Did you know Tennessee got the Volunteer State nickname because it provided the most volunteers of any state in the War of 1812? If you didn’t, you probably aren’t alone, but here are some more exciting factoids and tidbits about this state to increase your knowledge bank.
Basic Facts and Statistics
Tennessee is in the southeast part of the country and shares its border with eight other states, tying it with Missouri for bordering the most states. As the 16th state, it entered the Union on June 1, 1796.
The Volunteer State has a second nickname, the Butternut State. Tennessee, abbreviated TN, has nine official songs and a bicentennial rap, an impressive feat, even for a place known for music.
Regions and Landscape
Covering 42,143 square miles and housing the 16th largest US population, with around 6.8 million Tennesseans, the state has 95 counties. Nashville is the capital and largest city, followed by Memphis, the second most populous city.
The state has three regions: east, middle, and west. The eastern portion contains the Great Smoky Mountains and Cumberland Plateau. The middle contains fertile farmland with rolling hills, and the west is mainly flat and fertile land. Tennessee covers two time zones: eastern and central.
Interesting Things to Know, Do, and See
This state has plenty of hidden gems to discover. It has the most caves of any state, with over 10,000. It’s also home to the world’s tallest treehouse, built by Minister Horace Burgess with recycled materials. The site is in Crossville and stands 100 feet tall. It’s open to the public, so anyone can visit.
Earnest Holmes invented the tow truck in Chattanooga in 1916. In fact, Chattanooga is home to the world’s largest tow truck factory and the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame Museum.
Music lives in Tennessee. The Grand Ole Opry is the home of country music and the host of the longest-running radio show in the United States. Nashville, which also goes by Music City and Athens of the South, is considered the world’s country music capital. The city is also the home of the world’s largest songwriter festival, Tin Pan South.
Then, there’s Graceland in Memphis. Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n Roll, made Graceland his home. It’s one of the most-visited houses in the country, second only to the White House. Memphis’s Beale Street still boasts soulful Delta blues, the music that gave birth to both jazz and rock.
When it comes to geography, the state has some unique locations to experience. Tennessee has the second-most Civil War battle sites, at 38. Only Virginia has more. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park sees the most visitors of any national park. Second place goes to the Grand Canyon National Park, but it only sees about half as many visitors annually.
Sweetwater is home to the largest underground lake in the country, and the Tennessee River is one of the major waterways in the south. It’s also the longest tributary of the Ohio River.
Agriculture is vitally important here. Farmland takes up 44% of the landmass. Soybeans are the most abundant crop, and the state is a top producer of beef.
While it may be known for mountains and music, the Volunteer State offers much more. From celebrity homes and Civil War battlegrounds to caves and farmland, there is a little something for everyone to enjoy.
