Cascade Outdoors is based in the beautiful state of Tennessee, known for its country music, whiskey, and barbecue. But did you know Tennessee has a long and storied history dating back centuries? Admitted to the Union on June 1, 1796, Tennessee was the 16th state to join and quickly became known as the Volunteer State. This nickname is due the state’s strong tradition of military service, as it provided the most Union soldiers of all the southern states. Tennessee has become the 16th most populated state of all the 50 US states and it is the 36th largest state by land size. These are well known facts about Tennessee, but we’d like to share 10 not-so-commonly-known fun facts about the state of Tennessee.

1. Tennessee gets its name from the Cherokee town of “Tanasi.”

Our first bit of Tennessee trivia is in the name. Also known as “Tanase,” this Cherokee town was thought to be located in the eastern part of the state, before the first European settlers arrived. It actually appeared on British maps as early as 1725 and is assumed to be part of current day Monroe County. Cherokees adapted the name from the Yuchi word Tana-tsee-dgee, roughly translated to either “brothers-waters-place” or “where-the-waters-meet” because of its proximity to the Little Tennessee River, known then as the Tanasi River. It was Governor James Glen of South Carolina who adopted the modern spelling of Tennessee during the 1750s.

2. Tennessee is tied with Missouri as the state with the most borders.

Both Tennessee and Missouri border 8 states. Tennessee touches not only Missouri, but Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina (which Tennessee once belonged to), Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama. Consider stopping by a neighboring state when you visit, you have plenty to choose from.

3. Tennessee was once home to mammoths, mastodons, and giant sloths.

Found in East Tennessee, these remains date back to the Ice Age. Five million years ago, in Gray, Tennessee, a large sinkhole formed and was eventually filled with water, creating a pond that supported the surrounding wildlife. The pond later became a time capsule as it was filled with sediment, preserving the plants and animals that died. In 2000, the Tennessee Department of Transportation discovered the site while working on a road project. Construction was diverted and the area, now referred to as the Gray Fossil Site, is home to the Gray Fossil Museum, operated by East Tennessee University.

4. Kingston was the state capital for one day.

The Tennessee General Assembly met on September 21, 1807 in Kingston, TN to fulfill their part in the Tellico Treaty of 1805. Cherokee leaders had agreed to surrender the land if the area would then become the capital of Tennessee. Officials kept their promise, sadly only for a day, before moving the capital back to Knoxville.

5. The element, tennessine, was named for the state.

Established in 1943, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and was part of the World War II Manhattan Project that developed the world’s first atomic bomb. Since the war, the laboratory continued to focus on neutron research. In 2010, with the aid of Russian scientists, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Tennessee, the ORNL helped discover and name the synthetic element now known as tennessine. The Tennessee ties were the inspiration for the element’s name.

6. Tennessee has 10 state songs.

Producing music legends like Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, and Isaac Hayes, it’s no surprise that the state has adopted numerous songs. Here is the current list of Tennessee’s 10 state songs:

“My Homeland, Tennessee”
Adopted in 1925
Lyrics by Nell Grayson Taylor, music by Roy Lamont Smith

“When It’s Iris Time in Tennessee”
Adopted in 1935
Written by Willa Waid Newman

“My Tennessee”
Adopted in 1955 as the official public school song
Written by Frances Hannah Tranum

“Tennessee Waltz”
Adopted in 1965
Written by Redd Stewart, composed by Pee Wee King

“Rocky Top”
Adopted in 1982
By Boudleaux and Felice Bryant

“Tennessee”
Adopted in 1992
By Vivian Rorie

“The Pride of Tennessee”
Adopted in 1996
By Fred Congdon, Thomas Vaughn, and Carol Elliot

“A Tennessee Bicentennial Rap: 1796-1996”
Adopted in 1996 as the official Bicentennial Rap song
By Joan Hill Hanks of Signal Mountain

“Smoky Mountain Rain”
Adopted in 2010
Written by Kye Fleming and Dennis Morgan

“Tennessee”
Adopted in 2012

7. Tennessee has no tolled roads or bridges.

Don’t worry about toll tags or fines because the state of Tennessee has no tolled roads or bridges. However, it does boast the sixth-highest mileage of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, which are utilized on freeways in the congestion-prone Nashville and Memphis metropolitan areas.

8. The tow truck was invented in Tennessee.

Invented in 1916 by Ernest Holmes of Chattanooga, TN, to help recover a Ford Model T from the Chickamauga Creek, the tow truck has been hauling cars for over 100 years. The original company, the Ernest Holmes Company, was eventually purchased by William G. Miller as part of Miller Industries in 1990. You can even visit The International Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame & Museum, Inc. in Chattanooga, TN.

9. The first self service grocery store, Piggly Wiggly, was founded in Tennessee.

In September of 1916 the Piggly Wiggly opened its doors in Memphis, TN with its latest concept of a full self-service grocery store. Founder Clarence Saunders, allowed customers to select the products they wanted rather than having the customer choose from a list of items. The Piggly Wiggly also distributed the first ever printed receipt. A replica of the original store can be found in the Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium of Memphis, Tennessee.

10. It’s illegal to bring a live skunk into Tennessee.

With this final bit of Tennessee trivia, you’ll need to leave your skunk at home, because according to Tennessee Code Ann. § 70-4-208, it’s a Class C misdemeanor to “import, possess, or cause to be imported into this state any type of live skunk.” Skunks are known vectors for rabies, so allowing more skunks into the state could potentially increase the prevalence of rabies.

Now that you’ve brushed up on some Tennessee trivia, we encourage you to get out there and visit “Tennessee—America at Its Best.” Looking for fun things to do in Tennessee besides rafting with Cascade Outdoors? Check out our blog, 5 Fun Things To Do In Tennessee.