Proud to be a Tennessean!

 

 

 

 

 

Capital: Nashville

Governor: Phil Bredesen, D (to Jan. 2007)

Lieut. Governor: John S. Wilder, D (to Jan. 2007)

Senators: Lamar Alexander, R (to Jan. 2009); William Frist, R (to Jan. 2007)

Secy. of State: Riley C. Darnell, D (to Jan. 2005)

Atty. General: Paul G. Summers, D (to Feb. 2007)

Treasurer: Steve Adams, D (to Jan. 2007)

Comptroller: John G. Morgan (to Jan. 2003)

Entered Union (rank): June 1, 1796 (16)

Present constitution adopted: 1870; amended 1953, 1960, 1966, 1972, 1978

Motto: Agriculture and Commerce (1987)

Slogan: Tennessee—America at its best! (1965)

State 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)

Nickname: Volunteer State

Origin of name: Of Cherokee origin; the exact meaning is unknown

10 largest cities (2000): Memphis, 650,100; Nashville-Davidson ¹, 569,891; Knoxville, 173,890; Chattanooga, 155,554; Clarksville, 103,455; Murfreesboro, 68,816; Jackson, 59,643; Johnson City, 55,469; Kingsport, 44,905; Franklin, 41,842

Land area: 41,217 sq mi. (106,752 sq km)

Geographic center: In Rutherford Co., 5 mi. NE of Murfreesboro

Number of counties: 95

Largest county by population and area: Shelby, 896,013 (2001); Shelby, 755 sq mi.

State forests: 5

State parks: 80

Residents: Tennessean, Tennesseean

2002 resident population est.: 5,797,289

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.