Nashville, the capital and most populous city of Tennessee, was founded in 1779 and named for Revolutionary War general Francis Nash. Strategically located on the Cumberland River, it quickly grew as a vital port and railroad center, notably becoming the first Confederate state capital taken by Union forces in 1862. Today, Nashville is globally recognized as "Music City" due to its dominant country music industry and is also dubbed the "Athens of the South" for its many prestigious educational institutions, including Vanderbilt University. With a population of over 700,000 and a consolidated city-county government established in 1963, it stands as one of the fastest-growing major U.S. cities, boasting significant sectors in healthcare, technology, and publishing.