LOCAL’S ALMANAC

Tennessee Roots

WHETHER YOU’RE HOMEGROWN OR JUST PUTTING DOWN ROOTS, HERE ARE THE ESSENTIALS TO LIVING LIKE A LOCAL, FROM WHERE TO GO TO WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

VOLUNTEER STATE | By most accounts, Tennessee became the “Volunteer State” during the war of 1812. The nickname was reinforced by droves of Tennesseans who fought in the Battle of New Orleans and again in the MexicanAmerican War, when in response to a request for a few thousand soldiers, Tennessee sent nearly 30,000. The University of Tennessee adopted the name as its o cial sports team name in 1902, and Tennesseans have been cheering on the Vols from Knoxville ever since.

HEADWATERS OF THE TENNESSEE RIVER | Tennessee’s namesake river originates just east of Knoxville, where the Holston and French Broad rivers converge. The name of the river itself is thought to come from a Cherokee Indian village, though the certainty of the origin of our state’s name has been forfeited to the ages.

APPALACHIA | Spanning 423 counties across 13 states, Appalachia’s reach – both geographically and culturally–is vast and its influence, on Knoxville and East Tennessee is palpable. From our maker culture to our mountain scenery, our culinary tastes to our spirit of grit, these mountains raised us.