What is the Demographic Makeup of North Nashville?
- 3 sections
- 2 tables
- 2 sources cited
North Nashville is historically the center of Nashville’s African American community, built around Jefferson Street and three historically Black universities: Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and Tennessee State University (Wikipedia, Jefferson Street). Its population has changed with the city. For current numbers, the 37208 ZIP code, which covers parts of North Nashville along with Germantown, had 20,889 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2024 five-year estimates. They had a median age of 30.7 and a median household income of $65,556, and 22.1 percent lived below the poverty line (Census Reporter, 37208). For the racial breakdown of a specific census tract, use the Census Bureau’s own tables, since the ZIP code mixes neighborhoods.
37208 by the Numbers
| Measure | 37208 | Nashville metro |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,889 on 4.8 square miles | 2,197,416 (a different Census series: the Vintage 2025 estimate) |
| Median age | 30.7 (±0.6) | 36.9 |
| Median household income | $65,556 (±$6,415) | $85,447 |
| Persons below poverty line | 22.1% (±4.2%) | 10.4% |
| Median value of owner-occupied homes | $520,000 (±$52,962) | $409,600 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.5% (±4.1%) | 40.9% |
Source: ACS 2024 5-year estimates via Census Reporter.
The History Behind the Numbers
| Period | What Wikipedia's Jefferson Street article records |
|---|---|
| After the Civil War | Fisk University was established here, and its main building, Jubilee Hall, rose on the site of Fort Gillem, a Union Army camp (spelled Fort Gilliam in Wikipedia's Jefferson Street article); Wikipedia's Jefferson Street article dates its construction to 1872, while its Fisk University article gives 1876 as its completion |
| 1920s to 1930s | the street became a popular neighborhood among the Black middle class, with churches such as Mount Zion Baptist Church |
| 1940s to 1960s | clubs such as the Del Morocco and Club Baron hosted Jimi Hendrix, Etta James, Ray Charles, Little Richard, and Otis Redding |
| Late 1960s | Interstate 40 was built across Jefferson Street, which broke up the Black community and contributed heavily to its economic decline |
Using These Figures
- ZIP codes are broad. 37208 includes Germantown, whose history and housing differ from neighborhoods north of Jefferson Street.
- Check tract-level data for a specific block.
- For change over time, compare the same Census series across years.
Current changes in the area are in what is happening in North Nashville right now, and Fisk University is in what Fisk University is.