HISTORIC RICHLAND

Fire Refugee Camp

Many within the community are under the impression that Belle Meade has exclusively housed Nashville’s affluent since James Robertson stepped onto the banks of the Cumberland in the late 1700s and uttered, "All you rich people take your slaves and treasures and go west about seven or eight miles, and the rest of you settle anywhere you like."

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of wealthy families settled in and around Fort Nashborough in East Nashville, until the great fire of 1916. The destruction was devastating, and many of the denizens decided to undertake the odyssey to the west side of the city. It was then that Belle Meade began to call the wealthy and East Nashville was left in ruins.

It was during this time that the historic Richland area was developed in the West End Ave. area. While some of these classic, turn-of-the-century homes still exist, most of the real estate was eventually carved into rental units, or razed by developers in order to build the formerly trendy condominiums, which line the avenue from I-440 to MBA.

Back to the history lesson. Renovation of the West End area began in the 1970s, when renewal first saw the light of day in Nashville. Today there is the Historic Richland/West End Conservation Overlay District to help oversee the progress of this neighborhood’s history and charm. And fortunately, Historic Richland still remains one of the grandest afternoon drives of any neighborhood in Nashville.

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