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