashville Fire of 1916 became a significant event in the History of East Nashville because it destroyed nearly 500 homes and dropped the economy down within just a few days.
The following event of mere significance was that of the Great Train Wreck in 1918.
This occurrence was considered the deadliest train wreck in the United States of America's history, wherein a local train was found in a collision with an express train.
The incident had killed around 101 people.
The city was in the center during the Civil rights movement in the late '50s.
With the help of the Nashville sit-ins and protesting activities carried out by John Lewis, James Bevel, Bernard Lafayette, and Diane Nash, along with many others, the practice of racial discrimination in the colleges and school premises was lowered down.
The individuals mentioned above later organized a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
They together started the first Nashville Open Theater Movement in 1961, wherein they strategized the racial desegregation in the city theatres.
In 2010, the city was a part of the 1,000-year floods as the whole region flooded extensively across middle and west Tennessee.
Geography And Climate
Nashville's geographical location and the perfect temperatures with slight summers and cool weather during the winters have made it a good place for trade and living.
Nashville is considered a hilly region in the US mainly due to its positioning at the beginning of Highland Rim.
Downtown Nashville is loaded with various architectural, cultural, dining, and entertainment attractions.
Nashville has changing climate occurrences with a humid temperature with mild snowfalls and heavy rainfalls with tornadoes. The coldest temperature ever to be recorded at Nashville was −17 °F (−27 °C ), and the hottest was 109 °F (43 °C).
Food, Language, Culture And Religion
Nashville is known for its cultural richness, which adores several art festivals, museums, architecture, and lip-smacking delicacies, especially the hot chicken barbeque that never fails to tempt a foodie.
Nashville is where the full-scale replica of the Parthenon is built at the Centennial Park, and the city houses several universities like Vanderbilt University and Tennessee State University.
Nashville's Country Music Capital houses the Ryman auditorium.
Nashville is also home to the Grand Ole Opry, Belcourt Theatre, and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Famous festivals and events in Nashville include the Tomato and Costume art festival, CMA Music Festival, African street festival, and Art Nashville International Art Fair.
The city is known for its hot chicken, meat and three, barbecues, and hot fish.
Music City
The year 1892 marked the opening of Ryman Auditorium, popularly known as the 'Mother Church of the Country Music'.
The King of Rock Elvis Presley recorded more than 200 songs in Nashville's RCA studio, and while Presley was recording the Christmas album 'The King', the crew hung up a red-blue-green string of lights to imbibe the holiday spirit. These strings have hung in the studio to date.
The music industry helps sustain and create more than 50,000 jobs in Nashville.
The Blue Room in Nashville is the only venue around the globe that still records directly onto the classic vinyl.
United Records Pressing is one of the last four companies that still produce vinyl records.
Oprah Winfrey started her journey in Nashville while studying at Tennessee State University.
Other Facts
From history with slavery and epidemics to hosting art festivals and being the birthplace for country music, there are many fun and intriguing facts about Nashville, Tennessee. Read on to know most of them right here.
In 1714, a few French traders established a trading post currently named downtown Nashville. This location became known as French Lick.
Nashville has several nicknames, including Nashvegas for its entertaining lifestyle, the Protestant Vatican, Athens of the South, and of course Music City, USA.
The designer of the Tennessee Capitol, William Strickland, is buried in Nashville.
President Theodore Roosevelt had visited the Maxwell House Hotel and claimed their coffee to be 'good to the last drop'. This later turned the slogan for the coffee sold under the Maxwell company.
The Tennessee State Capitol building was built over a duration of 14 long years from 1845 to 1859.
FAQs
Who is Nashville named for?
James Robertson and a party of settlers established a fort enclosing an area along the banks of the Cumberland River and they named it Fort Nashborough in the honor of Francis Nash, an American Revolutionary War hero. This area was later renamed Nashville (as currently called) in 1784.
What was Nashville originally called?
The city is named after Francis Nash, an American Revolutionary War hero from North Carolina, who had fought in the American Revolution.
How did Nashville get so big?
Nashville, currently known as the 'Southern Boomtown,' is mainly because of its prime geographical location, and it has recorded around 100 people increase a day. Nashville is one of the big cities in the southern part of the USA because of its higher-booming economy, job opportunities, and growing start-ups.
What kind of music is in Nashville?
Even though Nashville is the birthplace of its very own country music, other music genres have been appreciated in this city, including jazz blues, indie rock, bluegrass, and rock.
When did Nashville become so popular?
Although Nashville was a trending city to move to since the 18th century, it became prevalent during the 20th century after the Second World War.
Who called Nashville Music City?
Some sources suggest that Queen Victoria had first called Nashville Music City after witnessing the Fisk Jubilee Singers performances. However, as per records, the term 'Music City' was used by David Cobb as a nickname for the city in a '50s radio broadcast. The name quickly stuck and became the city's most famous and iconic moniker.
Why was Nashville chosen as the capital of Tennessee?
Tennessee was a state that had almost four different capitals previously. Nashville won as the permanent capital in October 1843, majorly due to its good background in the southern area's iron production.
Additionally, it had better water connections and better roads. This was decided with the help of votes amongst several other locations in Tennessee, out of which Nashville and Charolette were the popular contenders, and Nashville won by one vote.
What is Nashville's slogan?
Nashville has many taglines, with the major one being 'Music city' and the other most popular slogan 'Athens of the South'.
What food is native to Nashville?
Apart from the famous Prince's hot chicken, Nashville is known for its classic meat and three meals, and its salt, pepper flavored southern chocolate.
What color is the Tennessee state flag?
Tennessee state flag is crimson with a blue circle in the center that consists of three white stars.
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature
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As a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and energetic individual, Olaleye's expertise lies in administrative and management operations. With extensive knowledge as an Editor and Communications Analyst, Olaleye excels in editing, writing, and media relations. Her commitment to upholding professional ethics and driving organizational growth sets her apart. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Benin, Edo State.
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