Nashville, Indiana

 town, county seat

County seat and largest town in Brown County.

The village of Nashville, Indiana is a great place for shopping, with hundreds of unique craft, specialty & antique shops. Visitors enjoy watching artists in galleries and craft studios throughout Brown County Indiana. Brown County is known as the "artist colony of the midwest".

History
Settlement of land in and around Nashville began with the acquisition of land from native populations under the 1809 Treaty of Fort Wayne. This was expanded with more acquisitions under the 1818 Treaty of St. Mary's. By 1840 area population had grown to more than 2,300. The first Nashville courthouse was constructed in 1837 and a jail was added in the same year. The town was officially incorporated in 1872. By the turn of the century, heavy logging in the area had caused significant deforestation which resulted in significant erosion problems. The population shrunk over the span of several decades and did not recover to 1890 levels until 90 years later in 1980.

With the opening of a rail station six miles away in Helmsburg, Indiana the area became more accessible to travelers and tourists. A number of writers told the world about the beauties of the community and the nature of the quaint village of Nashville, and the foundations of the artist colony were made. Artists from around the country began to make Nashville their home. Among the earlier artist settlers were T. C. Steele and Adolph Schulz.

Today, Nashville boasts a thriving tourist industry based upon the original works of resident artists and upon the area's natural beauty. Nearby Brown County State Park is visited by more than a million people per year, many of whom come to see resplendent fall colors in the trees of the forests in the park and its environs.

www.browncounty.com/