Here are more fun, exciting things about Tennessee.
Tennessee became a state 222 years ago, on June 1, 1796.
Tennessee is one of only two states the state with the most borders.
The two states with the most state borders are Tennessee and Missouri, which is one of the eight states Tennessee touches.
Tennessee has ten state songs.
1925: "My Homeland, Tennessee," by Nell Grayson Taylor and Lamont Smith
1935: "When It's Iris Time in Tennessee," by Willa Waid Newman
1955: "My Tennessee," by Frances Hannah Tranum
1965: "Tennessee Waltz," by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King
1982: "Rocky Top," by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant
1992: "Tennessee," by Vivian Rorie
1996: "Pride of Tennessee," by Fred Congdon, Thomas Vaughn, and Carol Elliot
1996: "Tennessee Bicentennial Rap," by Joan Hill Hanks
2010: "Smoky Mountain Rain," by Kye Fleming & Dennis Morgan
2012: "Tennessee," by John R. Bean
I wonder if "All my Ex's Live in Texas, that's why I live in Tennessee" qualifies?
Tennessee is the birthplace of the tow truck.
Ernest Holmes of Chatanooga invented the vehicle in 1916.
Aside from the White House, Graceland is the most-visited home in the United States.
Way back in 2016, Elvis Presley's mansion celebrated its 20 millionth visitor.
Of all Southern states, Tennessee provided the most soldiers to the Union.
Tennessee provided more soldiers to the Union than all Confederate states combined. Around 31,000 Tennesseans joined the federal forces, according to the state encyclopedia.
Coca-Cola owes much of its success to Tennessee.
According to the company's website, the beverage was created in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1886 and was sold as a fountain drink for years. But it wasn't until 1899 that two Chattanooga attorneys had the idea of starting a bottling company. They pitched the idea to the Coca-Cola president, who gave the attorneys the bottling rights for $1. The dollar never was collected, but the first bottling facility later opened in Chattanooga.
Tennessee is probably best known for:
Country music.
Wiskey
Graceland and Elvis.
In 1971, the Raccoon was adopted as Tennessee's official wild animal. Go figure! Oak Ridge, TN, is known as the Energy Capital of the World for its work on the atomic bomb and continuing research into energy usage.
Tennessee is home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the country's most visited national park. Tennessee was the last state to secede from the Union during the Civil War.
Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State because of its high number of volunteers during the War of 1812, specifically at the Battle of New Orleans.
Nashville, Tennessee's capital, is home to the longest-running live radio program in the world. The Grand Ole Opry has been broadcasting every weekend since 1925.
Tennessee is revealed to be one of eight states that has more than 50 megachurches within its borders and the state with the most megachurches per capita. Tennessee's 67 megachurches are second to only four other states: California (219), Texas (207), Florida (120), and Georgia (91). When they say there is a church on every corner, I believe that to be true. I have never seen so many churches in one place! It's awesome!
Check-back for our next Blog, Moving to Tennessee for Dummies.....
