The original Nashville offers historic appeal and rural surroundings
Of the 13 Nashvilles in the United States, Nashville, North Carolina, is the oldest. Founded in 1815, the town maintains a historic character, and its rural setting and proximity to Raleigh and Rocky Mount have spurred new housing growth. “It’s a smaller community, and it has a cute, quaint downtown with independent shops and restaurants,” says Realtor Takyla Hill, who’s sold homes in the area since 2017 and is the owner of Key Realty Solutions. “It has very close access to Highway 64, which puts us in a good position to be able to hit I-95 to go north and south, and to get to other places in North Carolina, like over to the coast.”
Home styles range from Queen Anne to New Traditional
“There are charming historic homes, and there’s also new construction where different builders offer incentives like reduced interest rates and other concessions,” Hill says. Queen Anne, Greek Revival and Craftsman homes are common inside Nashville’s town limits, where sidewalks line the streets and mature trees shade spacious yards. On the town’s outskirts are suburban-style subdivisions with curving streets and cul-de-sacs. Some of these were built in the mid-1900s and have ranch-style or Cape Cod homes, while others were built recently and have New Traditional houses. These properties can sit close together on less than a quarter-acre or have spacious 1-acre lots. Multi-acre farms are also available. Prices typically range from around $150,000 to $630,000, depending on size and condition. Manufactured houses can range from $100,000 to $270,000. Apartment complexes provide rental options in town, and some homes are also available to rent. Some areas have a high risk of flooding; homeowners should check flood maps to see if they’ll have to buy flood insurance.
Nash County public schools all earn a C-plus rating
Kids can start school at Nashville Elementary and then go to Nash Central Middle; both earn a C-plus from Niche. Nash Central High also earns a C-plus. Students here can enroll in 10 Advanced Placement courses in topics like calculus and English literature. They can also take dual enrollment courses for college credit at Nash Community College.
A historic downtown and commercial areas near the highway
The Nash County Courthouse, a stately Greek Revival building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, anchors the community’s historic district, which also includes a strip of brick storefronts housing locally owned boutiques and restaurants. Hill recommends the sandwiches at the Nashville Exchange, a restaurant that originally opened as a bookstore and now serves breakfast and lunch. Nearby, Dos Hermanos Mexican Restaurant serves classic Mexican comfort food. Fast food chains and Ribeye’s Restaurant, a North Carolina chain, are near U.S. Highway 64. Grocery stores include Piggly Wiggly, Food Lion and Walmart. Fresh produce and locally made goods are available at the Nashville Farmers Market from April through August.
The Nashville Blooming Festival celebrates mothers
Every Mother’s Day weekend, the Nashville Blooming Festival blocks off downtown for carnival rides, midway games and around 100 crafts vendors. Live music takes place throughout the event, featuring local acts and nationally known musicians. Residents can nominate their mothers to be the Mother of the Year, and the winner serves as the grand marshal of the festival’s parade.
A car-reliant community along Highway 64
U.S. Highway 64 leads about 12 miles to Rocky Mount and 45 miles to Raleigh. Interstate 95 is roughly 5 miles away. Sidewalks in town make it pedestrian-friendly, but most residents rely on their cars to get around. Houses of worship here include Nashville Methodist Church and Nashville Baptist Church. Nash General Hospital is around 7 miles away, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport is a 58-mile trip.
Sports fields, an arboretum and a dog park for outdoor recreation
J.W. Glover Memorial Park and Complex is the hub of Nashville’s youth sports, offering lighted baseball fields, soccer pitches and basketball courts. The park also has a playground and a nine-hole disc golf course. Stoney Creek Environmental Park’s nature trail leads to the creek, and the park also has tennis courts. The park’s newest addition is the Nashville Bark Park, a fenced-in area where dogs can run around off-leash. At the Nash County Arboretum, visitors can explore several themed gardens, including a pollinator’s garden, rose garden and woodland garden. Community programs are held at Nashville Recreation Center, where kids can attend summer camp and adults can take art and cooking classes.
Written By
Annie Franklin
