Located in the nation’s heartland, the State of Tennessee is a land as rich and diverse as the people who live there. In fact, Tennessee residents think of their state as divided into three Grand Divisions – “three Tennessees,” if you will – each with its own land features and culture.
The eastern third of the state, East Tennessee, is dominated by the Blue Ridge Mountains, Great Smoky Mountains, and Cumberland Plateau, a land rich both in natural beauty and Appalachian culture with population centers that include Knoxville, Chattanooga, and the famed Tri-Cities area, the historic birthplace of Country Music.
Middle Tennessee, the state’s midsection, is a land of rolling hills and fertile soil – the agricultural center of the state. It’s also home to Nashville, the state capital and the famed Country Music Capital of the World. With a combined metro population of almost 2 million, Nashville is also the state’s largest city.
West Tennessee, the western third of the state, is loosely considered the region between the Tennessee River to the east and the Mississippi River along the western border. This flat, fertile bottom land is part of the massive Gulf plain and serves as another bed of agriculture for the state. On the western end, along the banks of the Mississippi, lies Memphis, the state’s second largest city. Also known for its music scene, Memphis is the historic birthplace of Rock & Roll (Sun Records), as well as the home of Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and the world-famous Beale Street, home of the blues.