Davidson County is home to over half a million people. The county merged with the City of Nashville in 1963 and formed Metro Nashville to become the oldest county in Middle Tennessee. The Cumberland River runs through the middle of the county, which is home to the cities of Belle Meade, Antioch, Berry Hill, Forest Hills, Goodlettsville, Lakewood, Oak Hill, and Ridgetop. Use the All My Sons Guide of Nashville to move to Davidson County, Tennessee.
BELLE MEADE
Belle Meade is a small, upscale Nashville suburb of about 3,000 permanent residents, including former vice-President, Al Gore. The city, composed of land, mansions and “old money”, is family-oriented and was absorbed into the metro Nashville government in 1963. Belle Meade’s City Mission Statement claims that it “strives to maintain and enhance our City’s beauty, security, and livability, all of which contribute to the exceptional quality of life enjoyed by Belle Meade residents”. The city sets a high standard for city employees and provides a variety of upscale boutiques, fine dining, and cultural opportunities. Warner Parks, Cheekwood mansion and gardens, and the Frist Center for the Arts provide art exhibits throughout the year. In addition, the area is home to the famous Belle Meade Plantation, a 30-acre historic site and Greek-revival mansion that was built in 1853. The location was home to five generations of the Harding-Jackson family and is one of largest private estates in Nashville history. Belle Meade is known to be one of most important locations for thoroughbred racehorse breeding, having produced a significant number of Kentucky Derby winners.
ANTIOCH
Antioch is located in the southern part of Davidson County and is governed by the Nashville-Davidson metro government. The area, a small community that caters to farmers, is named after the Antioch First Baptist Church. Antioch experienced explosive growth in the 1970s as affordable housing including apartment complexes and mobile home communities were built around the area. The town has a slightly younger demographic, as well as many immigrants. The area is also home to Hickory Hollow Mall, the Starwood Amphitheatre, and the National Association of Free Will Baptists.
BERRY HILL
Berry Hill, formed in 1950 by William Tyler Berry, was made part of Metro Nashville in 1963 with municipal status. The young area is one of seven “satellite cities” of Nashville. Berry Hill is a unique city. Located minutes from downtown Nashville, the area has a ‘zen’ feel, with many holistic health practitioners and four city parks. Although there are only 700 permanent residents, the city’s population swells to over 6500 people during the daytime hours. The less-than-one-square-mile city features over forty recording studios and music publishers as well as 1940s cottages and shopping on Bransford Avenue and Columbine Place, proving that big business can exist within a small-town atmosphere.
FOREST HILLS
Forest Hills is located in southwest Davidson County, north of Williamson County. The area is considered a ‘satellite city’ suburb of Nashville with about 4700 residents. Forest Hills neighbors Belle Meade and Old Hickory Blvd, which divides Davidson and Williamson Counties. Forest Hills is located in wooded hills that are one thousand feet above sea level. The area saw significant growth in the 1970s. The area was home to the Chickasaw, Shawnee, and Cherokee Indians from A.D. to 1500 and was eventually settled in 1780. The area eventually became a place for businessmen and professionals to build estates in the 1920s. The area also contains the Natchez Trace – a roadway to Natchez, MS. Forest Hills is an affluent family town with a median household income of over $100,000.
GOODLETTSVILLE
Goodlettsville is located between Davidson and Sumner counties. Incorporated in 1958, Goodlettsville is a small community that is one of five cities in Metro Nashville. Goodlettsville offers small-town living with big-city convenience throughout Tennessee with I-65, I-24 and I-40 all intersecting through Goodlettsville. Nashville International is about 17 miles from the city, and the city is served by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Nashville. The city, which is a hub for finance and the medical community, is home to about 14,000 people, as well as to the headquarters for Dollar General Corporation.
LAKEWOOD
Lakewood is a small city of around 2,500 people. The city was formerly incorporated as ‘Dupontonia’ in 1959, as a result of a DuPont manufacturing facility in the town. The city changed its name to Lakewood in 1961. Lakewood is located about 10 miles from Nashville. The city has grown by almost 20% since the 1990s and experiences low crime levels. It is a family-oriented town with excellent schools. The median home cost is about $130,000.
OAK HILL
Oak Hill, bounded by Old Hickory Boulevard, is most famous for being the location of the Tennessee governor’s mansion. Incorporated in 1952, one of the town’s most interesting features is that it is zoned exclusively for single-family homes – there are no commercial establishments of any kind. Oak Hill has about 4700 residents with a median household income of about $90,000. The people are drawn to the large tree-filled lots, as well as 15 churches, schools and Radnor Lake, and a 1,200 acre body of water that is the largest natural area in Tennessee. There are also many amenities at no charge including: twice-weekly backdoor trash pickup and monthly chipper service.
RIDGETOP
Ridgetop is located in Davidson and southern Robertson counties with a population of just over 1000 people. The area is Located at the edge of Highland Rim, an area in Middle Tennessee 800 ft above sea level Settled in the early 1800s, Ridgetop was formerly a vacation spot for the wealthy. Today, Ridgetop is known for the Ridgetop Tunnel, an underground railroad tunnel, as well as the Smiley Hollow special events facility, where recent scenes from Hannah Montana: The Movie were filmed.