A major center for the music industry, especially country music, Nashville is commonly known as "Music City". During the American Civil War, it was the first state capital in the Confederacy to fall to Union troops.

The capitol building was designed by noted architect William Strickland, who died during its construction and is buried within its walls.

Memphis was founded in 1819 by three prominent Americans: John Overton, James Winchester, and future president Andrew Jackson.

In 1947 the tulip poplar was designated as the official state tree of Tennessee. The General Assembly stated that it was chosen "because it grows from one end of the state to the other" and "was extensively used by the pioneers of the state to construct houses, barns, and other necessary farm buildings."

Jonesborough, the oldest town in Tennessee, was established seventeen years before Tennessee was granted statehood, while the area was still under the jurisdiction of North Carolina. It was named after North Carolina legislator, Willie Jones, who had supported the state's westward expansion across the Appalachian Mountains.

Originally named Alexandria, Jackson was renamed in 1822 to honor General Andrew Jackson, a hero of the War of 1812. He was later elected as President of the United States.

In March 2003, the General Assembly designated the tomato as the official state fruit of Tennessee. (And yes, the tomato is a fruit.) As of 2003, tomatoes were the state's largest fruit crop.

Some accounts suggest it is a Cherokee modification of the Yuchi word "Tana-see", meaning "meeting place", "winding river", or "river of the great bend".

Murfreesboro is the geographic center of the state of Tennessee. A stone monument marks the official site on Old Lascassas Pike, about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north of Middle Tennessee State University.

So many songs have been written about Tennessee that it has 10 official state songs, including "A Tennessee Bicentennial Rap: 1796-1996", which was designated the state's "Official Bicentennial Rap" song in 1996.