Dickson County
Community character
Located just west of Nashville, Dickson County is beginning to capture the spillover from its bustling neighbor, Davidson County. Dickson County does not currently have any comprehensive or neighborhood plans, but as the county continues to grow so too does its need for a planning initiative. The county’s 48,000 residents are clustered around six incorporated communities, but mostly in its most populous city, Dickson. The county is growing fairly rapidly—at 11% population growth in 2008, it is exceeding the state average of 9%--a trend that is expected to continue as the Middle Tennessee region continues to attract attention nationally.
The Dickson community has an abundance of natural and historical assets to protect. The county has built a thriving tourism industry around the Harpeth River, which flows along its eastern border, as well as around Montgomery Bell State Park. Though their days as an iron ore hotbed are mostly past, the rolling hills of Dickson County offer a host of recreational opportunities that attract visitors and commerce. In addition to natural advantages, Dickson possesses a distinct historic character, rooted in the built legacy of the Civil War Era and the boom days of the railroad industry. Currently, Dickson County officials are submitting a grant to fund a comprehensive plan for the county.