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State Facts for Students

Tennessee Flag Tennessee

Population
  2000 2009
Population 5,689,283 6,296,254
State Rank 16 17
Median Age 35.9
Total 8 year-olds 80,660 83,900
Boys 41,192 42,770
Girls 39,468 41,130
Total 9 year-olds 82,773 81,567
Boys 42,688 41,523
Girls 40,085 40,044
Total 10 year-olds 82,056 80,722
Boys 42,210 41,325
Girls 39,846 39,397
Total 11 year-olds 79,829 80,261
Boys 40,846 40,948
Girls 38,983 39,313
Total 12 year-olds 78,003 79,645
Boys 40,184 40,578
Girls 37,819 39,067
 
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 2008
Dentist Offices 2,054 2,189
Amusement Parks 17 7
FastFood Restaurants 4,046 5,144
Toy Stores 223 166
Video/Disc Rental Stores 464 360
Zoos & Botanical Gardens 12 11
Candy & Nut Stores 50 35
Pet & Pet Supply Stores 129 135
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers 3 2

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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