Quick Facts: Tennessee

Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It is bordered by Arkansas and Missouri to the west, Kentucky and Virginia to the north, North Carolina to the east, with Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to the south.

ABBREVIATION: TN
NICKNAME: The Volunteer State
POPULATION: 7,227,750 (2024 est.)
CAPITAL: Nashville
STATE BIRD: Mockingbird
STATE FLOWER: Iris
AREA: 42,143 sq. mi.
TIME ZONE: East: Eastern, center and west: Central
ENTERED UNION: June 1, 1796
ALTITUDE: High, 6,643 ft. Clingmans Dome
CLIMATE: Hot summers; short, generally mild winters. Moderate rainfall; some mountain snow.

From its rich bottom lands bordering the Mississippi in the west to its stony uplands in the east, Tennessee, during the mid-20th Century, went through a period of revolutionary transformation. Chiefly and initially responsible has been the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

Once one of the poorest southern states, Tennessee was plagued by backward farming methods that allowed rampaging rivers to wash away topsoil. But today, thanks to TVA’s effective flood control system and agricultural education program, the state is able to produce valuable crops of corn, cotton, and tobacco, and to nurture dairy herds.

Through the power of the TVA projects, Tennessee quickly became the nation’s largest public utility supplier. Currently TVA’s service area covers most of Tennessee, portions of Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky, and small slices of Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.

In addition to the improvements in farming techniques that boosted the economy, Tennessee has gradually been shifting its emphasis from farming to manufacturing, which now accounts for nearly 15 percent of the state’s total output and employs 11.4 percent of its workforce.

This new revenue stream provided much needed jobs to the state with a 15% poverty rate; as of 2013, over 300,000 Tennessee workers are employed in the manufacturing industry. Today, many major corporations have headquarters located in Tennessee, including FedEx, AutoZone and International Paper.

The Norris Dam, on the Clinch River, Tennessee

Although known to Indians as “the land of Peaceful Hunting”, Tennessee was to become one of the great battlegrounds of the Civil War. The state seceded in 1861, when Confederate sentiment in the plantation economy of the middle and western counties won out over Union loyalties in the east.

Of the more than 450 battles and skirmishes fought on Tennessee soil, five of the war’s bloodiest battles took place here-Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Franklin, and Nashville- leaving the state with memories of a proud and tragic past.

Fun Facts:

Many of the lakes in Tennessee are reservoirs created by dams built to control floods and to power turbines that generate electricity.
Tennessee shares Great Smoky Mountains National Park with North Carolina. Located within a half-days drive of nearly half the people in the United States, it is the most visited national park in the country.
Graceland, Elvis Presley’s mansion in Memphis, is the most visited house in the United States after the White House.
The state earned its nickname as a result of the remarkable bravery shown by volunteer soldiers from Tennessee at the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812.
The National Civil Rights Museum is in Memphis’s Lorraine Motel, site of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.
Tennessee boasts over 3,800 caves.

History:

Tennessee’s history is a compelling story of frontier spirit, cultural transformation, and pivotal moments in American history. From its earliest days as Native American land to its vital role in the Civil War and the civil rights movement, Tennessee has played an important role in shaping the United States.

Long before European settlement, Tennessee was inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Shawnee.

These groups developed complex societies and lived in the region for centuries, relying on hunting, farming, and trade. The area that would become Tennessee was rich in natural resources and crisscrossed by trails used for trade and communication.

In the 16th century, Spanish explorers, including Hernando de Soto, were among the first Europeans to explore the area, but permanent European settlement did not begin until the 18th century. Settlers from the east, mainly of Scotch-Irish and German descent, crossed the Appalachian Mountains and formed small communities in East Tennessee.

These early pioneers built forts and created self-governing areas such as the Watauga Association, one of the first attempts at independent American government.

During the American Revolution, Tennessee settlers were involved in key battles, such as the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780. After the war, Tennessee was part of North Carolina, but settlers pushed for separation. In 1796, Tennessee was admitted as the 16th state of the Union, becoming the first state created from federal territory.

In the early 19th century, Tennessee grew rapidly. Agriculture, especially cotton farming, became the backbone of its economy, supported by enslaved labor.

The state was home to influential political leaders, including Andrew Jackson, the seventh President of the United States, whose home, The Hermitage, still stands near Nashville.

Tennessee’s central location made it a crucial battleground during the Civil War. Though it initially voted against secession, Tennessee joined the Confederacy in 1861, becoming the last state to do so. It was also the first state readmitted to the Union after the war.

Major battles such as Shiloh, Chattanooga, and Franklin were fought on Tennessee soil, and the state suffered widespread destruction.

After the war, Tennessee played a role in Reconstruction and the struggle for civil rights. The Ku Klux Klan was founded in Pulaski in 1865, highlighting the violent resistance to Black freedom. However, Tennessee was also home to early civil rights activism, particularly in the 20th century.

Memphis, for example, was the site of the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which drew national attention to the fight for racial justice.

In the 20th and 21st centuries, Tennessee became known for its cultural contributions. Nashville emerged as the heart of country music, while Memphis gave rise to blues, soul, and rock ’n’ roll. Figures like Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Dolly Parton helped shape American music and culture.

From its Indigenous roots and frontier beginnings to its roles in war, politics, and music, Tennessee’s rich and often complex history continues to shape its identity today.