Williamson County Area Guide

Williamson is a treasure trove of charm and commerce

Williamson County is a treasure trove of opportunity for shopping, jobs and leisurely pursuits. It boasts lush rolling hills and greenways for the nature lover, big-city boutiques for the fashionistas and Civil War landmarks that are sure to pique the interest of history buffs. Some of the South’s most beautiful plantation homes and horse farms can be seen here, nestled within the beautiful countryside.

Williamson County is known for its excellent school system, high-quality housing and excellent health care (with the Williamson County Medical Center located in Franklin). Outstanding public and private recreational facilities are extensive and include Williamson County Recreation Center, Legends Golf Club and the Little Course at Aspen Grove. Whether you prefer equestrian activities or championship golf, you’ll find plenty to do in Williamson County.

FRANKLIN

Best known locally for its historic downtown, Franklin was founded in 1799. Rich with history, Franklin has earned the distinction of the Great American Main Street Award, given in recognition of successful downtown revival and the restoration of buildings with historical significance. In Franklin, civil war battlegrounds coexist with million-dollar homes, while some of the most exclusive shops and boutiques are located nearby.

Nationally, Franklin is known to Civil War buffs as the site of a bloody five-hour battle in 1864 that shredded the Confederate Army of Tennessee and dashed one of its last hopes of military victory. More recently, Franklin has established a national reputation for a growing list of corporate headquarters, including Nissan North America. Cool Springs Galleria is a mall featuring five anchor stores (including Macy’s, Sears and Dillard’s), more than 165 specialty shops and a 500-seat food court. The Factory at Franklin, renovated from a group of factory buildings constructed in 1929, features dining and shopping opportunities, art galleries, live theatre, antiques and more. It also includes large indoor and outdoor banquet spaces to rent for special occasions.

BRENTWOOD

Brentwood hugs the southern Davidson County line extending roughly between Nolensville Road in the east to Hillsboro Road in the west. It dissolves into Franklin in the Cool Springs area, which is shared by both cities. The town was incorporated in 1969. City limits do not cross the county line, though some South Nashville neighborhoods are inside the Brentwood zip code. Native Americans are thought to have lived in the area as long as 2,000 years ago. European settlements date to the late 1780s, with the first settlers thought to have lived near Old Smyrna Road and Wilson Pike.

FAIRVIEW

Fairview, in far west Williamson County, borders Cheatham, Hickman and Davidson counties. Incorporated in 1959, commuters appreciate Fairview for its access to Interstate 40 and State Route 840. Fairview retains its rural character and is home to the county's largest park, Bowie Nature Park.

NOLENSVILLE

Located in the northeast corner of Williamson County, the community of Nolensville abuts Davidson and Rutherford counties as well as Brentwood. The town was first incorporated in 1838, but the incorporation lapsed during the Civil War. Reincorporated in 1996, the area’s residential growth has been brisk in recent years.

SPRING HILL

Spring Hill straddles the Williamson/Maury county line with incorporated areas in both counties. In 2008, The Crossings shopping center opened with SuperTarget as its anchor.

THOMPSON'S STATION

Incorporated in 1990, Thompson’s Station is largely rural. The town is home to Independence High School, Heritage elementary and middle schools, and a number of subdivisions.

All of this charm and commerce is located just a short distance from Nashville. For overall county coverage, check out the Williamson A.M. section of The Tennessean, which publishes daily (except Wednesdays and Saturdays). To start your subscription, call 1-800-342-8237 or visit online at www.tennessean.com.

DEMOGRAPHICS
2009 county population: 175,200
Growth rate since 2000: 38%
Median housing value: $301,300
Median household income (2009): $84,300
Male: 49.3%
Female: 50.7%
High school graduates (age 25+): 90.1%
Bachelor's degree or more (age 25+): 44.4%

RACIAL BREAKDOWN
White: 91.4%
Black: 5.3%
American Indians/Alaskan Natives: 0.2%
Asian: 2.2%
Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders: 0%
Hispanic/Latino: 3.9%
Two or more races: 0.8%

MAJOR COMMUNITIES
Franklin (county seat), Brentwood, Fairview, Nolensville, Spring Hill and Thompson’s Station

PROPERTY TAX RATES PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE
County: $2.31
City of Franklin: $2.634
Franklin Special School District (in city limits): $3.604
Franklin Special School District (outside city limits): $3.28
Brentwood: $2.75
Fairview: $2.96
Nolensville: $2.41
Spring Hill: $2.86
Thompson’s Station: $2.363

ESTIMATED COMMUTE TIMES FROM DOWNTOWN
NASHVILLE (37203):
Brentwood........13 minutes
Franklin............25 minutes
Fairview...........36 minutes

SCHOOLS
www.wcs.edu
37 county public schools, enrollment about 30,000
www.fssd.org
Seven schools in Franklin Special School District, enrollment about 3,800
15 private schools

TOP EMPLOYERS
Cool Springs Galleria, Williamson County Schools, Williamson Medical Center, Nissan North America, Verizon Wireless

KEY ATTRACTIONS
• Natchez Trace Parkway, scenic drive. 1-800-305-7417. www.nps.gov/natr.
• Leiper's Fork Historic District. www.leipersforkvillage.com.

MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS
• Wine Down Main Street, Franklin (April)
• Main Street Festival, Franklin (August)
• Pumpkinfest, Franklin (October)
• Country Ham Festival, Spring Hill (November)
• Dickens of a Christmas, Franklin (December)

INTERESTING FACT
Nashville's most famous radio program, the Grand Ole Opry, is beamed all over parts of the U.S. from the 878-foot WSM-FM tower at the center of Brentwood.

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

COUNTYWIDE
County mayor: 615-790-5700
Sheriff: 615-790-5550
County clerk: 615-790-5712
County schools: 615-472-4000
Election commission: 615-790-5711
Register of deeds: 615-790-5706
Health department: 615-794-1542
Animal control: 615-790-5590
Happy Tails Humane Group: 615-791-0827
Williamson County/Franklin Chamber of Commerce: 615-794-1225
Recycling: 615-790-5848
Parks & recreation: 615-371-2208
Telephone, AT&T: 800-753-0223
Cable, Comcast: 615-244-5900 or 800-COMCAST
Middle Tennessee Electric: 615-794-3561
Nashville Electric Service: 615-736-6900
Atmos Energy: 615-794-2596 or 888-824-3434
Piedmont Natural Gas: 877-279-3636
Williamson County Schools: 615-472-4000
Williamson Co. Medical Center: 615-791-0500
Williamson County Volunteer/Rescue: 615-790-5821
Williamson County Public Library: 615-794-3105

FRANKLIN
City hall: 615-791-3217
Police: 615-794-2513
Fire: 615-791-3270
Trash: 615-794-1516
Water/sewer: 615-794-4572
Franklin Special School District: 615-794-6624

BRENTWOOD
City hall: 615-371-0060
Police: 615-371-0160
Fire: 615-371-0170
Trash: 615-371-0080
Water/sewer: 615-371-0080
Brentwood Public Library: 615-371-0090
Public works billing: 615-661-7061

FAIRVIEW
City hall: 615-799-2484
Police: 615-799-2431
Fire: 615-799-0307
Trash: 615-799-2484
Water/sewer: 615-799-2484

NOLENSVILLE
Town hall: 615-776-3633

SPRING HILL
City hall: 615-599-2614 or 931-486-2252
Police: 931-486-3270
Fire: 931-486-2252

THOMPSON’S STATION
City hall: 615-794-4333
Police: 931-840-0333
Fire: 615-302-3462 or 931-486-2808

Voter Registration
County residents may register at the Williamson County Election Commission office, 1320 W. Main St., Suite 140, Franklin. Registration forms are available at area post offices. Voters may also register when they obtain their driver’s license. For information, call 615-790-5711.

Driver’s License
The Williamson County Driver’s License Station is located at 3830 Carothers Parkway, Franklin. Hours are 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, with the exception of the second Wednesday of each month, when the station opens at 8 a.m. For information, call 615-790-5515. Williamson County residents do not have to apply for or renew their driver’s licenses at this station. Tennessee residents may apply for a driver’s license at any driver’s license testing station, not just the one in the county in which they live.

Emissions Testing
Before a vehicle can be registered in Williamson County, it must first pass an emissions test. The Williamson County Emissions Testing Center is located at 1005 Merylinger Court, Franklin. The center is open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information on emissions testing, call 615-399-8995 or visit the Department of Environment and Conservation Vehicle Inspection Program Information Web site at tn.gov/environment/apc/vehicle.

Registration & Tags
Williamson County residents are required to register their vehicles through the Williamson County Court clerk. Applicants must present a valid emissions test certificate. For more information about vehicle registration, call 615-790-5712.