Tennessee Local Business Directory

Tennessee achieved statehood in 1796 as the sixteenth state in the Union. This southern state fought on behalf of the Confederacy during the Civil War and contributed more soldiers to the war effort than any other state. Tennessee residents fought on both sides of the conflict. After the war, Tennessee was the first state readmitted to the Union and avoided many of the most oppressive elements of the Reconstruction period. During the Great Depression, many unemployed residents of Tennessee found work through the Tennessee Valley Authority. This project brought electricity to rural areas of the state and provided jobs and income for residents who were in sore need of both.

Tennessee is known as a center for music of all kinds. Memphis gave many famous musicians their starts in the business. Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and many others recorded with Sun Records in Memphis. W. C. Handy was a noted blues artist who often performed on Beale Street in the early 20th century. Farther afield in Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry featured country music by top performers and is a popular tourist destination for many travelers. Other music-oriented attractions include Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Memphis Rock N' Soul Museum.

Tennessee's economy remains largely agricultural. Manufacturing companies provide employment for many residents of this southeastern state, and tourism is a major source of jobs in Tennessee as well.