What is the abbreviation for Tennessee, and what region is it in?

Tennessee's two-letter postal abbreviation is TN. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the South region, in the East South Central division, and about 6.91 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

What is the state of Tennessee?

Tennessee is a southern U.S. state stretching about 440 miles from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River in the west. It is traditionally divided into three "Grand Divisions": East, Middle, and West Tennessee, each with its own landscape and economy, and its largest cities are Nashville and Memphis.

When did Tennessee become a state, and what number state was it?

Tennessee became the 16th state on June 1, 1796. It was the first state created from a federal territory, the Southwest Territory, after North Carolina gave the land to the national government in 1790.

Where does the name Tennessee come from?

The name comes from Tanasi, a Cherokee town on the Little Tennessee River. Spanish explorers recorded a similar name in the 1500s, and the spelling "Tennessee" became standard in the 1700s.

What is the capital of Tennessee, and has it always been the capital?

Nashville has been the capital since 1826 and was made the permanent capital in 1843. Earlier capitals included Knoxville, the territorial and first state capital, and Murfreesboro. The State Capitol was completed in 1859; its architect, William Strickland, is buried in its walls, and President James K. Polk is buried on its grounds.

What states border Tennessee?

Tennessee borders eight states, tied with Missouri for the most of any state: Kentucky and Virginia to the north, North Carolina to the east, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to the south, and Arkansas and Missouri to the west across the Mississippi River.

What role did Tennessee play in women's right to vote?

On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the 19th Amendment, providing the final state needed to add it to the Constitution and guarantee women the right to vote. The vote in the state House was decided when 24-year-old legislator Harry Burn changed his vote to yes. Read more about the constitutional amendments.

Why is Tennessee called the Volunteer State?

The nickname comes from the large numbers of Tennesseans who volunteered to fight in the War of 1812, especially at the Battle of New Orleans under Andrew Jackson, and later in the Mexican-American War. The state motto is "Agriculture and Commerce," its bird is the mockingbird, its cultivated flower is the iris, and its tree is the tulip poplar.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Tennessee have?

Based on the 2020 census, Tennessee has 9 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the same as before, which gives it 11 electoral votes.

U.S. State16th State • June 1, 1796

Tennessee TN

"The Volunteer State"

Where country music, the blues, rock and roll, and soul were all born or shaped; where the Smoky Mountains draw more visitors than any national park; and where the atomic bomb was secretly built, Tennessee has left its mark on America in ways that go far beyond its reputation.

State Debt - FY2024

$9.0 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$24.2 billion

Total Tennessee state tax collections in fiscal 2024. Tennessee has no tax on wage income, so collections are led by the state sales and use tax ($14B) and the franchise and excise taxes on business ($3.1B).

Borrowing

Tennessee holds a AAA rating and issues general obligation bonds backed by its full faith and credit, sold to investors in the tax-exempt municipal market. The state's tax-supported debt is among the lowest in the country, and it uses a formal debt affordability review. The state reported about $698 million in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

7.1M

Population

16th

State (1796)

12M+

Smoky Mtn Visitors/Yr

12+

Official State Songs

Tennessee's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Hey there, Tennessee. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a new governor, a U.S. senator, your member of the U.S. House, and your state legislators, plus three amendments to the state constitution.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years.

Two things are new this year. Gov. Bill Lee can't run again, so the governor's office is open. And in May the General Assembly redrew all nine U.S. House districts, so your district number or your representative may have changed; your sample ballot shows which district you're in now.

Fair warning: the amendments are long, so read them ahead of time. Key dates and how voting works are right below. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 6, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Voter registration deadline (already passed)	Monday, October 5
Early voting at county locations	Wednesday, October 14 to Thursday, October 29
Absentee ballot requests must reach your county election commission	Saturday, October 24
Election Day: polls close at 7 p.m. Central (8 p.m. Eastern); absentee ballots must arrive by close of polls	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Tennessee

Check your registration, polling place, and sample ballot at the Secretary of State's GoVoteTN.gov.

Early voting is open to every registered voter, October 14 through 29, at your county's early voting sites. Hours vary by county.

Absentee voting by mail is only for voters who qualify, such as voters 60 or older, voters with a disability, and people who'll be out of their county during early voting and on Election Day. Request a ballot from your county election commission by October 24, and make sure it arrives back before polls close on November 3.

On Election Day, opening times vary by county; polls close at 7 p.m. Central or 8 p.m. Eastern. Bring a federal or Tennessee photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport, or military ID.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Tennessee's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years.

Fair warning: the amendments are long, so read them ahead of time. Key dates and how voting works are right below. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 6, 2026

Key Dates

Voter registration deadline (already passed)

Monday, October 5

Early voting at county locations

Wednesday, October 14 to Thursday, October 29

Absentee ballot requests must reach your county election commission

Saturday, October 24

Election Day: polls close at 7 p.m. Central (8 p.m. Eastern); absentee ballots must arrive by close of polls

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Tennessee

Check your registration, polling place, and sample ballot at the Secretary of State's GoVoteTN.gov.

Early voting is open to every registered voter, October 14 through 29, at your county's early voting sites. Hours vary by county.

On Election Day, opening times vary by county; polls close at 7 p.m. Central or 8 p.m. Eastern. Bring a federal or Tennessee photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport, or military ID.

Tennessee's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Tennessee

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Tennessee's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Tennessee

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading