Tennessee - The Volunteer State
Capital: Nashville | Abbreviation: TN | Region: Southeast | Population: 7.0 million
Quick Facts
| Population | 7,051,339 |
| Area | 42,144 sq mi (109,153 km²) |
| Population Rank | 16th |
| Area Rank | 36th |
| Capital | Nashville |
| Largest City | Nashville (690K) |
| Statehood | June 1, 1796 (16th state) |
| Time Zones | Eastern & Central |
| Nickname | The Volunteer State |
Interactive Map
🔴 Nashville (Capital)
About Tennessee
Tennessee is a southeastern state with a population of 7 million, making it the sixteenth-most populous state. The state capital and largest city is Nashville, known worldwide as "Music City" with 690,000 residents and a rapidly growing metropolitan area of 2 million. Tennessee became the 16th state on June 1, 1796. The state's nickname "Volunteer State" originated during the War of 1812 when Tennessee volunteers played a crucial role in the Battle of New Orleans.
Tennessee is geographically divided into three distinct Grand Divisions: East Tennessee (Appalachian Mountains), Middle Tennessee (Nashville Basin), and West Tennessee (Mississippi Delta). The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina border, is America's most-visited national park with over 12 million annual visitors. Tennessee's landscape ranges from mountain peaks over 6,000 feet to the Mississippi River bottomlands.
Tennessee has an enormous cultural impact, particularly in music. Nashville is the heart of country music with the Grand Ole Opry, while Memphis is the birthplace of blues, soul, and rock 'n' roll, home to Beale Street, Sun Studio (where Elvis recorded), and Graceland. The state has a diverse economy including healthcare (HCA Healthcare), automotive manufacturing (Nissan, Volkswagen, GM), logistics (FedEx), and tourism. Tennessee has no state income tax, attracting businesses and residents.
Geography & Climate
Tennessee stretches 440 miles east to west with diverse geography:
- East Tennessee: Great Smoky Mountains, Appalachian ridges, Knoxville, Chattanooga
- Middle Tennessee: Nashville Basin, rolling hills, central region
- West Tennessee: Mississippi River, Memphis, flat Delta region
- Highest Point: Clingmans Dome (6,643 feet) in Great Smokies
- Rivers: Mississippi, Tennessee, Cumberland - major waterways
- Climate: Humid subtropical, hot summers, mild winters, four seasons
Major Cities
Nashville
Population: 689,447
Metro: 2.0M
Known For: State capital, Music City, country music, Grand Ole Opry, healthcare, hot chicken
Memphis
Population: 633,104
Metro: 1.3M
Known For: Blues, soul, Elvis, Graceland, Beale Street, FedEx, barbecue
Knoxville
Population: 190,740
Metro: 880K
Known For: University of Tennessee, gateway to Smoky Mountains, Oak Ridge
Chattanooga
Population: 185,291
Known For: Lookout Mountain, Tennessee Aquarium, outdoor recreation, revitalized downtown
Clarksville
Population: 166,722
Known For: Fort Campbell military base, growing city, Austin Peay State University
Murfreesboro
Population: 152,769
Known For: Civil War sites, Middle Tennessee State University, Nashville suburb
Music Heritage
Tennessee is America's undisputed music capital with unparalleled musical legacy:
Nashville - Country Music Capital
- Grand Ole Opry: Longest-running radio show in America (since 1925)
- Music Row: Heart of country music industry, recording studios
- Country Music Hall of Fame: Premier museum and archive
- Ryman Auditorium: "Mother Church of Country Music"
- Honky Tonks: Broadway's famous live music venues
Memphis - Blues & Rock Birthplace
- Beale Street: Historic blues district, live music every night
- Sun Studio: "Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll," Elvis, Johnny Cash recorded here
- Graceland: Elvis Presley's mansion, second most-visited home in US
- Stax Records: Soul music legacy, Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes
- Memphis Blues: B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, blues heritage
Economy & Industry
Tennessee has a diverse, no-income-tax economy with major sectors:
- Healthcare: HCA Healthcare (largest hospital operator), medical devices, health services - Nashville is major healthcare hub
- Automotive Manufacturing: Nissan (Smyrna), Volkswagen (Chattanooga), GM (Spring Hill) - major production plants
- Logistics & Transportation: FedEx (Memphis headquarters), central location, distribution centers
- Music Industry: Country music publishing, recording, touring - multi-billion dollar industry in Nashville
- Agriculture: Cattle, soybeans, corn, cotton, tobacco, nursery products
- Tourism: Great Smoky Mountains, music attractions, Dollywood, outdoor recreation
- Manufacturing: Chemicals, food processing, electronics, machinery
History & Civil War
Tennessee played a complex and significant role in American history:
- Andrew Jackson: 7th US President from Tennessee, founder of Democratic Party, controversial legacy
- Civil War Battles: Over 450 battles fought in Tennessee, more than any state except Virginia
- Battle of Shiloh (1862): Bloody battle with 23,000+ casualties, Union victory
- Battle of Chattanooga (1863): Major Union victory, "Battle Above the Clouds"
- Last State to Secede: Tennessee last to join Confederacy, first to be readmitted to Union
- Oak Ridge: Secret Manhattan Project city during WWII, uranium enrichment for atomic bomb
- Civil Rights: Site of lunch counter sit-ins in Nashville (1960), civil rights activism
Interesting Facts
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America's most-visited national park (12+ million annually)
- Tennessee is only state to border eight other states
- Jack Daniel's whiskey distillery in Lynchburg, ironically in a dry county
- Graceland (Elvis's home) is second most-visited house in America after White House
- FedEx world headquarters in Memphis, hub for overnight shipping
- No state income tax in Tennessee
- Dollywood in Pigeon Forge is Tennessee's most-visited ticketed attraction
- Nashville hot chicken originated at Prince's Hot Chicken Shack
- Coca-Cola was first bottled in Chattanooga (1899)
- Bristol is "Birthplace of Country Music" (1927 recording sessions)
- Tennessee has produced three US presidents: Jackson, Polk, Andrew Johnson
- Moon Pies made in Chattanooga since 1917
- Parthenon replica in Nashville (only full-scale replica in world)
- Tennessee walking horse is official state horse
Neighboring States
Tennessee borders 8 states, more than any other state
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