WILSON COUNTY FAST FACTS:

HISTORY

Wilson County is located in the heart of Middle Tennessee. Established October 26, 1799, the county is named for Major David Wilson, a Revolutionary War hero. In 1802, a commission of five men decided the county seat should be built by an unnamed creek near virgin cedar trees. They decided to name the city Lebanon, after the biblical land of cedars.

Settled at the same time (1797) as Lebanon and nestled in among the hills of eastern Wilson County is Watertown. A massive fire in the early 1900s made national headlines causing the town to be rebuilt. Today, it looks much the same as it did back then. Watertown is home of the Original Mile-Long Yard Sale and plays host to several Excursion Trains from Nashville.

The latest incorporated town in Wilson County is Mt. Juliet. Located in western Wilson County, Mt. Juliet was formed in 1835 and incorporated in 1973. Mt. Juliet received its name from a castle in Kilkenny County, Ireland. It is known as the Purple Martin Capitol of Tennessee. It is home to country music stars Charlie Daniels and Tracy Lawrence. Today, Wilson County is home to a number of high profile corporate citizens, which include Dell Computer, Genesco, Bridgestone/Firestone, Cracker Barrel, Hartmann Luggage, Toshiba America, Lochinvar, Prime Outlets, Providence Marketplace and more.

MAYOR

Robert Dedman

POPULATION

109,803

SIZE

583.27 Square Miles

SALES TAX

7% state tax; 2.25% county tax

CLIMATE

Average Annual Temp: 57.2°
Average Annual Precipitation: 52.2”

CITY & STATE PARKS

Wilson County boasts several state and city-owned parks. Cedars of Lebanon State Park contains 900 acres and an additional 8,100 acres are operated by the Parks Division as a natural area and by the Forestry Division as a State Forest. The park offers campsites, and includes four hiking trails. Visitors frequently enjoy glimpses of fox, deer, squirrel, rabbits, and turkey throughout the park. The park features an Olympic-plus-sized swimming pool as well as playgrounds, horseshoe pits, a lighted softball field, volleyball court, disc golf, horseback riding and lighted tennis courts.

Just south of Mt. Juliet, Long Hunter State Park is situated along the shore of J. Percy Priest Lake. Picnicking, swimming, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, nature photography and wildlife observation are among the activities available to park visitors.

Located in Lebanon, the Don Fox Community Park offers a host of amenities. The park has a walking trail, a 60-foot wading pool, two large playgrounds and two large sand volleyball courts. Charlie Daniels Park is located in Mt. Juliet and offers a variety of outdoor activities for all ages to enjoy, including a 9000 sq ft playground. The park also features two sand volleyball courts, full court basketball, four tennis courts, a skate park and a mile-long walking track. The amphitheatre entertains many musical talents at a variety of events the park hosts throughout the year.

SPORTS

Sports and outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to cheer about in Wilson County! Lebanon is home to Nashville Superspeedway and hosts three NASCAR racing events each year. Build by Dover Motorsports, Inc. in April 2001, Nashville Superspeedway houses a 1.33-mile, fully lighted, “D” shaped, concrete track and grandstands with future capabilities of accommodating more than 150,000 fans. The facility also boasts a 1.8-mile road course that is host to numerous motorcycle and road course events.

Wilson County is a fisherman’s paradise, with a river and two lakes on its borders. Old Hickory Lake is located on the northern portion of the county and J. Percy Priest Lake is on the southern and western portions of the county. The river and lakes are full of large- and small-mouth bass, crappie and catfish. Wilson County has three public golf courses that provide challenging golf with both water and rolling hills as a backdrop. With the warmer climate, golf can be played nearly year round.

ARTS & CULTURE

Wilson County is home to many cultural facilities and events. Several events happen throughout the year, such as A Toast to Tennessee Wine Festival, The Watertown Music & Arts Festival and Native American Pow-Wows.

CULTURE & HERITAGE

From the Historic Lebanon Woolen Mill, to Castle Heights Military Academy, Wilson County is full of culture and heritage. The Mill at Lebanon is an adaptive reuse development of the historic Lebanon Woolen Mills. The 200,000 sq ft brick facility is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Mill houses retail, restaurants, offices, galleries and museums, as well as event venues. Originally Castle Heights School in 1902, the school became Castle Heights Military Academy in 1918. Castle Heights closed in 1986, but many of its buildings have been restored. The entire campus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The City of Lebanon Museum is a 2500 sq ft facility providing a visual tour of the city’s history. Built in 1870, The Wilson County Museum is located in a restored home and its main display is an exquisite collection of art and Victorian Glassware.

Fiddler’s Grove, located at the James E Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon, captures what like was like during the turn of the century in Wilson County.

The Roy Bailey African American History Center was established in 2004 by the Wilson County Black History Committee, a small group of men and women dedicated to the memory of the founders and families of Wilson County's thriving African American community. The center pays homage to their work, their struggles and their successes.

SHOPPING

Wilson County offers savvy shoppers many unique shopping opportunities, from quaint antique stores to the hottest brand name outlets. Prime Outlets Lebanon hosts over 50 stores offering great discounts up to 65% off retail prices. Located in Mt. Juliet, Providence Marketplace has over 830,000 sq ft of retail place and is one of the largest open-air centers in Middle Tennessee. It offers a diverse mix of stores, restaurants and a movie theatre. Known as an antique lover’s paradise, Wilson County also has over 30 antique shops and malls.

CUISINE

Wilson County is home to over 150 restaurants. Menus range from upscale fine dining to brewpubs to traditional southern cooking.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

It’s easy to enjoy the convenience of the Music City Star Commuter Rail Service. The Music City Star makes trips to and from Lebanon and downtown Nashville Monday through Friday during peak rush hours, and makes an evening run on Fridays. Additonally, the Music City Star runs during several special events throughout the year, such as Tennessee Titans football games.

SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES

Wilson County offers a variety of educational opportunities, with three private Christian schools, five schools in the Lebanon Special School District, 21 county schools and Cumberland University.

INFO FOR TRAVELERS & AGENTS

For a free visitors guide or information on events, please contact our office, 1-800-789-1327 or visit us online, www.visitwilsoncounty.com. Wilson County Convention and Visitors Bureau servers as a communications link between several tourism related partners within the county, state and region to build consensus. WCCVB provides assistance and information on industry issues, economic impact, trends and product development.

* All information subject to change. Please call ahead for the most up-to-date information. *