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Brentwood, Tennessee
Brentwood City Hall
Brentwood City Hall
Flag of Brentwood, Tennessee
Flag
Official seal of Brentwood, Tennessee
Seal
Motto(s): 
Ardens Fide
"Burning faith"
Location of Brentwood in Williamson County, Tennessee.
Location of Brentwood in Williamson County, Tennessee.
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Williamson
Incorporated 1969
Area
 • Total 41.52 sq mi (107.53 km2)
 • Land 41.47 sq mi (107.41 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)
Elevation
745 ft (227 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 45,373
 • Density 1,094.04/sq mi (422.41/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
37024, 37027
Area code(s) 615/629
FIPS code 47-08280
GNIS feature ID 1278282

Brentwood is a city in Williamson County, Tennessee, USA. It is a suburb of Nashville, a larger city nearby. In 2020, about 45,373 people lived here. Brentwood is known for its beautiful parks and good schools.

History of Brentwood

For thousands of years, different groups of Native Americans lived in the Brentwood area. Around 1,000 years ago, people from the Mississippian culture built large earth mounds. These mounds were used for special buildings and ceremonies. They traded with other groups across the continent.

You can still see some of these mounds today at Primm Historic Park. Around the year 1300, these people left the area. We don't know exactly why, but it might have been because of sickness or fighting.

Early European-American Settlers

When the first European-American settlers arrived in the late 1700s, Native American tribes from Georgia and Alabama used the land for hunting. This led to many conflicts. In 1786, Native American warriors attacked the Mayfield family fort. Three men were killed, and a boy named George Mayfield was taken captive. He lived with a Creek family for ten years before returning.

Many early families received land grants for their service in the American Revolutionary War. Some of these families were the Sneeds, Moores, Hardemans, and Crocketts. Many of their old homes are still standing today.

The Cool Springs House, now in Crockett Park, was built by Dr. Robert Carothers. In 1974, the city moved the house to save it from new construction. The Frost place on Old Smyrna Road became a busy center with a store, mill, and post office. Churches were built, and the community grew. When the railroad came, a depot was built, and the town center moved there. Brentwood grew as a place for cotton farms.

Brentwood During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, on March 25, 1863, Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest attacked Brentwood. He wanted to take control of the railroad. Forrest surprised the Union soldiers, cut their telegraph wires, and brought in heavy cannons. The Union commander surrendered Brentwood that day. This was a big loss for the Union. Many parts of Brentwood were destroyed in the battle.

After the war, many large farms were divided. Former enslaved people became sharecroppers or tenant farmers. Tobacco became a popular crop. The population stayed about the same for almost 100 years.

Modern Brentwood: 20th Century to Today

In the 1930s, Brentwood started to grow again, even during the Great Depression. Business people from Nashville bought the old farmhouses. They started activities like fox hunting and raising horses.

Brentwood officially became a city on April 15, 1969. That same year, a major highway was built through the area. This made it easier for people to live in Brentwood and work in Nashville. This led to a lot of new homes and businesses. The Maryland Farms office complex was built on what used to be a horse farm and race track.

Brentwood continues to grow as Nashville's economy expands. In 2016, a large new project was announced in the Cool Springs area. It included plans for shops, hotels, and businesses.

Geography and Climate

Brentwood is located in Williamson County, Tennessee. In 2000, its land area was about 35.4 square miles (92 km2). After adding more land in 2001, it grew to about 40.8 square miles (106 km2).

Weather in Brentwood

Brentwood has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. Rain falls throughout the year, with more rain in spring and less in late summer and early autumn.

Snow and ice can happen in winter, but usually not much. Brentwood can have severe weather, including tornadoes, especially from November to May. The area is part of "Dixie Alley," a region known for destructive tornadoes.

Climate data for Brentwood, Tennessee, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2000–2022
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 76
(24)
80
(27)
86
(30)
89
(32)
92
(33)
107
(42)
107
(42)
106
(41)
100
(38)
98
(37)
88
(31)
76
(24)
107
(42)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 66.4
(19.1)
71.8
(22.1)
79.2
(26.2)
84.7
(29.3)
88.6
(31.4)
94.1
(34.5)
95.8
(35.4)
96.1
(35.6)
93.4
(34.1)
86.7
(30.4)
76.2
(24.6)
69.6
(20.9)
97.8
(36.6)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 47.9
(8.8)
52.9
(11.6)
61.4
(16.3)
71.0
(21.7)
79.1
(26.2)
86.6
(30.3)
89.5
(31.9)
88.8
(31.6)
83.6
(28.7)
73.0
(22.8)
60.9
(16.1)
51.1
(10.6)
70.5
(21.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 37.1
(2.8)
40.5
(4.7)
48.0
(8.9)
57.4
(14.1)
65.9
(18.8)
74.6
(23.7)
77.9
(25.5)
76.5
(24.7)
70.2
(21.2)
59.2
(15.1)
47.4
(8.6)
40.2
(4.6)
57.9
(14.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 26.2
(−3.2)
28.1
(−2.2)
34.6
(1.4)
43.7
(6.5)
52.6
(11.4)
62.6
(17.0)
66.2
(19.0)
64.2
(17.9)
56.9
(13.8)
45.3
(7.4)
33.9
(1.1)
29.2
(−1.6)
45.3
(7.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 9.7
(−12.4)
12.5
(−10.8)
20.5
(−6.4)
28.1
(−2.2)
39.5
(4.2)
53.3
(11.8)
55.4
(13.0)
55.1
(12.8)
45.7
(7.6)
30.4
(−0.9)
21.7
(−5.7)
14.3
(−9.8)
6.4
(−14.2)
Record low °F (°C) −5
(−21)
−8
(−22)
0
(−18)
20
(−7)
30
(−1)
35
(2)
47
(8)
46
(8)
35
(2)
24
(−4)
12
(−11)
3
(−16)
−8
(−22)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.65
(118)
4.74
(120)
5.46
(139)
4.92
(125)
5.68
(144)
4.37
(111)
4.53
(115)
3.67
(93)
4.00
(102)
3.50
(89)
3.96
(101)
4.87
(124)
54.35
(1,381)
Source 1: NOAA
Source 2: National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)

People of Brentwood

Historical population
Census Pop.
1970 4,099
1980 9,431 130.1%
1990 16,392 73.8%
2000 23,445 43.0%
2010 37,060 58.1%
2020 45,373 22.4%
Sources:

In 2020, Brentwood had 45,373 residents. There were 13,899 households and 11,936 families living in the city.

Who Lives in Brentwood?

Brentwood racial composition
Group Number Percentage
White (not Hispanic) 36,826 81.16%
Black or African American (not Hispanic) 1,409 3.11%
Native American 43 0.09%
Asian 3,644 8.03%
Pacific Islander 8 0.02%
Other/Mixed 1,828 4.03%
Hispanic or Latino 1,615 3.56%

In 2010, about 90% of residents were white, 3% African American, and 5% Asian. About 2% were Hispanic or Latino.

Brentwood is known for its high education levels. In 2010, almost all adults (98.4%) had a high school diploma. More than two-thirds (68.4%) had a college degree or higher. In 2014, the average household income was about $138,395. Only about 2% of people lived below the poverty line. In 2014, Brentwood was ranked as the seventh wealthiest small town in the USA.

In 2017, the average age in Brentwood was 41.2 years old. Many families live here; about 48.2% of households had children under 18. Most households (82.2%) were married couples.

Education in Brentwood

Brentwood schools are part of the Williamson County Schools system.

Elementary Schools

  • Crockett Elementary
  • Edmondson Elementary
  • Grassland Elementary
  • Jordan Elementary
  • Kenrose Elementary
  • Lipscomb Elementary
  • Scales Elementary
  • Sunset Elementary

Middle Schools

  • Brentwood Middle
  • Sunset Middle
  • Woodland Middle
  • Brentwood Academy (Private)

High Schools

  • Brentwood High School
  • Ravenwood High School
  • Brentwood Academy (Private)

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Brentwood has many great parks for outdoor activities.

Concord Park

Concord Park is a 40-acre (160,000 m2) park with paved walking and biking trails. It is home to the Brentwood Library and has soccer fields.

Crockett Park

Crockett Park is Brentwood's second largest park, covering over 170 acres (0.7 km2). It has tennis courts, ball fields, multi-purpose fields, and trails. There's also a disc golf course and two historic homes. The Eddy Arnold Amphitheater hosts summer concerts and the city's Fourth of July fireworks.

Deerwood Arboretum and Nature Area

The Deerwood Arboretum and Nature Area is 27 acres (110,000 m2) of nature. It has an observation deck, outdoor classrooms, and an amphitheater. You can find man-made lakes, nature trails, and local wildlife here. The Little Harpeth River flows through the arboretum.

Granny White Park

Granny White Park is a 32-acre (130,000 m2) park with several sports facilities. It has tennis courts, softball/baseball fields, and jogging trails. There are also multi-purpose fields, a sand volleyball court, and a playground.

Marcella Vivrette Smith Park

Smith Park is Brentwood's largest park, with 397 acres. It has walking, biking, and hiking trails. The historic 1825 Ravenswood (Brentwood, Tennessee) mansion is located here. It is often used for weddings and other events.

Maryland Way Park

Maryland Way Park is a 7 acres (28,000 m2) park with a paved walking and biking path. It has 20 exercise stations along the path.

Primm Park

Primm Park is a 31-acre (130,000 m2) park that includes Boiling Spring Academy, a historic schoolhouse built in 1832. The park is also home to the Fewkes Group Archaeological Site. This site has five ancient mounds built by the Mississippian culture. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Owl Creek Park

Owl Creek Park is a 21 acres (85,000 m2) park with a playground, picnic areas, walking paths, and basketball courts. It opened in 2007.

River Park

River Park is a 43-acre (170,000 m2) park next to Concord Park. It has a playground, an outdoor basketball court, and borders soccer fields. A skate park is also nearby.

Tower Park

Tower Park is a 47-acre (190,000 m2) park with multi-purpose fields and trails. The Williamson County Indoor Sports Complex is located here. It has a large indoor pool, tennis courts, and a fitness center.

Economy and Jobs

Brentwood has many companies that provide jobs. Here are some of the top employers in the city:

# Employer # of Employees
1 United Healthcare 2,052
2 Tractor Supply Company 1,745
3 Comdata 1,000
4 DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. 719
5 GEODIS 588
6 LBMC 550
7 Brookdale Senior Living 446
8 CoreCivic 420
9 NaviHealth 400
10 American Addiction Centers 350
11 City of Brentwood 301.5

Famous People from Brentwood

Many well-known people have lived in Brentwood.

Actors

  • Nepoleon Duraisamy (actor)

Athletes

Musicians

Other Notable People

Sister City

Brentwood is part of the Sister Cities program. It has a special friendship with a town in England that has the same name.

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