Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee
State Tennessee
City Nashville-Davidson
County1 Davidson
City Population (2005)2 522,662 9.0% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 26 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 26 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 2
City Size Classification - Population Large
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Nashville
State Population (2005)2 5,810,590
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Bill Purcell
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.nashville.gov/mayor/index.htm
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 615-862-6000
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, August 2, 2007
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  No
State Governor Name Phil Bredesen
State/Governor Website http://www.state.tn.us/
State/Governor Contact Information 615-741-2001
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.24    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 15.6%    
     Disability Status 14.0% 28  
     Emphysema 1.19% 40  
     Cardiovascular Disease 24.33% 43  
     Diabetes 5.10% 41  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.51% 43  
     Adult Asthma 9.42% 62  
     Adult Obesity 22.6%   43
     People Without Health Insurance 14.0%   25
     Age: Children under 5 years 7.8% 46  
     Age: 65 years and over 10.7% 36  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 21.0% 33  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 15.0% 47  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 55.0% 16  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 6.4% 16  
     Individuals Below Poverty 16.8% 34  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 19.5% 30  
     Free or Reduced Lunch (Not Available) (Not Available)  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 12.8% 30  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 3.5    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 38.0 (of 51) 53  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 88,259,970 pounds   38
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 533,470,981 pounds 51
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 360,967,426 pounds 50
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,233,164,271 pounds 49
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 934,320,516 pounds 42
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 65.7 grams 35
Number of Superfund Sites in County 0 sites 1  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.106 tons per person 31
Recycling Rate (1997) 40.0% 6
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 11,357,218 tons 41
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.9 tons/person 47
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 4,798,402 tons 6
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 42.2% 4
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 0.0% 36
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 71.8% 40
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 5.5% 15
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    2.7***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 333,600 tons   36
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 154,500 tons   39
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 64,262,300 tons   35
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 2,660.0 pounds   39
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 1.0 days 14  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 0.3 PM2.5 8  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 0.3 days 9  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 0.3 PM2.5 10  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 4 ppm 42  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) 0.99 ug/m3 28  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.009 ppm 6  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 26 ug/m3 24  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.004 ppm 27  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    2.4***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Lower Cumberland-Sycamore ---  
# of Units in Watershed 110 units 15  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 93 units 13  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 57 units 51  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 61.3% 27  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 15.5% 31  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 47.30 inches 11  
Water Area Total, square miles 926 square miles 46  
Water Area Inland, square miles 926 square miles 39  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 0 square miles 35  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Nashville ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 57 years 27  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 119 days 21  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Nashville ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 56 years 29  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 10.0 inches 37  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 10,100,000,000 gallons/day 27  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 1,920,000,000 gallons/day 14  
Ground water, gallons/day 435,000,000 gallons/day 52  
Surface water, gallons/day 9,640,000,000 gallons/day 24  
Irrigation, gallons/day 24,000,000 gallons/day 62  
Public Supply, gallons/day 831,000,000 gallons/day 34  
Industrial, gallons/day 868,000,000 gallons/day 13  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 8,300,000,000 gallons/day 21  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 233,000,000 gallons/day 58  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Nashville Water Department #1 ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 412,067 people 45  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1998-2002 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 23 contaminants 50  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 6 contaminants 58  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 4 contaminants 37  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 52  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 6 contaminants 48  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 32  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 17 contaminants 53  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 43  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 6 contaminants 34  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 5 contaminants 58  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 10 contaminants 49  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 33  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 23 contaminants 50  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 6 contaminants 58  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 68 contaminants 54  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 57 contaminants 52  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 11 contaminants 46  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 2 violations 53  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 1 violation 51  
Reporting Violations 1 violation 63  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    2.8***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 1,152.6 people per square mile 67  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 512.2 housing units per square mile 67  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 23.3 minutes 38  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 21.9 minutes 35  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 13.5% 33  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 1.8% 55  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 2.4% 52  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 3.0% 27  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 96.1 11  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 82.5 MV registrations   21
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 46.6%   31
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 47.9 MV registrations   28
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.14 MV registrations   20
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 88,518 miles   31
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.488%   36
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 23.1%   22
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.02 miles   24
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 18.46 miles   24
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $1,661,000,000   27
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $18,765 per mile   20
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 35.0%   8
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 20.0 hours per person 24  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $331 per person 24  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $318,000,000 21  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 11 gallons per person 18  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $42,298 20  
Median Household Income (2000) $39,232 28  
Per capita income (2004) $24,561 21  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $22,018 26  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 14.3% 39  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 13.3% 25  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 16.8% 34  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 3.7% 27  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 19.5% 30  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 17,964 people 32  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 4.4% 15  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 6.4% 16  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 3.6% 21  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 5.3% 19  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 17.8% 31  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 17.2% 35  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) No Minimum Wage Law ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EDUCATION
 
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 105,275 kids (1.8% of total pop.) 26  
Largest School District Enrollment 67,669 kids (1.2% of total pop.) 29  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 45.0% 54  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 85.0% 25  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 32.5% 27  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 21% 33  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Middle of the Road   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade B   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Average   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 229,553 units 24  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 42.1% 45  
Cost of Living: Housing 70.8 27  
Cost of Living: Utilities 84.9 13  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 96.1 10  
Cost of Living: Overall 85.7 18  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 57.04%   41
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 44.40%   46
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 53.10%   29
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 24.7%   45
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 8,050.7 incidents per 100,000 people 54  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 1,550.3 incidents per 100,000 people 63  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 6,500.4 incidents per 100,000 people 51  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 8,467.0 incidents per 100,000 people 55  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score) 3.0    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 0.2 parks per square mile 48  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 20.3 park acres per city square mile 35  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 18.0 acres 17  
Parkland as % of City Area 3.2% 48  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident $52 per resident 15  
Total City Tree Canopy % 38.7% 5  
Total City Urbanized Area % 41.6% 11  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users Yes ---  
Disability Advisory Committees Yes ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks Yes ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 3.3    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.51% 43
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 9.42% 62
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.18% 50
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.19% 40
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 24.33% 43
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.10% 41  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 22.6% 43
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 10.5% 43
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 10.0% 16
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 9.4% 48
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 214.0 45
Cost of Living: Health 81.5 1  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 13.5% 20
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 14.0% 25
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 3.7% 38
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.5% 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 12 farms 25
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 9 markets 35
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 0 restaurants 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 1 grocery store 40
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 3 other sources 24
Cost of Living: Food 98.8 21
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 106.3% 71
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 50.0% 59
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    4.0***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) No ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 1 program   13
Net Metering Net Metering Offered by only one or more Individual Utilities   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 0 kW   41
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 0 kW   40
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems No   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol None   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes without ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes5 No Commercial Energy Codes   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) Yes ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 13.9%   11
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 54 years 18
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 57% 32
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8 mph 46
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9.1 mph 38
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 6.5 mph 54
Heating Degree Days 3,729 days 22
Cooling Degree Days 1,616 days 44
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 33 years 50
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 84% 50
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 58% 31
Elevation, feet 558 feet 37
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 522,662 26 (of 72 in EDN study) 9.0% of state population
City Population (2000) 545,524 25 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 5,810,590 17 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region South ---  
EPA Region 4 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 473.0 square miles 5 1.2% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 41,219 square miles 34  
Watershed Name Lower Cumberland-Sycamore ---  
Elevation, feet 558 ft. (169.7 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 36.8°F (2.7°C) 34
Average Daily Temperature - July 79.1°F (26.2°C) 45  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 35.3 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 73.2% 47  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 10.7% 36  
Under 5 years of age 41,021 kids (7.8% of total pop.) 25  
One Race-White % (2005) 64.4% 34  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 35.6% 39  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 7.2% 46  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 12.8% 43  
Largest School District Name Davidson City ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network