Tennessee

Tennessee has an estimated population of 6.2 million people, making it the 17th-largest state in the United States. Located in the southeastern region, it is home to the Appalachian Mountains. Tennessee has a rich history, which includes involvement the U.S. Civil War, the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and two genres of music. The state has a wealth of national parks and landmarks that bring nature tourists and families to the area. Tennessee has a large population of African Americans, especially in Memphis, which is a valuable networking resource of African American history, both political and religious.

Although the population is predominantly white, the state has had continuous increases in the population of other races, including African American, Asian, and Native American. This creates an opportunity for various ethnic groups and associations to foster social networking based on their ethnicity.

[Page 854]Tennessee's geography splits into three areas: east, middle, and west. East Tennessee features many state and national parks, as well as much of the state's mountainous area, including the Great Smoky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. These geographic features promote enthusiastic networks of hikers, mountain climbers, tourists, and park enthusiasts. The state's third- and fourth-largest cities, Knoxville and Chattanooga, are also located in this region.

Middle Tennessee includes the state capital, Nashville, and some of the most-traveled U.S. highways and inter-states. Historically, travelers from the Appalachians in Virginia settled here in the late 18th century, and trading routes with Native Americans are also found in this area. Business, state, and national networking are located in this region due to the proximity of the capital. West Tennessee is the smallest of the three regions and is the least populated. The majority of west Tennessee is comprised of the Memphis population, with a large percentage of the population made up of African Americans. Civil rights historians also use this area for networking, as Memphis is home to the National Civil Rights Museum.

An estimated 82 percent of the state's population is Christian. The largest denomination is Southern Baptist. African Americans represent a large portion of this denomination, and Nashville is home to the National Baptist Convention headquarters. This provides many religious networking opportunities for African Americans and other ethnicities. Educational networks are also supported by the Southern Baptist denomination. Selma University, Shaw University, and American Baptist College are included in the networks of Baptist-affiliated institutions in Tennessee.

Business in Tennessee grew along with auto industry expansion, and many businesses are headquartered in the state, such as FedEx, Nissan, Volkswagen, and AutoZone Inc. Agricultural business networks are strong in the state as well. Soybeans in west Tennessee have become a major agricultural crop, as national health campaigns have encouraged its consumption. Beef is also raised on the majority of the state's 82,000 farms and continues to be a major addition to the state's income. Farmers and other agricultural workers have social networking opportunities here. In 2005, the estimated income of the state was $226 billion, making Tennessee the 18th-largest economy in the United States.

Because of the state's major role in historical events involving race, Tennessee is home to many artifacts of civil rights history. The Ku Klux Klan was formed in Pulaski in 1866, and many battle sites during the Civil War are located in the state. The location of the hotel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated is now the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. Confederate flags fly publicly as a reminder of the south's secession from the Union. This sentiment creates opportunities for social networking among different groups and associations that connect with historical racial tensions.

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