| Tennesee, state in the south-central United States. It is bordered by Kentucky and Virginia (N), North Carolina (E), Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi (S), and, across the Mississippi R., Arkansas and Missouri (W).
Area, 42,244 sq mi (109,412 sq km).
Pop. (2000) 5,689,283, a 16.7% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital, Nashville.
Largest city, Memphis.
Motto, Agriculture and Commerce.
State bird, mockingbird.
State flower, iris. 
State tree, tulip poplar.
East Tennessee is well known as one of the most beautiful areas of the nation. With easy access to mountains, rivers and many friendly communities, East Tennessee also features plenty of shopping, tourist activities and sports. Knoxville is best known as a university town, home to the University of Tennessee Volunteers. The university is home to more than 26,000 students and a significant nightlife can be found near campus. Many other restaurants and entertainment venues are available downtown including Market Square and the Old City.
Twenty-three state parks, covering some 132,000 acres (53,420 hectares) as well as parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee National Forest, and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park are in Tennessee. 
The state also has many sites of historic interest, including the Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson; the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site; Shiloh National Military Park; and Fort Donelson and Stones River national battlefields. Part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is also in Tennessee. The Natchez Trace National Parkway generally follows the old Natchez Trace. Nashville is the capital and the second largest city. The largest city is Memphis.
*Portions taken from Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003 |