History of Tennessee in Timeline

Tennessee is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordering eight other states. It is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. As of 2024, its estimated population is 7.22 million.

1907: Tennessee Bans Alcohol Sales

In 1907, as part of the Temperance movement, Tennessee began passing a series of laws that effectively banned the sale, transportation, and production of alcohol.

1909: Blues in Memphis

As early as 1909, musicians such as W. C. Handy performed in the clubs on Memphis's Beale Street, considered by many to be the epicenter of the blues.

1915: Great Migration Begins

In 1915, the first wave of the Great Migration began, with many Black Tennesseans fleeing to industrial cities in the Northeast and Midwest due to increasing racial segregation and poor standards of living.

December 30, 1917: Lowest Recorded Temperature in Tennessee

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

1917: Tennessee Bans Alcohol Production

By 1917, Tennessee had effectively banned the sale, transportation, and production of alcohol through a series of laws passed as part of the Temperance movement.

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

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

August 18, 1920: Tennessee Ratifies 19th 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 for teaching evolution, violating the Butler Act. The case, prosecuted by William Jennings Bryan and defended by Clarence Darrow, highlighted the creationism-evolution controversy.

1925: Grand Ole Opry Broadcast

The Grand Ole Opry, based in Nashville, has broadcast continuously since 1925, making it the longest-running radio show in the country.

1926: Congress Authorizes 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 generally mark the beginning of the country music genre.

1928: Presidential Election

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

1929: Great Depression Begins

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

August 9, 1930: Highest Recorded Temperature in Tennessee

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

1930: End of First Wave of Great Migration

By 1930, the first wave of the Great Migration concluded, with many Black Tennesseans having relocated to industrial cities, and many residents of rural Tennessee moving to larger cities for better job opportunities.

1933: Tennessee Valley Authority Created

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

1934: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Established

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

1940: Great Smoky Mountains National Park Dedicated

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

1954: Brown v. Board of Education

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

1955: Oak Ridge High School Integrated

In 1955, Oak Ridge High School became the first school in Tennessee to be integrated, following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education.

1958: WGC Invitational Held in Memphis

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

May 1960: Nashville Lunch Counter Desegregation

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

1962: Baker v. Carr Supreme Court Case

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

1965: Voting Rights Act Passage

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

1966: Howard Baker Election

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: Republican Gains

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

1970: Fastest-Growing States

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

1971: Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe

In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with a local activist group contesting the construction of Interstate 40 through Memphis' Overton Park in the case Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, establishing a framework for judicial review of government agencies.

1972: Peak Coal Production

Coal production in Tennessee peaked in 1972.

1972: Knoxville Smokies Play Continuously

Since 1972, the Knoxville Smokies Minor League Baseball club have played continuously.

1976: Chattanooga Lookouts Play Continuously

Since 1976, the Chattanooga Lookouts Minor League Baseball club have played continuously.

1978: Nashville Sounds Begin Play

In 1978, the Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball club began playing.

1978: Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill

In 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court case Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill was decided, leading to amendments of the Endangered Species Act after lawsuits by environmental groups concerning the impact of the Tellico Dam on the endangered snail darter fish.

1982: 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville

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

1986: Homecoming '86 Celebration

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

1993: Winter Storm

In 1993, Tennessee experienced a notable winter storm.

1996: Tennessee Bicentennial and Atlanta Olympic Games

In 1996, Tennessee celebrated its bicentennial with a yearlong celebration called "Tennessee 200", including the opening of Bicentennial Mall in Nashville and hosting the whitewater slalom events at the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games on the Ocoee River.

1997: Titans NFL Debut

The Tennessee Titans have played in the National Football League (NFL) since 1997.

1998: Memphis Redbirds Begin Play

In 1998, the Memphis Redbirds Minor League Baseball club began playing.

1998: Predators NHL Debut

The Nashville Predators have played in the National Hockey League (NHL) since 1998.

2000: Hispanic Population Growth

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, Republican President George W. Bush won by a 4% margin in Tennessee.

2000: Al Gore Loss

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

2001: Grizzlies NBA Debut

The Memphis Grizzlies have played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 2001.

2002: Tennessee Establishes Lottery

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

2002: Knoxville Ice Bears Begin Play

In 2002, the Knoxville Ice Bears ice hockey team began playing.

2004: Bush Increased Victory Margin

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

2006: Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

In 2006, the state constitution was amended to outlaw same-sex marriage.

2007: Republican Senate Speaker

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

December 23, 2008: Kingston Fossil Plant Waste 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: Hispanic Population Growth

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

2010: Population Increase Since 2010 Census

Between 2010 and 2019, Tennessee's population experienced both a natural increase and an increase from net migration into the state.

2011: Nashville Superspeedway Shuts Down

In 2011, the Nashville Superspeedway shut down.

2012: Choctaw Land in Trust

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

2014: Tennessee Promise Created

In 2014, the Tennessee General Assembly created the Tennessee Promise, a tuition-free program for in-state high school graduates enrolling in two-year post-secondary education programs.

2015: Cleanup of Kingston Fossil Plant Spill Completed

In 2015, the cleanup was completed of the industrial waste spill that occurred at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant; the cleanup cost over $1 billion.

2016: Nashville Surpasses Memphis in Population

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

2016: Solid Republican State

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

2016: No Inheritance Tax

Since 2016, Tennessee has had no inheritance tax.

2017: TBR University Administration Changes

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

2018: Top Countries of Origin for Tennessee Immigrants

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

2019: Population Increase from Net Migration

Between 2010 and 2019, Tennessee's population grew due to net migration into the state.

2019: Chattanooga Red Wolves SC Join USL League One

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

2019: Record Tourism

In 2019, Tennessee received a record of 126 million tourists.

2019: Foreign-Born Population in Tennessee

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

2019: Employment Statistics

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

2020: Tennessee Population Demographics

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

2020: Hispanic or Latino Population

In 2020, 6.9% of the total population was of Hispanic or Latino origin in Tennessee.

2020: Chattanooga FC Join NISA

In 2020, Chattanooga FC began playing in the National Independent Soccer Association.

2020: Largest Republican Margin

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

2020: 2020 United States Census

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

2020: Per Capita Personal Income

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

2020: Nashville SC MLS Debut

Nashville SC has played in Major League Soccer (MLS) since 2020.

2021: Gross State Product

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

2021: Hall Income Tax Phased Out

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

2021: Winter Storm

In 2021, Tennessee experienced a notable winter storm.

2021: Tennessee Electricity Generation Sources

In 2021, nuclear power was Tennessee's largest source of electricity generation, producing about 43.4% of its power. The same year, 22.4% of the power was produced from coal, 17.8% from natural gas, 15.8% from hydroelectricity, and 1.3% from other renewables.