Misplaced Pages

#248751

92-517: By the 1880s railroads were becoming a mature industry and it was not easy for a new competitor to break in. The firm and its successor companies would struggle for decades with both financial woes and hostility from the more established lines. (It was unable to use Nashville 's ornate new Union Station terminal for instance, as that was controlled by the rival Louisville and Nashville Railroad and its subsidiary Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis.) The Tennessee Central linked Knoxville directly, by

184-513: A consolidated city-county government, which includes six smaller municipalities in a two-tier system. The city is governed by a mayor, a vice-mayor, and a 40-member metropolitan council. Some 35 of the members are elected from single-member districts , while five are elected at-large . Reflecting the city's position in state government, Nashville is home to the Tennessee Supreme Court 's courthouse for Middle Tennessee , one of

276-573: A metropolitan government . The membership on the Metro Council, the legislative body, was increased from 21 to 40 seats. Of these, five members are elected at-large and 35 are elected from single-member districts , each to serve a term of four years. As Nashville evolved in the 1960s, its music scene diversified, welcoming rock , pop , and other genres and the 'Nashville Sound' transformed into ' Countrypolitan '. Artists like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash came to Nashville to record, reflecting

368-511: A broader sit-in movement in the southeastern United States as part of an effort to end racial segregation of public facilities. On April 19, 1960, the house of Z. Alexander Looby , an African American attorney and council member, was bombed by segregationists. Protesters marched to the city hall the next day. Mayor Ben West said he supported the desegregation of lunch counters, which civil rights activists had called for. In 1963, Nashville consolidated its government with Davidson County, forming

460-584: A council member, Barry had officiated at the city's first same-sex wedding on June 26, 2015. In 2017, Nashville's economy was deemed the third fastest-growing in the nation, and the city was named the "hottest housing market in the US" by Freddie Mac realtors. In May 2017, census estimates showed Nashville had passed Memphis to become most populated city in Tennessee. Nashville has also made national headlines for its "homelessness crisis". Rising housing prices and

552-542: A destination for jazz and blues musicians, and remained so until the federal government split the area by construction of Interstate 40 in the late 1960s. In 1925, the establishment of the Grand Ole Opry marked the beginning of Nashville's journey as the 'Country Music Capital of the World', drawing musicians and fans alike to the city and setting the stage for its future as a country music powerhouse. In 1950,

644-491: A final parclo interchange where it also passes under another CSX line. A short distance later, the freeway crosses a fourth and final CSX mainline and reaches its eastern terminus at a directional T interchange with I-24, west of the Nashville International Airport and about one mile (1.6 km) south of the eastern end of a concurrency between I-24 and I-40. As a result of this, I-440 westbound

736-559: A group of investors led by J. L. Armstrong bought out the Davis group. The last of the steam engines were pulled from service in 1952 due to the arrival of four diesel locomotives (along with 200 coal hoppers) financed by a Reconstruction Finance Corporation loan in the amount of $ 2.2 million. 1954 saw the opening of the first unit of the Tennessee Valley Authority 's Kingston coal-fired power generating plant , which

828-589: A judge ruled that the project would not adversely affect the natural environment and that TDOT had followed all necessary procedures. Construction began in early 1982. The project required the removal of hundreds of thousands of cubic feet of dirt and rock. Initially, I-440 was going to be at-grade, but TDOT engineers chose to build it below the surface of the ground to reduce noise and vehicle emissions pollution after citizens in large cities living near Interstates had complained of disturbances caused by highway traffic. The state also agreed to take measures to reduce

920-642: A link to the Southern Railway 's subsidiary Harriman and Northeastern from Harriman to Knoxville, with Nashville via a route which ascended the Cumberland Plateau Escarpment at Walden's Ridge between Emory Gap and Crossville. The traditional major route for this passage had been made via Chattanooga . In 1893, enter the likes of entrepreneur "Colonel" Jere Baxter . He was known as charismatic and regarded as ruthless. Although no money could be found in Tennessee to complete

1012-539: A lower-income, predominantly minority community. Rapid suburbanization occurred during the years immediately after World War II , as new housing was being built outside city limits. This resulted in a demand for many new schools and other support facilities, which the county found difficult to provide. At the same time, suburbanization led to a declining tax base in the city, although many suburban residents used unique city amenities and services that were supported financially only by city taxpayers. After years of discussion,

SECTION 10

#1732772594249

1104-522: A music recording and production center. With the United States Supreme Court ruling in 1954 that public schools had to desegregate with "all deliberate speed", the family of student Robert Kelley filed a lawsuit in 1956, arguing that Nashville administrators should open all-White East High School to him. A similar case was filed by Reverend Henry Maxwell due to his children having to take a 45-minute bus ride from South Nashville to

1196-595: A noncontiguous inner beltway around downtown Nashville. Originally proposed in the 1950s, I-440 was the subject of much controversy related to its location and design, which resulted in multiple design changes and delayed the highway's completion for many years. As a result, it was the last segment of Interstate Highway planned for Tennessee by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 to be constructed. After its completion in 1987, I-440 developed unforeseen congestion, safety, and surface issues, which prompted

1288-722: A party of Overmountain Men to the site of French Lick, and constructed Fort Nashborough . It was named for Francis Nash , the American Revolutionary War hero. Nashville quickly grew because of its strategic location as a port on the Cumberland River , a tributary of the Ohio River ; and its later status as a major railroad center. By 1800, the city had 345 residents, including 136 enslaved African Americans and 14 free African Americans. In 1806, Nashville

1380-433: A period of some thirty years, until the final name, Tennessee Central Railway, was adopted in 1922. The line expanded slowly and piecemeal to the west and north of Nashville during this period, falling into receivership twice, in 1897 and 1912, on the latter occasion operating in technical insolvency for ten years. Baxter died in 1904, leaving as his heritage the now completed TC, which was heavily burdened with debt. Although

1472-474: A reconstruction of the entire route that was completed in 2020. The majority of I-440 is located below the level of adjoining streets and roads in an artificially-cut gulch . It contains three through lanes in each direction for its entire length, as well as auxiliary lanes in many locations. In 2022, annual average daily traffic (AADT) volumes on the Interstate ranged from 95,313 vehicles per day near

1564-477: A referendum was held in 1958 on the issue of consolidating city and county government. It failed to gain approval although it was supported by the then-elected leaders of both jurisdictions, County Judge Beverly Briley and Mayor Ben West . Following the referendum's failure, Nashville annexed some 42 square miles of suburban jurisdictions to expand its tax base. This increased uncertainty among residents, and created resentment among many suburban communities. Under

1656-656: A significant center for African American music and culture, laying the groundwork for the city's enduring musical legacy. In 1873, Nashville suffered another cholera epidemic, along with towns throughout Sumner County along railroad routes and the Cumberland River. This was part of a larger epidemic that struck the Mississippi Valley system and other areas of the United States, such as New York and towns along its major lakes and rivers. The epidemic

1748-403: A susceptibility of vehicles to hydroplane . Between June and November 2013, TDOT spent $ 9.7 million to repair the concrete on I-440 eastbound between I-65 and I-24, which also included adding an additional lane through the interchange with US 31A/US 41A. Despite these improvements, I-440 continued to develop potholes, which prompted TDOT to prepare for reconstruction of the entire route. After

1840-504: A trading post on the Cumberland River, near the present-day site of the city. In 1714, a group of French traders under the command of Charles Charleville established a settlement and trading post at the present location of downtown Nashville, which became known as French Lick. These settlers quickly established an extensive fur trading network with the local Native Americans, but by the 1740s the settlement had largely been abandoned. In 1779, explorers James Robertson and John Donelson led

1932-634: A vehicle exploded on Second Avenue , killing the perpetrator and injuring eight others. On March 27, 2023, a gunman killed three children and three staff at the Covenant School, before getting killed by police. On December 9, 2023 , tornadoes caused considerable destruction and left three people dead. Nashville lies on the Cumberland River in the northwestern portion of the Nashville Basin . Nashville's elevation ranges from its lowest point, 385 feet (117 m) above sea level at

SECTION 20

#1732772594249

2024-495: Is an accepted version of this page Nashville , often known as Music City , is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County . Located in Middle Tennessee, it had a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census . Nashville is the 21st most populous city in the United States , and the fourth most populous city in the southeastern U.S. Located on

2116-506: Is commemorated by a namesake institution, the Tennessee Central Railway Museum , in its former master mechanic's shop, which also was its headquarters in its final years. An unmarked monument exists in today's Interstate 440 loop south of downtown Nashville, which sits on the old Tennessee Central right-of-way, purchased by the state in the railroad's last years. The trackage between Monterey and Crossville

2208-674: Is directly accessible at this interchange from I-40 westbound, and US 41 /70S (Murfreesboro Road) is directly accessible from the ramp that carries I-440 eastbound traffic to I-24 westbound. The route that is now Interstate 440 had its origins in 1955, when the Interstate Highway System was being planned. The highway was approved by the Bureau of Public Roads, the predecessor to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), on August 24, 1956, and

2300-523: Is estimated to have killed around 1,000 people in Nashville, and 50,000 total. Meanwhile, the city had reclaimed its important shipping and trading position and developed a solid manufacturing base. The post–Civil War years of the late 19th century brought new prosperity to Nashville and Davidson County. Wealthy planters and businessmen built grand, classical-style buildings. A replica of the Parthenon

2392-564: Is located on average about three miles (4.8 km) from the center of the city. I-440 is also known locally as the Four-Forty Parkway , and is designated as the Debra K. Johnson Memorial Parkway . At a length of 7.64 miles (12.30 km), I-440 runs between I-40 and I-24 , and connects to I-65 and multiple U.S. Routes . Combined, I-440 and Briley Parkway, a controlled-access segment of State Route 155 (SR 155), form

2484-683: Is sometimes referred to as the " Athens of the South" due to the large number of educational institutions. The city is also a major center for the healthcare, publishing, banking, automotive, and technology industries. Entities with headquarters in the city include AllianceBernstein , Asurion , Bridgestone Americas , Captain D's , Concord , Gideons International , Hospital Corporation of America , LifeWay Christian Resources , Logan's Roadhouse , and Ryman Hospitality Properties . In 1689, French-Canadian trader Martin Chartier established

2576-609: The Bridgestone Arena , and Nissan Stadium . Nissan Stadium (formerly Adelphia Coliseum and LP Field) was built after the National Football League 's (NFL) Houston Oilers agreed to move to the city in 1995. The NFL team debuted in Nashville in 1998 at Vanderbilt Stadium , and Nissan Stadium opened in the summer of 1999. The Oilers changed their name to the Tennessee Titans and finished

2668-522: The Cumberland River , the city is the center of the Nashville metropolitan area , and is one of the fastest growing in the nation. Named for Francis Nash , a general of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War , the city was founded in 1779 when this territory was still considered part of North Carolina. The city grew quickly due to its strategic location as a port on

2760-599: The Ku Klux Klan was founded by Confederate veteran John W. Morton . He was reported to have initiated General Nathan Bedford Forrest into the white-sepremacist organization. The latter became Grand Wizard of the organization, which had chapters of this secret, insurgent group forming throughout the state and across the South. They opposed voting and political organizing by freedmen , tried to control their behavior by threats, violence and murder, and sometimes also attacked their White allies, including schoolteachers from

2852-486: The Pittsburgh Penguins , 4   games to 2, in the best-of-seven series. On January 22, 2009, residents rejected Nashville Charter Amendment 1 , which sought to make English the official language of the city. Between May 1 and 7, 2010, much of Nashville was extensively flooded as part of a series of 1,000 year floods throughout Middle and West Tennessee. Much of the flooding took place in areas along

Tennessee Central Railway - Misplaced Pages Continue

2944-535: The Southern Railway . In 1936 it had a day and a night train in each direction on the route. The night train served as a section of the Carolina Special , however, passengers would need to switch to other coaches or sleepers at Knoxville to continue the trip to Asheville and eastern North Carolina and southeastern South Carolina. Wartime traffic in the early 1940s brightened the financial picture, but after that hard times returned. Despite losses in 1946,

3036-543: The Tennessee General Assembly passed the IMPROVE Act in 2017, which increased the state's fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees with the intent of funding a backlog of 962 needed transportation projects, TDOT announced that an upgrade of I-440 was a top priority. In November 2017 plans were announced for reconstruction of the route, which included replacing the concrete with asphalt, widening

3128-525: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 527.9 square miles (1,367 km ), of which 504.0 square miles (1,305 km ) of it is land and 23.9 square miles (62 km ) of it (4.53%) is water. Interstate 440 (Tennessee) Interstate 440 ( I-440 ) is an east–west auxiliary Interstate Highway that runs through Nashville, Tennessee . It serves as a southern bypass around downtown Nashville, and

3220-474: The 1970s, the city and county have undergone tremendous growth, particularly during the economic boom of the 1990s under the leadership of then-Mayor and later- Tennessee Governor , Phil Bredesen . Making urban renewal a priority, Bredesen fostered the construction or renovation of several city landmarks, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum , the downtown Nashville Public Library ,

3312-548: The Athens of the South." His brother, Henry Grizzard, had been lynched and hanged on April 24, 1892, in nearby Goodlettsville as a suspect in the same assault incident. From 1877 to 1950, a total of six lynchings of Blacks were conducted in Davidson County, four before the turn of the century. By the turn of the century Nashville was home to numerous organizations and individuals associated with revisionist Lost Cause of

3404-565: The Confederacy pseudohistory, and it has been referred to as the "cradle of the Lost Cause." In 1893, the magazine Confederate Veteran began publication in the city. In 1894, the first chapter of United Daughters of the Confederacy was founded in the city, and it hosted the first two conventions of the organization. Prominent proponents of the mythology, the so-called "guardians of the Lost Cause," were concentrated Downtown and in

3496-541: The Cumberland River and, in the 19th century, a railroad center. Nashville as part of Tennessee seceded during the American Civil War ; in 1862 it was the first state capital in the Confederacy to be taken by Union forces . It was occupied through the war. After the war, the city gradually reclaimed its stature. It became a center of trade and developed a manufacturing base. Since 1963, Nashville has had

3588-627: The Cumberland River, to its highest point, 1,163 feet (354 m) above sea level in the Radnor Lake State Natural Area . Nashville also sits at the start of the Highland Rim , a geophysical region of very hilly land. Because of this, Nashville is very hilly. Nashville also has some stand alone hills around the city such as the hill on which the Tennessee State Capitol building sits. According to

3680-530: The Cumberland and Harpeth Rivers and Mill Creek , and caused extensive damage to the many buildings and structures in the city, including the Grand Ole Opry House , Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center , Opry Mills Mall , Schermerhorn Symphony Center , Bridgestone Arena , and Nissan Stadium . Sections of Interstate 24 and Briley Parkway were also flooded. Eleven people died in

3772-516: The Interstate turns southeast and reaches a partial cloverleaf interchange (parclo) with US 70S (West End Avenue), which is indirectly accessible from the eastbound lanes via a connector road. Turning further southeast and passing near Centennial Park and Vanderbilt University , the highway has a parclo interchange with US 431 (21st Avenue, South Hillsboro Pike) some distance beyond. I-440 then turns directly east and reaches I-65 south of downtown Nashville about two miles (3.2 km) later in

Tennessee Central Railway - Misplaced Pages Continue

3864-619: The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority (now WeGo Public Transit ) by a 2 to 1 margin. On September 28, 2019, John Cooper became the ninth mayor of Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. On March 3, 2020, a tornado tracked west to east, just north of the downtown Nashville area, killing at least 25 people and leaving tens of thousands without electricity. Neighborhoods impacted included North Nashville, Germantown, East Nashville, Donelson, and Hermitage. On December 25, 2020,

3956-501: The Nashville area as a result of the flooding, and damages were estimated to be over $ 2 billion. The city recovered after the Great Recession . In March 2012, a Gallup poll ranked Nashville in the top five regions for job growth. In 2013, Nashville was described as "Nowville" and "It City" by GQ , Forbes , and The New York Times . Nashville elected its first female mayor, Megan Barry , on September 25, 2015. As

4048-520: The North and Freedman's Bureau officials. Whites directed violence against freedmen and their descendants both during and after the Reconstruction era . Two freedmen, David Jones and Jo Reed , were lynched in Nashville by White mobs in 1872 and 1875, respectively. Reed was hanged from a bridge over the river, but survived after the rope broke and he fell into the water. He successfully escaped

4140-766: The West End, near Centennial Park . At the same time, Jefferson Street became the historic center of the African American community, with similar districts developing in the Black neighborhoods in East and North Nashville. In 1912, the Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial and Normal School was moved to Jefferson Street. The first Prince's Hot Chicken Shack originated at the corner of Jefferson Street and 28th Avenue in 1945. Jefferson Street became

4232-532: The city soon thereafter. In the aftermath of the Civil War, the Fisk Jubilee Singers of Fisk University in Nashville emerged as a beacon of hope and cultural pride. By 1871, this ensemble began touring the U.S. and Europe, earning international acclaim for their performances of Negro spirituals . Their success not only provided vital funding for their university but also marked Nashville as

4324-407: The city's expanding influence in the music industry. In 1960, Time reported that Nashville had "nosed out Hollywood as the nation's second biggest (after New York ) record-producing center." In 1957 Nashville desegregated its school system using an innovative grade a year plan, in response to a class action suit Kelly vs. Board of Education of Nashville . By 1966 the Metro Council abandoned

4416-498: The city. By 1860, when the first rumblings of secession began to be heard across the South , antebellum Nashville was a prosperous city. The city's significance as a shipping port and rail center made it a desirable prize for competing military forces that wanted to control the region's important river and railroad transportation routes. In February 1862, Nashville became the first Confederate state capital to fall to U.S. troops, and

4508-589: The company was operating "in the black", they were unable to meet their bonded indebtedness, which was incurred from the building of the line. In 1905, the TC was leased for three years to the Illinois Central Railroad west of Nashville and the Southern east of Nashville. Due to unprofitable operations, neither line opted to renew their lease. In 1922, a group of investors led by Paul M. Davis bought

4600-538: The differing jurisdictions within the large metro region. In the early 1960s, Tennessee still had racial segregation of public facilities, including lunch counters and department store fitting rooms. Hotels and restaurants were also segregated. Between February 13 and May 10, 1960, a series of sit-ins were organized at lunch counters in downtown Nashville by the Nashville Student Movement and Nashville Christian Leadership Council, and were part of

4692-403: The eastern end, the former Tennessee Central remains in use between Crab Orchard, Tennessee and Rockwood, on the opposite side of Walden's Ridge, by Lhoist North America for movement of industrial mineral products. At Rockwood, Lhoist interchanges traffic with Norfolk Southern , which uses the ex-TC the rest of the way from Emory Gap to handle this business. Nashville, Tennessee This

SECTION 50

#1732772594249

4784-444: The end of 1956 TC operated 286 miles of road and 377 miles of track; that year it reported 278 million net revenue ton-miles of freight and 1 million passenger-miles. The Tennessee Central endured for over 80 years in the face of very tough odds, and played a considerable part in the economic development of its service region. It is still remembered fondly by many people in the small towns it served as "The Route of Personal Service," and

4876-417: The entire route had begun to experience severe congestion every day during rush hour . By the 2000s, I-440 had begun to develop cracks and potholes, and in 2009 TDOT spent $ 8 million to rehabilitate the roadway. This included diamond grinding , where grooves were cut parallel to traffic flow in the lanes to improve traction. This was necessitated because the surface had been worn away due to overuse, causing

4968-419: The entire route to a minimum of six lanes, replacing the grass median with a jersey barrier , and improving entrance and exit ramps. The contract for reconstruction was awarded on August 1, 2018. Preliminary work began in late November 2018, and the reconstruction project began on March 1, 2019. The project was completed on July 2, 2020, almost one month ahead of schedule. The project cost $ 154.8 million, and

5060-533: The former L&N owned TC trackage. The N&E once participated in the operation of the Broadway Dinner Train out of Nashville. Today it hosts the WeGo Star commuter rail service between Nashville and Lebanon. In 2000, the Nashville and Western Railroad was formed as subsidiary of the Nashville and Eastern to take over the operation of the old TC from Nashville to Ashland City , which was on

5152-438: The grade a year plan and completely desegregated the entire school system at one time. Congress passed civil rights legislation in 1964 and 1965, but tensions continued as society was slow to change. On April 8, 1967, a riot broke out on the college campuses of Fisk University and Tennessee State University, historically Black colleges , after Stokely Carmichael spoke about Black Power at Vanderbilt University . Although it

5244-492: The highway was necessary to relieve congestion on I-40. On December 9, 1980, a group of community activists known as the "Nashvillians Against I-440" filed a lawsuit, which named then- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Andrew L. Lewis Jr. as the defendant, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee hoping to stop construction of the Interstate. The lawsuit was dismissed on September 23, 1981, when

5336-454: The impact of the Interstate as a further compromise to opposition by such means as designing the route as a parkway . This included separating the lanes by a narrow grassy median, which unintentionally made the route susceptible to crossover crashes, and curbed inner edges. Engineers chose to construct the highway with concrete rather than asphalt so it would last longer. Most of I-440 contained three lanes in each direction, except through

5428-441: The interchanges with Murphy Road, US 70S, US 431, and I-65, where it contained two lanes in each direction, with the third lanes functioning as auxiliary lanes in most places. A proposed interchange at Granny White Pike, which TDOT had acquired the right-of-way for, was abandoned in an effort to prevent the disruption of traffic patterns on nearby surface streets. The discovery of hairline cracks in multiple overpasses and ramps in

5520-470: The new charter, African American attorneys Z. Alexander Looby and Robert E. Lillard were elected to the city council. During the mid-1950s, Nashville underwent a musical transformation with the emergence of the ' Nashville Sound ,' which was characterized by "smooth strings and choruses", "sophisticated background vocals" and "smooth tempos" associated with traditional pop . The new sound broadened country music's appeal and solidified Nashville's status as

5612-425: The north end of the city. These suits caused the courts to announce what became known as the "Nashville Plan", where the city's public schools would desegregate one grade per year beginning in the fall of 1957. Urban redevelopment accelerated over the next several decades, and the city grew increasingly segregated. An interstate was placed on the edge of East Nashville while another highway was built through Edgehill,

SECTION 60

#1732772594249

5704-509: The opioid crisis have resulted in more people being out on the streets: as of 2018 , between 2,300 and 20,000 Nashvillians are homeless. On March 6, 2018, due to felony charges filed against Mayor Barry relating to the misuse of public funds, she resigned before the end of her term. A special election was called. Following a ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court , the Davidson County Election Commission set

5796-552: The portion originally sold to the IC, but later operated by numerous short lines. The Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail extends approximately 14 miles west from Ashland City on the old TC roadbed. Eventually the Dept. of Defense took over the operation of the old TC from Hopkinsville to Fort Campbell . The rest of the TC line between the Trail's end and Fort Campbell has been abandoned. At

5888-650: The predecessor to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), was first authorized to begin studies related to right-of-way acquisition on July 12, 1961, by the FHWA, and preliminary engineering work began in 1964. Planners chose to construct the route through both residential neighborhoods and in the location of a portion of the Tennessee Central Railway . The highway department was authorized to make right-of-way acquisitions for

5980-691: The property that was to be the Tennessee Central, he traveled to St. Louis and eventually found backing. For much of his construction financing, he issued bonds. He organized and constructed four lines that, together with the N&;K acquired from the Crawford family, were to become the Tennessee Central. The lines were reorganized in 1902 and renamed the Tennessee Central Railroad. Several versions of this name were used over

6072-408: The railroad at a bankruptcy sale, thus abolishing the bonded indebtedness. They hired former president Hugh Wright Stanley, who operated the line profitably (except during 1932 and 1933) until 1945. The first diesel-electric locomotive switcher was brought to Nashville in 1939 by the TC. The TC had passenger service from Nashville to Harriman, with through service to Knoxville in cooperation with

6164-548: The right-of-way acquisition phase, and gave final approval of the project's design. A lawsuit was filed by the National Wildlife Federation in 1973, which resulted in the requirement of an environmental impact study for I-440. The draft environmental impact statement was completed in 1978, and was approved by the FHWA on June 19 of that year. Approval of the final environmental impact statement occurred on September 19, 1980, and on February 20, 1981, TDOT

6256-708: The season with the Music City Miracle and a close Super Bowl game. The St. Louis Rams won in the last play of the game. In 1997, Nashville was awarded a National Hockey League expansion team; this was named the Nashville Predators . Since the 2003–04 season, the Predators have made the playoffs in all but four seasons. In 2017, they made the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history, but ultimately fell to

6348-642: The second charter for metropolitan government, which was approved in 1962, two levels of service provision were proposed: the General Services District and the Urban Services District, to provide for a differential in tax levels. Residents of the Urban Services District had a full range of city services. The areas that made up the General Services District, however, had a lower tax rate until full services were provided. This helped reconcile aspects of services and taxation among

6440-603: The section located between I-65 and I-24 on December 4, 1968, and the section between I-40 and I-65 on August 17, 1970. The project experienced many setbacks and was subject to much controversy. After the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) became law in 1970, the FHWA determined in January 1971 that the I-440 project did not require an environmental impact statement , since it was already in

6532-413: The south for iron production. The cholera epidemic that struck Nashville in 1849–1850 took the life of former U.S. President James K. Polk and resulted in high fatalities. There were 311 deaths from cholera in 1849 and an estimated 316 to about 500 in 1850. Before the Civil War, about 700 free Blacks lived in small enclaves in northern Nashville. More than 3,200 enslaved African Americans lived in

6624-519: The special election for May 24, 2018, to meet the requirement of 75 to 80 days from the date of resignation. David Briley , who was Vice Mayor during the Barry administration and Acting Mayor after her resignation, won the special election with just over 54% of the vote, becoming the 70th mayor of Nashville. On May 1, 2018, voters rejected Let's Move Nashville , a referendum which would have funded construction of an $ 8.9 billion mass transit system under

6716-501: The spring of 1985, which were repaired with epoxy cement , delayed the opening of I-440 by approximately eight months. The section of I-440 between I-24 and I-65 was opened and dedicated on December 12, 1985, and the section between I-65 and I-40 was opened and dedicated on April 3, 1987. It was the last Interstate Highway that was originally allocated to Tennessee by the Interstate Highway Act to be completed. It

6808-579: The state legislature approved a new city charter that provided for the election of city council members from single-member districts , rather than at-large voting. This change was supported because at-large voting required candidates to gain a majority of votes from across the city. The previous system prevented the minority population, which then tended to support Republican candidates, from being represented by candidates of their choice; apportionment under single-member districts meant that some districts in Nashville had Black majorities. In 1951, after passage of

6900-640: The state to build I-440 . The Western Division from the western end of the I-440 right of way in Nashville to Hopkinsville, KY was purchased by the Illinois Central Railroad. The eastern end of the line from Harriman to the siding just west of Crossville went to the Southern Railway. The remaining middle portion from Crossville to Nashville went to its old and not at all friendly rival, the Louisville & Nashville. At

6992-430: The state was occupied by the U.S. Army for the duration of the war. Many enslaved African Americans from Middle Tennessee fled as refugees to Union lines; they were housed in contraband camps around military installations in Nashville's eastern, western, and southern borders. The Battle of Nashville (December 15–16, 1864) was a significant Union victory and perhaps the most decisive tactical victory gained by either side in

7084-638: The state's three divisions . As of 2020, Nashville is considered a global city , type "Gamma" by the GaWC . The city is a major center for the music industry , especially country music . It is home to three major professional sports teams : the Predators , Titans , and Nashville SC . The city is also the home of many colleges and universities including Tennessee State University , Vanderbilt University , Belmont University , Fisk University , Trevecca Nazarene University , and Lipscomb University . Nashville

7176-430: The streets." Auction blocks and brokers' offices were part of the slave market at the heart of the city. It was the center of plantations cultivating tobacco and hemp as commodity crops, in addition to the breeding and training of thoroughbred horses, and other livestock. For years Nashville was considered one of the wealthiest southern capitals and a large portion of its prominence was from the iron business. Nashville led

7268-461: The top level of a symmetrical four-level " Spaghetti Junction " stack interchange , which includes four flyover ramps. It also crosses another CSX line and US 31 (Franklin Pike) at this location, but this route is not accessible. Briefly entering the city of Berry Hill , the Interstate turns east-northeast and meets US 31A / US 41A (Nolensville Pike) about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later at

7360-528: The war; it was also the war's final major military action in which Tennessee regiments played a large part on both sides of the battle. Afterward, the Confederates conducted a war of attrition , making guerrilla raids and engaging in small skirmishes. Confederate forces in the Deep South were almost constantly in retreat. In 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, the Nashville chapter of

7452-445: The western terminus of I-440 was widened from one to two lanes between November 1995 and June 1996. Between May 1997 and December 1998 the ramp carrying traffic from I-440 eastbound to I-24 westbound was widened from one to two lanes, including the flyover bridge over I-24. I-440 was built with a design capacity of 64,000 vehicles per day. By 1999, the average annual daily traffic had surpassed 100,000 vehicles in some locations, and

7544-415: The western terminus to 123,747 vehicles per day between I-65 and I-24 . I-440 begins west of downtown Nashville at a directional T interchange with I-40 south of Tennessee State University and heads directly south. It immediately crosses a CSX railroad mainline and U.S. Route 70 (US 70, Charlotte Pike), but does not have an interchange with this route. About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later,

7636-484: Was incorporated as a city and became the county seat of Davidson County, Tennessee . In 1843, the city was named as the permanent capital of the state of Tennessee . Knoxville, Kingston & Murfreesboro were prior locations of the state capital. The city government of Nashville owned 24 slaves by 1831, and 60 prior to the Civil War . They were "put to work to build the first successful water system and maintain

7728-494: Was also the most expensive road, per mile, built in Tennessee at the time, with a total cost of $ 178.3 million (equivalent to $ 410 million in 2023 ). In the first year that I-440 was open, traffic on I-40 decreased by about 16 percent. Trucks were initially prohibited from using I-440, due to pressure from nearby residents concerned about noise pollution, but this ban was blocked by a federal court in 1988 after being challenged by multiple trucking organizations. The speed limit

7820-515: Was approved to begin advertising bids for construction of I-440. The construction of I-440 required the demolition of many houses, and many Nashville residents opposed the project. Throughout the 1970s, many groups campaigned to stop the construction of the highway. Many residents of the areas near I-440 wanted TDOT to choose an alternative, such as constructing the route further to the south, widening existing surface streets, or adding more public transportation. However, traffic studies determined that

7912-486: Was constructed in Centennial Park , near downtown. On April 30, 1892, Ephraim Grizzard , an African-American man, was lynched in a spectacle murder in front of a European-American mob of 10,000 in Nashville. He was a suspect in the assault of two white sisters. His lynching was described by journalist Ida B. Wells as: "A naked, bloody example of the blood-thirstiness of the nineteenth century civilization of

8004-452: Was dismantled by the L&;N in the 1980s, which has proven problematic to recent advocates of the restoration of passenger train service between Nashville and Knoxville. The Nashville and Eastern Railroad was formed to revive operation of the line's freight service to Old Hickory and Lebanon , approximately 30 miles east of Nashville, with occasional runs to points somewhat further east over

8096-602: Was initially 55 miles per hour (90 km/h), which was increased to 65 mph (105 km/h) in July 2000, but reduced back to 55 mph in June 2005 after complaints from motorists. Between November 1994 and November 1995, TDOT made safety modifications to I-24 through the eastern terminus with I-440 and the nearby split with I-40, which reconfigured the routes to provide direct access to I-440 westbound from I-40 westbound. The ramp connecting I-40 eastbound to I-440 eastbound at

8188-506: Was initially referred to as Segment #516. After the passage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 , which initiated the Interstate system, a public meeting was held on May 15, 1957, that identified proposed Interstate Highways and bypass routes around Nashville, including I-440. The route numbering was approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials on November 12, 1958. The Tennessee Department of Highways,

8280-420: Was largely fed coal from TC's own on-line coal mines operators. The company dropped money-losing passenger service on July 31, 1955, which by post-war years had narrowed to a single trip from Nashville to Harriman and a reverse trip. Also in that year, the TC ended operations of their steam locomotives. 1956 saw the TC purchase more diesel locomotives and coal hoppers with another RFC loan. Brief profitability

8372-551: Was restored from 1949 through 1956. In 1957 the TVA began awarding contracts to non-TC coal mine operators and their traffic boom went bust. Although the program of right-of-way improvement and new equipment acquisition had been carried out, the firm at length was unable to repay the RFC loans and fell into its third and final receivership in 1968. Its assets were sold off. Much of the Nashville beltline south of Nashville had already been sold to

8464-539: Was viewed as a "race riot", it had classist characteristics. In 1979, the Ku Klux Klan burnt crosses outside two African American sites in Nashville, including the city headquarters of the NAACP . Historically, Nashville zoning permitted the construction of duplex housing. In the 1980s and 1990s, Nashville lawmakers downzoned sections of Nashville to exclusively permit single-family housing . Proponents of these downzonings said they would raise home values. Since

#248751