Mt. Juliet is a city located in the western portion of Wilson County, Tennessee. It is a suburb of Nashville, and is contiguous with the metropolitan city/county limits, though it maintains its own government and is not included within the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. It is about 15 miles east of downtown Nashville. It is located roughly between two major national east-west routes, Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 70. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 12,366. The city completed a special census in May of 2006, certified by the State of Tennessee, which revealed a current population of 20,392. The official city charter from 1972 gave the name as the abbreviated "Mt. Juliet," rather than "Mount Juliet," though the longer version is accepted. The city's official colors are the same as the town's high school: black, white, and gold.