Tennessee Factoids (Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga: earthquake, live, restaurant)

[LauraC]

More Factoids:

In a survey conducted by Overdrive Magazine, truckers rated Tennessee Number 3 in the country for Best Roads (behind Texas and Florida). What did they rate the Best Road In The US? I-40 in Tennessee. (Worst Roads: Louisiana, Pennsylvania, California, Illinois, Michigan)

Memphis is the hardwood lumber capital of the world.

In November 2006, in a sweep that spanned 24 states, 10,000 wanted felons were captured. Among them was a convicted s*ex offender from Rickman, Tennessee who US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales called "the worst of the worst."


The Most Popular baby boy and baby girl names in Tennessee in both 2005 and 2006 were William and Madison.

Kenton is known for its albino grey squirrel (white squirrels) population.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics says Tennessee's unemployment rate of 4.5 (October 2006) puts it at Number 30 among the other states for the best unemployment rate. (Top 5: Hawaii-2.1, Utah-2.5, Virginia-2.9, Nebraska-3.0, Florida-3.1) (Bottom 5: Michigan-6.9, Mississippi-6.7, South Carolina-6.6, Alaska-6.4, District of Columbia-5.9)

The Tennessee State Tree is the Yellow Poplar.

Bradford is known for its Doodle Soup. (Go ahead, ask, you know you want to. )

Tennessee was the first state to return to the Union after the Civil War.

[hiknapster]

You know I will. What the heck is Doodle Soup?

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by mbmouse

Actually there are several TV stations that feature this topic at least once a week. I think it is channel 5 in East TN that has a segment called "On 1 tank of gas in TN" or some such name and the guy goes to these different sites and restaurants. It is very nice to see news that includes GOOD news and cultural goings on in a region.

I really like this. "On 1 tank of Gas in TN" sounds like a good way to learn about your new state.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

You know I will. What the heck is Doodle Soup?

Okay, I'm reading this. I do not actually have first hand knowledge of this soup. Doodle soup pros, jump in to correct anything.

Bake a chicken. Mix the drippings in the pan with a cup of vinegar and a cup of water. Season with red hot peppers. Boil. Serve over crackers or biscuits or pour it back over your chicken.

[hiknapster]

It's so different that I guess you'd just have to try it!

I googled "doodle soup." Wow. Did you know that there is a Doodle Soup queen?

[LauraC]

Here are some places that celebrate flowers or food in their annual festivals/events in Tennessee. I realize just about every annual festival has food as a part of the festival but the food fests listed here are about the food. (Some previously mentioned)

Winchester: High On The Hog Barbecue Cook-Off - Also, arts and crafts, carnival rides. - May

Roan Mountain: The Rhododendrum Festival - 3rd week in June

Peter's Hollow: Peter's Hollow Egg Fight - Contestants tap hard boiled eggs against each other to see which will crack first. All contestants welcome. Bring eggs (chicken eggs only) - Annual event held Easter weekend every year since 1823.

Chattanooga: River Roast - Barbecue competition - also, rowing regatta, volleyball tournament - May

Pegram: Pegram Fish Fry - March

Tullahoma: Jack Daniel's World Champion Invitational Bar-B-Que Cook-off - Invited cooking teams participate, fest attendees taste and vote - also, country music, clogging, crafts, food booths, sometimes tractor pull - September

Bell Buckle: Daffodil Day - flower vendors, antiques vendors, live entertainment - March

Columbia: Spring Garden Plantation Pilgrimage - end of March or beginning of April

Cosby: Ramp Festival (note: ramps are onion-like) - Maid of the Ramps selected, bluegrass music, crafts - first Sunday in May

Ripley: Tomato Festival - tomato tasting, gospel music, country music, arts and crafts, parade, baby crawling contest, pistol shooting contest - first weekend in July.

Pulaski: Chili Cook-Off - October

Portland: Strawberry Festival - 3rd weekend in May

Shady Valley: Cranberry Festival - cranberry dinner, parades, children's events, gospel and bluegrass music, clogging - second week in October

Savannah: National Catfish Derby Festival - best hushpuppies and catfish cook-off competitions, catfish skinning contest, gospel, bluegrass and country music, arts and crafts - held throughout the summer with different events on different weeks.

Oneida: Sorghum Festival - molasses making, live music, arts and crafts, food - second weekend in September.

Dayton: Strawberry festival - strawberry eating, beauty pageant, parade, country music, crafts, carnival rides - May

Knoxville: Dogwood Arts Festival - people put lights under their blossomed Dogwood trees to show them off during a night tour by admirers. Pink arrows in the streets show the way. Also, performances, athletic activities throughout the city. - April

Rutledge: Grainger County Tomato Festival - tomato fight (previously mentioned in an earlier post in this thread), music - last weekend in July

Bell Buckle: Moon Pie Festival (previously mentioned) - world's largest moon pie, watermelon seed spitting contest, 10 mile run, games, country music, parade - June

South Pittsburg: Cornbread Festival (previously mention in this thread) - cornbread eating, crafts booths, kids' events, music - first weekend in May.

Paris: World's Biggest Fish Fry (previously mentioned) Also has a rodeo, craft show, a down and dirty dance, beauty pageant and a catfish race down troughs of water set up on the courthouse lawn. - last full week in April.


I'm sure there are a lot more. More festivals in a different category tomorrow.

[hiknapster]

I looooove Grainger County tomatoes. Best tomatoes in the world! I had guests and couldn't get to the festival this year but plan to attend next year. It's suppose to be really great.

[FL_TN_Nana]

*Reelfoot Lake (NW TN in Lake County) was formed by the New Madrid Earthquake of 1811-12

(Oh, and have you ever tried Earthquake Cake? It's delicious!)


*There are 15 sites in TN managed by the National Park Service -- thank you!

*Crockett County (in West TN) was named for Davy Crockett; the county seat is the town of Alamo

[Tek_Freek]

My sister-in-law is a direct descendant of Davy Crockett.

Does that count as a factoid?

[middletnjoe]

The Jack Daniels BBQ cook-off is in Lynchburg not Tullahoma.