Belle Meade, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Belle Meade, Tennessee
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| City of Belle Meade | |
The namesake of Belle Meade, Belle Meade Plantation
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Location of Belle Meade in Davidson County, Tennessee.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Davidson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.07 sq mi (7.95 km2) |
| • Land | 3.07 sq mi (7.95 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 560 ft (170 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,912 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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2,858 |
| • Density | 930.94/sq mi (359.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| FIPS code | 47-04620 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1305087 |
Belle Meade is a city in Davidson County, Tennessee. Its total land area is 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2), and its population was 2,912 at the time of the 2010 census.
Belle Meade operates independently as a city, complete with its own regulations, a city hall, and police force, but it is also integrated with the Nashville government. Developed in part on the territory of the former Belle Meade plantations, residential areas are suburban with tree-lined streets and wooded areas. The median annual income of Belle Meade residents is $195,208, which exceeds the median annual income in the U.S. by more than three times.
The city's history dates back to 1807, when John Harding of Virginia purchased the Dunham's Station log cabin and 250 acres (100 ha) on the Natchez Trace near Richland Creek. He named the property Belle Meade, which is French for "beautiful meadow". Over the next few decades, enslaved African Americans built Harding's mansion, and established a thoroughbred breeding farm and cotton plantation. He conducted various service businesses on the property, including a grist and saw mill, a cotton gin, and a blacksmith shop – all primarily operated by enslaved African-Americans.
Harding's son, William Giles Harding, a Confederate veteran, inherited the estate in the later 19th century and renamed it as Belle Meade Plantation. In 1906, debt forced the Harding family to sell Belle Meade. Belle Meade Land Company built the first road and in 1938 developed the neighborhood that established the City of Belle Meade. The mansion was converted into a museum. On December 30, 1969, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (#69000177).
Contents
Overview
Belle Meade was absorbed into the metropolitan government of Nashville-Davidson County in 1963, but retains its independent city status, and its residents pay taxes both to the Metro government and to the City of Belle Meade. Belle Meade streets have distinct signage and the city has its own police force, its own mayor, and its own city hall. The vast majority of the Belle Meade area is designated by the ZIP code 37205. A few homes are in Zip Code 37215.
The 3.1-square-mile city takes its name from Belle Meade Plantation, known as the "Queen of Southern Plantations', which once encompassed 5,300 acres. In late 1904, the plantation, which had become insolvent, was sold and 2,200 acres were acquired for residential development. The manor house and several adjacent outbuildings were preserved.
The city is home to the Belle Meade Country Club ([1]), founded in 1901.
Geography
Belle Meade is located at 36°6′20″N 86°51′18″W / 36.10556°N 86.85500°W (36.105558, -86.854942).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2), all land.
Belle Meade Boulevard ends at the main historic entrance for Percy Warner Park, the city's largest park.
Richland Creek flows through the neighborhood.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1940 | 2,061 | — | |
| 1950 | 2,831 | 37.4% | |
| 1960 | 3,082 | 8.9% | |
| 1970 | 2,933 | −4.8% | |
| 1980 | 3,182 | 8.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,839 | −10.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,943 | 3.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,912 | −1.1% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 2,858 | −1.9% | |
| Sources: | |||
2020 census
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,758 | 95.07% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 6 | 0.21% |
| Native American | 1 | 0.03% |
| Asian | 21 | 0.72% |
| Other/Mixed | 63 | 2.17% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 52 | 1.79% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,901 people, 853 households, and 748 families residing in the city.
2010 census
As of the 2010 Census, there were 2,912 people, 1,074 households, and 872 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 98.2% White, 0.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race accounted for 0.8% of the population. The population density was 944.2 people per square mile (364.6/km2). There were 1,162 housing units at an average density of 376.8 per square mile (145.5/km2).
There were 1,074 households, out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 77.2% were married couples living together, 3.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 0.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 18.8% were non-families. 17.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71, and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 30.9% under the age of 20, 1.8% from 20 to 24, 13.4% from 25 to 44, 35.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
According to 2012–2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income for a household in Belle Meade was $195,208, and the median income for a family was $228,472. Males had a median income of $209,063 versus $100,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $129,928, which is the highest in the state and among the highest in the nation. About 4.4% of families and 4.3% of the population were living below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
According to the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimate conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2016, the economy of Belle Meade focuses mainly on three industries: Healthcare and Social Assistance (22%); Professional, Scientific, and Tech Services (17.6%); and Finance and Insurance (15.6%). Other sectors like Manufacturing (6.3%), Retail (5.1%), Education Services (7%), and Real Estate, Rental, and Leasing (6.9%) have smaller concentrations.
Based on the same report, the top three occupations in Belle Meade were Management (28.2%), Sales (16.7%), and Health Practitioners (13.3%). Notable occupations in smaller numbers included Legal (7.7%), Arts and Recreation (6.3%), Business and Financial (7.8%), and Education, Training, and Library (6.2%).
Education
Belle Meade is part of the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools District. No public or private schools are located inside the city's boundaries, but various public schools are located nearby, including Julia Green Elementary (grades K-4), H.G. Hill Middle School (grades 5–8), and Hillwood Comp High School (grades 9–12). Additionally, several private schools are located very near the perimeter, including Harding Academy, Harpeth Hall School, Montgomery Bell Academy, and The Ensworth School.
- Harding Academy is a PreK-8, coeducational private school founded in 1971 as a segregation academy. The school's president, Harold Black, told a newspaper that "busing had influenced the thinking of a lot of parents." The school has long since adopted a policy of non-discrimination. Current enrollment is 493, with an average class size of 18 and an 8:1 student to teacher ratio. Approximately 68% of the teachers on staff have advanced degrees.
- Harpeth Hall School is a private school for girls in grades 5–12. Founded in 1865, it has a current enrollment of 689, with an average class size of 14. Various extracurricular activities are available in addition to academics.
- Montgomery Bell Academy is a private school founded in 1867 for boys in grades 7–12. Current enrollment is 770 students, with a student to teacher ratio of 7.5:1 and an average class size of 13. Approximately 74% of the faculty has advanced degrees.
- The Ensworth School's Lower/Middle School campus is located just northeast of Belle Meade. It has a current enrollment of 423 in the lower school and 248 in the middle school, and approximately 67% of teachers have advanced degrees. The student to teacher ratio is 7:1 with an average class size of 15. Extracurricular activities include swimming, ice hockey, and lacrosse.
Several colleges and universities are located within a few miles of Belle Meade, including Vanderbilt University, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, and Aquinas College.
Infrastructure
Belle Meade has its own Public Works Department offering trash pickup; recycling service for paper, boxes, some plastics, and metal and aluminum cans; and brush and chipper services for lawn and landscaping debris. The city also maintains its own pressure sewer system.
The city maintains its own police department and offers various services to the community in addition to routine policing. Those services include a neighborhood watch program, fingerprinting, prescription drug collection, house check service when owners are out of town, and hiring of off-duty officers for special events.
See also
In Spanish: Belle Meade (Tennessee) para niños
