Tennessee became the 16th state of the union in 1796. It is only 180 kilometers wide, but stretches 695 kilometers from the Appalachian Mountains border with North Carolina in the east to the Mississippi River border with Missouri and Arkansas in the west.
Tennessee’s two largest cities, Memphis and Nashville, are known as centers of blues and country music, respectively, and have played host to the likes of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Muddy Waters, Johnny Cash, BB King, and Dolly Parton.
Memphis is also famous for barbecues and hosts the well-attended “Memphis in May” barbecue competition each year.
Geography
Tennessee is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordered by eight other states: Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina to the east, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi to the south, and Arkansas and Missouri to the west. It is known for its lush green landscapes of rolling hills and valleys, wooded forests and rivers.
Tennessee is divided into three distinct regions: East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee. East Tennessee comprises most of the Cumberland Plateau in its eastern section. This region consists of some of Tennessee’s highest elevations with peaks such as Clingmans Dome at 6643 feet above sea level. The terrain here tends to be more rugged than other parts of the state with steep ridges and narrow valleys. This region also contains several national parks such as Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Obed Wild & Scenic River Park.
Middle Tennessee lies in a broad basin between East Tennessee’s mountains and West Tennessee’s lowlands. It has a mix of terrain ranging from rolling hills in its western half to flatlands in its eastern half. Nashville is located here near the geographic center of the state making it an important hub for transportation, commerce, education and entertainment. Middle Tennessee is home to several major lakes including Center Hill Lake, Dale Hollow Lake and Old Hickory Lake which are popular recreation areas for fishing boating swimming and camping.
West Tennessee lies on a low plateau that gradually slopes downward toward Mississippi River Valley in Arkansas. This area has many small mountains including Reelfoot Mountain which rises up from an otherwise flat landscape creating dramatic views along its ridgeline vistas overlooking miles of farmland below it. The majority of this region consists mostly flat farmland which makes it suitable for agricultural production The northern part contains some hilly areas with woods interspersed throughout but most are found in larger tracts near rivers such as Obion River or Wolf River. Towns here tend to be smaller than those found further east but still contribute significantly to agriculture industry due their access to water resources.
Tennessee’s landscape is diverse making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure or relaxation alike. Whether you’re into hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, boating or just taking in beautiful scenery there’s something here for everyone. From majestic mountain peaks, sparkling lakes, dense forests or open plains there’s no shortage of things explore in this great state.
Cities in Tennessee
Below are the top 15 cities by population in Tennessee. For all cities and towns in the state, please see Tennessee cities list.
Nashville is the state capital and largest city of Tennessee. The city is known for its music scene, which includes genres such as country, bluegrass, gospel and rock. It is also home to the Grand Ole Opry, the world-famous country music venue. Nashville also has plenty of attractions including the Country Music Hall of Fame, Ryman Auditorium and Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art. The downtown area is filled with restaurants, shops, bars and clubs. The Gulch neighborhood is a great place to explore for its trendy restaurants and nightlife spots.
Knoxville is another popular destination in Tennessee. Located in East Tennessee, Knoxville offers a variety of activities such as hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or visiting Ijams Nature Center to learn about local wildlife. Knoxville also has some great museums including the East Tennessee History Center and the Knoxville Museum of Art. There are plenty of places to shop in downtown Knoxville or check out Market Square for unique local vendors selling handmade goods. Foodies won’t be disappointed either with a variety of restaurants from classic southern cuisine to international flavors.
Memphis is another important city in Tennessee located on the Mississippi River near Arkansas border. This vibrant city has a rich history that dates back to its founding by French settlers in 1819. Memphis was once an important port for cotton trading and it’s still home to blues music venues like Beale Street where live performances can be heard nightly. Other attractions include Sun Studio where Elvis Presley recorded his first album as well as Graceland Mansion where he lived until his death in 1977. The National Civil Rights Museum documents the struggles of African Americans during segregation while Mud Island River Park offers outdoor activities like biking or kayaking on Wolf River Harbor along with stunning views of Memphis skyline from its observation deck
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville-Davidson | 708,490 |
| 2 | Memphis | 634,139 |
| 3 | Knoxville | 189,339 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | 180,353 |
| 5 | Clarksville | 163,518 |
| 6 | Murfreesboro | 148,970 |
| 7 | Franklin | 81,531 |
| 8 | Johnson City | 69,521 |
| 9 | Jackson | 67,753 |
| 10 | Hendersonville | 60,628 |
| 11 | Bartlett | 57,639 |
| 12 | Kingsport | 55,019 |
| 13 | Smyrna | 52,401 |
| 14 | Collierville | 50,669 |
| 15 | Spring Hill | 48,403 |
Counties in Tennessee
The State of Tennessee consists of 95 counties. They are:
- Anderson County, Tennessee
- Bedford County, Tennessee
- Benton County, Tennessee
- Bledsoe County, Tennessee
- Blount County, Tennessee
- Bradley County, Tennessee
- Campbell County, Tennessee
- Cannon County, Tennessee
- Carroll County, Tennessee
- Carter County, Tennessee
- Cheatham County, Tennessee
- Chester County, Tennessee
- Claiborne County, Tennessee
- Clay County, Tennessee
- Cocke County, Tennessee
- Coffee County, Tennessee
- Crockett County, Tennessee
- Cumberland County, Tennessee
- Davidson County, Tennessee
- Decatur County, Tennessee
- DeKalb County, Tennessee
- Dickson County, Tennessee
- Dyer County, Tennessee
- Fayette County, Tennessee
- Fentress County, Tennessee
- Franklin County, Tennessee
- Gibson County, Tennessee
- Giles County, Tennessee
- Grainger County, Tennessee
- Greene County, Tennessee
- Grundy County, Tennessee
- Hamblen County, Tennessee
- Hamilton County, Tennessee
- Hancock County, Tennessee
- Hardeman County, Tennessee
- Hardin County, Tennessee
- Hawkins County, Tennessee
- Haywood County, Tennessee
- Henderson County, Tennessee
- Henry County, Tennessee
- Hickman County, Tennessee
- Houston County, Tennessee
- Humphreys County, Tennessee
- Jackson County, Tennessee
- Jefferson County, Tennessee
- Johnson County, Tennessee
- Knox County, Tennessee
- Lake County, Tennessee
- Lauderdale County, Tennessee
- Lawrence County, Tennessee
- Lewis County, Tennessee
- Lincoln County, Tennessee
- Loudon County, Tennessee
- Macon County, Tennessee
- Madison County, Tennessee
- Marion County, Tennessee
- Marshall County, Tennessee
- Maury County, Tennessee
- McMinn County, Tennessee
- McNairy County, Tennessee
- Meigs County, Tennessee
- Monroe County, Tennessee
- Montgomery County, Tennessee
- Moore County, Tennessee
- Morgan County, Tennessee
- Obion County, Tennessee
- Overton County, Tennessee
- Perry County, Tennessee
- Pickett County, Tennessee
- Polk County, Tennessee
- Putnam County, Tennessee
- Rhea County, Tennessee
- Roane County, Tennessee
- Robertson County, Tennessee
- Rutherford County, Tennessee
- Scott County, Tennessee
- Sequatchie County, Tennessee
- Sevier County, Tennessee
- Shelby County, Tennessee
- Smith County, Tennessee
- Stewart County, Tennessee
- Sullivan County, Tennessee
- Sumner County, Tennessee
- Tipton County, Tennessee
- Trousdale County, Tennessee
- Unicoi County, Tennessee
- Union County, Tennessee
- Van Buren County, Tennessee
- Warren County, Tennessee
- Washington County, Tennessee
- Wayne County, Tennessee
- Weakley County, Tennessee
- White County, Tennessee
- Williamson County, Tennessee
- Wilson County, Tennessee
