Where is Nashville, Tennessee?

Nashville is located in the northern part of the Tennessee. Nashville is the second largest city in the state Tennessee and 23rd most-populous city in the United States.

Location Map of Memphis City, Nashville

Where is Nashville
About Map: Map showing location of Nashville in the State of Tennessee, United States.

Where is Nashville Located?

Nashville is the capital city of Tennessee State in the United States. The city is located on the Cumberland River and serves as the hub of the Nashville metropolitan area, which is one of the fastest growing in the country. The Nashville city was founded in 1779 and was named after Francis Nash, a Continental Army general during the American Revolutionary War. The city of Nashville is located in the Nashville Basin's northwest corner along the Cumberland River. Nashville is also located near the beginning of the Highland Rim, a geophysical area with a lot of hills. Nashville is consequently highly hilly. According to the United States Census Bureau Nashville city has a total area of 527.9 square miles (1,367 km2), of which 504.0 square miles is land and 23.9 square miles is water. Nashville city has the highest population in the state of Tennessee. It is the fourth-most populated city in the southeastern United States and the 21st most populous city in the nation. The population of Nashville in 2022 is 1,294,000.

The present economy of Nashville is diversified. The music and entertainment sector is a major factor in Nashville`s economy and services including health care, banking and insurance, and education also play a significant role. Tourism, printing and publishing (particularly of music and religious publications), and manufacturing (including the production of cars, auto glass, trucks, tires, water heaters, aircraft parts, and appliances) are additional significant industries. Tobacco, livestock, dairy products, corn, and soybeans are among the agricultural products grown in the region. The city serves as a hub for transportation and distribution thanks to its strategic location, international airport, Cumberland River port facilities, and rail and highway links.

Nashville is well known for its country music, which serves as the foundation for a significant recording business in the city. The majority of those activities are concentrated in downtown's Music Row neighborhood. Numerous tourist attractions in the Nashville city are focused on music, such as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Ryman Auditorium, a performance hall that formerly served as the Opry's home. The city's vibrant academic community has played a significant role in shaping its cultural landscape. Popular destinations include Fort Nashborough and Fort Negley, the Tennessee State Museum, the Parthenon, and Parthenon.

Nashville is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Tennessee. The city is the county seat of Davidson County and is located on the Cumberland River. Memphi is the 23rd largest city in United States, with a population of 694,144 according to the 2019 United States Census Bureau data. It covers an area of 525.94 sq mi (1,362.2 km2).

Nashville, Tennessee Quick Facts

CityNashville
CountyDavidson County
StateTennessee
State CapitalNashville
US RegionSouth
Latitude36.1627° N
Longitude86.7816° W
Elevation554 ft (169 m)
Land Area (sq mi)504.03
Water Area (sq mi)21.76
Total Area (sq mi)525.79
Population (2020 Census)689,447
Population Density (per sq mi)1,368
ZIP Codes37013, 37027, 37072, 37201, 37203, 37204, 37205, 37206, 37207, 37208, 37209, 37210, 37211, 37212, 37214, 37215, 37216, 37217, 37218, 37219, 37220, 37221, 37228
Area Code615, 629
Time Zone StandardCentral Standard Time (UTC-6)
Time Zone DaylightCentral Daylight Time (UTC-5)
CurrencyUnited States Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code47-52000
Congressional DistrictTennessee's 5th Congressional District

Nearby Cities to Nashville, Tennessee

  • Brentwood, Tennessee - 10 mi South
  • Franklin, Tennessee - 21 mi South
  • Hendersonville, Tennessee - 18 mi Northeast
  • Murfreesboro, Tennessee - 34 mi Southeast
  • Mount Juliet, Tennessee - 17 mi East
  • Lebanon, Tennessee - 30 mi East
  • Gallatin, Tennessee - 27 mi Northeast
  • Goodlettsville, Tennessee - 12 mi North
  • Smyrna, Tennessee - 23 mi Southeast
  • Clarksville, Tennessee - 50 mi Northwest

Nashville, Tennessee Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January49314.1
April72494.5
July90703.7
October73502.8
Annual715047.0
Climate Classification (Köppen)Humid Subtropical (Cfa)
Annual Rainfall47.0 in
Annual Sunshine Days205
Hurricane/Tornado RiskModerate Tornado Risk
Snowfall4.7 in

Driving Distances from Nashville, Tennessee

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
MurfreesboroTennessee3440 min
ClarksvilleTennessee5055 min
Bowling GreenKentucky671 hr 10 min
ChattanoogaTennessee1352 hr
KnoxvilleTennessee1802 hr 45 min
MemphisTennessee2123 hr 15 min
LouisvilleKentucky1752 hr 45 min
AtlantaGeorgia2503 hr 50 min
BirminghamAlabama1903 hr
St. LouisMissouri3094 hr 40 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Nashville, Tennessee

Airport NameNashville International Airport
IATA CodeBNA
PortPort of Nashville
Major HighwaysI-24, I-40, I-65, I-440, Briley Parkway
Train/Amtrak ServiceNo Amtrak Service
Local Bus/Transit ServiceWeGo Public Transit
  • Interstate 24 - Connects Nashville with Chattanooga, western Kentucky, and Illinois.
  • Interstate 40 - Major east-west corridor crossing Tennessee and connecting several major cities.
  • Interstate 65 - Links Nashville with Louisville, Indianapolis, Birmingham, and Mobile.
  • Interstate 440 - Urban bypass serving central Nashville.
  • Briley Parkway - Key route connecting suburbs, downtown, and the airport.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Nashville, Tennessee

Landmark NameType
Grand Ole OpryMusic Venue
Country Music Hall of Fame and MuseumMuseum
Ryman AuditoriumHistoric Music Venue
The ParthenonHistoric Landmark
Broadway Entertainment DistrictEntertainment District
Johnny Cash MuseumMuseum
Cheekwood Estate & GardensBotanical Garden
Nissan StadiumSports Venue
Bicentennial Capitol Mall State ParkState Park
Tennessee State CapitolHistoric Landmark

Economy and Major Employers in Nashville, Tennessee

SectorMajor Employer or IndustryNotes
HealthcareHCA HealthcareMajor healthcare company headquartered in Nashville.
Music and EntertainmentMusic IndustryNashville is known worldwide as Music City.
Higher EducationVanderbilt UniversityLeading research university and employer.
HealthcareVanderbilt University Medical CenterOne of the region's largest employers.
GovernmentState of TennesseeState capital and major public-sector employer.
TourismHospitality and Convention IndustryDriven by music and entertainment attractions.
TechnologyTechnology and Business ServicesRapidly expanding economic sector.
FinanceBanking and Professional ServicesSupports metropolitan economic growth.

Colleges and Universities in Nashville, Tennessee

Institution NameType (Public/Private)LevelNotable For
Vanderbilt UniversityPrivateUniversityResearch, medicine, and law programs
Tennessee State UniversityPublicUniversityHistorically Black public university
Belmont UniversityPrivateUniversityMusic, business, and healthcare programs
Lipscomb UniversityPrivateUniversityChristian higher education
Trevecca Nazarene UniversityPrivateUniversityLiberal arts and professional studies
Nashville State Community CollegePublicCommunity CollegeCareer and transfer education
Meharry Medical CollegePrivateUniversityMedical and healthcare education
American Baptist CollegePrivateCollegeTheological and leadership education

Waterbodies in Nashville, Tennessee

Cumberland River, Percy Priest Lake, Old Hickory Lake, Harpeth River, Stones River, Radnor Lake, Whites Creek, Mill Creek, Sycamore Creek, Richland Creek

Golf Courses in Nashville, Tennessee

Hermitage Golf Course, Gaylord Springs Golf Links, Richland Country Club, Belle Meade Country Club, Ted Rhodes Golf Course, McCabe Golf Course, Two Rivers Golf Course, Harpeth Hills Golf Course, Nashville Golf & Athletic Club, The Grove Golf Club

Nashville, Tennessee - Key Historical Facts

  • Nashville was founded in 1779 and named in honor of American Revolutionary War hero Francis Nash.
  • The city became the capital of Tennessee in 1843 and remains the state's political center.
  • Nashville earned the nickname "Athens of the South" because of its strong emphasis on education and higher learning.
  • The city emerged as a national center for country music during the 20th century through the Grand Ole Opry and recording industry.
  • Nashville played important roles during both the Civil War and the development of the American music industry.
  • Today Nashville is a leading center for healthcare, higher education, entertainment, tourism, and business services.

Tennessee More Maps & Info

Tennessee MapTennessee County MapMap of Tennessee With Cities
Tennessee Physical MapTennessee Blank MapTennessee River Map
Tennessee Road MapWhere is MemphisWhere is Tennessee
Tennessee ZipcodesAirports in TennesseeTennessee Area Codes

Written and fact-checked by | Last Updated: January 11, 2025, 11:50 PM ET