Tennessee is a state in the Southern United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, North Carolina and Franklin to the east, Georgia to the southeast, Mississippi and Alabama to the south, Arkansas to the west, and Missouri to the northwest. As of 2026, Tennessee is home to 6,385,076 permanent residents. The capital of Tennessee is Nashville, which is also its largest city. The second largest city in Tennessee is Memphis, which is located along the Mississippi River. Other major cities in the state include Knoxville and Chattanooga. Tennessee joined the Union in 1796, becoming the sixteenth state to join the Union.
