Nashville, Tennessee, USA
1854 - Nashville

Nashville, a handsome and flourishing city, capital of the State of Tennessee, and of Davidson county, is situated on the left bank of Cumberland river, 200 miles from its mouth, 230 miles E. N. E. from Memphis, 200 miles S. W. from Lexington, in Kentucky, and 884 miles from Washington. Lat. 36°9'N., Lon. 80° 49' W. ; elevation above the sea, 460 feet. It is the most wealthy and populous city of Tennessee, and is distinguished for its enterprising spirit, literary taste, and polished society. Many of the private residences are built on a scale of palatial magnitude and splendor, and the public buildings exhibit a corresponding character. The new capitol, which stands on a commanding eminence, 175 feet above the river, is one of the most noble, magnificent, and costly structures in America. The material is of a fine limestone, which was quarried on the spot, and nearly resembles marble. The dimensions are 240 feet by 135, and the estimated cost $1,000,000. It is built, as it is stated, entirely of stone and iron, without any wood about it, except the plank on which the copper roofing is fastened: the floor and inner walls are of dressed stone. The foundation of the capital was laid in 1845. A lunatic asylum, on a large scale, has recently been erected in the vicinity. The state penitentiary at this place is 310 feet by 50, containing 200 cells. The university of Nashville was founded in 1800. The medical college connected with the university was opened in 1851 : it occupies a capacious building, and has about 100 students. There are also a number of female seminaries, the largest of which is attended by above 300 pupils. About 12 newspapers are published here, 5 or 6 of which are dailies. Nashville contains 3 banks, with a total capital of $5,181,500, and about 14 churches. The mineral cabinet of the late Dr. Troost contains the largest private collection in the United States. The Cumberland river is crossed by a magnificent wire suspension bridge, recently built at a cost of $100,000. The city is lighted with gas, and supplied with water raised from the Cumberland river. Nashville has expended large sums in the construction of macadamized turnpikes, 8 of which radiate in different directions. The river is navigated during high water by large steamboats from its mouth to this point, and a number of splendid packets are owned here. The shipping of the port, June 30th, 1852, amounted to an aggregate of $4,082 tons, enrolled and licensed, all of which were employed in steam navigation. During the year, 5 steamboats, with an aggregate burthen of 479 tons, were admeasured. This city is the centre of an active trade, and the seat of manufactories of various kinds. Nashville is the terminus of the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, 150 miles long, which was finished in 1852, at an expense of about $3,000,000. The road is built in a very substantial manner, and completes the connection with Charleston and Savannah. The construction of this rail road has greatly enhanced the value of property, and has given a vigorous impulse to the prosperity and improvement of the place. Other railroads have been commenced, which will connect this city with Louisville, Memphis, New Orleans, &c. Pop., in 1845, 12,000; in 1853, about 20,000.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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