Facts About Tennessee

Bordered by eight other states, Tennessee cuts a long, narrow path across much of the mid-South. Tennessee has often been thought of as three states in one because of its three so-called grand divisions each represented by a star in the state flag. Although the citizens of the state share a common heritage and character, their unique geographical differences have affected their customs and viewpoints. The state also has many sites of historic interest, including the Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson; the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site; Shiloh National Military Park; and Fort Donelson and Stones River national battlefields. Part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is also in Tennessee

Tennessee is named from the Indian word Tanasi, the name of a Cherokee village on the Little Tennessee River. Its nickname, the Volunteer State, came from the large number of Tennesseans who volunteered for service in the War of 1812, particularly in the battle of New Orleans. The state has three sharply defined regions: East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and West Tennessee. In East Tennessee the Great Smoky Mts., Cumberland Plateau, and the narrow river valleys and heavily forested foothills generally restrict farming there to the subsistence level; but this region has two of the state's most industrialized cities, Chattanooga (fourth largest) and Knoxville (third largest). Middle Tennessee is hemmed in by the Tennessee River, which flows SW through East Tennessee into Alabama, looping back up into West Tennessee in its circuitous route to the Ohio. Gently rolling, fertile, bluegrass country, it is ideal for livestock raising and dairy farming. Middle Tennessee is still noted for its fine horses and mules.

Tennessee Nickname: Volunteer State
Tennessee Entered the Union: June 1, 1796, as the 16th state
Tennessee Capital: Nashville
Population (1990 census): 4,896,641 rank, 17th state. Urban, 60.4%; rural, 39.6%
Tennessee Land Use: Crops, 31%; pasture, 6%; forest, 49%; other, 14%

• Nashville: Downtown Nashville has much to offer in the way of history, music, entertainment, dining, and specialty shopping. The Cumberland River horizontally bisects Nashville's central city. Numbered avenues, running north-south, are west of and parallel to the river; numbered streets are east of the river and parallel to it.
• Memphis: Just as in Nashville, music is the heart of Memphis, and many of the city's main attractions are related to Memphis's musical heritage. The blues first gained widespread recognition here on Beale Street, and rock 'n' roll was born at Sun Studio.
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park : A large haze hangs above the mountains, which resulted in the naming of the park. The national park is almost evenly divided in the states of Tennessee and North Carolina. Some of the largest mountain peaks are located in the park. Over 100 native species of trees can be seen. The most visited of our national parks draws more than 9 million adventurers and sightseers each year. And for good reason — the Smokies are within a day's drive of a third of the U.S. population, and very few places in the East are in their league as an outdoor-recreation destination.
• Knoxville Zoo : Located in the hills of East Tennessee, the zoo features over one thousand animals. Animals include lions, elephants, giraffes, reptiles, tigers, gorillas and more. Exhibits are available, including the Black Bear Falls. The exhibit features four cascading waterfalls.
• Big South Fork: Within Big South Fork's 123,000 acres atop the Cumberland Plateau are myriad possibilities for adventure. Park visitors cite the abundant natural arches and bridges, waterfalls and swimming holes, and miles and miles of trails as their reasons to spend time in the park. And then, of course, there's the powerful Big South Fork itself. A 600-foot gorge carves through the plateau, cradling the ever-changing river.
• Bicycling: From the mountains of East Tennessee to Reelfoot Lake in West Tennessee, bicycle enthusiasts have unlimited choices of scenic routes to travel. The Tennessee Department of Transportation established bicycle routes for the state and provides route information.

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