Dickson, Tennessee, occupies part of a larger area that was once a hotbed for the iron industry. Today, this small city of around 16,000 people is ideal for those looking for a quieter lifestyle. Unlike some of the region's larger, more densely populated cities, Dickson offers residents a historic and charming downtown paired with a myriad of recreation options. The town sits within minutes of spots like Montgomery Bell State Park, an outdoor getaway and resort that features attractions like the relics of an old 19th-century iron furnace.
“We are accessible to the big city, but you don’t really get the traffic or hear the noise of it,” says Zach Kinslow, the director of the Dickson-based Clement Road Hotel Museum. “As somebody that moved here myself, Dickson’s a place, that if you’re not from here, you can still feel at home. It has everything you need without the inconvenience of being in a place where you can get everything you need.”
Montgomery Bell State Park features a man-made lake.
The Historic Hotel Halbrook is now the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum in Dickson.
The Dickson Theater opened in 1951 but is now home to several local businesses.
Locals take pride in their downtown with several murals.
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Finding ranch-style homes with more room
While multi-acre properties don’t dominate Dickson’s landscape, prospective homebuyers will find more privacy here. Several neighborhoods feature lots that are a half-acre or larger and many are surrounded by groupings of tall mature trees. Homes in Dickson feature designs ranging from contemporary Traditionals and Colonial Revivals to ranch-styles and Craftsman bungalows.
Housing footprints in Dickson tend to vary from under 1,000 square feet to over 3,000 square feet. Depending on factors like size, most single-family homes here cost between $250,000 and $440,000. Dickson's median list price of around $375,000, is below both the national median and Nashville’s average of about $530,000.
There are colonial homes throughout Dickson.
You will find mostly ranch style homes in Dickson.
There are many new traditionals being built in Dickson.
There are a few Craftsman homes throughout Dickson.
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Southern cooking, brews and desserts in downtown Dickson
The city’s downtown features nearly a dozen restaurants and several boutiques that sell everything from country-themed women’s apparel to spices and teas. These businesses occupy a series of vintage brick buildings, where their storefronts are easily browsable on foot. Popular dining options include Zander’s Woodfired Pizza or traditional Southern cooking at Back Alley BBQ. Katie’s Ice Cream and Kourtney’s Kakes serve desserts, while the local watering-holes include the House of Brews.
Tennessee State Route 46 is a commercial corridor with numerous chain stores like ALDI and Walmart and local staples like the Manor at Dickson, a farm-themed buffet where patrons can help themselves to an assortment of fried foods and vegetables.
Back Alley BBQ is a local hotspot for lunch in downtown Dickson.
There are several boutiques like Three Times A Lady for all your shopping needs.
Zander’s Woodfired Pizza is a local favorite for wood fired pizza.
Locals can get their groceries from Aldi.
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A growing recreational landscape with additions like Henslee Park
Henslee Park is among the city’s latest additions, boasting amenities like a splash pad, an all-inclusive playground and an 18-hole disc golf course. The green space is also situated close to Buckner Park, which features youth soccer fields. The city has also expanded its indoor facilities to include the Dickson County Family YMCA, which opened in the 2010s, and is currently planning a $30 million project to build an aquatic and recreation center in Henslee Park.
Montgomery Bell State Park, which spans 3,800 acres, is named after the region’s 19th century iron magnate. It's home to a lodge, camping sites and cabins. When folks aren't out kayaking or exploring the woods on the miles of trails, many opt to relax with an ale or a glass of wine while taking in the scenic views. “It’s one of the best state parks in the entire state of Tennessee,” Kinslow says. The Dickson area is also home to some top-rated golfing grounds, which include the Montgomery Bell Park’s Frank G. Clement Golf Course.
Montgomery Bell State Park has several miles of hiking trails around the lake.
Dickson has a YMCA with gym and local sports teams.
Mountain bikers love to hit the trails at the Montgomery Bell State Park trails near Burns.
Residents practice putting at the Frank G. Clement Golf Course near White Bluff.
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Ernest Day, city celebrations and local history at Hotel Halbrook site
The Montgomery Bell park hosts events throughout the year, like June’s Ernest Day, an annual event honoring Ernest P. Worrell, the iconic and zany character played by Jim Varney. One of the character’s movies, “Ernest Goes to Camp,” was even filmed at the park.
One of the city’s largest events is the Dickson County Fair, which occurs each August and September and features carnival rides and livestock shows. Other celebrations include the Fishing Rodeo, where children and teenagers come out to Buckner Park to hook some catfish.
The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum downtown — also known as the historic site of the Hotel Halbrook — is home to artifacts showcasing Dickson County's history. Exhibits cover topics from the iron and railroad industries to biographies of historical figures like Montgomery Bell or the former Tennessee Gov. Frank G. Clement, who was born in the hotel.
Montgomery Bell State Park has many amenities including a lodge and restaurant.
The Clement Railroad Museum features an impressive replica of the Dickson train.
Montgomery Bell State Park is centrally located within White Bluff.
Fisherman can boat and catch fish in Montgomery Bell State Park in Burns, TN.
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Access to strong Dickson County Schools
The Dickson County Schools district serves this city and receives an overall B rating from the review site Niche. The district oversees six schools in the town, including four elementary schools. Notable campuses include The Discovery School, an elementary school which earns an A-minus grade from Niche. The city is also home to Dickson County High School, which gets a B from Niche and is one of the district’s two high schools.
Dickson County High School enrolls over 1,400 students in Dickson.
Dickson Elementary School serves Pre-K through 5th grade in Dickson.
Dickson Intermediate School serves the 6th grade students of Dickson County.
Dickson Middle School serves 594 6th-8th graders.
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Headquarters of industrial company Tennsco
Tennsco, headquartered in Dickson, is one of the city’s largest employers. The company, which makes steel storage products, employs more than 600 people across several facilities. Following Tennsco is Nemak, which makes small aluminum parts for the auto industry and employs more than 300 people here. The TriStar Horizon Medical Center is another area employer and provides hospital services.
While the city is growing at a slower rate than in previous decades, the changes remain noticeable. “It was a lot smaller than it is now. It’s kind of exploded in the past 10 years,” explains Josh Massie, the Stormberg Group’s marketing director, who grew up in Dickson. “In the Dickson I grew up in, if you were going to say, ‘Hey, there’s going to be a YMCA, I would have said, ‘Yeah, right.’"
Nashville’s WeGo Public Transit system runs a bus route to Dickson. However, most residents drive to commute. U.S. Highway 70 and Interstate 40 go toward downtown Nashville, about 42 miles east of Dickson, and I-40 also connects folks with the Nashville International Airport, the region’s hub for commercial flights.
Tennesco is one of the largest employers of Dickson residents.
Dickson is a small town with a lot of history.
Dickson was once a busy railroad city.
I40 and runs through Dickson with easy access to anywhere.
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Important to know
The climate here includes warm, humid summers and mild winters that occasionally bring in light snow. However, the region can also experience extreme weather events like tornadoes. During the December 2023 tornado outbreak in Middle Tennessee, one tornado passed through Dickson County.
Dickson has lower crime rates than Nashville. For example, the latest and most complete FBI data shows the Music City’s violent crime rate is nearly 50% higher than Dickson’s. However, Dickson does have slightly higher crime rates than the state. Dickson’s violent crime rate has also been trending down, dropping by more than 20% from 2020 to 2023.
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