Tennessee is known for:
- Country music
- Whiskey
- Graceland and Elvis
- Tennessee whiskey
Geography & Demographics
| State Abbreviation |
TN |
| State Capital |
Nashville |
| State Size |
Total (Land + Water): 42,143 sq miles; Land Only: 41,217 sq miles |
| Number of Counties |
95 |
| Time Zone |
Eastern Time Zone, Central Time Zone |
| Bordering States |
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia |
| Highest Point | Clingmans Dome, 6,643 feet |
| Tallest Building | 333 Commerce in Nashville, 617 feet |
| Largest Stadium | Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, capacity 102,455 |
| National Parks | Great Smoky Mountains National Park |
| State Population (2020) | 6,910,840 |
| State Population Density | 167.7 people / square mile |
| Area Codes |
423, 615, 731, 865, 901, 931 |
| Top 5 Cities (2020 population) |
Nashville (694,176)
Memphis (649,705)
Knoxville (190,223)
Chattanooga (184,742)
Clarksville (161,247)
|
Government & Legislature
State Symbols
| State Agricultural Insect | Honeybee |
| State Amphibian | Tennessee cave salamander |
| State Artifact | "Sandy" |
| State Beverage | Milk |
| State Bird |
Mockingbird |
| State Butterfly | Zebra swallowtail |
| State Commercial Fish | Channel catfish |
| State Flower |
Iris |
| State Fossil | Ptero |
| State Gem | Pearl |
| State Insect | Honeybee and ladybug |
| State Mineral | Agate |
| State Motto |
Agriculture and Commerce |
| State Nickname |
Volunteer State |
| State Painting | "Tenneessee Treasures" and "Tennessee Treasures Too" |
| State Reptile | Eastern box turtle |
| State Rock | Limestone |
| State Sport Fish | Smallmouth bass |
| State Tree |
Tulip poplar |
| State Wild Animal | Raccoon |
Sports Teams
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Beale Street Historic District: A street in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. It was voted the most iconic street in America by USA Today.
- Bristol Motor Speedway: Auto racing venue in Bristol, Tennessee.
- Cades Cove: An isolated valley in the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- Clingmans Dome: The highest point in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
- Country Music Hall of Fame: Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Dollywood: Theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
- Graceland: Former home and estate of Elvis Presley, located in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Grand Ole Opry: Concert hall in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park: National park on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina.
- Knoxville Zoo: Zoo in Knoxville, Tennessee.
- Lookout Mountain: Mountain range near Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Memphis Zoo: Zoo in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Nashville Zoo: Zoo in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Ober Gatlinburg: Amusement park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
- Opry Mills: Shopping center in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Parthenon Nashville: Building structure in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Rock City: Garden in Lookout City, Tennessee.
- Ruby Falls: Waterfall in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Tennessee Aquarium: Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
UNESCO Heritage Sites
Festivals and Events
Top festivals and events in Tennessee. They are listed in approximate order of when they take place during the year.
Popular Iconic Tennessee Foods
Tennessee is famous for the following foods:
- Hot Fried Chicken
- Memphis-Style Barbecue
- Country Ham
- Biscuits and Gravy
- Fried Pickles
- Catfish
- Banana Pudding
- Moon Pies
- Meat and Three
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Fried Pies
- Memphis Ribs
- Nashville Hot Chicken
- Fried Green Tomatoes
Famous People Born In Tennessee
Nobel Prize Winners
Pro Football Hall Of Fame Members
- Doug Atkins (Defensive End. Inducted in 1982)
- Lynn Swann (Wide Receiver. Inducted in 2001)
- Reggie White (Defensive End. Inducted in 2006)
- Gene Hickerson (Guard. Inducted in 2007)
- Claude Humphrey (Defensive End. Inducted in 2014)
Baseball Hall Of Fame Players
- Turkey Stearnes (Center Fielder. Inducted in 2000)
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame Players
- Oscar Robertson (Guard. Inducted in 1980)
- Nera White (Forward. Inducted in 1992)
- Bailey Howell (Forward. Inducted in 1997)
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Kathy Bates
- Megan Fox
- Morgan Freeman
Famous Singers
- Kenny Chesney
- Miley Cyrus
- Aretha Franklin
- Dolly Parton
- Justin Timberlake
- Tina Turner
Tennessee Fun Facts
- The state of Tennessee was named after a Cherokee town named "Tanasi," which is in present-day Monroe County, Tennessee. The true meaning of Tanasi cannot be ascertained, though it's been said to mean "meeting place," "wind river," or "river of the great bend."
- Tennessee borders with eight other states. This makes Tennessee, along with Missouri, the state with the most neighboring states.
- The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, is the longest continuously running live radio program in the world. It has been live since November 28, 1925.
- Vanderbilt University, along with its affiliated hospitals, is the largest employer in Tennessee.
- The Manhattan Project was based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
- Memphis, Tennessee, is home to Graceland, Elvis Presley's former estate.
- Tennessee bottlers Moses and Ally Hartman developed Mountain Dew in 1940.
- Columbia, Tennessee, is the self-proclaimed Mule Capital of the World. It celebrates a city-designed Mule Day each April.
- Tennessee was the last state to secede from the Union during the Civil War and the first state to be readmitted after the war.
- Tennessee won its nickname as The Volunteer State during the War of 1812 when volunteer soldiers from Tennessee played a prominent role in the Battle of New Orleans.
This page was last updated on July 10, 2023.
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