How Wide Is Tennessee? Total Distance from East to West

Introduction

Also known as the volunteer state, Tennesssee sits in the southern region of the United States. The state is known for its amazing country music, rolling hills, southern cuisine, and hospitality. Because Tennessee is a landlocked state, it is surrounded by many other areas. Tennessee is tied with Missouri for the most bordered state in the country! In total, eight other states directly surround Tennessee’s border. Although there are much larger states than Tennessee, it currently ranks as the 15th-most populous state in the country. So, where do all of Tennessee’s residents live? Keep reading to discover how wide Tennessee is and much more!

How Wide is Tennessee?

Tennessee is a state that is much wider than it is long. Because the state’s border forms a sort of rough-looking parallelogram, Tennessee experiences fairly uniform width and length throughout its entire area. From east to west, Tennessee stretches for an impressive 440 miles (710 kilometers). This is a much larger distance than the state’s length. From north to south, Tennessee measures 112 miles (180 kilometers).

States With a Similar Width to Tennessee

Interestingly, Tennessee has a similar width to many of the states that surround it. For example, Kentucky, which borders Tennessee to the north, has a width of 397 miles (640 kilometers). North Carolina has a slightly wider shape, measuring 503 miles from the Tennessee border to the Atlantic Ocean.

How Tennessee Became a State

Before Tennessee was one of the original southern states, the area was occupied by several native tribes. The most prominent tribes in the Tennesse area were the Cherokee, Creek, and Chickamauga people groups. Dense forests filled with rivers, bluffs, creeks, and wildlife allowed these tribes to survive in the wilderness for hundreds of years before white settlers ever laid eyes on the land.

In 1769, William Bean built the first settlement in Tennessee along the Watauga River. His family moved into the settlement and his son, Russel Bean, was born. While several forts and outposts had been built in the area years before, the Bean family are considered the first permanent settlers of the state of Tennessee. The Watauga Association, a group of self-governing frontier settlers, began purchasing more land in and around Tennessee in the next few years. Violent encounters between the settlers and the native tribes broke out as the settlers continued to push westward and displace large groups of people.

By 1795, Tennessee’s population had grown enough to meet the requirements for statehood. The state formed a constitution, elected a governor, and formed a bill of rights. Just one year later on June 1, 1796, Tennessee became the 16th state to be admitted to the union. This is when the borders of the state were drawn, determining how wide Tennessee is today.

Major Cities in Tennessee

Because Tennessee is so wide, the state is divided into three sections: West, Middle, and East. Here is a look at the largest cities in each of the three sections of the state.

Memphis

Memphis is located in West Tennessee, right near the Arkansas border. The city is most famous for its music scene, giving birth to genres such as rock ‘n roll and stars like Elvis Presley. Aside from music, Memphis is known for its delicious barbecue and southern charm. As of 2021, 628,127 people were living in the city. This makes Memphis the second most populated city in the entire state of Tennessee.

Nashville

The largest city in Middle Tennessee is Nashville. Nashville is the most populated city in all of Tennessee. As of 2021, 689,447 residents were living within the borders of Nashville. Out of all of the cities in the United States, Nashville is ranked 31st for its increasing population. In addition to being a bustling metropolis, Nashville is also the capital of Tennessee. The area is known for its country music, scenic views, delicious cuisine, and vibrant nightlife.

Knoxville

Knoxville is one of the oldest cities in Tennessee. The area was home to a large fort before settlers headed west to build Nashville. Nowadays, Knoxville is best known as the location of the University of Tennessee. The large state school spirit fills Knoxville with a vibrant enthusiasm for the state of Tennessee that is both infectious and enticing. In addition to the Volunteer pride, Knoxville is known as the Marble City. Large quarries in the area supply marble to builders all over the world, including Tennessee. As of 2021, Knoxville had a population of 192,648.

Chattanooga

Because of how wide Tennessee is, the eastern section of the state houses two major cities. The second of these is Chattanooga. Located near the Georgia border, Chattanooga is an incredibly unique city. The area is a dream for nature lovers because it is surrounded by rivers, hiking trails, rock climbing opportunities, and so much more. One particular spot, Rock City, allows visitors to see seven different states from one overlook! The gorgeous downtown area of Chattanooga includes a beautiful aquarium, tons of different restaurants, and several fine art museums.

Wildlife in Tennessee

Throughout Tennessee’s green forests and rushing rivers lives an amazing array of wild animals. Here are just a few of the animals that may be encountered in the Volunteer State.

Black Bear

The black bear is fairly commonly spotted in Tennessee, especially near the Smoky Mountains. These omnivores can live up to 20 years in the wild, surviving off of a diet of berries, roots, and small animals. Although these bears may live in the wild, they love human food! The most common place to spot a black bear in Tennessee is to find it digging through a trashcan in search of a snack. Black bears weigh between 200 to 600 pounds and measure up to six feet in length. As indicated by their name, these mammals have dark black fur with some lighter coloring around their faces.

Opossum

Interestingly, opossums are the only marsupials that are native to the United States. A marsupial is a type of animal that gives birth to offspring that are not yet fully developed. The offspring are then cared for in the mother’s pouch until they are ready to live in the outside world. Opossums are fairly small, only weighing about 10 pounds on average and measuring just two and a half feet in length. These nocturnal mammals are scavengers, getting their food from trash cans, road kill, and even human homes. They only live for about two years in the wild. One interesting aspect of opossums is their tendency to play dead when threatened. This is used as a defense mechanism to ward off predators and is fairly unique to opossums.