The name Tennessee is derived from the name of a Cherokee village, Tanasi. In 1796, Tennessee was the first territory admitted as a state under the federal Constitution (16th state). Before statehood, it was known as the Territory South of the River Ohio. Tennessee is one of the states that link the North and the South. The lonely pioneer, wearing a coonskin cap and carrying a flintlock rifle, is a symbol of Tennessee's great past. Pioneers crossed the mountains of Tennessee to settle in the wilderness. They brought  with them the spirit of independence and daring that has become a part of Tennessee's history. Tennessee's rugged mountains, thick forests and beautiful lakes and rivers are ideal for outdoor sports. The capital Nashville is known as a center for country music; Memphis, Tennessee's largest city is a magnet for music fans, as the birthplace of urban blues and long-time home of Elvis.

GOVERNMENT
Capital: Nashville
Governor: Phil Bredesen, D (to Jan. 2007)
Senators: Lamar Alexander, R (to Jan. 2009); William Frist, R (to Jan. 2007)
House of Representatives: 9 districts | Search by zip code

ECONOMY
Total Gross State Product 1999 (millions of dollars): 170,085; National rank: 19; Percent change since 1990: 79%; National Rank based on Growth Rate: 12 (Including Washington, DC)
Per Capita Personal Income 2001: $26,808; National Rank: 36 (88% of the national average)
State Exports 2001 (millions of dollars): 11,320; National Rank:18
Agriculture: Soybeans, cotton, tobacco, livestock and livestock products, dairy products, cattle, hogs.
Industry: Chemicals, transportation equipment, rubber, plastics.