The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Nashville, Tennessee, United States.
Prior to 19th century
1780
Fort Nashborough established. Cumberland Compact signed; Cumberland Association formed. 1784 – Nashville established. 1785 – Davidson Academy incorporated. 1789 – Methodist church built. 1796 – Settlement becomes part of the state of Tennessee. 1797 – Tennessee Gazette and Mero District Advertiser newspaper begins publication.
19th century
1806
Town incorporated. Joseph Coleman becomes mayor. 1812 – Tennessee General Assembly relocates to Nashville from Knoxville. 1813 – Nashville Library Co., Inc. established. 1817 – Tennessee General Assembly relocates from Nashville to Knoxville. 1818 Earl's Nashville Museum opens. Population: 3,000 (approximate). 1820 – Christian Church built. 1822 – Nashville City Cemetery established. 1823 – Presbyterian church built. 1825 – Decker & Dyer Reading Room established. 1826 Tennessee General Assembly relocates to Nashville from Murfreesboro. Cumberland College opened. 1829 – Christ Church built. 1830 – Population: 5,566. 1831 – Tennessee State Penitentiary built. 1833 – Water-works established. 1835 – Tennessee Society for the Diffusion of Knowledge organized. 1837 – House of Industry for Females established. 1838 – First Baptist Church built. 1840 – Population: 6,929. 1841 – Mechanics' Library Association formed. 1842 – Burns & Co. in business. 1843 – Nashville becomes capital of Tennessee. 1844 – Tennessee School for the Blind and Mechanics Institute and Library Association established. 1845 – Protestant Orphan Asylum established. 1847 – St. Mary's Cathedral built. 1849 – Merchants' Library and Reading Room and Tennessee Historical Society founded. 1850 June: Nashville Convention held. Suspension bridge built over the Cumberland River. Population: 10,165. 1851 Nashville Gas Light Company in operation. Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway starts operating. 1852 Public school system inaugurated. Davidson County Jail built. 1854 Southern Methodist Publishing House headquartered in Nashville. Tennessee State Library established. 1855 – Giers photo studio in business. 1856 – Church of the Assumption built. 1857 – Davidson County Court House rebuilt. 1858 – City Workhouse and Church of St. Ann's built. 1859 Tennessee State Capitol, draw-bridge, and Central Baptist Church built. Louisville and Nashville Railroad begins operating. 1860 - Population: 16,988. 1862 City under Union control. Fort Negley built. 1863 – St. Mary's Catholic Orphan Asylum founded. 1864 – December 15–16: Battle of Nashville. 1865 – Fisk Free Colored School, Ward Seminary for Young Ladies, and Earhart's Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College established. 1866 – Central Tennessee College founded. 1867 Montgomery Bell Academy opens. Nashville Lyceum Association incorporated. 1869 – Howard Chapel built. 1870 Sulphur Dell ballpark opens. Population: 25,865. 1871 Tennessee and Pacific Railroad (Lebanon-Nashville) begins operating. Fisk University Jubilee Singers, Library Association, and Nashville Saddlery Company established. 1873 – Vanderbilt University established. 1874 – Hebrew temple and First Cumberland Presbyterian Church built. 1876 – Nashville Banner newspaper begins publication. 1880 – Population: 43,350. 1884 – Nashville Athletic Club formed. 1885 – Industrial School and Query Club (women's group) established. 1889 The Hermitage museum opens. Boscobel College for Young Ladies established. Peabody Normal College active. 1890 – Population: 76,168. 1891 Nashville Bible School founded. Cumberland Park opened as a horse racing track. 1892 March 17: St. Patrick's Day Snowstorm dumps 17 inches of snow on the city. Union Gospel Tabernacle built. Maxwell House coffee introduced. 1893 - Tennessee Central Railway starts operating. 1894 - United Daughters of the Confederacy headquartered in Nashville. 1897 Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition held. Parthenon opened, a replica of the original, functions as an art museum. 1898 Howard Library established. Tennessee State Penitentiary rebuilt. 1900 Meharry Medical College active. Population: 80,865. Polk Place demolished.