Tennessee

        The capital of Tennessee is Nashville.  It became the 6th state on June 1, 1769. The population is 4,952,726. Tennessee was named for a Cherokee village called Tanasie. It's called the "Volunteer State" because of its military traditions. The motto is "Agriculture and Commerce."  The state bird is the mockingbird. The state tree is the tulip poplar. The flower is the iris. Tennessee Waltz is the state song.

        Tennessee was first explored by Hernando de Soto in 1541. Virginians  settled here in 1769. Many Civil War conflicts were fought here.  The state is sometimes called the "Big Bend State" for the big bend in the river that flows through the state.