Motto: Agriculture and Commerce (1987)
Slogan: Tennessee—America at its best! (1965)
State Symbols: flower: iris (1933); tree: tulip poplar (1947); bird: mockingbird (1933); horse: Tennessee walking horse; animal: raccoon (1971); wild flower: passion flower (1973); songs: "Tennessee Waltz" (1965); "My Homeland, Tennessee" (1925); "When It's Iris Time in Tennessee" (1935); "My Tennessee" (1955); "Rocky Top" (1982); "Tennessee" (1992)
Nickname: Volunteer State
Origin of name: Of Cherokee origin; the exact meaning is unknown
10 largest cities (1998 est.): Memphis, 603,507; Nashville-Davidson (CC1), 510,274; Knoxville, 165,540; Chattanooga, 147,790; Clarksville, 97,978; Murfreesboro, 58,430; Johnson City, 57,079; Jackson, 51,115; Kingsport, 41,139; Hendersonville, 38,625
Land area: 41,220 sq mi. (106,759 sq km)
Geographic center: In Rutherford Co., 5 mi. NE of Murfreesboro
Number of counties: 95
Largest county by population and area: Shelby, 873,000 (1999 est.); Shelby, 755 sq mi.
State forests: 13 (155,000 ac.)
State parks: 50 (133,000 ac.
