TENNESSEE

State of Tennessee

ORIGIN OF STATE NAME: Probably from Indian name Tenase, which was the principal village of the Cherokee. NICKNAME: The Volunteer State. CAPITAL: Nashville. ENTERED UNION: 1 June 1796 (16th). SONGS: "When It's Iris Time in Tennessee," "The Tennessee Waltz," "My Homeland, Tennessee," "Rocky Top," and "My Tennessee." POEM: "Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee." FOLK DANCE: Square dance. MOTTO: Agriculture and Commerce. FLAG: On a crimson field separated by a white border from a blue bar at the fly, three white stars on a blue circle edged in white represent the state's three main general divisions—East, Middle, and West Tennessee. OFFICIAL SEAL: The upper half consists of the word "Agriculture," a plow, a sheaf of wheat, a cotton plant, and the roman numeral XVI, signifying the order of entry into the Union; the lower half comprises the word "Commerce" and a boat. The words "The Great Seal of the State of Tennessee 1796" surround the whole. The date commemorates the passage of the state constitution. WILD ANIMAL: Raccoon. BIRD: Mockingbird. AMPHIBIAN: Tennessee cave salamander. REPTILE: Box turtle. INSECTS: Ladybug, firefly, and honeybee. CULTIVATED FLOWER: Iris. WILD FLOWER: Passion flower. TREE: Tulip poplar. GEM: Freshwater pearl. ROCKS: Limestone, agate. LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., 3rd Monday in January; Washington's Birthday, 3rd Monday in February; Good Friday, March or April; Decoration Day, last Monday in May; Independence Day, 4 July; primary and county elections, 1st Thursday in August in even-numbered years; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October; General Election Day, 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November in even-numbered years; Veterans Day, 11 November; Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November; Christmas Day, 25 December. TIME: 7 AM EST = noon GMT; 6 AM CST = noon GMT.