Located in the southeast quadrant of the Nashville MSA and the geographic center of the state, Murfreesboro is a vibrant, creative college town where Main Street meets Metropolis. The City is the seat of Rutherford County, which is the largest suburb of Nashville and growing faster than any county in the region. 

 

Murfreesboro had begun as a mainly agricultural community, but by 1853 the area was home to several colleges and academies, gaining the nickname the "Athens of Tennessee".  Murfreesboro has also become more cosmopolitan by attracting more numerous international students to the Middle Tennessee State University.

 

Murfreesboro has enjoyed substantial residential and commercial growth, with its population increasing over recent decades. The city has been a destination for many immigrants leaving areas affected by warfare; since 1990 numerous Somalis and Kurds from Iraq have settled here.