Chapter 18: Hawaii

Hawaii is a tourist center. The state and its island bring in millions of tourists to escape their everyday lifestyle, nothing is quite like Hawaii. Tennessee's landscape is nothing like Hawaii, however both states do have tourist attractions that help boost the economy and bring people into their states. Nashville city is a major tourist attraction. When I visited a few years ago I spent much of my time in the heart of Nashville. There was so much to do, especially if you are a country music fan. Even if you aren't a country music fan, there is so much history in Tennessee. Civil war trails, National Parks, Jazz music, horseback riding, and much more. All of these attractions are topped with a beautiful landscape and friendly people, Tennessee makes the perfect vacation spot. 

Graceland, Mephis. Home of Elvis Presley 

Graceland was the home of rock n' roll king, Elvis Presley. His estate sits on thirteen acres and takes in nearly 60,000 visitors annually making Graceland the second most visited residence in the United States right behind the White House. 

Grand Ole Opry, Nashville

The Grand Ole Opry has had many famous country music stars on its stage since 1925. The Opry is also the longest running live radio program. The Opry has thousands of visitors annually and to this day has country stars perform on its stage. 

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Tennessee

I fell in love with Tennessee when I had the opportunity to visit a few years back. My aunt moved to Tennessee in the eighties to pursue her music career. She showed me downtown Nashville, Memphis, Beale Street, Sunland Studios where Elvis got his start, horseback riding through Tennessee's forestry and much much more. Nashville, Tennessee is by far my favorite city in the United States and I am planning my visit this summer! See you there!!! 

Horseback riding in Nashville, Tennessee

http://www.tnvacation.com/
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_people_visit_Graceland_each_year

Chapter 16: The North Pacific Coast

Tennessee Forestry

Chapter 16 focused on the North Pacific Coast. The chapter touched on the physical geography and topography of the area. The North Pacific is gorgeous to say the least, full of forestry and wildlife. Tennessee shares many qualities with the North Pacific when it comes to beauty and forestry. When thinking of Tennessee, forestry might not be the first thing that comes to mind. The forestry in Tennessee cover half the state and supplies more than 60,000 jobs. Some types of trees in found in Tennessee are the Birch Tree, Hickory Tree, Oak, Sugar Maple just to list a few.

Tennessee is home to the Smoky Mountains. The mountains contains many National Parks that allow visitors to come relax and enjoy the scenery. The Smoky Mountains are home to 1,500 Black bears and 1,600 kinds of flowering plants. The mountains range in elevation from 875 feet to 6,643 feet. 

Tennessee has a few major cites, Nashville and Memphis being two of them. Memphis is the largest city in the state, it is located in the western corner of the state. Nashville is the second largest city in Tennessee, located almost in the center of the state. The third largest city in Tennessee is Knoxville. Knoxville is located on the eastern side of the state. 

http://www.tngenweb.org/tnland/trees.htm

http://www.state.tn.us/agriculture/forestry/http://www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

Chapter 15: California

United States Fault Zones

California is has created a much bigger name for itself than Tennessee has. When people think of Tennessee they think of country. When people think of California...well....a lot can come to mind. One thing that normally does not come to mind when thinking of Tennessee is earthquakes. Unlike California, Tennessee does not have a bad earthquake record. Most earthquakes that do affect Tennessee usually take place in neighboring states. The Missouri earthquake had a strong effect on Tennessee back in 1811-1812 then again in 1843 and 1895.

Tennessee Fault Line

Tennessee is apart of the New Madrid Seismic Zone. It falls in the north western section of the state. It also effects several other states including Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Indiana. Most of the earthquakes or aftershocks that do hit Tennessee hit in the western part of the state. 

New Madrid Seismic Zone

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/tennessee/history.php

Chapter 14:The Southwest Border Area

America is made up of a diverse array of cultures. The Native Americans, Spanish Americans, and European Americans made up the Southwest Border Area. The Southwest Border area is to the west of Tennessee however the area shares some likeness with the state of Tennessee. 

Tennessee Indian Tribes

Tennessee was home to the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Shawnee, and Creek Native Americans when it was first visited by European explorers in 1540. The French tried to settle in Tennessee however they were under constant harassment by the local native americans. The French explorers lost their land in Tennessee during the French and Indian wars that took place around 1763. Not only were the French under siege from the native americans, but they were also pushed aside by the English fur traders and huntsman that came into the area. 

Cherokee Indians

The first Anglo settlers came to Tennessee and made it home in 1769. A permanent settlement was made in Tennessee by Virginians then joined by North Carolinians. 

According to the Census Bureau, whites make up 80.2 percent of Tennessee followed by an African American population of 16.3 percent. Hispanics make up 4.3 percent of the state while American Indians make up 0.3 percent of the population. As we can see the Indian population which once dominated the Tennessee area has drastically diminished since the 1540. 

http://tn-tgs.com/TN-Main/Intro.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/us/A0861484.html

Chapter 13: The Empty Interior

The Empty Interior

The empty interior lies on the west coast away from Nashville, Tennessee. The empty interior gets its name from the area's sparse population. Tennessee does not have such a large population as the state of California which is partially in the empty interior. Tennessee is home to over six million people. 

A noticeable trait of the empty interior is the major religion in the area. Most of the interior's inhabitants are of mormon belief. In Tennessee the vast majority of people are of christian belief, 82% of its people to be exact. Mormons are almost nonexistent in Tennessee, the next largest religion following Christianity is Catholicism.

Tennessee's population 

http://awesomeamerica.com/tennessee/ 

Chapter 12: The Great Plains and Prairies

In chapter 12 we discussed America's Great Plains, Prairies and their affect on the country. The Great Plains are located to the west of Tennessee. The plains tend to have more acres for wheat harvesting in comparison to Tennessee, and larger farm sizes. However, just like the Great Plains region, Tennessee has water issues. 


The drought in Tennessee continues to expand as the summer season kicks in. This past month the drought has risen to twenty-five percent of the state. With the state increasing its drought percentage, agriculture is in harm's way. The drought can significantly affect the agriculture production in Tennessee. Nashville is in severe drought, however is is not located in the worst part of the state which is in the south. 


The USGS monitors the floods in Tennessee and they also focus on drought. The USGS has monitored the droughts in the past. Along with drought monitoring, Tennessee's government is also reaching out to it's people in order to conserve water. 






http://wpln.org/?p=21131
http://tn.water.usgs.gov/projects/metronashville/index.html
http://www.tn.gov/environment/water.shtml

Chapter 11: The Agricultural Core

Tennessee is full of agriculture. Plenty of farmland and room to grow. The agricultural core is arranged in the center of the state, Nashville included. Sunburst Tomatoes make their home in Nashville, Tennessee. They grow undercover in outside the center of the city. Tennessee is an excellent state for growing soybeans, cotton, tomatoes, and tobacco. Wheat, hay, and sorghum also contribute to the state's agriculture. The state receives roughly 50' of rain annually. Tennessee averages 40 F in winter and 78 F in summer. West Tennessee averages 5” of snow while northeastern Tennessee gets 16”. These conditions make it easy for crops to flourish. 


The state is divided into three subdivisions: 

West: row crop land

Middle: fertile rolling land 

East: hilly to mountainous.

Tennessee has more to offer than just crops. The state is also known for dairy farming and its cattle. Tennessee’s top agricultural commodities are cattle and calves, chickens,  and greenhouse products.There are 2,040,000 cattle, 131,400 goats, 2,808,000 chickens and 210,000 horses within Tennessee. The dairy cattle produce over 909 million pounds of milk each year! Tennessee farmers produce 323 million eggs per year.

http://www.netstate.com/economy/tn_economy.htm
http://www.agclassroom.org/kids/stats/tennessee.pdf

Chapter 10: The Southern Coastlands

Tennessee rest rights above the Southern Coastlands that include the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and finally part of South Carolina. Florida being the sole state completely engulfed in the Southern Coastlands. The agricultural structure of Tennessee is mainly comprised of Soybean production. Soybeans account for 11% of the states total agriculture. The soils of the  state make Soybean production excellent.

Tennessee is prone to natural disasters just as the Southern Coastland state of Florida. However, Tennessee does not get hit nearly as hard by hurricanes. Tennessee is prone to Tornados, and flash flooding.  The hurricanes from the Southern Coastlands can create the floods that hit Tennessee. The hurricane season is roughly August through November, and along with the tornados and flash floods, hurricanes can also hit the state of Tennessee. Thankfully for the residents of the state, there are warning that allow those in direct impact of the natural disaster to evacuate.


Although Tennessee is a landlocked state, it still has major ports like the Southern Coastlands. Memphis is the 2nd largest port on the shallow draft portion of the Mississippi River and the 4th largest inland port in the United States. The Memphis port helps to move products such as steel, petroleum, tar, rock and gravel, course grains, salt, asphalt, and fertilizers.

    http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=52579

http://www.tennessee.gov/homelandsecurity/getready.html

http://www.portofmemphis.com/

Chapter 9: The Changing South

Racism and slavery existed in the beginning of America's history. Although we as a nation has grown from slavery, racism still exists in states all over the nation. Tennessee is included in those states. 

According the a website hosted by Janice Price, slaves could have arrived in Tennessee as early as 1541. The state began to build in population as the years went on. When the white pioneers camp into Tennessee, so did their slaves. The first slave census that was taken stated that there were 3,417 slaves in settled area. This was around 1760. As the year passed and Tennessee became a state, the slave population increased to 10,613. Most of the pioneers brought their slaves with them from Virginia and North Carolina. 

Eventually slaves were granted their freedom. However, this did not happen until February 25, 1865. On a lighter note; Tennessee was the only state to free the slaves by popular vote. 

Racism exists all around the nation. I discovered a blog when searching for racism in Tennessee stating that there are a group of people in Tennessee that want slave history taken out of the history books. The Klu Klux Klan is still around in the south, and in Tennessee. The KKK still have open protests and marches throughout some cities. However they are not as strong as they use to to be. Unfortunately as much as we have grown as a nation, some still get left behind. 

Sources: 

http://www.afrigeneas.com/states/tn/

http://teabaggersrcoming.blogspot.com/2011/01/tennessee-teabaggers-want-all-this-talk.html

http://jerrybrice.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/the-kkk-and-wal-mart-in-memphis-join-forces-and-support-a-15-year-sentence-for-cutting-in-line-down-in-dixieland/

Chapter 8: Bypassed East

The Great Smoky Mountains help characterize Tennessee. These mountains are also referred to as the Blue Ridge mountains. The mountain ridge on the east side of the state have a blue hue to them during the evening, giving the mountain range their name. The Blue Ridge mountain range averages at 5,000 feet above sea level, although Tennessee is not predominantly known for its mountains. 

Blue Mountain range in Tennessee

Tennessee is a rather flat state although there the Great Smoky mountains on the east side of the state, the majority of the state is made up of what is called the Gulf Coastal Plain. The state is divided into six different regions however, when speaking area, the Gulf Plain is the obtains the largest amount. This makes the state very flat and perfect for tornados! 

Gulf Coastal Plain, Tennessee

The residents of Tennessee, although somewhat dependent on coal, are against the destruction of their land in order to mine it. To get to the coal mountain would be destroyed and landscapes ruined. Unfortunately the state leans heavily on its coal. In 2010 Tennessee was reported the eighth most coal dependent states in the U.S. In fact the state spent $1.2 billion on coal imports in 2008, that alone allows anyone to see how much the state relies on its coal. Coal mining began in the 1850's when the Nashville and Chattanooga railroads were built allowing the coal to be transferred. The state used to be the top producer of coal, however its rank has since diminished. 

In order to make pottery, you need clay. That clay can also be used to make silverware, floor tiles, bathroom tiles, and wall tiles. The nations main producer of this clay is Tennessee. Ball clay is a mineral that Tennessee produces, it makes up roughly 4% of the annual mineral production value in the state. 

Sources:

http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/tn_geography.htm
http://www.tnhistoryforkids.org/geography/m_1
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Tennessee_and_coal
http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/king/ill359.html
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/epa-objects-to-permits-for-three-more-mountaintop-removal-coal-mining-operations.php
http://www.tn.gov/environment/tdg/mineralind.shtml
http://www.unimin.com/essential-minerals.cfm

Chapter 7: Wealth in the Volunteer State and its Regions

Unlike California, Tennessee is a very wide state. The distance between its west and east borders is 440 miles. These miles that make up Tennessee can be divided into sections; the Blue Ridge, Appalachian Ridge and the Valley Region, Appalachian Plateau, Highland Rim, Nashville Basin, and lastly the Gulf Coastal Plain. 

The Blue ridge borders North Carolina on the east side and includes the Smokey Mountains. In fact the whole area is characterised by high mountains. The highest point in the state is located within this region, it is called Clingman's Dome and it rests at 6,643 feet above sea level. 

As a state, Tennessee is not extremely wealthy. The average income per household is roughly $44,000 whilst the average for the whole United States is $52,000. The southern states seem to have a lower income than those on the coasts. The city in Tennessee that has the highest income per household is Williamson with an average of $64,315. Williamson county is located nearly in the middle of the state. It has been noted by the census bureau to be the 11th most wealthiest county in the country. 

Williamson County

http://localistica.com/usa/tn/counties/highest-household-income-counties/

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/47000.html

Chapter 5: What's Cooking in Tennessee

Many things take place inside the state of Tennessee such as agriculture producation, manufacturing, and mining. Tennessee has a large agriculture production, roughly 44% of the states land is devoted to farmland and agriculture use. The most popular crop that takes the lead in the state is the Soy bean crop! Soy beans account for 11% of the states total agriculture production. Overall the most important crops in Tennessee are Soy beans, cotton, corn and tobacco. The peach crop is the leading fruit crop in Tennessee but it does not play as strong of a role as the Soy bean crop does. 

When it comes to manufacturing, Tennesee increases the value to the raw materials aspect. The state is located outside of America's manufacturing core, however it still produces important items that our country depends on. For example, Tennessee's most important manufacturing sector is the production of processed foods. Processed food is a majority of what our grocery stores in America are comprised of; candy, meats, dairy, flour, breads, along with beers and whiskey such as Jack Daniels!  

The second most important manufacturing sector in Tennessee would be the production of transportation. The are two major auto manufacturing plants located in Smyma, which houses the North American Nissan hub and Chattanooga. These locations also have boat and aircraft manufacturing surrounding them. 


The last manufacturing sector in Tennesee is the production of chemicals such as paints, pharmaceuticals, plastics, resins, and soaps. 

http://www.netstate.com/economy/tn_economy.htm
http://www.tnedg.com/

Chapter 4: Memphis, Nashville, and the Knox

The definition of a Megalopolis is a large or densely populated city. Although Tennessee does not carry as many inhabitants as a state like California, there still resides a heirachy of major cities. The major cities in Tennesee are Memphis, with a population of 674,028, Nashville preceeding with a total of 590,807 and Knoxville creating a large gap between itself and Nashville with a total of 183,546 people. 

Population Density of Tennesee
Bottom left corner-Memphis
Center-Nashville

Only in the past several years has Nashville surpassed Memphis as the largest metropolitan area in Tennessee. Nashville's population has grown in the past years. Since the 1990's the population of Nashville has increased roughtly 12% and since 2005 it has recieved as increase of 3%. Immigration has become and issue to the residents of Nashville, the more immigration the more diversity in languages. Residents are proposing a law to restrict such languages. The article in the Los Angeles Times discusses the views of the residents in Nashville, and according to the article, the  recent immigrants in Nashville have been Somalis, Bosnians, Ethiopians, and Iraqis, along with what is now to be viewed as the largest Kurdish population in the United States. 












Los Angeles Times- article http://articles.latimes.com/2007/apr/04/nation/na-nashville4
http://www.idcide.com/citydata/tn/nashville.htm

Chapter 3: History and Immigration

James Robertson

John Donelson

Nashville was not always called the Music City. In 1779-1780 the city was founded by poineers by the names of James Robertson and John Donelson Nashville, originally named Fort Nashborough after the revolutionary war hero, Francis Nash.The city grew rapidly because of its great location right along the Cumberland River, which allowed the city to better port and access to trade. The city later became the railroad center, and as it continues to do today, is growing rapidly. The city of Nashville became the state capitol in 1843.


The Donelson and the Robertson family had to travel by and and water from east Tennessee. Both of these men led parties to the new city, treking

thousands of miles to make it to their location and surviving indian attacks to get there. Nashville history fun fact: John Donelson's daughter became our 7th president, Andrew Jackson's, wife.

Chapter 2: Rollin' Plains and a Mild Climate

As a state, Tennessee has a temperate climate, with the seasons never really becoming extreme in temperature. The state is prone to the occasional storms, and from what my relatives have told me, tornados. However, I haven't heard of a tornado visit from my family in Nashville in many years. If the tornados do visit, they bring along storms to. They like to visit around spring and fall if they do make it down. 

The summers in Nashville are humid, to be specific Nashville has a humid subtropical climate. When I was there in August it felt I could grab the air! I enjoyed it so it wasn't a problem but my aunt couldn't agree with it. The range in weather varies from 37 degrees fahrenheit in January to 80 degrees in August with the humidity ranging from 83% the the morning and 60% during the rest of the day. When it gets to the lower numbers in the winter, snowfall does occur, but it is usually not heavy. 

Nashville is one the of fastest growing cities in the upper south located in Davidson County. The Music city is full of tourist attractions, such as the previously mentioned Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame and now under construction, the Music City Center. There is not much to the topography of Nashville, like the climate it is fairly mild. The Music City is blessed with rolling hills and plenty of vegitation. Dowtown Nashville is full of skyscrappers and buildings, making downtown the economic center of the city and the core. The city lies on the Cumberland River in the northwest part of the Nashville Basin, and according to the Census Bureau, it has an area of 526.1 square miles. 

http://www.tennesseediary.us/Climate.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashville,_Tennessee#Topography

Chapter 1: "The Volunteer State" and "Music City"

Cowboys n' line dancin' ain't the only things that make up Tennessee. The state is located in the southern states of America and is surrounded by 6 other states, making it completely land-locked. The state itself is comprised of nearly 6 million people, making Tennessee the 16th most populous state. That does not sound like much in comparisson to California's population of 36 million people, but since most of the United States citizens reside on the coast, 6 million is pretty good for Tennessee. Nashville is the state's capital, and its largest metropolitan city. 


Nashville, Tennesse is largely known for its musical influence and history. Country music has always been incorporated with Nashville, infact the Country Music Hall of Fame is one of the major tourist attractions. I remember walking through downtown Nashville and every bar I would walk into had a country singer on stage blaring away. Another tourist attraction would be the Grand Ole Opry, a famous country and western music venue that held performances by Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Randy Travis, Faith Hill and many more. The picture below to the right is the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. 


The average per capita in come for Nashville, Tennessee is roughly $30,000 with the average population age being 34 years old. 




















http://www.city-data.com/city/Nashville-Davidson-Tennessee.html