Tennessee, the 16th state of the United States, has a geographic uniqueness of 432 miles (695 km) long, from the Appalachian Mountains to the banks of the Mississippi River, but only 112 miles (180 km) wide. Consequently, three grand divisions are created – East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and West Tennessee – each has its geography, economy, and culture. Each of these regions contains a little bit of everything, from the traditions of the Great Smoky Mountains enclaves in the East, to the fertile farms in the Middle, and the farming plantations in the West. All in all, the state of Tennessee represents a diverse mixture of natural beauty and human development.
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What is the Flag and Seal of Tennessee?
The Tennessee state flag features three white stars inside of a blue circle buckle, which has a blue field, a bar on the fly that is with a narrow white field and a second bar with a lighter blue field. The three stars are combined into one association of the three, so that there is no divided unity of the state.
The state seal (1801) has a starred plow, a sheaf of wheat, and a cotton plant, representing the state's agricultural business. The four Roman numerals XVI indicate that Tennessee was the 16th state admitted to the union, while the date 1796 succinctly marks the year of admission.
Source: wikipedia.org
What is the Geography of Tennessee like?
Tennessee is remarkably diverse in its geography, covering 42,144 square miles (109,153 square km) and consisting of six natural regions. The east has the Unaka Mountains, with the Great Smoky Mountains having several peaks that exceed 6,000 feet (1,830 meters). Below them to the west is the Great Appalachian Valley and the Cumberland Plateau, and in the middle, Tennessee is the Interior Low Plateau which contains the Nashville Basin. To the west is the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain, which is adjacent to the Mississippi alluvial plain.
Source: worldatlas.com
Three major rivers drain the state: the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Mississippi. The damming of the rivers has resulted in the creation of many "Great Lakes of the South." Some areas have fertile soils like the floodplains of the rivers and valleys, while others, including the ridges, plateaus, and parts of the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain, have thinner, less fertile soils. Nevertheless, more than two-fifths of Tennessee's land area is occupied by agriculture.
What is the Climate and Wildlife of Tennessee?
Due to its moderate climate and cool winters with warm summers, Tennessee experiences a temperature gradient from east to west and a growing season that varies with latitudes in the state from 130 to 240 days. The whole state enjoys ample and evenly distributed precipitation, with an average of 51 inches (1,300 mm) of precipitation annually.
With its variations of elevation and central location, one can expect a variety of potential plant and animal life in the State of Tennessee.
What is the History of Tennessee?
The history of Tennessee began with established Native American cultures such as the Chickasaw and Cherokee, whose term "Tanasi" became the state's name. European settlers, mostly Scotch-Irish, English, and German, began moving into the region in the 18th century. After notable contributions to the American Revolution, Tennessee achieved statehood as the 16th state in the United States on June 1, 1796.
In the 19th century, we saw the removal of Native Americans through the Trail of Tears, coupled with the influence of two Tennesseans as presidents: Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk. Tennessee was later divided by the Civil War, but still became a site for the development of a service economy with entities like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and by the 21st century identified as a two-party state.
What is the Economy of Tennessee like?
Tennessee's economy used to be primarily agricultural, and, beginning in the 1930s with the establishment of the Tennessee Valley Authority and, later, during World War II there was significant industrial development. By the mid-twentieth century, the service sector had become the largest sector in terms of contributions to GDP and direct job creation, along with tourism, professional, and healthcare being the largest contributors.
Although smaller in economic contribution, agriculture (cotton, tobacco, livestock, grains) and forestry remain important parts of the economy. Mining primarily involves the production of crushed stone, but Tennessee has also emerged as a national leader in zinc production. The major source of electricity comes from coal-fired power plants, but Tennessee also utilizes nuclear and hydroelectric power (TVA). The number of jobs in manufacturing has declined, but the sector overall is still contributing a substantial contribution to GDP, with transportation equipment (mainly automobiles), electronics, and food products as the primary outputs.
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What is the Education System in Tennessee like?
Tennessee values public education, particularly because the state allocates a significant portion of tax revenue to funding the system. The K-12 system is overseen by the State Board of Education, and the state was at the forefront of education reform in the 1980s with its initiative known as "Better Schools." While the state has made recent improvements to education, such as increasing the emphasis on arts, music, mathematics, and the sciences at the K-12 level, sufficient funding remains a challenge based on the state's reliance on modest sales and property tax revenue.
Coordinating its higher education system is the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. They oversee the University of Tennessee system (campuses in Knoxville, Memphis, Martin, and Chattanooga) and the State University and Community College system. In addition to the state-funded institutions, Tennessee has many regional public universities, community colleges, and technical institutes, as well as private institutions like Vanderbilt University and Fisk University, both located in Nashville.
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