First
visited by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1540, the
Tennessee area would later be claimed by both France and England
as a result of the 1670s and 1680s explorations of Jacques
Marquette and Louis Joliet, sieur de la Salle, and James Needham
and Gabriel Arthur. Great Britain obtained the region following
the French and Indian Wars in 1763.
During
1784-87, the settlers formed the "state" of Franklin, which was
disbanded when the region was allowed to send representatives to
the North Carolina legislature. In 1790 Congress organized the
territory south of the Ohio River, and Tennessee joined the
Union in 1796.
Although
Tennessee joined the Confederacy during the Civil War, there was
much pro-Union sentiment in the state, which was the scene of
extensive military action.
The state
is now predominantly industrial; the majority of its population
lives in urban areas. Among the most important products are
chemicals, textiles, apparel, electrical machinery, furniture,
and leather goods. Other lines include food processing, lumber,
primary metals, and metal products. The state is known as the
U.S. hardwood-flooring center and ranks first in the production
of marble, zinc, pyrite, and ball clay.
Tennessee
is one of the leading tobacco-producing states in the nation.
Its farming income is derived from livestock and dairy products,
as well as corn, cotton, and soybeans.
With six
other states, Tennessee shares the extensive federal reservoir
developments on the Tennessee and Cumberland River systems. The
Tennessee Valley Authority operates a number of dams and
reservoirs in the state.
Among the
major points of interest are the Andrew Johnson National
Historic Site at Greenville, the American Museum of Atomic
Energy at Oak Ridge, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the
Hermitage (home of Andrew Jackson near Nashville), Rock City
Gardens near Chattanooga, and three National Military Parks.
Nickname: Volunteer State
Origin of name: Of Cherokee
origin; the exact meaning is unknown
10 largest cities (1999 est.):
Memphis, 606,109; Nashville-Davidson 1,
506,385; Knoxville, 174,860; Chattanooga, 147,110; Clarksville,
99,049; Murfreesboro, 61,177; Johnson City, 59,160; Jackson,
54,036; Kingsport, 42,769; Hendersonville, 39,728
Land area:
41,220 sq mi. (106,759 sq km)
Geographic center: In
Rutherford Co., 5 mi. NE of Murfreesboro
Number of counties:
95
Largest county by population and area:
Shelby, 873,000 (1999 est.); Shelby, 755 sq mi.
State forests: 13 (155,000 ac.)
State parks: 50 (133,000 ac.)
Residents: Tennessean,
Tennesseean
1999 resident population est.:
5,483,535
1990 resident census population (rank):
4,877,185 (17). Male:
2,348,928; Female:
2,528,257. White: 4,048,068
(83.0%); Black: 778,035
(16.0%); American Indian:
10,039 (0.2%); Asian: 31,839
(0.7%); Other race: 9,204
(0.2%); Hispanic: 32,741
(0.7%). 1990 percent population under
18: 24.9; 65 and over:
12.7; median age:
33.5.
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Capital: Nashville
Governor: Don Sundquist, R (to Jan. 2003)
Lieut. Governor: John S. Wilder, D (to Jan. 2005)
Senators: Fred Thompson, R (to Jan. 2003);
William Frist, R (to Jan. 2007)
Secy. of State: Riley C. Darnell, D (to Jan.
2005)
Atty. General: Paul G. Summers, D (to Aug. 2005)
Treasurer: Steve Adams, D (to Jan. 2003)
Comptroller: John G. Morgan (to Jan. 2003)
Entered Union (rank): June 1, 1796 (16)
Present constitution adopted: 1870; amended 1953,
1960, 1966, 1972, 1978
Motto: Agriculture and Commerce (1987)
State Symbols:
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iris (1933) |
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tulip poplar (1947) |
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mockingbird (1933) |
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Tennessee walking horse |
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raccoon (1971) |
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passion flower (1973) |
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"Tennessee Waltz" (1965); "My Homeland,
Tennessee" (1925); "When It's Iris Time in
Tennessee" (1935); "My Tennessee" (1955); "Rocky
Top" (1982); "Tennessee" (1992) |
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