Fast-growing Nashville metro town with unique Civil War sites
Spring Hill doesn’t quite boast a historic and bustling downtown like its neighbors Franklin and Columbia, however, this rapidly growing city on the southern end of the Nashville metro has no shortage of unique amenities. For example, every home on Main Street formerly served as soldiers' quarters during the Civil War—and there are even some stories of locals seeing apparitions of those who once lodged in these 19th-century buildings. Ghost tales included the town’s Civil War history has long been one of its many intrigues.
“I’m kind of a little bit of a history nut, so I enjoy the time and attention people pay to history. With this being the site of the Battle of Spring Hill, one of the battles during the Civil War, we get a lot of people who come in and are interested in seeing that. For me, I appreciate that,” says Sarah Kennedy, the executive director of the nonprofit bookstore Ghostlight Books.
Spring Hill is also in Williamson and Maury counties, a distinction many residents and prospective homebuyers enjoy. “They get the benefits of Williamson County schools because Williamson County is one of the best school districts in the state,” says Kelsea McAuliffe, a Realtor with the VP Home group at Keller Williams. “So Spring Hill is really beneficial if you want Williamson County schools but don’t want the Franklin prices. In my opinion, you get more bang for your buck in terms of homes.”
There are several historic homes throughout Spring Hill.
Grace Episcopal Church is located in beautiful, historic Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Rippavilla Plantationis the former plantation ofNathaniel Cheairs.
Spring Hill is a city in Maury and Williamson counties in Tennessee.
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Rural ramblers, historic 19th-century builds and contemporary subdivisions
Some of the city’s outlying areas consist of farmland, where ranch-style houses sit on 1-acre lots with rustic features like narrow gravel driveways. In the heart of the city, Antebellum- and Victorian-era architecture mixes with midcentury homes and Craftsman bungalows. A tornado devastated the town in the 1960s, and the blend of styles seen around Main Street shows what either survived or was added during the rebuild.
The rest of the city's neighborhoods consist of subdivisions with custom and contemporary Traditional homes. Those styles are common in developments like Autumn Ridge and Dakota Pointe, considered among the city’s top-rated communities. While lots in those places are typically smaller than the ones in the rural outskirts, yards still provide enough room for Halloween and holiday season decorations like giant skeletons, ghouls, Santa Claus and superheroes like Batman. Younger residents also play football in their front yards, while parents and other adults take advantage of the quiet streets to skateboard or drive their children around in four-wheelers.
Single-family home costs mainly range between $400,000 and $650,000, with newer homes with footprints of over 2,000 square feet on the upper end of that range. Spring Hill's median list price is $510,000, slightly higher than Nashville's but notably lower than neighbor Franklin’s median of approximately $940,000.
Contemporary homes add a fresh look to the Spring Hill neighborhood.
Traditional craftsman homes add a classic flare to the Spring Hill neighborhood.
Homes in Spring Hill feature large windows to allow morning light in.
Contemporary craftsman inspired homes are a common style found in the Spring Hill neighborhood.
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Touring the Rippa Villa and ghost stories
One of the city’s most renowned cultural mainstays is the Rippa Villa, a Greek Revival house and a prominent example of the Antebellum-era architecture common in this part of the Nashville metro. The land around the Villa served as the site of the Battle of Spring Hill in 1864, which immediately preceded the far deadlier and infamous Battle of Franklin. Villa visitors can tour the building, as well as the surrounding grounds. “There’s a lot of historic stuff with the Civil War, and that’s a destination for people that go look around the country at Civil War stuff,” McAuliffe says.
Even properties less famous than the Villa have their own stories. For example, Ghostlight Books runs out of an 1841 Colonial-style house that was once home to the Spring Hill mayor, who made the first phone call in the city. “Their family has come in and said, ‘I remember when my grandma or great grandma lived here.’ And sometimes, if you’re in the area that’s now the kitchen and you’re not going about domestic tasks, you’ll get a feeling a grandmother is shooing you out of the room,” Kennedy says about stories she’s heard. “And then a friend of mine said they saw an apparition in the children’s room of a soldier who had buttons on his uniform.”
Annual celebrations include the city’s Fourth of July Bicycle Parade. The Tennessee International Film Festival, which doesn’t always occur in Spring Hill, is another notable event in this area.
Eclectic shops and eateries with regional chains like Martin’s Bar-B-Que
In addition to having some of the city’s most historic properties, the Main Street area is home to an eclectic group of establishments like Ghostlight Books, The Fainting Goat Coffee Co. and a women’s clothing store called the Birdy Grace Boutique. The cafe, which has another location in Franklin, runs out of a repurposed bungalow and sells merchandise like its coffee mugs. About 90% of the Ghostlight Book’s inventory comes from donations, and two resident cats named after authors Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett entertain patrons.
The city has other shopping centers with chain brands and Nashville area staples. Big box stores include Walmart, while Italian, Mexican and downhome cooking are popular cuisines. Popular eateries include Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint and Tito’s Mexican Restaurant.
Savor a juicy and homemade burger at Embers Tavern, a cozy and friendly pub in Spring Hill.
The Fainting Goat Coffee is a favorite in Spring Hill.
Martins BBQ is famous for their Smoked Brisket.
Titos mexican restaurant is a local hotspot in Spring Hill.
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Skating, sports and walking the Spring Hill Battlefield
Spring Hill has five city-run parks with playgrounds, various sports courts and fields and skating ramps and rails. A few of these green spaces also have arboretums with trees like red oaks, Japanese maples and eastern redbuds. The city’s parks and recreation department hosts the annual Hill Fest in June, which draws thousands and can feature entertainment like stilt performers, carnival rides, bouncing castles and hot air balloon rides.
Indoor facilities include Williamson County’s Longview Recreation Center, where the amenities include pools, a gym and a dance studio. History buffs can also stop by sprawling farmland off Kedron Road to visit the Spring Hill Battlefield. The site features a mowed grass trail, an artillery cannon and views of the surrounding ranch properties.
Golf players enjoy hitting the greens with neighbors in Spring Hill.
Shoot some hoops with friends at Fischer Park, a scenic spot in Spring Hill.
The Walnut Street Skate Park is popular in Spring Hill
Fischer Park has a beautiful Tennessee star mural in Spring Hill.
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Access to one of the top school districts in Tennessee
One of the main drivers to Spring Hill and this part of the Nashville metro is access to the Williamson County Schools district, which gets an A from ratings site Niche and serves more than 42,000 students. Additionally, Niche ranks the district as the third best in the state. In 2023, the Tennessee Department of Education named the system an Exemplary District. The state agency also named over two dozen of the district’s Reward Schools.
Due to the city's location in Maury County, many here also attend Maury County Public Schools. That district gets a C-plus from Niche and serves more than 13,000 students.
Families living in Spring Hill can send their kids to Spring Hill Elementary School.
Middle schoolers can attend Spring Hill Middle School in Spring Hill.
Teens living in the area can attend Spring Hill High in Spring Hill.
Fischer Park in Spring Hill is a kid’s paradise with a lake, playground, and basketball court.
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GM plant and building next-generation electric car batteries
Like other small towns and suburbs around Nashville, a few major companies are in Spring Hill. The city’s biggest employer is the General Motors plant, which has over 3,000 employees. The electric Cadillac Lyriq is among the models assembled at the plant. The city also has an Ultium Cells electric car battery plant, which employs more than 1,000 people. Ultium Cells is affiliated with GM and global electronics and appliance giant LG.
Spring Hill is among the quickest-growing cities in the state. The 2020 census county showed the city has a population of approximately 50,000, and most of the growth has occurred during the 21st century. The city’s population in 2000 and 2010 increased by more than 400% and 200%, respectively. A 2023 census estimate reports that the city’s population increased by about 7,600. The city has an initiative called Spring Hill Rising: 2040, a plan designed to help the city adapt to the growth while maintaining its historic traits. The plan targets areas like housing and transportation.
“It’s very peaceful, very family-oriented,” says resident Brittany Estes. “We have everything we could need: grocery stores, amenities, things to do. We really like the wine bar here and this coffee shop is fantastic. It has everything that one could need.”
Spring Hill Manufacturing is a General Motors factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Ultium Cells is a battery manufacturer in Spring Hill, Tennessee
Stock up on fresh and quality groceries at Super Target, a convenient store in Spring Hill.
There are several shopping options in Spring Hill.
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Important to know
Spring Hill is considered one of the safest places in the state. FBI figures show the city had a violent crime rate of 79 per 10,000 in 2023. By sharp contrast, Nashville that year had a violent crime rate of 323 offenses per 10,000 people, while Tennessee’s rate was at about 210 offenses per 10,000 people. In 2023, Spring Hill also had a property crime rate of 84 per 10,000 people, well below the state rate of 244 per 10,000.
As part of Middle Tennessee, this area experiences four true seasons. Although the transition between them may vary, the region has mild winters and warm, humid summers. However, Middle Tennessee can experience extreme weather events like tornadoes. With 21 events in 2023, the region is historically the most tornado-prone in the state.
Although many here drive to get around the region, Nashville’s WeGo Public Transit runs a bus route in the area. Otherwise, many here use the Columbia Pike — U.S. Highway 31 — and Interstate 65 to commute to Nashville and neighbors like Franklin. Spring Hill is about 38 miles south of the Nashville International Airport, where many here usually go for flights out of state.
Cheryl is a real estate Broker with Benchmark Realty West in Nashville, TN. She services Nashville and surrounding towns within an hour radius. She provides home-buyers and sellers with professional, responsive and attentive real estate services. Want an agent who'll really listen to what you want in a home? Need an agent who knows how to effectively market your home so it sells? Want to know what your home is worth?Give Cheryl a call! 615-319-7144
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
