When you look around at the vibrant downtown and rich culture of Nashville, it’s hard to believe that it hasn’t always been known as Music City.
So how did what started as a tiny settlement in the 1700s turn into the colorful city it is today? From its founding, through the Civil War, and up to the country music explosion, here’s a quick history of the Nashville we know and love.
The Founding of Nashville
While French fur traders established a trading post in the area in 1717, they were far from the first people to live on the land. In fact, Native Americans of the Mississippian culture lived in what is now known as Nashville way back in 1000 A.D., before mysteriously disappearing 400 years laters. Other Native Americans, the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Shawnee still used the land for hunting in the years after.
After the trading post was established, the first settlement followed in 1779, near what’s now the center of Nashville. The settlement then turned into a log stockade and was named Fort Nashborough, in honor of Revolutionary war hero General Francis Nash.
Fun fact: Nashville’s music roots started much sooner than you might think. Famed frontiersman Davy Crockett brought his own brand of fiddle play and story weaving to the city all the way back in the 1700s!
Nashville’s Devastation
Over the years, the name Nashborough somehow morphed into Nashville. Tennessee gained statehood in 1796, but the city wasn’t named the permanent capital until almost 100 years later, in 1843.
Nashville grew to be a booming city over the years, but the arrival of the Civil War spelled bad news. With the river and railroad running through town, it became a hot spot for both soldiers and battles, which led to a major downfall for the city—namely, the Battle of Nashville in 1864.
Country Music Comes to Town
After the war, it took a few years for Nashville to get back on its feet…but once it did, it took off.
In 1842—well before the Grand Ole Opry came to town and even before the Civil War started— the renowned Ryman Auditorium was bringing in the best country musicians in the area. This was the beginning of Nashville’s musical reputation.
A few decades after the war, when Nashville was back on its feet, the music scene started to grow once again. After the Grand Ole Opry’s founding in 1925 and the radio broadcast of the same name, Nashville further solidified its title as a musical center—earning the nickname Music City. The Opry radio show is still going today, and has helped countless musicians get their start!
Nashville Today
In present times, Nashville continues its legacy as a prosperous, vibrant, and musical city. With landmarks like the Country Music Hall of Fame, events like the Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, and venues like the iconic Bluebird Cafe, the city’s roots in music are around everywhere you look.
And it’s not just country music—Nashville’s atmosphere has even attracted big music names like Justin Timberlake, The Black Keys, and Jack White to not only record music here, but to also call the city home.
Find Your Home in Nashville
Do want to live in an epicenter of music and culture? A place with a rich history and an even more promising future? Then welcome home to Nashville.
If you’re ready to get to started with buying your Nashville home or just have a few questions about the area, don’t hesitate to call Tina Self, your local real estate expert.