Tennessee

Tennessee is located in the Southeastern United States. In recognition of vast regional differences, the state is divided into three grand divisions recognized under state law: East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and West Tennessee. Each division has its own regional center: Chattanooga and Knoxville in East Tennessee, Nashville in Middle Tennessee, and Memphis in West Tennessee. Although no single city dominates the state, the majority of the population lives in urban areas. Today service industries and manufacturing are dominant in Tennessee. This shift away from agriculture was encouraged by the development of the Tennessee River basin under the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The production of durable goods such as automobiles has been growing steadily in recent years. Many companies have been attracted to Tennessee by low labor costs and abundant energy resources.