Nashville is a rural community with a town center in southern Georgia
The town center of Nashville is located in central southern Georgia, split into quadrants by the intersecting Routes 129 and 76 that snake off through a bucolic landscape. Consisting of a small town center surrounded by rural land, the “City of Dogwoods” is known for the prominence of those trees throughout the community, along with a calendar dotted with annual local events. “I grew up in Ray City, just south of there, and Nashville is the county seat,” says Tony Barker, an associate broker with Canopy Realty Group. “It’s a perfect, small-town living kind of deal. It’s mainly the people. That families have always been there is the main attraction; a lot of people who were born there end up staying there. People love it.” The town center is about 15 miles west of the community’s eastern reaches and sits closer to Tallahassee, just across the state line in Florida, than any comparable major Georgia city.
Ranch-style homes line streets in the town center
Homes are primarily situated in or within the orbit of the town center on the west side. Most properties are ranch-style homes, with a mix of siding or brick exteriors, and some houses farther from the town center are larger custom designs. Most homes date to the late 20th or early 21st centuries, with prices typically ranging from around $150,000 to $350,000. “The price range for newer homes on the outskirts of town is about $250,000 to $300,000,” Barker says. “The homes in town are generally a little cheaper than that. They’re smaller and older, in more well-established neighborhoods.” Nashville is also less than 20 miles north of Moody Air Force Base, a major contributor to the local population. “We have a lot of military people that like the county and settle there,” Barker says.
Students are served by Berrien County Schools
Students can begin at Berrien Primary School, located north of the town center, which scores a B with Niche. Berrien Elementary School and Berrien Middle School are each situated on the west side of town, and both receive B-plus scores. Berrien High School is just north of Nashville’s town center and garners a B rating. All four educational institutions are part of B-rated Berrien County Schools, which was recognized with Cognia Accreditation in 2024 for the district’s quality and effectiveness of education.
Town parks dot the landscape in Nashville
Nashville has about half a dozen town parks within the town limits. “There are good recreational spaces,” Barker says. “It’s good for hunting and fishing – there are a lot of places to do both of those around there. There are nature trails, hikes and a good, warm climate.” Residents can fish at a pond at Carter Park or serve tennis balls at Heritage Park. Tygart Park has a playground and another fishing pond, while Beetree Park has a basketball court and playground. Memorial Park also has a basketball court and playground, in addition to its softball field.
In the southwest part of town, Berrien County Recreation Facility has baseball, football and soccer fields. Reedy Creek winds through parts of Nashville and is popular for catching catfish and bass, while both Morris Pond and Bennett Pond sit in the surrounding area and span over 200 acres of fishable waters. Locals can race go-karts at High Rev Speedway, and the public 18-hole golf course at Circlestone Country Club is located just west of Nashville.
Locals can take part in year-round annual events
Organizations from the larger Berrien County are responsible for organizing the majority of community events in the area, but many of those annual festivities take place in Nashville. The Berrien County Harvest Festival is one of the biggest draws each year. “The Harvest Festival is usually in mid-October, and growing up, it would fall right on my birthday or that weekend. That one is a pretty big deal and brings everyone out,” Barker says. The festival features area vendors, an antique tractor parade and live music.
Other annual happenings include Nashville’s Annual Chili Cook-Off at Connie’s Children’s Park and various Fourth of July celebrations, the latter of which features vendors, fireworks and a water park. Every holiday season, Nashville puts on an array of Christmas-themed festivities in early December. A tree lighting is followed by the Christmas Bazaar and, on the first Monday of the month, a Christmas parade in the evening.
Restaurants lining Routes 76 and 129 in central Nashville
Most restaurants in Nashville are concentrated within the town center. “They’ve kind of redone the main streets in town and done a lot to liven them up,” Barker says. “Nashville has Brooks Steakhouse and a really good Mexican restaurant called Rancho Alegre Mexican Grill. Those two are ranked highly.” Both eateries are on Marion Avenue, designated as Route 76. Other restaurants lie along Davis Street, designated as Route 129. The Log Cabin Restaurant offers classic Southern food, while The Quirky Perk pours coffee and stocks its display cases with baked goods. Locals can pick up sandwiches at Barry’s Deli or barbecue at Georgia Smokehouse. West of the town center, Horse Creek Winery hosts events and offers a tasting room. Close by, a Food Lion on McPherson Avenue is the primary destination for grocery shoppers.
State routes link to Interstate 75 west of the community
Routes 129 and 76 extend north-south and east-west from Nashville, respectively. “It’s quick traffic,” Barker says. “It’s easy to navigate and really convenient to everything. It’s very convenient to Florida and very convenient to the beaches over on the coast, really, to the Gulf and to the Atlantic.” Interstate 75 is accessible around 13 miles west, spanning almost 1,800 miles in its entirety and linking Nashville with Atlanta over 200 miles north. The closest major city is Tallahassee in western Florida, around 90 miles southwest. Columbus and Savannah, the nearest major Georgia cities, are each over 150 miles away. Valdosta is about 30 miles south. SGMC Health – Berrien serves the area’s medical needs and is situated on the town’s east side.
