Tennessee

Tennessee is a state in the Southern United States and it has the lowest tax burden in the United States due in part to the lack of an individual state income tax. The capital of Tennessee is Nashville. The most populous city is Memphis followed by Nashville and Knoxville. It is the among the top twenty most populous state in the nation with a population of 5,689,283 according to the 2000 census.

The state may be named after the Little Tennessee River. Originally "Tanasi" the river took its name from two Cherokee villages on its banks.

Geography The state is in the East South Central census region. It has a surface area of 42,143 square miles, and 2.2% of the surface area is covered by water. It is the among the bottom twenty largest state in area. Tennessee has an humid subtropical climate. It ranks among the bottom twenty in the total amount of surface water among the fifty states. The cotton trade made Memphis a major port on the Mississippi River. Approximately one-third of the entire American cotton crop each year still passes through Memphis. To the north are Kentucky and Virginia, to the east is North Carolina, to the south are Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi, and to the west is Arkansas and Missouri. The highest point in the state is Clingmans Dome with an elevation of 6,643 feet.

History The Cherokee, Shawnee, and the Chickasaw were some of the native American tribes living in the area that would become Tennessee during the initial European exploration and settlement. The first documented European exploration of the area was by Hernando de Soto (1539-1542). In 1714 Charles Charleville established a trading post at present-day French Lick. William Bean built a cabin that became the first permanent colony on the Watauga River (Bean Station) in 1769. The land that would later become Tennessee was acquired from South Carolina as a condition of statehood. Prior to entering the Union the area was known as known as the "Territory South of the River Ohio" (informally, the "Southwest Territory"). Prior to that, what would become Tennessee had been part of the State of North Carolina. Tennessee never had an Enabling Act prior to its Admission as a State. Tennessee was admitted as the 16th state on June 1, 1796 by an Act of Congress recognizing a state government already formed. The capital city, is known for its close association with country music. Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, a showcase for country music and musicians, is the longest continuously running live radio program in the world. It has been broadcast every Friday and Saturday night since 1925. The New Madrid Earthquakes, the largest series of earthquakes in American history, happened in 1811 and 1812. Tennessee's Reelfoot Lake, located in Obion and Lake Counties was formed during this earthquake.

Business and Economy The economic product (GSP or gross state product) of the state in 2003 was 199,786 million dollars. The state produces various commodities including cattle, broiler chickens, greenhouse or nursery plants, soybeans and cotton. Vehicle manufacturing is a notable industry. From 2000 to 2003 the GSP increased by 7.47%. Tennessee's GSP represents 1.83% percent of the combined GSP of the fifty states and the District of Columbia.

Society and Culture Andrew Johnson was elected to an astonishing range of offices at every level of government. He was an alderman, mayor, state representative, and state senator from Greeneville. He served as governor and military governor of Tennessee and as a United States congressman, senator, and vice president. He then became President of the United States upon the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. A person from Tennessee is called a Tennessean, or Tennesseean. The state is nicknamed the Volunteer State. Its tourism slogan is “Sounds Good to Me”.

Demographics The population was 4,877,185 at the time of the 1990 census. The State's population in 2003 was estimated to be 5,841,748 by the US Census Bureau. The state experienced an estimated growth of 2.7% between 2000 and 2003. Tennessee's population is largely homogenous with a substantial non-Latino white majority and a Black minority population. According to the 2003 census, the ethnic breakdown of the state is: White: 80.2% Black: 16.4% Indian: 0.3% Asian: 1% Pacific Islander: 0% Other Races: 1% Two or more races: 1.1% The state's latinos represent 2.2% of the total population. 79.2% of the population classifies itself as non-latino white.

Regional Area

Surface: 42,146 square miles Population: 5,689,283 Located in: United States Area Code: 423 - 615 - 731 - 865 - 901 - 931 President/Governor: Don Sundquist (R) Flag/Coat of Arms: