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Tennessee: Quick Facts

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Last updated
Judge dismisses case from Dolly Parton's manager alleging her nephew threatened her estate • Nov. 9, 2026, 5:38 PM ET (AP)
Storms that caused 1-in-1,000 year flood event in Tennessee and Georgia move up Atlantic coast • Nov. 6, 2026, 5:02 PM ET (AP)
Correction: Election 2026-Black Representation story • Nov. 6, 2026, 3:42 PM ET (AP)
Hegseth is not under consideration as jockeying begins for Tennessee Senate seat, AP source says • Nov. 5, 2026, 8:21 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Volunteer State
Capital Nashville
Population1 (2020) 6,910,840; (2025 est.) 7,315,076
Governor Bill Lee (Republican)
Date Of Admission June 1, 1796
U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty (Republican) ā€¢ Marsha Blackburn (Republican)
State Nickname Volunteer State
State Motto ā€œAgriculture and Commerceā€
State Bird2 northern mockingbird ā€¢ bobwhite quail
State Flower3 iris ā€¢ purple passionflower
State Songs ā€œMy Homeland, Tennesseeā€ ā€¢ ā€œWhen Itā€™s Iris Time in Tennesseeā€ ā€¢ ā€œMy Tennesseeā€ ā€¢ ā€œThe Tennessee Waltzā€ ā€¢ ā€œRocky Topā€ ā€¢ ā€œTennesseeā€ ā€¢ ā€œThe Pride of Tennesseeā€ ā€¢ ā€œSmokey Mountain Rainā€
Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives 9 (of 435)
Time Zone Eastern (GMT āˆ’ 6 hours) ā€¢ Central (GMT āˆ’ 5 hours)
Total Area (Sq Km) 109,153
Total Area (Sq Mi) 42,144
1Excluding military abroad.2The bobwhite quail is the state gamebird.3The purple passionflower is the state wildflower.

Photos and Videos

Tennessee: flag
Tennessee State Seal
The mockingbird is the state bird of Tennessee.
Iris.
Map of Tennessee
Memphis's place for blues music and entertainment
Tennessee
Map of the Upper South region of the United States, highlighting states including Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and parts of surrounding states. The map shows major physical features such as the Appalachian Mountains, Blue Ridge, Cumberland Plateau, major rivers, and lakes, along with the locations of national and state capitals and numerous cities.
Great Smoky Mountains
Tennessee River
Learn about the soldiers from Confederate-aligned Tennessee and the largely Union-won battles there
Study the settlement of the American South and the evolution of music in the region from gospel to country
See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
president of United States
James K. Polk
James K. Polk
president of United States
Sam Houston
Sam Houston
president of Republic of Texas
Alexander, Lamar
Lamar Alexander
United States senator
Crockett, Davy
Davy Crockett
American frontiersman and politician
Brownlow, William G.
William G. Brownlow
American journalist and politician
John Sevier.
John Sevier
American politician
default image
William Blount
American politician

Related Places

United States
United States
country, North America
Tennessee State Capitol, Nashville
Nashville
Tennessee, United States
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis
Tennessee, United States
Tennessee River
Chattanooga
Tennessee, United States
James White's Fort, Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville
Tennessee, United States
Columbia: James K. Polk Ancestral Home
Columbia
Tennessee, United States
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Jackson
Tennessee, United States
Clarksville
Clarksville
Tennessee, United States
Franklin
Franklin
Tennessee, United States
Oak Ridge: United Church, Chapel on the Hill
Oak Ridge
Tennessee, United States
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Bristol
Virginia, United States
Greeneville: Pres. Andrew Johnson's home
Greeneville
Tennessee, United States
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Kingsport
Tennessee, United States
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Johnson City
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Elizabethton: Carter County Courthouse
Elizabethton
Tennessee, United States

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