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Interesting Facts About Tennessee

Tennessee is a state located in the south-east of the United States of America. It is a landlocked state that is bordered by Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. Tennessee was the 16th state admitted to the union on June 1, 1796 and joined the Confederacy during the U.S. Civil War. Let’s take a look at some more fun facts about Tennessee.

Interesting facts about Tennessee

  • Tennessee has the 17th largest population of any U.S. state with approximately 6.4 million people. The largest city in the state is Memphis, which has a population of approximately 660,000 people. The capital, and second largest city, of the state is Nashville. Tennessee has had other capitals during its history including; Knoxville, Kingston, and Murfreesboro. Interestingly, Kingston was only the capital for 1 day!
  • The climate of Tennessee is mostly subtropical, but the higher elevations of the Appalachians in the east of the state have a milder climate. The highest point in the state is Clingmans Dome, which is also the highest point on the Appalachian Trail. Clingmans Dome is 2,025 m (6,643 ft) high and the summit marks the state line with North Carolina.
  • Tennessee has a long history in the development of new musical styles and it has also been home to some very famous musical artists. It is widely regarded as the birthplace of country music and also had an important role in the development of the blues and rock and roll. The famous artists Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash both began their successful careers in the state. Graceland, the estate of Elvis Presley, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state. Other popular attractions are the Tennessee Aquarium, which is the largest freshwater aquarium in the world, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
  • Another popular attraction is Reelfoot Lake, which was formed during a series of earthquakes that occurred in 1811 and 1812. Today, it is a popular location for fishing and camping.
  • In 1866 the infamous extremist group the Ku Klux Klan (KKK or The Klan) was founded in Pulaski, Tennessee. Civil rights activist Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis in 1968.
  • Tennessee was the last state to join the confederacy during the American Civil War after the voters of the state initially rejected secession. Many major battles of the war were fought on Tennessee soil. It was the first state to be readmitted to the U.S after the war had been won. The state provided the greatest number of soldiers for the Confederate Army and more soldiers for the Union Army than any Southern State.
  • 3 U.S. Presidents, Andrew Jackson, James Polk and Andrew Johnson, were Tennessee residents.
  • The state consists of approximately 80% farmland. There are over 80,000 farms that raise livestock and produce important crops such as soybeans, corn and cotton.
  • Centennial Park in Nashville is home to a full size replica of the Parthenon. This was built for the centenary of statehood celebrations. It was not designed to be permanent and scheduled for demolition, but it was so popular that it was rebuilt to ensure that it lasted at least another century!
  • Tennessee is home to the famous whiskey company Jack Daniel’s, which was founded in Lynchburg, Tennessee in 1875.
  • The most common religion in the state is Christianity at 82% and the Southern Baptist Convention alone reports over 1.4 million members in the state.

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