North Nashville has a population of 545,549. Steeped in the
rich history and culture of the area's African-Americans, North Nashville is
just a stone's throw from downtown to the west and bordered on the north by
the Cumberland River.
With
three major predominantly African-American universities — Fisk
University, Meharry Medical College and nearby Tennessee State University — the
area has served as a training ground for many of the nation's African-American
leaders.
Jefferson Street is the main thoroughfare that cuts through the heart of
the neighborhood, lined with thriving small businesses, and some empty building
and vacant lots.
In recent years, efforts have been launched to revitalize the neighborhood,
which fell on hard times during the 1970s after the construction of Interstate
40. Local business leaders, whose coffee shops, art stores and beauty salons
are bringing people back to Jefferson Street, are leading those efforts.
