Information obtained from infoplease.com
State abbreviation/Postal code: Tenn./TN
Governor: Phil Bredesen, D (to Jan. 2011)
Lieut. Governor: John S. Wilder, D (to Jan. 2011)
Senators: Lamar Alexander, R (to Jan. 2009); Bob Corker, R (to Jan. 2013)
Historical biographies of Congressional members
Secy. of State: Riley C. Darnell, D (to Jan. 2010)
Atty. General: Robert Elbert Cooper, Jr. (appt'd. by supreme court)
Treasurer: Dale Sims, D (to Jan. 2009)
Comptroller: John G. Morgan, D
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)
| flower | iris (1933) |
| tree | tulip poplar (1947) |
| bird | mockingbird (1933) |
| horse | Tennessee walking horse |
| animal | raccoon (1971) |
| wild flower | passion flower (1973) |
| songs | “My Homeland, Tennessee” (1925); “When It's Iris Time in Tennessee” (1935); “My Tennessee” (1955); “Tennessee Waltz” (1965); “Rocky Top” (1982); “Tennessee” (1992); “The Pride of Tennessee” (1996) |
Nickname: Volunteer State
Origin of name: Of Cherokee origin; the exact meaning is unknown
10 largest 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: 41,217 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, 909,035 (2005); Shelby, 755 sq mi.
State forests: 15 (162,371 ac,)
State parks: 54
Residents: Tennessean, Tennesseean
2005 resident population est.: 5,962,959
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.
Selected famous natives and residents:
- James Agee writer;
- Eddy Arnold singer;
- Chet Atkins guitarist;
- Julian Bond Georgia legislator;
- Davy Crockett frontiersman;
- David G. Farragut first American admiral;
- Lester Flatt bluegrass musician;
- Tennessee Ernie Ford singer;
- Abe Fortas jurist;
- Aretha Franklin singer;
- Nikki Giovanni poet;
- Al Gore, Jr. vice president;
- Red Grooms artist;
- Isaac Hayes composer;
- Benjamin L. Hooks civil rights activist;
- Cordell Hull secretary of state;
- Andrew Jackson president;
- Andrew Johnson president;
- Estes Kefauver legislator;
- Anita Kerr singer;
- Grace Moore soprano;
- Dolly Parton singer;
- Minnie Pearl singer and comedienne;
- James K. Polk president;
- Grantland Rice sportswriter;
- Carl Rowan journalist;
- Wilma Rudolph sprinter;
- Sequoyah Cherokee scholar and educator;
- Cybil Shepherd actress;
- Dinah Shore actress and singer;
- Tina Turner singer;
- Alvin York World War I hero.