Tennessee

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State in east-central USA, bordered to the east by North Carolina, to the south by Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, to the west by Arkansas and Missouri, across the Mississippi River, and to the north by Kentucky and Virginia; area 106,752 sq km/41,217 sq mi; population (2000) 5,689,300; capital Nashville. The Tennessee River flows through the state twice, giving rise to its nickname the Big Bend State; its more common nickname, the Volunteer State, refers to Tennessee's military traditions. The terrain drops from east to west, with wooded mountains, including part of the Great Smoky Mountains, giving way to a central area of hills, and then plains and swamps. Tennessee is one of the states that link the North and South of the USA; the lifestyle of west and central Tennessee resembles that of the Deep South, while eastern Tennessee is closer to the North. Service industries and manufacturing make the greatest contribution to the state economy; products include chemicals, processed foods, machinery, and metals. Mining is also important. Agricultural produce includes beef, milk, and cotton. Memphis is the largest city. Other major towns and cities are Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Jackson, Johnson City, Kingsport, Franklin, and Hendersonville. Historically, Tennessee was a plantation state, associated with slavery, and cotton remains one of its leading crops. Culturally, it is one of the centres of country music in the USA. Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796 as the 16th US state.

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