Nashville TN: Music City USA

Contributing an estimated $6.4 billion and 19,000 jobs (2006), Nashville's music industry has ranked second in the nation, behind New York City, since the 1960s. Nashville's musical roots can be traced back to 1824 when the book 'Western Harmony' (a book of hymns and signing instructions) was published here. This first foray into the music business led the way to Nashville becoming the nation's premier location for religious music and publishing.

The year 1852 marked the completion of the Union Gospel Tabernacle in downtown Nashville. With perfect acoustics the building was soon being used as both a church and a concert hall, earning it the moniker 'Carnegie Hall of the South'.

Shortly after the 1904 death of the building's main benefactor, riverboat Capt. Tom Ryman, the church/concert hall was renamed the Ryman Auditorium. During a performance in 1927, announcer George D. Hay said to the crowd "Folks, for the last hour, you've been listening to music taken largely from the grand opera-well, y'all just sit on back 'cause from now on you're gonna hear the Grand Ole Opry!"; and so the tradition began.

Due to its religious roots and many decades of hosting the Grand Ole Opry radio program, the Ryman has been affectionately dubbed 'The Mother Church of Country Music'. While the city's musical roots are country, modern-day Nashville is a hot-bed for all genres of music with dozens of honky tonks (clubs) and venues highlighting the biggest stars and up-and-coming performers.

Nashville is also a young and vibrant city, full of great schools and great people where the streets are safe and your neighbors know how to be friendly. Best of all, it's affordable to live here. Be sure to check out the latest Nashville real estate listings.

Nashville is home to 2 major professional sports teams. In 1995 the NFL's Houston Oilers moved there and became the Tennessee Titans, and in 1997 the NHL awarded the city an expansion team that became the Nashville Predators. There are a number of semi-pro franchises in the city as well as excellent collegiate athletic programs. There is also the Nashville Superspeedway, which has been providing race fans with thrills and excitement for the last 10 years and is a popular spot on the NASCAR circuit.

Home to 24 different post secondary educational institutions, Nashville has long been referred to as the 'Athens of the South' because of its wide array of learning opportunities. This nickname was secured in 1897 when a full scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon was built for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. Institutions such as Vanderbilt University, Tennessee State University, Fisk University, and American Bible College continue the tradition of higher learning in the state.

Metro Nashville is home to more than 130 public schools and 50 private schools in the immediate area. With the wide array of educational opportunities, families can be sure they will find the perfect fit for their children's needs.

Disposable income goes farther in Nashville where the cost of living is typically 12% lower than the rest of the nation. Paying less for everyday expenses is one just one of the reasons that make Nashville a great place to live and why many companies and people relocate here each year.

Nashville is rich with arts and culture. Museums featuring Civil War artifacts, galleries with rare pieces of art, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (the most visited museum in the south), are some of the highlights of the city's art offerings .For 30 years The Nashville Symphony Orchestra has been taking center stage at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, which is also home to the Nashville Ballet, the Nashville Opera, and the Tennessee Repertory Theater.

The city enjoys four distinct but mild seasons, with an abundance of sunshine and warmth. Summers are hot and humid with temperatures ranging from 70 degrees in the mornings to the 90's in the afternoon. Winters are mild with lows just below freezing and highs in the mid 40's. Nashville does experience snow in the winter months but it is usually very light. Approximately 50 inches of rainfall can be expected annually.

Opportunities abound for the outdoor enthusiast. Nashville has just over 10,000 acres of land dedicated to parks and greenways. Within the parks are 85 ball fields, 16 swimming pools, 7 golf courses, and 26 community centers. There are also 2 major lakes offering miles of accessible shoreline and endless on-the-water activities.

Despite the economic turmoil that is hitting the rest of the nation, Nashville's housing market has remained quite stable. Prices have only dropped 4% since the downturn and the region still enjoys some of the most affordable residences, for a city its size, in the country. There is a wide array of housing options to choose from and nearly one in five homes in the area is less than 10 years old.

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