LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) - While it may feel like most parts of Middle Tennessee are exploding with new residents, one city is growing faster than the rest.
According to data released by the U.S. Census, Lebanon, Tennessee is one of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the country.
Lebanon grew by 8.9% from July 2023 to July 2024, according to the most recent data available.
“The population growth across the South in 2023 was driven by significant numeric and percentage gains among its cities,” said Crystal Delbé, a statistician in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. “Thirteen of the 15 fastest-growing cities were in the South, with eight in Texas alone.”
Realtor and long-time Wilson County resident Eddie Poole understands his native county's appeal to people looking for a nice quality of life.
"A lot of people look at the map and decide they want to come to Nashville, and when they start looking at Nashville, they look at the surrounding areas, and Wilson County is the best place in my opinion," Poole said.
According to the Census, Lebanon's population is 48,112 as of July 2023. It was almost 10,000 people fewer just three years prior.
"I don't really try to judge whether it's too fast or not," Poole said. "I just say it is what it is. So I embrace it. I mean, it is happening fast, but I think we're pretty much absorbing it."
Poole said he is excited about the new businesses, opportunities and community resources that come with growth, but knows not everyone else is as excited about it as he is.
"I think [other residents] are also a little bit cautious," he said. "Particularly the old-time folks that they love our atmosphere, they love the people that are very welcoming, and very friendly, and we just don't want to lose that as the growth occurs."
Lebanon wasn't the only Tennessee city that the Census recognized, the City of Gallatin was also mentioned in a recent news release for joining the list of cities with a population of more than 50,000.