Bellevue, Tennessee

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Bellevue is a neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee, about 13 miles southwest of downtown along I-40. It’s part of the Nashville-Davidson County metro government. In 2016 the population for Bellevue’s main ZIP codes was about 77,862.

Nature and parks are a big draw. Bellevue has a scenic stretch of the Harpeth River and large parkland from Warner Parks. There are many miles of trails for walking and biking along the Harpeth River Greenway. Bellevue is also the starting point for the Natchez Trace Parkway, a long scenic road through several states.

Shopping and shopping areas are centered near the I-40 and Highway 70S interchange, and near Old Harding Pike and Highway 100. One Bellevue Place is a major shopping and dining hub with a Sprouts market, an AMC Bellevue 12 theatre, hotels, a café, and the Bellevue Community Center and Ford Ice Center.

History in brief. In the 1950s Bellevue was a small farming community along the Harpeth River with a few buildings. I-40 was built through the area in the early 1960s, helping suburban growth. In the late 1970s Bellevue’s post office became part of Nashville’s postal system. The area was hit hard by a flood in May 2010. In February 2014 a plane crash near the Bellevue YMCA killed four people, but the pilot Glenn Mull helped save many lives.

Schools and education. Bellevue has several schools: Gower Elementary (K–4) and Harpeth Valley Elementary (PreK–4) serve younger students. Bellevue Middle School (grades 5–8) and James Lawson High School, which opened in Fall 2023, serve older students. The area supports many youth sports and activities.

Youth sports and parks. Bellevue hosts the Bellevue Steelers, and the Reese Smith Jr. Baseball & Softball Park for Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken leagues. The Bellevue Basketball Association has long offered youth programs. The Harpeth Youth Soccer Association (HYSA) runs a large youth league with about 2,000 players each year. HYSA’s fields on Coley Davis Drive were rebuilt after the 2010 floods and reopened in 2011.

Community events. Red Caboose Park (the park next to the Bellevue Library) hosts the annual Bellevue Community Picnic, which draws thousands of visitors each year. The park also features a historic log cabin and a modern playground.

Notable residents. Bellevue has been home to many artists, musicians, athletes, and businesspeople.