Wilson County Area Guide

Scenic and growing area offers great quality of life

Offering the best of town and country living, Wilson County is expanding by leaps and bounds each year. With a well-trained work force, affordable housing, excellent schools and steady growth in quality employment opportunities, the area is destined to attract home buyers for years to come.

An easy commute from Nashville, Wilson County offers a great place to live and work. Beautiful scenery, an increasing number of locally owned eateries and a growing number of shopping options continue to enhance the quality of life here. Retail shopping has a significant presence with top-notch stores at Lebanon’s Prime Outlets and Regency Center, along with Mt. Juliet’s Providence Marketplace. Several industrial parks, including Wilson Commerce Center, Couchville Pike Business Center and Beckwith Farms, have positioned the county for continued growth and expansion.

The availability of numerous parks and lakes are all part of the area’s incredible natural beauty. Outdoor enthusiasts have many choices. Long Hunter and Cedars of Lebanon state parks offer a number of outlets for outdoor lovers; swimming, hiking, picnicking, camping, fishing and horseback riding are all available. Old Hickory and Percy Priest lakes are a boater’s paradise, with miles and miles of shoreline and coves to explore.

LEBANON

The county seat of Lebanon, founded in 1801, has a long and colorful history. Its name is rooted in the abundance of cedar trees found in the area; they inspired early settlers to name the town after the biblical city of cedars. Today, the city is a mecca for antique shopping and serves as a distribution hub for companies such as Famous Footwear and Performance Food Group. It’s also home to the headquarters for Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. The area's rich history is still evident in its public square and at Cumberland University, which was founded in 1842.

The Wilson County Fair in Lebanon is an annual tradition that draws thousands each year. Since its inception in the mid-1800s, it has blossomed into a major entertainment event including a square-dance jamboree, food contests and extensive entertainment spread over six stages. Last year’s fair attendance surpassed 500,000.

MT. JULIET

Though it has been a community for more than 150 years, Mt. Juliet didn't officially become a city until 1973. The mega-development Providence, which consists of several home communities and a shopping complex, is attracting a slew of new businesses to the area. The area is known for its ability to attract new businesses while helping existing ones prosper. In 2008, Mt. Juliet ranked third on the list of “most business-friendly cities” in Tennessee by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research.  Perhaps that’s why Two Rivers Ford recently built its new facility here.

WATERTOWN

Originally known as the Three Forks community, Watertown suffered a massive fire in the early 1900s that burned much of the town. Today, the downtown area is not too dissimilar from the one rebuilt after the fire. But this tiny town is packed with culture and tourism draws. It is known for an annual jazz festival and large-scale community yard sales held regularly. It’s also a popular location for movie and video shoots.

Whether you enjoy hiking in the great outdoors or finding the perfect treasure in Lebanon’s antique district, there’s something here for everyone. With easy access to interstates, Nashville International Airport and Nashville’s only commuter train, Wilson County could be the perfect place for you to call home.

DEMOGRAPHICS
2009 county population: 110,500
Growth rate since 2000: 24%
Male: 49.4%
Female: 50.6%
High school graduates (age 25+): 80.9%
Bachelor's degree or more (age 25+): 19.6%
Median housing value: $173,900
Median household income (2009): $61,600

RACIAL BREAKDOWN
White: 91%
Black: 6.9%
American Indians/Alaskan Natives: 0.3%
Asian: 0.8%
Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders: 0%
Hispanic/Latino: 2.4%
Two or more races: 1%

MAJOR COMMUNITIES
Lebanon (county seat), Mt. Juliet, Watertown

PROPERTY TAX RATES PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE
County: $2.4327
Lebanon: $0.335
Lebanon Special: $0.39
Watertown: $0.6840

Estimated commute times from downtown Nashville (37203):
Lebanon.........................33 minutes
Mt. Juliet.......................23 minutes
Watertown...................46 minutes

SCHOOLS
www.wcschools.com
20 county public schools, enrollment about 15,000
www.lssd.org
Five Lebanon Special schools, enrollment about 3,300
10 private schools

TOP EMPLOYERS
County schools, Dell Inc., Cracker Barrel corporate headquarters, University Medical Center, Performance Food Group

KEY ATTRACTIONS
• Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon. 547-7500. nashvillesuperspeedway.com
• Cedars of Lebanon State Park. 443-2769. www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/Cedars.

MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS
• Watertown Jazz Festival (July)
• Wilson County Fair, Lebanon (August)
• Cedar City Christmas, Lebanon (December)

INTERESTING FACT
Wilson County was selected as the eighth-best place to live in rural America in 2005 by Progressive Farmer magazine.

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
COUNTYWIDE
County mayor: 615-444-1383
Sheriff: 615-444-1412
County clerk: 615-444-0314
County schools: 615-444-3282
Election commission: 615-444-0216
Register of deeds: 615-443-2611
Health department: 615-444-5325
Humane association: 615-444-1144
Wilson County fire: 615-444-8777
Lebanon-Wilson County Chamber of Commerce: 615-444-5503

LEBANON
City hall: 615-443-2839
Police: 615-444-2323
Fire: 615-443-2903
Lebanon city schools: 615-449-6060
Telephone, AT&T: 888-757-6500
Cable, Charter Comm.: 615-444-2288
Electricity, Middle TN Electric: 615-444-1323
Gas: 615-443-2835
Trash collection: 615-444-0825
Water/sewer: 615-444-0825

MT. JULIET
City hall: 615-754-2552
Police: 615-754-2550
Fire: 615-758-2158
Telephone, TDS Telecom: 615-754-2000
Cable, Comcast: 615-244-5900
Electricity, Middle Tenn. Electric: 877-777-9020
Gas, Piedmont: 877-279-3636
Trash collection, PDQ: 615-254-6666
Water: 615-758-5682
Sewer: 615-754-2554

WATERTOWN
City hall: 615-237-3326
Police: 615-237-3225
Fire: 615-237-3628
Telephone, AT&T: 888-757-6500
Cable, Charter Comm.: 615-444-2288
Electricity, Middle Tenn. Electric: 877-777-9020
Gas: 800-880-6373
Trash collection, Hometown Disposal: 615-449-9001
Water/sewer: 237-3326

VOTER REGISTRATION
Wilson County residents may register at the county courthouse, 228 East Main St., Lebanon. For more information, call 615-444-1383 or log on to the Tennessee Division of Elections Web site at www.tn.gov/sos/election.

DRIVER’S LICENSE
The Wilson County Driver’s License Station is located at 725 Elkins Drive, Lebanon. For more information on requirements and proof of identity call 615-443-2757.

EMISSIONS TESTING
Before a vehicle can be registered in Wilson County, it must first pass an emissions test. The Wilson County testing center is located just east of the bypass next to the fairgrounds at 810 Tennessee Blvd. For more information on emissions testing, call 615-399-8995 or visit the Department of Environment and Conservation Vehicle Inspection Program Web site at http://www.state.tn.us/environment/apc/vehicle.

REGISTRATION & TAGS
Wilson County residents are required to register their vehicles through the County Clerk of Court. Applicants must present a valid emissions test certificate, current registration or car title. Cost is $10.50 for the title and $49 for registration. For more information on the registration process, fees, requirements and proof of identity, call the clerk’s office at 615-444-0314.