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When a first-time visitor was asked what he thought of Nashville, N.C., the first thing thing that came to mind was that the people who live there must have a lot pride.
The streets and sidewalks were clean. The stores and offices along West Washington Street, the downtown area’s main street, were occupied, neatly decorated and enticing.
Most of the parking spaces were full on a Thursday afternoon and there were people on the sidewalk walking with purpose like they had somewhere to go, but not too busy to smile and pass on a greeting. Although there were big box stores and shopping centers in either direction, downtown Nashville’s stores, restaurants, law firms, accounting offices and banks were still a draw.
Pride is especially on display across the street. Nashville is the county seat of Nash County and the courthouse buildings and county office buildings are impressive and interesting from an architectural perspective. The original portion of the Nash County Court House was constructed in 1921 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. The grounds are well cared for. There are flowering trees and shrubs and benches. Also on the grounds are monuments that celebrate democracy, freedom and military service.
Nashville also knows how to welcome its visitors, especially those conducting business. A time-crunched journalist looking for a cool, quiet work space, was graciously received by a librarian at the Harold D. Cooley Library and led to a well-appointed conference room with more-than-adequate electrical outlets and fast Internet wi-fi.
Time well spent in that place of order, purpose and productivity was followed up by a delicious lunch at the Nashville Exchange Steak House & Cafe, that was a departure from the same-old-same-old, prepared with pride and expediently served with a smile and a free refill of the sweet tea.
Although southern hospitality in many places seems like a relic of a bygone era, it is alive and well in Nashville.
As pride and prosperity go together, the pristine environs of Nashville are great places to reside, work and do business.
The land mass of the town occupies three square miles. According to the town’s website, the town’s population is an estimated 5,554. In 2020, the population was 4,309. Those statistics bear witness to a town that attracts new residents rather than providing an impetus for flight.
The median income is $56,288 and the average home value is $136,900. The town is known for its historic Victorian-era and Queen-Anne-style homes. The Bissette-Cooley House and Rose Hill Plantation mansion are also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Nashville Town Manager Randy Lansing said the town is poised for a growth spurt due to the construction of new subdivisions in the town. Zoning certificates were recently issued for the 41-lot Bradford Place subdivision. The Farm II subdivision will consist of 50 lots. Infrastructure construction is underway for the Cardinal Woods subdivision, which will consist of 248 single-family homes.
In addition to being great place to live in an ever-growing town with an expanding tax base, Lansing said Nashville is the headquarters of Braswell Family Farms, known for Eggland’s Best Eggs, and a modular housing manufacturer, Clayton Homes, operates a plant in the town.
Lansing called these companies “solid employers.” “We’re so grateful to have them in our community,” he added.
More recently, the town has added more manufacturing and food processing companies inside the town and on its outskirts. The Crump Group, a Canadian company, makes pet foods and dog treats. Atlantic Natural Foods is a food processing company specializing in plant-based protein. Asterra Labs develops and manufactures pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids. ACDI manufactures electronic components used in medical diagnostic equipment.
The Nashville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department has programs for all ages, especially children. The department runs art programs in several mediums. The town’s police and fire departments also take part in summer camp programs. There are several programs for adults including partner dance and self-defense.
The town operates two town parks which feature green way paths, walking tracks, a tennis court, ball fields, soccer and football fields, basketball courts, picnic shelters, an amphitheater and playgrounds. A dog park will soon be completed at the Stoney Creek Environmental Park.
The department also oversees the operation of a popular farmer’s market which is held on Fridays between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. In addition to locally grown produce, the market also features food vendors, fresh seafood and live music performances.
The town’s motto is that Nashville is a “great place to live, work and play.” That’s not empty puffery. It’s a promise that the town’s elected officials, staff, business owners and citizens work on keeping every day.
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