Bellevue, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Bellevue is a neighborhood of Nashville
, located roughly 13 miles southwest of the downtown area via I-40. It is incorporated as part of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
In the 1950s, Bellevue was a small community which existed primarily to service the needs of nearby farm
s. It was located mostly along the railroad tracks near the Harpeth River
, and had only a few buildings such as a hardware store, a post office
, and a Masonic
lodge hall. The suburbanization was made official when the United States Postal Service changed the designation of the office there from "Bellview, Tennessee" to a branch of the Nashville office in the late 1970s.
Since the year 2000, Bellevue has grown in population and development not only in the already established areas along Old Hickory Boulevard and Hwy 70S, but also in the more affluent and rural developments off Tennessee State Highway 100. The three commercial retail "hotspots" in the Bellevue area are located near the Highway 70/I-40 interchange; at the intersection of Highway 70 and Old Hickory Boulevard; and near the intersection of Old Harding Pike and Highway 100.
Bellevue is the home of a failed regional shopping center, the Bellevue Center
Mall. Purchased by Bellevue Development, LLC on December 10, 2007, mortgage financing was secured to redevelop the site into a retail lifestyle center
. However, the main structure of the Bellevue Center Mall is now completely vacant except for one anchor store, Sears. Though plans to redevelop the mall were approved by local government, the old mall building still stands and there are currently no signs of future construction. Currently it is owned by Inland Western Real Estate Trust.
On May 2, 2010, the Bellevue area was devastated by the largest recorded flood in history on the Harpeth River. Thousands of homes and condominiums were flooded and several people drowned. The River Plantation condominiums were especially hard hit.
of 2000, there were 37,062 people and 14,807 households in Bellevue. There were an average of 2.5 persons per household.
In 1990, 76% of people aged 25 or older had a high school education or better. The average median income was $40,328.
service was via a bookmobile during World War II. In 1984, the Bellevue Community Center Complex was built, and on February 15 of that year, the Bellevue Public Library opened. Plans are currently underway to build a new library.
that sits on site. The park
features a playground
built by community volunteers in 1996 as part of the Bellevue Bicentennial Celebration. The park is the site of the annual Bellevue Family Picnic, which attracts around 20,000 people each year.
"Harper Valley PTA
".
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, located roughly 13 miles southwest of the downtown area via I-40. It is incorporated as part of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
In the 1950s, Bellevue was a small community which existed primarily to service the needs of nearby farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
s. It was located mostly along the railroad tracks near the Harpeth River
Harpeth River
The Harpeth River, long, is one of the major streams of north-central Middle Tennessee and one of the major tributaries of the Cumberland River...
, and had only a few buildings such as a hardware store, a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, and a Masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
lodge hall. The suburbanization was made official when the United States Postal Service changed the designation of the office there from "Bellview, Tennessee" to a branch of the Nashville office in the late 1970s.
Since the year 2000, Bellevue has grown in population and development not only in the already established areas along Old Hickory Boulevard and Hwy 70S, but also in the more affluent and rural developments off Tennessee State Highway 100. The three commercial retail "hotspots" in the Bellevue area are located near the Highway 70/I-40 interchange; at the intersection of Highway 70 and Old Hickory Boulevard; and near the intersection of Old Harding Pike and Highway 100.
Bellevue is the home of a failed regional shopping center, the Bellevue Center
Bellevue Center
Bellevue Center was a regional shopping mall in the western Nashville, Tennessee suburb of Bellevue. It had capacity for over 90 stores on two floors totaling ....
Mall. Purchased by Bellevue Development, LLC on December 10, 2007, mortgage financing was secured to redevelop the site into a retail lifestyle center
Lifestyle center (retail)
A lifestyle center is a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards upscale consumers...
. However, the main structure of the Bellevue Center Mall is now completely vacant except for one anchor store, Sears. Though plans to redevelop the mall were approved by local government, the old mall building still stands and there are currently no signs of future construction. Currently it is owned by Inland Western Real Estate Trust.
On May 2, 2010, the Bellevue area was devastated by the largest recorded flood in history on the Harpeth River. Thousands of homes and condominiums were flooded and several people drowned. The River Plantation condominiums were especially hard hit.
Demographics
According to the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 37,062 people and 14,807 households in Bellevue. There were an average of 2.5 persons per household.
In 1990, 76% of people aged 25 or older had a high school education or better. The average median income was $40,328.
Bellevue Public Library
Bellevue's first libraryLibrary
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
service was via a bookmobile during World War II. In 1984, the Bellevue Community Center Complex was built, and on February 15 of that year, the Bellevue Public Library opened. Plans are currently underway to build a new library.
Bellevue Park
Bellevue Park is located on Colice Jean Road in Bellevue across from Bellevue Middle School and next to the Bellevue Branch Library. It is part of the Metro Nashville Parks System. It is known to residents as Red Caboose Park due to the red cabooseCaboose
A caboose is a manned North American rail transport vehicle coupled at the end of a freight train. Although cabooses were once used on nearly every freight train, their use has declined and they are seldom seen on trains, except on locals and smaller railroads.-Function:The caboose provided the...
that sits on site. The park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
features a playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
built by community volunteers in 1996 as part of the Bellevue Bicentennial Celebration. The park is the site of the annual Bellevue Family Picnic, which attracts around 20,000 people each year.
Harpeth Valley Elementary School
Harpeth Valley Elementary School was founded in 1939 and teaches grades K-4. It is located on the outskirts of Bellevue along State Route 100. The current school was built in 1996 and has enrollment of more than 700 students. Harpeth Valley Elementary School was the inspiration for the title of the hit country songCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
"Harper Valley PTA
Harper Valley PTA
"Harper Valley PTA" is a country song written by Tom T. Hall that was a major international hit single for country singer Jeannie C. Riley in 1968. Riley's record sold over six million copies as a single. The song made Riley the first woman to top both Billboard's Hot 100 and the U.S...
".
Bellevue Middle School
Bellevue Middle School is located in the heart of the town on Colice Jeane Road with the students coming primarily from Bellevue and the immediate surrounding areas. It was founded in 1970 and teaches grades 5 through 8. The school was renovated in 2002 and has an enrollment of 680 students.- Nashville Christian SchoolNashville Christian SchoolNashville Christian School is a private school located outside of Bellevue, in Nashville, Tennessee.-History:...
- Ensworth High School