Smyrna, Tennessee

Small Town Mystique with a Big City Bonus

A Dynamic Community Blending Charm and Progress

Situated in the heart of Middle Tennessee, Smyrna, a thriving town of 57,000 residents, celebrates a fascinating history while embracing a future filled with progress. Established in the mid-1800s as an agricultural community, Smyrna thrived with its large farms and plantations, including the historic Sam Davis Home—a 200-acre site now preserved as a state historical landmark.

The arrival of the railroad further cemented Smyrna’s place on the map, transforming it into a hub for trade and transportation. In 1941, the establishment of Sewart Air Force Base spurred population growth and economic vitality. Although the base’s closure in 1970 brought its share of challenges, Smyrna’s determined leaders successfully revitalized the town by attracting new industries and creating jobs.

With an ideal location just 20 minutes from Nashville International Airport (BNA), Smyrna enjoys the best of both worlds- proximity to major urban hubs and a quaint, small-town ambiance. Town Manager, David Santucci emphasizes, “Our location is a gem. We’re right between Nashville and Murfreesboro, two major cities here in Middle Tennessee. As people continue to visit Nashville, the ‘it city,’ they’re realizing Tennessee isn’t just a great vacation destination; it’s a wonderful place to live. This area, in particular, is starting to grow because of that.”

Mayor Mary Esther Reed adds, “Even with the size of our community, it still has a small-town feel.” This balance of growth and hometown charm is a defining characteristic of Smyrna, making it an increasingly attractive choice for residents and businesses.

Economic Development

Smyrna’s economic strength is driven by a blend of industrial, commercial, and small-business growth. “With the addition of Nissan in 1981, manufacturing really took off and transformed the county,” explains Paul Latture, president of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. He notes that the Nissan manufacturing facility still thrives and employs approximately 8,000 people in Smyrna, making it the town’s largest employer.

“There are various pockets of activity in the South Park industrial area. Just recently, Pepsi opened a new logistics facility for the region, but the automotive industry certainly is king in Smyrna and Rutherford County, and that continues to do well,” he says.

Additionally, Smyrna is home to the busiest general aviation airport in the state, which also ranks as the third-largest airport in Tennessee. Plans are underway to potentially house the Air National Guard, which would bring an influx of daily employees, and a further boost to the town’s economy. “They have to find a place to move, and they have been looking at the Smyrna Airport as a new home,” Santucci discloses.

“If that happens, it will be transformational for the Town of Smyrna. It’ll bring an additional 400 to 800 employees every day, and when they do their drill weekends, we could see as many as 1,200 people coming on a weekend. It’s a long-term project, and it still has a lot of planning and execution to do, but we are in talks with them, and we would welcome them to the community.”

Local enterprises are another major contributor to Smyrna’s economy. “We talk about these big industries, but the heart of our town is our small businesses, which are our community’s backbone. Here in the town, we have 2,100 businesses, and 64% of our business community comprises small businesses,” boasts Mayor Reed.

“They do so much to add to the quality of life here in Smyrna, for events and participation in anything we do.” Vanessa Haley, Vice President of the Smyrna Independent Merchants Association (SIMA), continues, “The small business community is really reaching out and connecting, being a large part of the community and making themselves seen.”

An area known as the Depot District, centered around a historic train depot, has been instrumental in revitalizing Smyrna’s downtown, solidifying its reputation as a go-to place. Santucci recounts, “That area is slowly growing into what I would call a really cool, hip vibe. We’re getting a lot of little niche restaurants and small businesses, including some restaurants based in the Nashville area, coming into Smyrna.”

 A Transformational Project

One of the town’s most ambitious initiatives is the $200 million Sewart’s Landing development, a mixed-use project encompassing 45 acres that was owned by the town for many years. “We have held on to this property, waiting for the right project, and we really felt like this was it,” details Mayor Reed.

“The project, named after Sewart’s Air Force Base, is a symbol of our community’s resilience. We’re not just excited, we’re thrilled about this development that will include a medical office, office space, retail, a hotel, and townhomes.”

A Community Built on Quality of Life

Smyrna takes pride in offering residents a high quality of life, with excellent schools, diverse housing options, and an extensive park system. “We have over 800 acres of parkland,” Mayor Reed touts, “We have one of the best park systems, I would say, in the country.”  Cedar Stone Park is the newest addition, and the town will see the addition of six new tennis courts, and six pickleball courts to go along with the existing turf fields. The Smyrna Depot Farmers Market is a regional favorite, bringing together local farmers, artisans, craft and food vendors and live entertainment from May to September.

Community events play a vital role in bringing Smyrna residents together for fun and festivity. Signature gatherings like the Fourth of July celebration, which attracts close to 15,000 attendees, and annual traditions such as Simply Smyrna, Depot Days, and the Smyrna Christmas Parade offer plentiful opportunities for connection. “One of the great things about our Christmas parade is we try to give back,” shares Mayor Reed.

“We ask people attending the parade to bring non-perishable food items, which we collect along the parade route. We’re always looking for ways to give back to our community.” Another cherished tradition is the Top Gun Night Run, an event honoring the memory of Captain Jeff Kuss and showcasing the close-knit spirit of Smyrna.

A Strong Partnership for Growth

Latture highlights the importance of the partnership between Rutherford County and the Town of Smyrna in driving economic development and tourism.

“Every community in Rutherford County is a little bit different, but what we do is try to determine what assets are available to us, and what types of jobs the various communities are looking for, and we try to capitalize on that. But, if we didn’t have such a strong public partner like the Town of Smyrna, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do,” he asserts.

One significant initiative is extending sewer infrastructure to the area surrounding Interstate 840, a move expected to unlock considerable untapped potential. “The Town of Smyrna is going to be running some sewer to that area, which will open up a whole new frontier for us. So, we’re excited about that opportunity here in the next little bit,” he remarks.

On the tourism side, Latture commends Smyrna’s exceptional park system and its ability to host sports tournaments that attract visitors from across the nation. ” We leverage their park system like crazy,” he conveys. In addition, he underscores the importance of the attractions which draw visitors to the community.

“The Sam Davis Home and the Kuss Memorial are really a tribute to what the town is all about,” he states. “So, we’re very pleased to be a part of the economic development portfolio for the whole county, as well as the Town of Smyrna.”

Looking Ahead

Smyrna’s excellence is recognized far and wide, with many accolades pointing to its strong governance and community-driven approach. The town earned the Tennessee Municipal League Award for Excellence in Governance in 2023 and was named one of Fortune Magazine’s “50 Best Places to Live for Families” in 2023. It also boasts a AAA credit rating from Standard and Poor’s and the Government Finance Officers Association’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting.

As Smyrna continues to experience growth, the town remains committed to maintaining the high quality of life that its residents have come to know and love. “I think our goal is truly to provide the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” Mayor Reed reflects.

“We want young people to feel excited about returning to Smyrna after they go off to college or pursue other opportunities. Our hope is that they will come back to Smyrna and make this town their home. We want residents and visitors to experience the love we have for our community.”

AT A GLANCE

Smyrna, Tennessee

What: A thriving town, expertly balancing growth and quality of life amenities

Where: Rutherford County, Tennessee

Website: www.townofsmyrna.org