Tennessee Cities and Towns
The Volunteer State  16th State

Climate & Weather:

Tennessee tends to be hot and humid in the summer, though the higher you go into the mountains, the cooler it gets. Temperatures range 66-90 F/19-32 C June-August, but the humidity climbs with them. Expect thunderstorms in summer, especially in July in the Smoky Mountains. The Smokies are comfortably warm on summer days with cool nights.

Spring and autumn see cooler temperatures, 70-85 F/21-29 C, and a slight drop in humidity mean more comfortable touring.

Winters are mild (seldom below 10 F/-12 C), but they're often wet. Snow rarely lasts more than a few days except in the mountains. April-May temperatures range 53-87 F/11-30 C (42-76 F/5-24 C in the Smokies), though spring weather can be unsettled.

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Firsts, Facts, Trivia:  

The largest earthquake in American history, the New Madrid Earthquake, occurred in the winter of 1811-12 in Tennessee.  Reelfoot Lake and Lake Counties were created during this earthquake.

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Featured Tourist Spots:

Rock City Gardens - Take an unforgettable journey high atop Lookout Mountain! Enjoy the quiet woodland paths and gardens. Discover ancient rock formations. Explore the 400 species of plants, flowers and shrubs. Each step is a discovery! Cast your wish upon the 140-foot high falls. Stand mightily upon world-famous Lover's Leap and wrap yourself in the magnificent view.

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Tennessee History:

First visited by the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1540, the Tennessee area would later be claimed by both France and England as a result of the 1670s and 1680s explorations of Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet, sieur de la Salle, and James Needham and Gabriel Arthur. Great Britain obtained the region following the French and Indian Wars in 1763. During 1784–87, the settlers formed the “state” of Franklin, which was disbanded when the region was allowed to send representatives to the North Carolina legislature. In 1790 Congress organized the territory south of the Ohio River, and Tennessee joined the Union in 1796. Although Tennessee joined the Confederacy during the Civil War, there was much pro-Union sentiment in the state, which was the scene of extensive military action.

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