Located in an area known for its cedar trees, Lebanon gets its name from the Lebanese cedars mentioned in the Bible. Long-time residents say the city — locally pronounced “Leb-a-nin” — was, for years, little more than a quiet, uneventful small town east of Nashville. Today, its historic downtown square is regularly bustling with shoppers and restaurant patrons passing below the hanging lights in front of the vintage brick buildings. The city has also changed with the help of major employers like Amazon.
Chandler Bastin, a Lebanon native, recalls the “nightmare” that Nashville was between roughly 2016 and 2020 when its population ballooned. “You kept getting people pushed out and out and out. That’s when Lebanon, specifically, started to explode,” he says. “Mt. Juliet’s overpriced, and it’s one step closer to Nashville … but Lebanon had a lot of space, a lot of farmland. So you had all these people coming in, all these contractors coming in, repurposing the old buildings that have been here forever and making new structures that now contain various attractions.”
The 2020 census showed the city with a population of 38,431, a nearly 50% increase from 2010. Still, many here say the city retains its small town charm. “I think it’s a very homey area, and most people that live here have lived here their whole lives, so it’s a very comfortable place to live. You have a lot of nice people around here,” says Trista Filson, a Friendship Christian School alum and marketing manager for Poppie’s Boutique. “There’s a good amount of places to go around here, but you also still have that very rural area. So you get that vibe, as well.”
The Downtown Lebanon Historic Square has many shops and restaurantns for locals to enjoy.
Lebanon is known for it's Cedar trees throughout the city.
Lebanon has a lot of farmland and open space for growth.
Poppies is an eclectic clothing boutique in Downtown Lebanon.
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Growing inventory of upscale subdivisions
Lebanon has a growing inventory of subdivisions filled with contemporary Traditionals, Craftsmen and custom builds. Single-family homes and townhouses exist in communities like The Preserve and Five Oaks, the latter of which greets visitors with a new complex of garden-style apartments. Some of Five Oaks’ upscale properties give nods to Victorian architecture and come with features like cobblestone driveways. Residents here enjoy leisure activities like playing golf with views of the rolling hills. It’s not uncommon for neighbors to drive their carts to the course, while others take advantage of the quiet streets to go on walks.
Lebanon also has its share of older communities. Craftsman bungalows, brick Colonial Revivals, Cape Cods, American Foursquares and Victorian cottages are common around Cumberland University.
The city has a median list price of about $440,000, nearly $100,000 below Nashville’s. Single-family homes here run between $340,000 and $500,000 depending on a mix of size and age. Those looking for smaller spaces will find townhouses between $300,000 and $350,000.
Downtown Lebanon has a variety of Craftsman and bungalows and some can be historic.
Eclectic craftsman style homes can be found near Downtown Lebanon.
Large brick colonial style homes are also a popular choice in Lebanon.
Large brick traditional homes are popular in Lebanon.
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Trendy boutiques and beers in Lebanon’s historic square
The downtown square used to mainly house law practices and antique stores. Some of those businesses are still there, but the revamped block now has a myriad of women’s clothing boutiques, eateries and other shops selling products like outdoor gear and musical instruments. Town Square Social is an anchor and popular lunch destination serving pub-style sandwiches and pizza. Many flock to the Cedar City Brewing Company at night to enjoy craft drinks and play trivia. The brewery has a second-floor level and bar seating with large open windows that allow patrons to look out onto the street.
“No one walked the square when we grew up. You just used it to drive through to get to the other side of town,” says lifelong resident Natalee Nave as she enjoys drinks with friends at Cedar City. “But this has all kind of blown up in the last, like, five, seven, maybe almost 10 years-ish.”
Like much of Tennessee, the city has downhome staples like New Moon BBQ. Other new additions include East Nashville Beer Works, which opened a second taproom on the far west end of Lebanon in October 2024. A few shopping centers outside the downtown area have chain brands like Publix, Walmart, and ALDI.
Enjoy a fresh made beer at Cedar City Brewing Company in Downtown Lebanon.
Town Square Social is a bustling restaurant on the square of Downtown Lebanon.
New Moon BBQ has delicious brisket and is staple in Lebanon.
Friends can enjoy East Nashville Beer Works' new taproom in Lebanon.
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Plays and indie films at Capitol Theatre and the Wilson County Fair
The downtown square is home to the historic Capitol Theatre, a vintage movie house that now hosts stage productions, live music and events ranging from birthday parties to conferences. The venue still puts on movies, with the 2024 Halloween season featuring showings of classics like The Shining, Beetlejuice and Hocus Pocus. In recent years, the Capitol Theatre has hosted the annual Macabre Faire Film Festival, which originated in Long Island, New York, and showcases independent horror flicks. Other celebrations in the square include the Christmas Parade in December.
One of Lebanon’s biggest events is the Wilson County Fair, the popularity of which led to a merger with the Tennessee State Fair. Thousands flock to the grounds off East Baddour Parkway in August to browse booths and enjoy carnival attractions like a Ferris wheel and a flying chair ride.
The Capitol Theater has a variety of entertainment for all to enjoy in Downtown Lebanon.
The Wilson County Fair is held every year in Lebanon.
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Staying active at Don Fox Community Park and Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Several athletic fields and courts, recreational complexes and parks offer amenities for staying active. Outdoor paths include the Cedar City Trail, which forms a 1-mile loop around Don Fox Community Park.
The Don Fox site anchors a small recreational district consisting of a dog park, Pro Bowl West, the Lebanon Golf & Country Club and the Jimmy Floyd Family Center. The Jimmy Floyd facility has been a community institution for multiple generations, and its amenities include an indoor track, gym space with weights and machines and indoor and outdoor pools. The attractions at Don Fox include a large castle-style playground and splash pad. When not walking the trail, park users relax on its porch swings.
Although outside city limits, the 1,139-acre Cedars of Lebanon State Park draws many local outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Ten miles of trails take hikers through the woodlands, and it’s not uncommon for visitors to spot foxes and turkeys while walking among the eastern red cedar trees. Additional attractions include a disc golf course and overnight cabins.
Lebanon's youngest residents take advantage of the playgrounds at Don Fox Park all year long.
The Jimmy Floyd Family Center has a large recreation program for kids in Lebanon.
Local residents can take advantage of the 9 holes at the Lebanon Golf & County Club.
Disc golf can be played at Cedars of Lebanon.
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Served by Lebanon Special School District and Wilson County Schools
The Lebanon Special School District and Wilson County Schools serve the city and get B-plus and A-minus grades, respectively, from ratings site Niche. In 2022, the Tennessee Department of Education recognized the two districts’ student growth efforts by rewarding both with the agency’s Level 5 status. Notable schools include Lebanon High School, which receives a B from Niche.
The Friendship Christian School, which gets an A-minus from Niche, is a private option that serves students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. Lebanon is home to the private Cumberland University.
Cumberland University is located in Lebanon, TN.
Friendship Christian School is located in Wilson County.
Lebanon High School was founded in Wilson County in 1918.
The Wilson Central High School serves just over 2000 students.
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Amazon influence and Cracker Barrel headquarters
Manufacturing and distribution are among Wilson County’s leading industries. Amazon has fulfillment centers in Lebanon and Mt. Juliet and employs more than 2,000 people in the area. Although not in Lebanon, Mt. Juliet’s massive and recently added Amazon facility has influenced housing in the Cedar City. Lebanon is also the headquarters of Cracker Barrel, the national chain of country store-themed restaurants serving Southern cooking.
Several newer developments are occurring on the west end, including Wilson Farms, a mixed-use project that has already brought in luxury apartments.
Lebanon also has a growing medical hub. In addition to Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital, the Physician’s Way area has several specialist practices and has drawn some of the state’s top surgeons. “You don’t have to leave Lebanon. Lebanon’s your one-stop shop; you’ve got everything here. You got your hospital, and we just opened a cancer center, as well,” says Ian Isbell, a Realtor with Benchmark Realty.
Several highways cross Lebanon, directly connecting the town to Nashville and regional neighbors like Mt. Juliet and Murfreesboro. These roads include Interstate 40, U.S. Highway 70 and U.S. Highway 231. The WeGo Star train — part of the Nashville-based WeGo Public Transit system — stops in Lebanon. The Lebanon Municipal Airport is a general aviation facility frequently used by business executives and even some celebrities who want to keep a low profile. However, most here use the Nashville International Airport for commercial flights.
Important to know
The most recent and complete FBI stats show Lebanon’s violent crime rate is almost on par with the state’s and less than double the country’s. However, violent crime in Lebanon is lower than in Nashville, where the rate is nearly 60% higher. Lebanon’s property crime rate is also slightly lower than the state’s and less than half of Nashille’s.
Part of the Nashville metro, Lebanon experiences four true seasons. The local climate includes mild winters and warm, humid summers, but the transition between those seasons can vary yearly. The Nashville metro has average annual high temperatures of 71 degrees, a few points above the country’s average. Extreme weather events typically occur during spring and late fall, with the area being particularly prone to tornadoes. Middle Tennessee is the state's most tornado-prone region and an outbreak in December 2023 caused several fatalities.
Written By
Yann Ranaivo
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Ryan Gwilliam
Video By
Max Gilmore
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GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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On average, homes in Lebanon, TN sell after 37 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Lebanon, TN over the last 12 months is $415,000, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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