Editing Tennessee (section)

==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Tennessee}}
{{See also|List of Tennessee locations by per capita income}}
[[File:Geo Map of Median Income by Location in Tennessee.png|thumb|alt=refer to caption|A geomap showing the counties of Tennessee colored by the relative range of that county's median income.]]
[[File:Bar Chart of Poverty by Age and Gender in Tennessee.svg|thumb|alt=refer to caption|Chart showing poverty in Tennessee, by age and gender (red = female)]]

As of 2021, Tennessee had a [[gross regional domestic product|gross state product]] of $418.3 billion.<ref name="GDPByState">{{cite web |title=GDP by State |url=https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-state |website=GDP by State &#124; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) |publisher=Bureau of Economic Analysis |access-date=March 26, 2021}}</ref> In 2020, the state's [[per capita income|per capita personal income]] was $30,869. The [[Household income in the United States|median household income]] was $54,833.<ref name=stateprofile>{{cite web |title=Tennessee |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0400000US47 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 20, 2021 |location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref> About 13.6% percent of the population was below the [[poverty line]].<ref name="PopEstUS"/> In 2019, the state reported a total employment of 2,724,545 and a total number of 139,760 employer establishments.<ref name="PopEstUS"/> Tennessee is a [[Right-to-work law|right-to-work]] state, like most of its Southern neighbors.<ref>{{cite web |title=Right-to-Work Laws |url=https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/right-to-work-laws-and-bills.aspx |website=ncsl.org |publisher=National Conference of State Legislatures |access-date=May 28, 2021 |location=Washington, D.C. |archive-date=May 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210530095504/https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/right-to-work-laws-and-bills.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Trade union|Unionization]] has historically been low and continues to decline, as in most of the U.S.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flessner |first1=Dave |title=Union membership drops in Tennessee as legislature considers putting right to work laws in state constitution |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/politics/state/story/2020/jan/22/union-membership-drops-tennessee-legislature-considers-putting-right-work-laws-state-constitution/513713/ |access-date=May 31, 2021 |work=Chattanooga Times Free Press |date=January 22, 2020}}</ref>

===Taxation===
{{see also|State income tax}}
Tennessee has a reputation as a low-tax state and is usually ranked as one of the five states with the lowest tax burden on residents.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stebbins|first=Samuel|date=September 27, 2018|title=Tax policy: States with the highest and lowest taxes|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/taxes/2018/04/06/states-highest-and-lowest-taxes-3-6/482944002/|work=USA Today|access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref> Despite being low-tax, it is ranked third among U.S. states for fiscal health.<ref>{{Cite web |title=STATE FISCAL RANKINGS {{!}} 2018 EDITION |url=https://www.mercatus.org/publication/3-ranking-states-fiscal-condition-tennessee |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=George Mason Univ.|date=October 9, 2018 }}</ref> It is one of nine states that do not have a [[state income tax|general income tax]]; the [[sales tax]] is the primary means of funding the government.<ref>{{cite news|last=Loudenback|first=Tanza|date=February 6, 2020|title=There are 9 US states with no income tax, but 2 of them still tax investment earnings|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/states-with-no-income-tax-map|work=Business Insider|access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref> The [[Hall income tax]] was imposed on most [[dividend]]s and [[interest]] at a rate of 6% but was completely phased out by 2021.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pare|first=Mike|date=February 1, 2019|title=Tennessee on its way to becoming a bona fide no-income-tax state in 2021|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/edge/story/2019/feb/01/hall-income-tax-ending-2021/487137/|work=[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]]|access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref> The first $1,250 of individual income and $2,500 of joint income was exempt from this tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/hall-income-tax/due-date-and-tax-rates.html|title=Due Date and Tax Rates|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=tn.gov|publisher=Tennessee Department of Revenue|access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref> [[Property tax]]es are the primary source of revenue for local governments.<ref name=tacir2002/>

The state's sales and [[use tax]] rate for most items is 7%, the second-highest in the nation, along with Mississippi, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Indiana. Food is taxed at 4%, but candy, dietary supplements, and prepared foods are taxed at 7%.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://revenue.support.tn.gov/hc/en-us/articles/202989425-What-are-the-state-and-local-sales-tax-rates-in-Tennessee-#:~:text=Effective%20July%201%2C%202017%2C%20the,the%20applicable%20local%20tax%20rate.|title=What are the state and local sales tax rates in Tennessee?|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=December 11, 2017|website=tn.gov|publisher=Tennessee Department of Revenue|access-date=June 5, 2020|archive-date=June 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605101114/https://revenue.support.tn.gov/hc/en-us/articles/202989425-What-are-the-state-and-local-sales-tax-rates-in-Tennessee-#:~:text=Effective%20July%201%2C%202017%2C%20the,the%20applicable%20local%20tax%20rate.|url-status=dead}}</ref> Local sales taxes are collected in most jurisdictions at rates varying from 1.5% to 2.75%, bringing the total sales tax between 8.5% and 9.75%. The average combined rate is about 9.5%, the nation's highest average sales tax.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sher|first=Andy|date=July 27, 2019|title=Yet again, Tennessee combined state, local sales tax rates nation's highest|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2019/jul/27/yet-again-tennessee-combined-state-local-sale/499940/|work=[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]]|access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref> [[Intangible property]] tax is assessed on the shares of stockholders of any loan, investment, insurance, or for-profit cemetery companies. The assessment ratio is 40% of the value times the jurisdiction's tax rate.<ref name=tacir2002>{{cite report|last1=Green|first1=Harry A.|last2=Chervin|first2=Stan A.|last3=Lippard|first3=Cliff|last4=Joseph|first4=Linda|date=February 2002|title=The Local Property Tax in Tennessee|url=https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tacir/documents/LOCAL_PROPERTY_TAX.pdf|publisher=[[Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations]]|access-date=June 5, 2020}}</ref> Since 2016, Tennessee has had no inheritance tax.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/inheritance-tax.html |title=TN Department of Revenue |access-date=October 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023211105/https://www.tn.gov/revenue/taxes/inheritance-tax.html |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Agriculture===
Tennessee has the [[Agriculture in Tennessee|eighth-most farms in the nation]], which cover more than 40% of its land area and have an average size of about {{convert|155|acre|km2}}.<ref name=ff1>{{cite web|url=https://www.farmflavor.com/tennessee-agriculture/|title=Tennessee Agriculture 2021|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=2021|website=Farm Flavor|publisher=Tennessee Department of Agriculture|access-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref> Cash receipts for crops and livestock have an estimated annual value of $3.5 billion, and the agriculture sector has an estimated annual impact of $81 billion on the state's economy.<ref name=ff1/> [[Beef cattle]] is the state's largest agricultural commodity, followed by [[broilers]] and [[poultry]].<ref name=homeandfarm13/> Tennessee ranks 12th in the nation for the number of cattle, with more than half of its farmland dedicated to cattle grazing.<ref name=ff1/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://animalscience.ag.utk.edu/beef/tnbeefind.htm |title=Tennessee's Cattle Industry |publisher=The University of Tennessee |first=James B. |last=Neel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102215825/http://animalscience.ag.utk.edu/beef/tnbeefind.htm |archive-date=January 2, 2009}}</ref> [[Soybean]]s and [[maize|corn]] are the state's first and second-most common crops, respectively,<ref name=homeandfarm13/> and are most heavily grown in West and Middle Tennessee, especially the northwestern corner of the state.<ref>{{cite web|title=Soybeans: Production by County|url=https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Crops_County/sb-pr.php|website=National Agricultural Statistics Service |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=April 9, 2021|date=2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Corn: Production Acreage by County|url=https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Crops_County/cr-pr.php|website=National Agricultural Statistics Service |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=July 3, 2021|date=2019}}</ref> Tennessee ranks seventh in the nation in [[cotton]] production, most of which is grown in the fertile soils of central West Tennessee.<ref name=nassreport>{{cite report|author=National Agricultural Statistics Service|date=May 12, 2020|title=Crop Production|url=https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/tm70mv177/w0892x33f/c247fc69b/crop0520.pdf|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|issn=1936-3737|access-date=April 8, 2021|via=Cornell University Library}}</ref>

The state ranks fourth nationwide in the production of [[tobacco]], which is predominantly grown in the Ridge-and-Valley region of East Tennessee.<ref name=farmbureau>{{cite web |title=Tennessee Farm Facts |date=September 16, 2020 |url=https://www.tnfarmbureau.org/tnfarmfacts#1600268610620-b115b543-6e71 |publisher=Tennessee Farm Bureau |access-date=April 9, 2021 |location=Columbia, Tennessee}}</ref> Tennessee farmers are also known worldwide for their cultivation of [[tomato]]es and [[Horticulture|horticultural]] plants.<ref>{{cite web |title=The United States of Tomatoes |url=https://www.farmflavor.com/lifestyle/united-states-of-tomatoes/ |website=Farm Flavor |publisher=Journal Communications, Inc. |access-date=April 9, 2021 |date=May 1, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Mozo|first=Jessica|date=February 10, 2012|title=McMinnville, Tennessee: Nursery Capital of the World|url=https://www.tnhomeandfarm.com/agriculture/mcminnville-nursery-capital/|journal=Tennessee Home & Farm|volume=|issue=Winter 2011-12|pages=<!--Needed-->|doi=|access-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref> Other important cash crops in the state include [[hay]], [[wheat]], [[egg as food|eggs]], and [[snap bean]]s.<ref name=ff1/><ref name=farmbureau/> The Nashville Basin is a top equestrian region, due to soils that produce grass favored by horses. The [[Tennessee Walking Horse]], first bred in the region in the late 18th century, is one of the world's most recognized horse breeds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://imh.org/index.php/exhibits/online/horse-breeds-of-the-world/north-america/item/2201-tennessee-walking-horse |title=Tennessee Walking Horse |publisher=International Museum of the Horse |access-date=March 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628085230/http://imh.org/index.php/exhibits/online/horse-breeds-of-the-world/north-america/item/2201-tennessee-walking-horse |archive-date=June 28, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Tennessee also ranks second nationwide for [[mule]] breeding and the production of [[goat meat]].<ref name=farmbureau/> The state's timber industry is largely concentrated on the Cumberland Plateau and ranks as one of the top producers of [[hardwood]] nationwide.<ref>{{cite report|author=Ummey Honey|date=2019|title=Economic Impacts of Forestry and Forest Product Industries in Tennessee|url=https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI22585121/|publisher=Tennessee State University|docket=AAI22585121|access-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref>

===Industry===
[[File:Nissan Leaf 2018 (31874639158) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|alt=A Nissan Leaf, which is manufactured in Tennessee|A [[Nissan Leaf]], one of six models manufactured at the [[Nissan Smyrna Assembly Plant]], the largest automotive assembly plant in North America]]

Until [[World War II]], Tennessee, like most Southern states, remained predominantly agrarian. Chattanooga became one of the first industrial cities in the south in the decades after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], when many factories, including iron foundries, steel mills, and textile mills were constructed there.<ref name=jsh/> But most of Tennessee's industrial growth began with the federal investments in the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] (TVA) and the [[Manhattan Project]] in the 1930s and 1940s. The state's industrial and manufacturing sector continued to expand in the succeeding decades, and Tennessee is now home to more than 2,400 advanced manufacturing establishments, which produce a total of more than $29 billion worth of goods annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tnecd.com/industries/advanced-manufacturing/|title=Advanced Manufacturing|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020|website=tnecd.com|publisher=Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development|access-date=March 31, 2021}}</ref>

The [[automotive industry in the United States|automotive industry]] is Tennessee's largest manufacturing sector and one of the nation's largest.<ref name="commercialappealauto">{{cite news |last1=Evanoff |first1=Ted |title=How Tennessee became Car Country, USA |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/money/cars/2018/02/28/tennessee-auto-industry-nissan-smyrna-gm-spring-hill-volkswagen-chattanooga/1028963001/ |access-date=October 9, 2020 |work=The Commercial Appeal |date=March 27, 2018}}</ref> [[Nissan Motors|Nissan]]'s [[Nissan Smyrna Assembly Plant|assembly plant]] in [[Smyrna, Tennessee|Smyrna]] is the largest automotive assembly plant in North America.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schmitt |first1=Bertel |title=Who makes the most cars in North America? Who has the largest auto factory in the U.S.? Don't be embarrassed, few get it right |url=https://dailykanban.com/2015/02/27/makes-cars-north-america-largest-auto-factory-u-s-dont-embarrassed-get-right/ |access-date=May 25, 2021 |work=Daily Kanban |date=February 27, 2015}}</ref> Two other automakers have assembly plants in Tennessee: [[General Motors]] in [[Spring Hill Manufacturing|Spring Hill]] and [[Volkswagen]] in [[Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant|Chattanooga]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Grigsby |first=Karen |title=Tennessee's huge auto industry: 7 things you may not know |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/cars/2018/03/27/tennessee-auto-industry-smyrna-nissan-gm-spring-hill-vw-chattanooga/447779002/ |work=The Tennessean |date=March 27, 2018 |access-date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] is constructing [[Blue Oval City|an assembly plant]] in [[Stanton, Tennessee|Stanton]] that is expected to be operational in 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Connolly |first1=Daniel |title=Ford aims to create 5,700 jobs with new factory, battery plant near Memphis |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/money/business/development/2021/09/27/ford-electric-vehicles-memphis-regional-megasite-new-jobs/5884664001/ |access-date=September 28, 2021 |work=The Commercial Appeal |date=September 27, 2021 |location=Memphis}}</ref> In addition, the state contains more than 900 automotive suppliers.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.-->|title=Tennessee courts a changing industry|url=https://www.autonews.com/technology/tennessee-courts-changing-industry|work=[[Automotive News]]|location=Detroit|date=November 11, 2019|access-date=March 31, 2021}}</ref> Nissan and [[Mitsubishi Motors]] have their North American corporate headquarters in [[Franklin, Tennessee|Franklin]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Jeremy W. |title=Nissan to Move U.S. Headquarters to Tennessee |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/10/business/nissan-to-move-us-headquarters-to-tennessee.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311154203/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/10/business/nissan-to-move-us-headquarters-to-tennessee.html |archive-date=March 11, 2018 |url-status=live |url-access=limited |work=The New York Times |date=November 10, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McGee |first1=Jamie |last2=West |first2=Emily R.|title=Mitsubishi North America to move headquarters to Nashville area |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2019/06/25/mitsubishi-moves-headquarters-franklin-tennessee-california/1549906001/ |access-date=October 9, 2020 |work=The Tennessean |date=June 25, 2019}}</ref> The state is also one of the top producers of [[food industry|food and drink products]], its second-largest manufacturing sector.<ref name=nam/> A number of well-known brands originated in Tennessee, and even more are produced there.<ref name=ustr/> Tennessee also ranks as one of the largest producers of [[chemical industry|chemicals]].<ref name=nam>{{cite web |title=2020 Tennessee Manufacturing Facts |url=https://www.nam.org/state-manufacturing-data/2020-tennessee-manufacturing-facts/ |website=nma.org |publisher=National Association of Manufacturers |access-date=May 25, 2021 |location=Washington, D.C. |date=2021}}</ref> Chemical products manufactured in Tennessee include [[industrial chemicals]], [[paints]], [[pharmaceuticals]], [[synthetic resin|plastic resin]]s, and [[soap]]s and [[personal care|hygiene product]]s. Additional important products manufactured in Tennessee include [[metal fabrication|fabricated metal]] products, [[electrical equipment]], [[consumer electronics]] and [[home appliance|electrical appliances]], and nonelectrical machinery.<ref name=ustr>{{cite web|url=https://ustr.gov/map/state-benefits/tn|title=Tennessee Trade Facts|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020|publisher=Office of the United States Trade Representative|access-date=April 9, 2021}}</ref>

===Business===
[[File:Oak Ridge National Laboratory Aerial View.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Aerial view of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory|Established in 1942, [[Oak Ridge National Laboratory]] is the largest national laboratory in the Department of Energy system]]

[[Economy of Tennessee#Business|Tennessee's commercial sector]] is dominated by a wide variety of companies, but its largest service industries include health care, transportation, music and entertainment, banking, and finance. Large corporations with headquarters in Tennessee include [[FedEx]], [[AutoZone]], [[International Paper]], and [[First Horizon Corporation]], all based in Memphis; [[Pilot Company|Pilot Corporation]] and [[Regal Entertainment Group]] in Knoxville; [[Hospital Corporation of America]] based in Nashville; [[Unum]] in Chattanooga; Acadia Senior Living and [[Community Health Systems]] in Franklin; Eastman Chemical headquartered in Kingsport; [[Dollar General]] in Goodlettsville, and LifePoint Health, [[Tractor Supply Company]], and [[Delek US]] in Brentwood.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.-->|title=Tennessee home to 9 of world's largest companies|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2011/04/22/tennessee-home-to-9-of-worlds-largest.html|work=Nashville Business Journal|date=April 22, 2011|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Flessner|first=Dave|date=November 18, 2019|title=What are Tennessee's biggest businesses?|url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2019/nov/18/whare-tennessees-biggest-businesses/508512/|work=Chattanooga Times Free Press|access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref>

Since the 1990s, the geographical area between Oak Ridge and Knoxville has been known as the Tennessee Technology Corridor, with more than 500 high-tech firms in the region.<ref name="sherman">{{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=Erik |title=Tennessee's Tech Corridor |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2596132/tennessee-s-tech-corridor.html |website=[[Computerworld]] |access-date=May 27, 2021 |date=July 27, 2000}}</ref> The [[research and development]] industry in Tennessee is also one of the largest employment sectors, mainly due to the prominence of [[Oak Ridge National Laboratory]] (ORNL) and the [[Y-12 National Security Complex]] in the city of [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee|Oak Ridge]]. ORNL conducts scientific research in [[materials science]], [[nuclear physics]], energy, [[supercomputer|high-performance computing]], [[systems biology]], and [[National security of the United States|national security]], and is the largest [[United States Department of Energy national laboratories|national laboratory]] in the [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]] (DOE) system by size.<ref name=bigproblems>{{cite web |title=Solving Big Problems |url=https://www.ornl.gov/sites/default/files/solving_big_problems_130514.pdf |publisher=Oak Ridge National Laboratory |access-date=May 28, 2021 |date=June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2019/03/f60/doe-fy2020-laboratory-table.pdf |title=Department of Energy FY 2020 Congressional Budget Request |date=March 2019 |publisher=Department of Energy |access-date=September 30, 2020}}</ref> The technology sector is also a rapidly growing industry in Middle Tennessee, particularly in the Nashville metropolitan area.<ref>{{cite news|last=Layden|first=Melanie|date=April 6, 2021|title=Booming tech industry in Middle Tennessee|url=https://www.wsmv.com/news/booming-tech-industry-in-middle-tennessee/article_971f50ca-971d-11eb-bac7-4fa8e230a0cd.html|work=WSMV-TV|location=Nashville|access-date=April 10, 2021|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410080657/https://www.wsmv.com/news/booming-tech-industry-in-middle-tennessee/article_971f50ca-971d-11eb-bac7-4fa8e230a0cd.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Energy and mineral production===
{{Further|List of power stations in Tennessee|List of power stations operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority}}
[[File:TVA IMG 2993 (28921461062).jpg|thumb|left|alt=Photograph of Norris Dam, a hydroelectric power station operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)|[[Norris Dam]], a [[hydroelectric dam]] operated by the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]].]]

Tennessee's electric utilities are regulated monopolies, as in many other states.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Energy policy in Tennessee|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Energy_policy_in_Tennessee|website=Ballotpedia|access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Map of Deregulated Energy Markets (Updated 2018) – Electric Choice|url=https://www.electricchoice.com/map-deregulated-energy-markets/|website=Electricchoice.com|access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> The [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] (TVA) owns over 90% of the state's generating capacity.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tennessee - State Energy Profile Overview - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)|url=https://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=TN#tabs-3|website=Eia.gov|access-date=May 1, 2020}}</ref> [[Nuclear power in the United States|Nuclear power]] is Tennessee's largest source of electricity generation, producing about 43.4% of its power in 2021. The same year, 22.4% of the power was produced from [[Coal power in the United States|coal]], 17.8% from [[Gas-fired power plant|natural gas]], 15.8% from [[Hydroelectric power in the United States|hydroelectricity]], and 1.3% from other [[Renewable energy in the United States|renewables]]. About 59.7% of the electricity generated in Tennessee produces [[Low-carbon power|no greenhouse gas emissions]].<ref>{{cite report|author=U.S. Energy Information Administration - Independent Statistics & Analysis|date=February 2021|title=Electric Power Monthly with Data for December 2021|url=https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/current_month/february2022.pdf|publisher=[[Energy Information Administration]]|access-date=June 23, 2022}}</ref> Tennessee is home to the first [[Nuclear reactor|nuclear power reactor]] in the U.S. to begin operation in the 21st century, which is at the [[Watts Bar Nuclear Plant]] in [[Rhea County, Tennessee|Rhea County]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Mooney|first=Chris|date=June 17, 2016|title=It's the first new U.S. nuclear reactor in decades. And climate change has made that a very big deal|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/06/17/the-u-s-is-powering-up-its-first-new-nuclear-reactor-in-decades/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref> Tennessee was also an early leader in hydroelectric power,<ref>{{cite news|date=July 20, 2014|title=Tennessee ties to hydropower run deep|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/2014/07/21/tennessee-ties-hydropower-run-deep/12915069/|work=The Tennessean|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref> and today is the third-largest hydroelectric power-producing state east of the [[Rocky Mountains]].<ref name=energyprofile>{{cite web|url=https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=TN|title=Tennessee - State Energy Profile Analysis|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=June 20, 2019|website=eia.gov|publisher=Energy Information Administration|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref> Tennessee is a net consumer of electricity, receiving power from other TVA facilities in neighboring states.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|last=Popovich|first=Nadja|date=December 24, 2018|title=How Does Your State Make Electricity?|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/24/climate/how-electricity-generation-changed-in-your-state.html|url-access=limited|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref>

Tennessee has very little petroleum and natural gas reserves, but is home to one oil refinery, in Memphis.<ref name=energyprofile/> [[Bituminous coal]] is mined in small quantities in the Cumberland Plateau and Cumberland Mountains.<ref name=tdecmineral/> There are sizable reserves of [[lignite coal]] in West Tennessee that remain untapped.<ref name=tdecmineral>{{cite web|url=https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/tennessee-geological-survey/geology-redirect/tennessee-s-mineral-industry.html|title=Tennessee's Mineral Industry|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=2017|website=tn.gov|publisher=[[Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation]]|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref> Coal production in Tennessee peaked in 1972, and today less than 0.1% of coal in the U.S. comes from Tennessee.<ref name=energyprofile/> Tennessee is the nation's leading producer of [[ball clay]].<ref name="tdecmineral" /> Other major mineral products produced in Tennessee include [[sand]], [[gravel]], [[crushed stone]], [[Portland cement]], [[marble]], [[sandstone]], [[clay|common clay]], [[lime (material)|lime]], and [[zinc]].<ref name=tdecmineral/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nmic/mineral-industry-tennessee|title=The Mineral Industry of Tennessee|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=National Minerals Information Center|publisher=[[U.S. Geological Survey]]|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref> The [[Copper Basin (Tennessee)|Copper Basin]], in Tennessee's southeastern corner in Polk County, was one of the nation's most productive [[copper mining in the United States|copper mining]] districts between the 1840s and 1980s, and supplied about 90% of the copper the Confederacy used during the Civil War.<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite web|url=https://www.gamineral.org/writings/copperbasin-cochran.html|title=Minerals and Mining of the Copper Basin|last=Cochran|first=Kim|date=<!--Not given-->|website=gamineral.org|publisher=Georgia Mineral Society|access-date=May 30, 2008}}|{{cite book|last=Lillard|first=Roy G.|date=1980|title=Bradley County|url=https://archive.org/details/tennesseecountyh06lill|publisher=Memphis State University Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/tennesseecountyh06lill/page/63 63]|isbn=0-87870-099-4 |via=Internet Archive}}|{{cite news|last=Waters|first=Jack|date=<!--Not given, probably 1990s-->|title=Mining the Copper Basin in Southeast Tennessee|url=http://www.telliquah.com/History2.htm|work=The Tellico Plains Mountain Press|location=Tellico Plains, Tennessee|access-date=May 30, 2008}}}}</ref> Mining activities in the basin resulted in a major environmental disaster, which left the surrounding landscape barren for more than a century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tva.gov/Environment/Environmental-Stewardship/Land-Management/The-Greening-of-Copper-Basin|title=The Greening of Copper Basin|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=tva.gov|publisher=Tennessee Valley Authority|access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> Iron ore was another major mineral mined in Tennessee until the early 20th century.<ref>{{cite report|last=Burchard|first=Ernest F.|date=1927|title=The Brown Iron Ores of West-Middle Tennessee|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0795d/report.pdf|publisher=U.S. Geologic Survey|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref> Tennessee was also a top producer of [[phosphate]] until the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite report|last1=Morgan|first1=Herman Jr.|last2=Parks|first2=W.L.|date=April 1967|title=Reclamation of Mined Phosphate Land|url=https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1218&context=utk_agbulletin|publisher=University of Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station|docket=416|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref>

===Tourism===
[[File:Downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee.JPG|thumb|right|alt=Photograph of Gatlinburg with the Great Smoky Mountains in the background|The [[resort city]] of [[Gatlinburg, Tennessee|Gatlinburg]] borders the [[Great Smoky Mountains National Park]], which is the most visited national park in the United States.<ref name="gsmnpnumbers">{{cite web |title=Visitation Numbers |url=https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/visitation-numbers.htm |website=[[National Park Service]] |access-date=October 7, 2020}}</ref>]]

Tennessee is the 11th-most visited state in the nation,<ref>{{cite news |last=Polland |first=Jennifer |title=A Detailed Look At How Americans Travel Within The US |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-popular-us-states-for-tourism-2014-10 |access-date=April 18, 2021 |work=Business Insider |date=October 30, 2014}}</ref> receiving a record of 126 million tourists in 2019.<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite news |last1=Vásquez Russell |first1=Melanie |title=Report: State, East TN counties travel, tourism industries saw record-breaking growth in 2019 |url=https://www.wate.com/news/top-stories/report-state-east-tn-counties-travel-tourism-industries-saw-record-breaking-growth-in-2019/ |access-date=April 18, 2021 |publisher=[[WATE-TV]] |date=August 25, 2020 |location=Knoxville, TN}}|{{cite report|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=August 2020|title=2019 Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee|url=https://industry.tnvacation.com/sites/industry/files/component/pod/2019%20Economic%20Impact.pdf|publisher=Tennessee Department of Tourist Development|access-date=April 18, 2021}}|{{cite press release |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Tourism in Tennessee Shattered Records with $23 Billion in Travel Spending and 126 Million Domestic Person Stays in 2019|url=https://www.tn.gov/tourism/news/2020/8/25/economic-impact-press-release-2020.html |location=Nashville |publisher=Tennessee Department of Tourist Development |date=August 25, 2020 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}}}</ref> Its top tourist attraction is the [[Great Smoky Mountains National Park]], the most visited national park in the U.S., with more than 14 million visitors annually.<ref name="gsmnpnumbers"/> The park anchors a large tourism industry based primarily in nearby [[Gatlinburg, Tennessee|Gatlinburg]] and [[Pigeon Forge, Tennessee|Pigeon Forge]], which includes [[Dollywood]], the most visited ticketed attraction in Tennessee.<ref name=traveltips/> Attractions related to Tennessee's musical heritage are spread throughout the state.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=14 Best Things to Do in Memphis|url=https://travel.usnews.com/Memphis_TN/Things_To_Do/|work=U.S. News & World Report|date=May 14, 2020|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=21 Best Things to Do in Nashville|url=https://travel.usnews.com/Nashville_TN/Things_To_Do/|work=U.S. News & World Report|date=January 3, 2020|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref> Other top attractions include the [[Tennessee State Museum]] and [[Parthenon (Nashville)|Parthenon]] in Nashville; the [[National Civil Rights Museum]] and [[Graceland]] in Memphis; [[Lookout Mountain]], the [[Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel]], [[Ruby Falls]], and the [[Tennessee Aquarium]] in Chattanooga; the [[American Museum of Science and Energy]] in Oak Ridge, the [[Bristol Motor Speedway]], [[Jack Daniel's Distillery]] in Lynchburg, and the [[Hiwassee River|Hiwassee]] and [[Toccoa/Ocoee River|Ocoee]] rivers in Polk County.<ref name=traveltips>{{cite web |url=http://traveltips.usatoday.com/top-ten-places-tennessee-100050.html |title=Top Ten Places to Go in Tennessee |first=Johnny |last=Kampis |work=USA Today |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812153205/http://traveltips.usatoday.com/top-ten-places-tennessee-100050.html |archive-date=August 12, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[National Park Service]] preserves four Civil War battlefields in Tennessee: [[Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park]], [[Stones River National Battlefield]], [[Shiloh National Military Park]], and [[Fort Donelson National Battlefield]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/tennessee.htm|title=Tennessee Civil War Battles|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=nps.gov|publisher=Tennessee Civil War Battles|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref> The NPS also operates [[Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area]], [[Cumberland Gap National Historical Park]], [[Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail]], [[Trail of Tears#Landmarks and commemorations|Trail of Tears National Historic Trail]], [[Andrew Johnson National Historic Site]], and the [[Manhattan Project National Historical Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/state/tn/index.htm|title=Tennessee|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=nps.gov|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref> Tennessee is home to eight [[National Scenic Byways]], including the [[Natchez Trace Parkway]], the [[East Tennessee Crossing Byway]], the [[Great River Road]], the [[U.S. Route 441 in Tennessee|Norris Freeway]], [[Tennessee State Route 63|Cumberland National Scenic Byway]], [[Tennessee State Route 111|Sequatchie Valley Scenic Byway]], [[The Trace (Land Between the Lakes)|The Trace]], and the [[Cherohala Skyway]].<ref name="scenicbyway">{{cite web |title=Tennessee Byways |url=https://nsbfoundation.com/blog/tennessee-byways/ |website=National Scenic Byway Foundation |access-date=September 13, 2020 |date=March 25, 2020}}</ref><ref name="fivenewroads">{{cite news |title=Five TN roads designated as National Scenic Byway or All-American Road |url=https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/43394697/five-tn-roads-designated-as-national-scenic-byway-or-allamerican-road |access-date=March 4, 2021 |work=[[WRCB-TV]] |location=Chattanooga |date=February 23, 2021}}</ref> Tennessee maintains 56 state parks, covering {{convert|132,000|acre|km2}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Find a Park |url=https://tnstateparks.com/about/find-a-park |website=tnstateparks.com |publisher=Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation |access-date=July 23, 2021 |location=Nashville}}</ref> Many reservoirs created by TVA dams have also generated water-based tourist attractions.<ref name="flessner">{{cite news |last1=Flessner |first1=Dave |title=Study: TVA lakes have nearly $12 billion economic impact to region |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2017/may/02/tvlakes-have-nearly-12-billieconomic-impact-s/425831/ |access-date=May 16, 2021 |work=[[Chattanooga Times Free Press]] |date=May 2, 2017}}</ref>