Tennessee
The Volunteer State
Quick Stats
Map
Seal & Motto
"Agriculture and Commerce"
Additional Information
Reflects the twin foundations of Tennessee's early economy that built the state's prosperity.
Adopted 1866.
Population Growth
Overview
Tennessee, the 'Volunteer State,' is the beating heart of American music. No state has contributed more to the nation's musical soul — from the birth of the blues on Memphis's Beale Street and the birth of rock and roll at Elvis's Sun Studio, to the creation of country music at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, all the way to the Appalachian bluegrass traditions of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Historical Significance
Tennessee officially joined the Union on June 1, 1796, as the 16th state, carved out of the Southwest Territory. Its history runs deep with American drama — from the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780, through Andrew Jackson's frontier presidency, to the pivotal Civil War battles at Shiloh, Stones River, and Chickamauga fought on its soil, to the creation of the TVA that transformed the American South.
Top Cities & Hubs
Nashville
Population: ~690,000The "Music City" and state capital, one of America's fastest-growing metros and a global destination for country music, a booming healthcare and higher education hub, and the home of the legendary Grand Ole Opry and Music Row.
Memphis
Population: ~630,000An iconic Mississippi River city, the birthplace of rock and roll and the blues, home to Elvis Presley's Graceland, Beale Street's legendary music clubs, FedEx headquarters, and a storied civil rights history at the National Civil Rights Museum.
Knoxville
Population: ~190,000The gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and home to the University of Tennessee, a revitalized river city with a celebrated Market Square, vibrant arts scene, and a legacy as host of the 1982 World's Fair.
Chattanooga
Population: ~180,000The "Scenic City," dramatically situated along the Tennessee River at the foot of Lookout Mountain, a nationally recognized model of urban revitalization with world-class outdoor recreation and the Tennessee Aquarium.
Clarksville
Population: ~170,000One of Tennessee's fastest-growing cities, adjacent to Fort Campbell and the Ohio River, offering a charming historic downtown riverfront and a growing arts and entertainment district.
Key Landmarks & Economy
Did You Know?
- Tennessee is bordered by eight states — more than any other U.S. state except Missouri — reflecting its central location in the American South and its role as a crossroads of culture.
- Jack Daniel's distillery in Lynchburg is the oldest registered distillery in the United States (registered 1866), yet sits in a dry county — you cannot buy a drink in the town where it is made.
- Nashville has a full-scale replica of the Greek Parthenon in Centennial Park, built for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897 and including a 42-foot gold-plated statue of Athena inside.