Life in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

   Murfreesboro is a growing city of over 100,000 people located 30 miles southeast of Nashville.  It offers a nice quality of life in a vibrant community, leading Rolling Stone magazine in 2005 to declare Murfreesboro "a surprisingly hip town."

   We are in the heart of Rutherford County, which is also on the rise.  Rutherford is the fastest growing county in the state, and its booming economy ranked #1 nationally in 2005.  With this tremendous growth comes a healthy business environment for developing applied I/O opportunities.

    A variety of affordable housing is available close to campus. Many apartment complexes and townhouses offer move-in specials, so be sure to shop around for a good deal. You may want to ask for recommendations from current students who have lived in the area for a while already.

    One of the good things about living here is that you are only minutes away from anything you could need. Murfreesboro has lots of grocery stores and shopping centers, several major department stores, two multiplex movie theaters, and tons of restaurants. If you don't care for chain stores, no problem, because Murfreesboro is also home to many specialty shops and locally owned restaurants.

    If you want more shopping or the feel of a larger city, never fear, Nashville is only 30 miles away. In Nashville, you will find even more shopping and restaurants, and many places to go out and have a good time. You can also go see a professional football or hockey game, as Nashville is home to the Tennessee Titans and the Nashville Predators. You can also attend theater events at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, listen to the Nashville Symphony, visit a replica of the Parthenon, or go ice skating at the Centennial Sportsplex. Click here to see what's going on in Nashville!

    If you are more of the outdoors type, Murfreesboro has the Stones River Greenway System, which is a seven-mile paved trail along the river through the heart of the city. You can walk, run, rollerblade, bike, etc. down the trail. You may also learn a little bit about the history of the area—part of the trail goes through the Stones River National Battlefield, where a historic Civil War battle took place. A walking tour through the battlefield is also available. There are many other parks in the area as well. You can also check out the Bicentennial Capitol Mall, located in Nashville near the capitol. This park was built for the state's bicentennial celebration several years ago and is a beautiful place to visit.

    If the weather is bad and you don't want to make the trip to the Greenway, or if you don't feel like driving to Nashville, students can enjoy the state-of-the-art recreation center on campus. The recreation center has an indoor track for walking/running, racquetball courts, basketball courts, a rock-climbing wall, weight room, gym equipment, and swimming pool. Finished touring the Stones River Battlefield and you want to see more historic sites? Don't miss out on Cannonsburgh Village, home of the World's Largest Red Cedar Bucket, which is rumored to have been filled with beer for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair!

    With all the great things here, Murfreesboro has even gotten some national recognition. Take a look for yourself at some recent articles on business, housing, and the schools in the area.

    So, now you want to come see for yourself? If you would like to plan a visit to meet with professors and get a better look at the university and Murfreesboro, please contact our graduate program coordinator, Dr. Patrick McCarthy.