Beginning aprroximately 1000 - 1400 A.D., Mississippian culture Indians settled the area now known as Nashville and grew corn as their primary crop. These Indians are also known to have built earthen mounds and have been recognized as having created beatutiful pottery. Although the Mississippian culture Indians appeared to have left the area at some point around 1400 A.D., Cherokee, Chickasaw and Shawnee Indians eventually moved into the area and used it as hunting grounds.
French fur traders were the first white men to arrive in the Nashville area, and in 1717 - established a trading post. The first settlement (Fort Nashborough, named in honor of Gerneral Francis Nash - Revolutionary War) was made on the banks of the Cumberland River by a group of pioneers led by Englishman James Robertson. The first settlement consisted of a log stockade built on land which was cleared on the banks of the Cumberland. The first known permanent settlement was established Christmas Day, 1779. In April 1780, a group of approximately 60 families led by John Donelson arrived to settle the new area - which at the time - remained a part of North Carolina. These settlers lived in small groups and built forts and stations to provide safety from Indians.
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Following architectual styles from Virginia and North & South Carolina, the settlers began building brick and other permanent homes around the end of the eighteenth century - having seen Indian attacks dwindle and stability begin to arrive.
The community's name was changed from Nashborough to Nashville in 1784. Tennessee became the sixteenth state in 1796, Nashville became the capitol first in 1812. Knoxville became Tennessee's capitol in 1815, then Murfreesboro became the state capitol in 1817 - and finally Nashville once again became the Tennessee state capitol in 1843. Two former presidents (Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk) had homes in Nashville.
Nashville was a properous river city in 1860 with strategic importance due to its location on the Cumberland River and railroad activity. Federal troops occupied Nashville in 1862 for 3 years. In 1864, the Battle of Nashville was the final aggresive action by the Confederate Army.
In the years following the Civil War, Nashville experienced growth in population, business, industry and education. Nashville also grew in the area of country music - so much progress and talent that Nashville now has the reputation as Music City, USA. Nashville is home to multiple religious followings - religious publishing houses contributed to Nashville's importance as a printing and publishing center. Fisk University is one of the first private institutions in the US dedicated to higher education of African Americans, and was established in 1866. Meharry Medical College was started in 1876 in Nashville and has educated more African American doctors than any other medical college in the world!
Nashville continues to grow economically as well as a center for music. Boasting numerous restaurants, corporations, parks, museums, world-class sports and first rate musicians - Nashville is a desitnation for many toursits, travellers and business executives.
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