First visited by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1540, the Tennessee area would later be claimed by both France and England as a result of the 1670s and 1680s explorations of Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet, sieur de la Salle, and James Needham and Gabriel Arthur. Great Britain obtained the region following the French and Indian Wars in 1763.

During 1784-87, the settlers formed the "state" of Franklin, which was disbanded when the region was allowed to send representatives to the North Carolina legislature. In 1790 Congress organized the territory south of the Ohio River, and Tennessee joined the Union in 1796.

Although Tennessee joined the Confederacy during the Civil War, there was much pro-Union sentiment in the state, which was the scene of extensive military action.

The state is now predominantly industrial; the majority of its population lives in urban areas. Among the most important products are chemicals, textiles, apparel, electrical machinery, furniture, and leather goods. Other lines include food processing, lumber, primary metals, and metal products. The state is known as the U.S. hardwood-flooring center and ranks first in the production of marble, zinc, pyrite, and ball clay.

Tennessee is one of the leading tobacco-producing states in the nation. Its farming income is derived from livestock and dairy products, as well as corn, cotton, and soybeans.

With six other states, Tennessee shares the extensive federal reservoir developments on the Tennessee and Cumberland River systems. The Tennessee Valley Authority operates a number of dams and reservoirs in the state.

Among the major points of interest are the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site at Greenville, the American Museum of Atomic Energy at Oak Ridge, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Hermitage (home of Andrew Jackson near Nashville), Rock City Gardens near Chattanooga, and three National Military Parks.

Capital: Nashville
Governor: Phil Bredesen, D
Lieut. Governor: John S. Wilder, D
Senators: Lamar Alexander, R (to Jan. 2009); Bob Corker, R
Secy. of State: Riley C. Darnell, D
Atty. General: Robert Elbert Cooper, Jr. (appt'd. by Supreme Court)
Treasurer: Dale Sims, D
Comptroller: John G. Morgan
Entered Union (rank): June 1, 1796 (16)
Present constitution adopted: 1870; amended 1953, 1960, 1966, 1972, 1978
Motto: Agriculture and Commerce (1987)
Nickname: Volunteer State
Origin of name: Of Cherokee origin; the exact meaning is unknown

10 16st cities (2005 est.): Memphis, 672,277; Nashville-Davidson,¹ 549,110; Knoxville, 180,130; Chattanooga, 154,762; Clarksville, 112,878; Murfreesboro, 86,793; Jackson, 62,099; Johnson City, 58,718; Franklin, 53,311; Hendersonville, 44,876

Land area: 41,220 sq mi. (106,759 sq km)
Geographic center: In Rutherford Co., 5 mi. NE of Murfreesboro
Number of counties: 95
Largest county by population and area: Shelby, 909,035 (2005); Shelby, 755 sq mi.
State forests: 15
State parks: 54
Residents: Tennessean, Tennesseean

2000 resident census population (rank): 5,689,283 (16). Male: 2,770,275 (48.7%); Female: 2,919,008 (51.3%). White: 4,563,310 (80.2%); Black: 932,809 (16.4%); American Indian: 15,152 (0.3%); Asian: 56,662 (1.0%); Other race: 56,036 (1.0%); Two or more races: 63,109 (1.1%); Hispanic/Latino: 123,838 (2.2%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 75.4; 65 and over: 12.4; median age: 35.9.

Symbols

Flower: Iris (1933)
Tree: Tulip Poplar (1947)
Bird: Mockingbird (1933)
Horse: Tennessee Walking Horse
Animal: Raccoon (1971)
wild flower: Passion Flower (1973)

songs: "Tennessee Waltz" (1965); "My Homeland, Tennessee" (1925); "When It's Iris Time in Tennessee" (1935); "My Tennessee" (1955); "Rocky Top" (1982); "Tennessee" (1992)