Introduction: Tennessee Download PDF
Tennessee is divided politically and geographically into three state legislated grand divisions, each with its own regional centers: East Tennessee (Chattanooga and Knoxville), Middle Tennessee (the state capital Nashville), and West Tennessee (Memphis).
Until the mid 20th century, Tennessee was mainly an agricultural state. Today, service and manufacturing are dominant industries. This shift was encouraged by the development of the Tennessee River Basin under the Tennessee Valley Authority. The TVA brought diverse programs to Tennessee, sparking the development of new industries.
The principle manufacturing activity in the state is the production of motor vehicles and parts. The production of durable goods has also grown steadily in the past decade. Companies are attracted by Tennessee’s low costs of labor, energy, and materials. These businesses are mainly located in the eastern region, or within the four major cities.
Government
Symbols
State Seal: |
State Quarter: |
Time Zones:
| Standard Time | GMT-6 | |
| Daylight-Saving Time | GMT-5 | |
Statistics
- Per Capita Real GDP :
- $33,742
- Population:
- 6,214,890
- Percent of People Under Poverty Level:
- 15.5%
- Per Capita Personal Income:
- $32,304
- Percent of Population with a Bachelor's Degree:
- 14.1%
- Total Exports:
- $21,814,600,000
Top 5 Export Partner Countries
Canada
Mexico
China
Japan
United Kingdom
Top 5 Export Merchandise
Transportation Equipment Sales
Chemicals Sales
Chemicals Manufacturing
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
Fabricated Metal Products Manufacturing
Major Cities
Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville-Davidson
Major Airports
| Airport Name | City | |
| BNA | Nashville International | Nashville |
| MEM | Memphis International | Memphis |
| TYS | McGhee Tyson | Knoxville |
Main Ports:
Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville
Corporations
| Company | Fortune 1000 Rank: | Revenues ($millions) | Headquarter City |
| Caremark Rx | 58 | 36,750 | Nashville |
| FedEx | 68 | 32,294 | Memphis |
| HCA | 87 | 25,477 | Nashville |
| International Paper | 93 | 24,186 | Memphis |
| Unum Group | 236 | 10,719 | Chattanooga |