Tennessee Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.tn.us/

Income

The population of Tennessee in 2002 was 5,789,796. Its rank was 16th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Tennessee had a per capita personal income of $27,611. This per capita personal income ranked 36th in the United States and was 89 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 2.6 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Tennessee was $18,577 and ranked 35th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.0 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Tennessee had a total personal income of $159,864,914. This total personal income ranked 20th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Tennessee was $93,806,817 and ranked 20th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 3.4 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.5 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Tennessee. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 69.1 percent of total personal income (compared with 69.1 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 14.0 percent (compared with 15.6 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 16.9 percent (compared with 15.4 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 3.3 percent; dividends, interest, and rent decreased 1.0 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 7.7 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 5.5 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.4 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 6.5 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Tennessee increased from $121,421,581 in 2001 to $125,494,956 in 2002, an increase of 3.4 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $73,167,055 to the 2002 estimate was 5.5 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Tennessee ranks 36th in size among the states of the Union, with an area of 109,155 sq km (42,145 sq mi), including 2398 sq km (926 sq mi) of inland water. The state has a maximum extent, from east to west, of 790 km (491 mi) and a maximum north-south distance of 185 km (115 mi).

Climate - The climate of Tennessee is characterized by hot summers, mild winters, and abundant rainfall. Average July temperatures range from less than 21° C (70° F) in the Blue Ridge region to about 27° C (about 80° F) at Nashville and Memphis. Maximum daytime temperatures in summer often rise to more than 35° C (95° F) in central and western Tennessee. Daytime temperatures in the mountains rarely rise above 32° C (above 90° F). Summer nights tend to be warm and muggy in central and western Tennessee, but temperatures often are cooler in the east. Average January temperatures range from less than 1° C (34° F) in the eastern mountains to more than 6° C (42° F) in southwestern Tennessee. In west-central Tennessee, even in midwinter, daytime temperatures often rise to a pleasant 10° C (50° F). Short periods of freezing temperatures occur in lowlands, but temperatures below -18° C (0° F) normally occur only in the mountain areas. Average precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) ranges from more than 1500 mm (60 in) in some of the higher mountain areas to less than 1100 mm (45 in) in the more protected sections of the Ridge and Valley province. In western and central areas most precipitation falls during winter and early spring in the form of rain. Snowfall is light in the center and west, but it is often heavy in the eastern mountains. Thunderstorms occur frequently during spring and summer.

State Flag

State Flower - Iris

State Capitol - Nashville
Tennessee has had three constitutions. The first state constitution was adopted in 1796, and the second in 1835. The present one, adopted in 1870, was revised by limited constitutional conventions in 1953, 1959, 1965, 1971, and 1977. Amendments to the constitution must be approved by a simple majority of the elected members of each house of the state legislature, then by a two-thirds majority during the next legislative session. The amendment must then be ratified by a majority of the Tennesseans voting for governor in the next general election. Amendments may also be initiated by a constitutional convention, but this may only be done once every six years.

Famous People

Albert Gore Jr. U.S. vice president, Washington, D.C.
Alvin York World War I hero, Pall Mall
Aretha Franklin singer, Memphis
Barbara Howar broadcaster, writer, Nashville
Benjamin L. Hooks civil rights activist, Memphis
Carl Rowan journalist, Ravenscraft
Chet Atkins guitarist, Lutrell
Cybil Shepherd actress, Memphis
David G. Farragut first American admiral, Knoxville
Davy Crockett frontiersman, Green Cty
Dinah Shore actress, singer, Winchester
Dolly Parton singer, Sevierville
Eddy Arnold singer, Henderson
Estes Kefauver legislator, Madisonville
Grantland Rice sportswriter, Murfreesboro
Hattie Caraway first elected woman senator, Bakerville
Isaac Hayes composer, Covington
Jack Curtis screenwriter, Stony Creek
Jack Garnet Carter miniature golf, Sweetwater
James Agee writer, poet, Knoxville
Lester Flatt bluegrass musician, Overton Cty
Mark Dean inventor, Jefferson City
Minnie Pearl singer, comedienne, Centerville
Morgan Freeman actor, Memphis
Nikki Giovanni poet, Knoxville
Red Grooms artist, Nashville
Sam Davis confederate scout, Smyrna
Sandra Locke actress, Shelbyville
Sequoia Cherokee scholar, educator
Tennessee Ernie Ford singer, Bristol
Tina Turner singer, Brownsville
Wilma Rudolph runner, St. Bethlehem