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State Facts for Students

Tennessee Flag Tennessee

Population
  2000 2007
Population 5,689,283 6,156,719
State Rank 16 17
Median Age 35.9 37.4
Total 8 year-olds 80,660 79,234
Boys 41,192 40,586
Girls 39,468 38,648
Total 9 year-olds 82,773 78,907
Boys 42,688 40,283
Girls 40,085 38,624
Total 10 year-olds 82,056 78,363
Boys 42,210 39,916
Girls 39,846 38,447
Total 11 year-olds 79,829 79,981
Boys 40,846 40,872
Girls 38,983 39,109
Total 12 year-olds 78,003 81,298
Boys 40,184 41,678
Girls 37,819 39,620
 
How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone 82% 83%
Car Pool 13% 10%
Public Transportation 1% 1%

Geography
Capital Nashville
Largest City Memphis
Second Largest City Nashville
Persons per square mile 138

Business
  2000 2006
Dentist Offices 2,054 2,151
Amusement Parks 17 9
FastFood Restaurants 4,046 4,857
Toy Stores 223 188
Video/Disc Rental Stores 464 422
Zoos & Botanical Gardens 12 12
Candy & Nut Stores 50 44
Pet & Pet Supply Stores 129 130
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers 3 3

Note: As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

A value of NA indicates that data are not available for the indicated time period, or is not applicable for the current region.

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History

  • Date of Statehood: June 1, 1796
  • Population 1800: 105,602
  • Population 1860: 1,002,717
  • Population 1900: 2,020,616
  • Population 1950: 3,291,718

I never knew that! *

  • Nickname: Volunteer State
  • Flower: Iris
  • Tree: Tulip Poplar
  • Bird: Mockingbird
  • Horse: Tennessee Walking Horse
  • Animal: Raccoon
  • Insect: Firefly

Teachers: Download the Picture Your State lesson plan. [pdf]

Who told you this stuff?

The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the population every 10 years, and censuses of economic activity and governments every five years. And every year, the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 other surveys. Data on this page come from Population Estimates, the Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns.

How are these data collected?

The U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires in the mail or contacts businesses and households to participate in its surveys.

* State symbol information was obtained from various non-Census Bureau resources including state web sites, educational web sites, and commercial entities.

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