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Tennesee History, Geography, Population, State Facts

The Volunteer State

Great Seal of the State of Tennessee

Adoptedin 1987.

The current seal was officially adopted in 1987. Even before Tennessee achieved statehood efforts were made by local governmental organizations to procure official seals. Reliable historians have assumed that as early as 1772 the Articles of the Agreement of the Watauga Association authorized the use of a seal. The Legislature of the state of Franklin, by an official act, provided "for procuring a Great Seal for this State," and there is also evidence that a seal was intended for the Territory South of the River Ohio. The secretary of that territory requested the assistance of Thomas Jefferson in March, 1792, in "suggesting a proper device" for a seal. There is no direct evidence, however, that a seal was ever made for any of these predecessors of Tennessee.

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 area after the French and Indian Wars in 1763.

During 1784–1787, 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.

Capital City: Nashville

Capitol Tour

Tennessee: Official State of Tennessee Home Page

Admission to Statehood: Click for Date & List

Airports: Airports Map | Airport Links

Amtrak: South

Area: 42146 sq.mi, 36th Land 41220 sq. mi., 34th Water 926 sq.mi., 32nd

Area Codes: Tennessee

Biographies: Famous People from Tennessee

Bird: Mocking Bird

Border States: Regional List Alabama Arkansas Georgia Kentucky Mississippi Missouri North Carolina Virginia

Cam World: Live Web Cams

Cities & Towns: Tennessee

Climate: Tennessee

Community Pages: Tennessee Cities, Towns, Communities List

Constitution: 16th State {.pdf}

Counties: Tennessee

Courts: Judicial System

Current Events: Tennessee News Headlines

County Profile: County Map 95 Counties

Driving: DOS

Economy: Agriculture: Soybeans, cotton, tobacco, livestock and livestock products, dairy products, cattle, hogs. Industry: Chemicals, transportation equipment, rubber, plastics.

Flag: Tennessee (TN)

Flower: Iris Iridaceae

Cyndi's List Historical Societies

Geographic Center: Rutherford, 5 miles northeast of Murfreesboro

Geology Maps: Tennessee

Ghost Towns: Ghost Towns

Governor: Office of Governor

Highest Point: Clingmans Dome; 6,643 feet, 17th

Highways: Tennessee Highways

History: History Timeline • Historical Civil War

Hotels, Motels & Inns:

Kids Corner: State of Tennessee Kids Page