History of Tennessee in Timeline

Tennessee is a landlocked state in the Southeastern United States, bordering eight other states. It's the 36th-largest state by area and the 15th-most populous, with an estimated population of 7.22 million as of 2024.

1907: Start of Alcohol Ban

Beginning in 1907, Tennessee initiated a series of laws to ban effectively the sale, transportation, and production of alcohol, marking it as the first state in the nation to do so.

1909: Blues Music on Beale Street

In 1909, musicians such as W. C. Handy were performing in clubs on Beale Street in Memphis, marking an early chapter in the city's blues heritage.

1915: Start of the Great Migration

In 1915, the Great Migration began, leading many Black Tennesseans to leave for industrial cities in the Northeast and Midwest due to increasing racial segregation and poor living standards.

December 30, 1917: Lowest Recorded Temperature

On December 30, 1917, the lowest recorded temperature in Tennessee was −32 °F (−36 °C) at Mountain City.

1917: Completion of Alcohol Ban

By 1917, Tennessee had fully enacted a ban on the sale, transportation, and production of alcohol through a series of laws.

July 9, 1918: Worst Rail Accident in U.S. History

On July 9, 1918, the worst rail accident in U.S. history occurred in Nashville, Tennessee, when two passenger trains collided head-on, resulting in 101 deaths and 171 injuries.

August 18, 1920: Tennessee Ratifies the Nineteenth Amendment

On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, granting women the right to vote.

1920: Presidential Election

In 1920, Tennesseans narrowly supported Warren G. Harding over Ohio Governor James Cox in the presidential election.

1925: Scopes Trial

In 1925, John T. Scopes was tried and convicted in Dayton, Tennessee, for teaching evolution, violating the state's Butler Act. William Jennings Bryan prosecuted, and Clarence Darrow defended Scopes in a publicized trial.

1925: Grand Ole Opry Broadcast

In 1925, the Grand Ole Opry, based in Nashville, began broadcasting and is the longest-running radio show in the country.

1926: Authorization of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In 1926, Congress authorized the establishment of a national park in the Great Smoky Mountains.

1927: Victor Recording Sessions

In 1927, the Victor recording sessions in Bristol marked the beginning of the country music genre.

1928: Presidential Election

In 1928, Tennesseans voted for Herbert Hoover over New York Governor Al Smith in the presidential election.

1929: Start of the Great Depression

In 1929, the Great Depression began, severely impoverishing much of Tennessee.

August 9, 1930: Highest Recorded Temperature

On August 9, 1930, the highest recorded temperature in Tennessee was 113 °F (45 °C) at Perryville.

1930: End of the First Wave of the Great Migration

By 1930, the first wave of the Great Migration concluded, during which numerous Black Tennesseans relocated to industrial cities in the Northeast and Midwest due to racial segregation and poor living standards. Additionally, rural Tennesseans moved to larger cities for better employment opportunities.

1933: Creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority

In 1933, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) was created as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal to provide electricity, jobs, flood control, improved waterway navigation, agricultural development, and economic modernization to the Tennessee River Valley.

1934: Official Establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In 1934, the national park in the Great Smoky Mountains was officially established.

1940: Dedication of Great Smoky Mountains National Park

In 1940, the national park in the Great Smoky Mountains was dedicated.

1954: Brown v. Board of Education Decision

In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education.

1955: Integration of Oak Ridge High School

In 1955, Oak Ridge High School became the first school in Tennessee to be integrated following the Brown v. Board of Education decision.

1958: WGC Invitational held in Memphis

Since 1958, the WGC Invitational, a PGA Tour golf tournament, has been held in Memphis.

May 1960: Desegregation of Nashville Facilities

Between February and May 1960, sit-ins in Nashville organized by the Nashville Student Movement led to the desegregation of lunch counters and other facilities in the city.

1962: Baker v. Carr U.S. Supreme Court Case

In 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court case Baker v. Carr arose from a challenge to the rural bias in the apportionment of seats in the Tennessee legislature, establishing the principle of "one man, one vote".

1965: Voting Rights Act

It was not until after passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that African Americans were able to regain their full voting rights in Tennessee.

1966: Republican Senator

In 1966, Howard Baker was first elected, becoming the first Republican U.S. Senator from Tennessee since Reconstruction.

April 4, 1968: Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

On April 4, 1968, James Earl Ray assassinated civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, where King had traveled to support striking African American sanitation workers.

1970: GOP Competitive

In 1970, the elections of Winfield Dunn as governor and Bill Brock to the U.S. Senate helped make the GOP competitive among Whites in statewide elections.

1970: Growth Since 1970

With the exception of a slump in the 1980s, Tennessee has been one of the fastest-growing states in the nation since 1970.

1971: Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe U.S. Supreme Court Case

In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a local activist group in the case of Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, establishing a framework for judicial review of government agencies after the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) attempted to construct Interstate 40 through Overton Park in Memphis.

1972: Peak Coal Production

In 1972, coal production in Tennessee peaked.

1972: Knoxville Smokies play continuously since 1972

Since 1972, the Knoxville Smokies have played continuously. They are members of the Double-A classification Southern League.

1976: Chattanooga Lookouts play continuously since 1976

Since 1976, the Chattanooga Lookouts have played continuously. They are members of the Double-A classification Southern League.

1978: Nashville Sounds begin play

In 1978, the Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball club began playing. They compete in the International League at the Triple-A level.

1978: Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill U.S. Supreme Court Case

In 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court case Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill, which concerned the impact of the Tellico Dam on the endangered snail darter fish, led to amendments of the Endangered Species Act.

1982: 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville

In 1982, the World's Fair, officially known as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition, was held in Knoxville with the theme "Energy Turns the World".

1986: Homecoming '86

In 1986, Tennessee held a yearlong celebration called "Homecoming '86" to honor the state's heritage and culture.

1993: Winter Storm

A significant winter storm occurred in Tennessee in 1993.

1996: Tennessee Bicentennial and Atlanta Summer Olympic Games

In 1996, Tennessee celebrated its bicentennial with "Tennessee 200," including the opening of Bicentennial Mall in Nashville. The whitewater slalom events at the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games were held on the Ocoee River in Polk County.

1997: Tennessee Titans in the NFL

In 1997, the Tennessee Titans began playing in the National Football League (NFL).

1998: Memphis Redbirds begin play

In 1998, the Memphis Redbirds Minor League Baseball club began playing. They compete in the International League at the Triple-A level.

1998: Nashville Predators in the NHL

In 1998, the Nashville Predators began playing in the National Hockey League (NHL).

2000: Start of Hispanic population growth tracking

Between 2000 and 2010, Tennessee's Hispanic population grew by 134.2%, the third-highest rate of any state.

2000: Bush Victory Margin

In 2000, President George W. Bush won the state of Tennessee by a margin of 4%.

2000: Gore Fails to Carry Home State

In the 2000 presidential election, Vice President Al Gore, previously a Democratic U.S. Senator from Tennessee, failed to carry his home state.

2001: Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA

In 2001, the Memphis Grizzlies began playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

2002: Tennessee Lottery Established

In 2002, Tennessee amended its constitution to establish a lottery.

2002: Knoxville Ice Bears begin play

In 2002, the Knoxville Ice Bears began playing and are members of the Southern Professional Hockey League.

2004: Bush's Victory Margin Increased

In 2004, Republican President George W. Bush increased his margin of victory in Tennessee from a 4% to a 14% margin in 2000.

2006: Amendment to Outlaw Same-Sex Marriage

In 2006, the state constitution was amended to outlaw same-sex marriage, which was later invalidated by the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges.

2007: Republican Speaker of the State Senate

In 2007, Ron Ramsey became the first Republican Speaker of the State Senate since Reconstruction.

December 23, 2008: Kingston Fossil Plant Spill

On December 23, 2008, the largest industrial waste spill in United States history occurred at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant, releasing over 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash slurry into the Emory and Clinch Rivers.

2009: Chattanooga FC founded

In 2009, Chattanooga FC was founded.

2010: Population Census

According to the 2010 census, Tennessee's population was less than what it was in 2020. From 2010 to 2019 the state saw an increase from net migration.

2010: Hispanic Population Growth

Between 2000 and 2010, Tennessee's Hispanic population grew by 134.2%, the third-highest rate of any state.

2011: Nashville Superspeedway shut down

In 2011, the Nashville Superspeedway was shut down.

2012: Tribal Land in Federal Trust

In 2012, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians placed 79 acres of land in Henning into federal trust, governed directly by the tribe.

2014: Tennessee Promise Created

In 2014, the Tennessee General Assembly created the Tennessee Promise, providing tuition-free access to two-year post-secondary education programs for in-state high school graduates meeting certain requirements.

2015: Cleanup Completion of Kingston Fossil Plant Spill

The cleanup of the TVA Kingston Fossil Plant spill, which occurred on December 23, 2008, was completed in 2015 at a cost of over $1 billion.

2016: Nashville Becomes Largest City

In 2016, Nashville surpassed Memphis to become Tennessee's largest city.

2016: No Inheritance Tax

In 2016, Tennessee eliminated the inheritance tax.

2016: Republican Presidential Vote

Since 2016, Tennessee has been the most populous state to vote Republican by more than 60% in presidential elections.

2017: TBR Administrative Support

Until 2017, the TBR (Tennessee Board of Regents) also operated six public universities in the state; it now only gives them administrative support.

2018: Top Countries of Origin for Immigrants

In 2018, the top countries of origin for Tennessee's immigrants were Mexico, India, Honduras, China, and Egypt.

2019: Population Increase

Between 2010 and 2019, Tennessee saw a natural population increase of 143,253 and an increase from net migration of 338,428 people into the state.

2019: Chattanooga Red Wolves SC join USL League One

In 2019, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC became a member of the third-tier USL League One.

2019: Record Tourism

In 2019, Tennessee received a record of 126 million tourists, making it the 11th-most visited state in the nation.

2019: Total Employment

In 2019, Tennessee reported a total employment of 2,724,545 and a total number of 139,760 employer establishments.

2019: Foreign-Born Population

In 2019, approximately 5.5% of Tennessee's population was foreign-born, with 42.7% being naturalized citizens and 57.3% being non-citizens.

2020: Population Demographics

According to the 2020 census, 5.7% of Tennessee's population were under age 5, 22.1% were under 18, and 17.1% were 65 or older.

2020: Hispanic or Latino Population

In 2020, 6.9% of Tennessee's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin, up from 4.6% in 2010.

2020: Nashville SC in MLS

In 2020, Nashville SC began playing in Major League Soccer (MLS).

2020: Largest Republican Margin

In 2020, Tennessee voted Republican by the largest margin of any state in terms of number of votes.

2020: Per Capita Personal Income

In 2020, Tennessee's per capita personal income was $30,869, and the median household income was $54,833.

2020: 2020 United States Census

The 2020 United States census reported Tennessee's population at 6,910,840, an increase of 564,735, or 8.90%, since the 2010 census.

2021: Winter Storm

A significant winter storm occurred in Tennessee in 2021.

2021: Gross State Product

As of 2021, Tennessee had a gross state product of $418.3 billion.

2021: Hall Income Tax Phase-Out

By 2021, the Hall income tax, previously imposed on most dividends and interest, was completely phased out in Tennessee.

2021: One Knoxville SC founded

In 2021, One Knoxville SC was founded.

2021: NCAA Division I programs in Tennessee

In 2021, Tennessee has 12 NCAA Division I programs.

2021: Electricity Generation Statistics

In 2021, Tennessee's electricity generation was comprised of nuclear power (43.4%), coal (22.4%), natural gas (17.8%), hydroelectricity (15.8%), and other renewables (1.3%). About 59.7% of the electricity generated produced no greenhouse gas emissions.