List of nature centers in Tennessee
Table:
Name

Location

County

Region

Summary

Bays Mountain Park
Kingsport
Sullivan
East Tennessee
3,550-acre nature preserve and city-owned park, features 44-acre lake, a nature center with a planetarium theater, animal exhibits, and an adventure ropes course

Beaman Park Nature Center
Nashville
Davidson
Middle Tennessee
website, operated by the City, over 1,700 acres

Bells Bend Outdoor Center
Nashville
Davidson
Middle Tennessee
website, 808 acres, operated by the City

Bowie Nature Park
Fairview
Williamson
Middle Tennessee
website, over 700 acres, operated by the City, includes a nature center with exhibits and art, Monkey Treehouse playground, outdoor classroom

Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Lebanon
Wilson
Middle Tennessee
900 acres, features the Merritt Nature Center

Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
Murfreesboro
Rutherford
Middle Tennessee
20 acres of wetlands, children's museum with themes of the arts, culture, science, health and the environment

Fall Creek Falls State Park
Pikeville
Bledsoe
East Tennessee
Over 25,000 acres, Betty Dunn Nature Center

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont
Townsend
Blount
East Tennessee
website, residential environmental learning center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Ijams Nature Center
Knoxville
Knox
East Tennessee
website, 300 acres, partly supported by the City

Lichterman Nature Center
Memphis
Shelby
West Tennessee
65 acres, certified arboretum and nature center, part of the Pink Palace Family of Museums

Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
Millington
Shelby
West Tennessee
13,467 acres, features the Meeman Museum and Nature Center

Owl's Hill Nature Center
Brentwood
Williamson
Middle Tennessee
160 acres, open to individuals and groups on a reservation basis

Reelfoot Lake State Park
Tiptonville
Lake
West Tennessee
280 acres broken into 10 segments, features the R.C. Donaldson Memorial Museum, a natural history museum and nature center

Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center
Chattanooga
Hamilton
East Tennessee
317-acre arboretum, 15 miles of trails, live animals indoor and outdoor, treehouse, formerly the Chattanooga Arboretum & Nature Center

Steele Creek Park
Bristol
Sullivan
East Tennessee
website, over 2,200 acres, operated by the City, includes a nature center, golf course, 54 acre lake, 21 miles of trails

Shelby Bottoms Nature Center
Nashville
Davidson
Middle Tennessee
website, 950 acres of Shelby Bottoms Greenway and 336 acres of adjacent Shelby Park, operated by the City

T. O. Fuller State Park
Memphis
Shelby
West Tennessee
1,138 acres, seasonal nature center

Warner Park Nature Center
Nashville
Davidson
Middle Tennessee
2,684 acres, operated by the City

Looking at the following table along with the supporting evidence listed at the end.

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Bays Mountain Park is a 3,550 acres ( 14.4 km2 ) nature park and planetarium located on Bays Mountain in Kingsport , Tennessee , featuring cross-cut viewing sections of beaver dams , bee hives , cave systems , and more . The park features a nature center and outdoor native animal displays including a bobcat , raptor center , river otters , a waterfowl aviary , wolf pen and free-roaming white-tail deer . Wolf howling sessions are held regularly , where people are allowed to howl with the wolves , spurring the wolves into howling even more . There is also a herpetarium with snakes and amphibians . The Steadman Heritage Farmstead Museum is a 19th-century period living history farm museum . One popular activity is called the Barge Ride . This attraction features a ride through the Bays Mountain Reservoir on a pontoon boat while learning about the nature around you . The park also features a freeze-drying laboratory where animals of the region who die of natural causes are preserved for everyone to examine up close . Other activities include hiking , orienteering , mountain biking , camping and fishing . There is also an adventure course with a zip line .
Kingsport is a city in Sullivan and Hawkins counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee ; most of the city is in Sullivan County and the city is the largest in both counties , but is the county seat of neither . As of the 2010 census the population was 48,205 ; as of 2018 the estimated population was 54,076 . Kingsport is the largest city in the Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol , TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area ( MSA ) , which had a population of 309,544 as of 2010 . The Metropolitan Statistical Area is a component of the Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol , TN-VA Combined Statistical Area - commonly known as the Tri-Cities region . Census data from 2006-2008 for the Tri-Cities Combined Statistical Area estimates a population of 496,454 . Kingsport is commonly included in what is known as the Mountain Empire , which spans a portion of southwest Virginia and the mountainous counties in northeastern Tennessee . The name Kingsport is a simplification of King 's Port , originally referring to the area on the Holston River known as King 's Boat Yard , the head of navigation for the Tennessee Valley .
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of the 2010 census , the population was 156,823 . Its county seat is Blountville . Sullivan County is part of the Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol , TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is a component of the Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol , TN-VA Combined Statistical Area , commonly known as the Tri-Cities region . Sullivan is Tennessee 's second-oldest county ; it was established in 1779 when the area was still part of North Carolina . It was part of the extra-legal State of Franklin from 1784 to 1788 .
Nashville is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Tennessee . The city is the county seat of Davidson County and is located on the Cumberland River . The city 's population ranks 24th in the U.S. Named for Francis Nash , a general of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War , the city was founded in 1779 . The city grew quickly due to its strategic location as a port on the Cumberland River and , in the 19th century , a railroad center . Nashville seceded with Tennessee during the American Civil War ; in 1862 it was the first state capital in the Confederacy to fall to Union troops . After the war , the city reclaimed its position and developed a manufacturing base . Since 1963 , Nashville has had a consolidated city-county government , which includes six smaller municipalities in a two-tier system . The city is governed by a mayor , a vice-mayor , and a 40-member metropolitan council ; 35 of the members are elected from single-member districts , while the other five are elected at-large . Reflecting the city 's position in state government , Nashville is home to the Tennessee Supreme Court 's courthouse for Middle Tennessee , one of the three divisions . Nashville is a center for the music , healthcare , publishing , private prison , banking , and transportation industries . It is home to numerous colleges and universities , such as Tennessee State University , Vanderbilt University , Belmont University , Fisk University , Trevecca Nazarene University , and Lipscomb University . Entities with headquarters in the city include Asurion , Bridgestone Americas , Captain D 's , CoreCivic , Dollar General , Hospital Corporation of America , LifeWay Christian Resources , Logan 's Roadhouse , and Ryman Hospitality Properties .
Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of the 2010 census , the population was 626,681 , making it the second-most populous county in Tennessee , after Shelby County . Its county seat is Nashville , the state capital . In 1963 , the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged , so the county government is now known as the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County , or Metro Nashville for short . Davidson County has the largest population in the 13-county Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin Metropolitan Statistical Area . Nashville has always been the region 's center of commerce , industry , transportation , and culture , but it did not become the capital of Tennessee until 1827 and did not gain permanent capital status until 1843 .
Middle Tennessee is a distinct portion of the state of Tennessee , delineated according to state law as the 41 counties in the Middle Grand Division of Tennessee .
Fairview is a city located in Williamson County , Tennessee . It is part of the Nashville metropolitan area . The population was 7,720 at the 2010 census , which was a 33.1% increase in population from the 2000 census . In the communities just outside Fairview , there are an additional 4,100 people , for a total of over 11,000 people living within the Fairview area . [ citation needed ]
Williamson County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of the 2010 United States Census , the population was 205,226 . The county seat is Franklin . The county is named after Hugh Williamson , a North Carolina politician who signed the U.S. Constitution . Adjusted for relative cost of living , Williamson County is one of the wealthiest counties in the United States . Williamson County is part of the Nashville-Davidson - Murfreesboro - Franklin , TN Metropolitan Statistical Area .
Cedars of Lebanon State Park is a state park in Wilson County , Tennessee , in the southeastern United States . It consists of 900 acres ( 364 ha ) situated amidst the 9,420-acre ( 3,810 ha ) Cedars of Lebanon State Forest . The park and forest are approximately 10 miles ( 16 km ) south of Lebanon , Tennessee . Cedars of Lebanon State Forest is known for its cedar glades , a unique type of ecosystem that has adapted to the thin ( or nonexistent ) soil layers that often occur in the eastern Central Basin . These glades are typically flanked by thick stands of red cedar , a type of juniper tree that can survive in soil layers too thin to support most large wooded plants . The presence of the red cedar in the basin reminded the region 's early Euro-American settlers of the Lebanese cedar forests of Biblical fame .
Lebanon /ˈlɛbnən/ is the county seat of Wilson County , Tennessee , United States . The population was 26,190 at the 2010 census and an estimated 35,050 in 2018 . Lebanon is located in Middle Tennessee , approximately 25 miles ( 40 km ) east of downtown Nashville . Lebanon is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area .
Wilson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of the 2010 census , the population was 113,993 . Its county seat is Lebanon . The largest city is Mt . Juliet . Wilson County is part of the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin , TN Metropolitan Statistical Area .
The Discovery Center is a children 's museum , nature center and wetlands boardwalk near downtown Murfreesboro , Tennessee . Exhibits include themed exploration areas for town life , science , trains , cars , a fire engine and farmers market . There are live animals on display , an outdoor nature play area , and trails through the wetlands .
Murfreesboro is a city in , and the county seat of , Rutherford County , Tennessee , United States . The population was 108,755 according to the 2010 census , up from 68,816 residents certified in 2000 . In 2018 , census estimates showed a population of 141,344 . Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropolitan area of Middle Tennessee , 34 miles ( 55 km ) southeast of downtown Nashville , and is the largest suburb of Nashville and the sixth largest city in Tennessee . The city is home to both the center of population of Tennessee and the geographic center of Tennessee . Since the 1990s , Murfreesboro has been Tennessee 's fastest growing major city and one of the fastest growing cities in the country . Murfreesboro is also home to Middle Tennessee State University , the second largest undergraduate university in the state of Tennessee , with 22,729 total students as of fall 2014 . In 2006 , Murfreesboro was ranked by Money as the 84th best place to live in the United States , out of 745 cities with a population over 50,000 . In 2018 , Murfreesboro was ranked by Money as the 19th best place to live in the United States .
Rutherford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee . It is located in Middle Tennessee . As of the 2010 census , the population was 262,604 , growing to an estimated 324,890 in 2018 , making it the fifth-most populous county in Tennessee . Its county seat is Murfreesboro , which is also the geographic center of Tennessee . As of 2010 , it is the center of population of Tennessee . Rutherford County is included in the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin , TN Metropolitan Statistical Area .
Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park is a state park in Van Buren and Bledsoe counties , in the U.S. state of Tennessee . The over 26,000-acre ( 110 km2 ) park is centered on the upper Cane Creek Gorge , an area known for its unique geological formations and scenic waterfalls . The park 's namesake is the 256-foot ( 78 m ) Fall Creek Falls , the highest free-fall waterfall east of the Mississippi River .
Pikeville is a city in Bledsoe County , Tennessee , United States . The population was 1,608 at the 2010 census . It is also the county seat of Bledsoe County .
Bledsoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of the 2010 census , the population was 12,876 . Its county seat is Pikeville .
East Tennessee comprises approximately the eastern third of the U.S. state of Tennessee , one of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee defined in state law . East Tennessee consists of 33 counties , 30 located within the Eastern Time Zone and three counties in the Central Time Zone , namely Bledsoe , Cumberland , and Marion . East Tennessee is entirely located within the Appalachian Mountains , although the landforms range from densely forested 6,000-foot ( 1,800 m ) mountains to broad river valleys . The region contains the major cities of Knoxville , Chattanooga , and Johnson City , Tennessee 's third , fourth , and ninth largest cities , respectively . East Tennessee is both geographically and culturally part of Appalachia , and has been included - along with Western North Carolina , North Georgia , Eastern Kentucky , Southwest Virginia , and the state of West Virginia - in every major definition of the Appalachian region since the early 20th century . East Tennessee is home to the nation 's most visited national park - the Great Smoky Mountains National Park - and hundreds of smaller recreational areas . East Tennessee is often called the birthplace of country music , due largely to the 1927 Victor recording sessions in Bristol , and throughout the 20th and 21st centuries has produced a steady stream of musicians of national and international fame . Oak Ridge was the site of the world 's first successful uranium enrichment operations which paved the way for the atomic age . The Tennessee Valley Authority , created to spur economic development and help modernize the region 's economy and society , has its administrative operations headquartered in Knoxville and its power operations headquartered in Chattanooga .
Townsend is a city in Blount County , Tennessee , in the southeastern United States . The population was 244 at the 2000 census and 448 at the 2010 census . For thousands of years a site of Native American occupation by varying cultures , Townsend is one of three gateways to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park . It has several museums and attractions relating to the natural and human history of the Great Smokies . Identifying as The Peaceful Side of the Smokies , Townsend has the least traffic of the three main entrances to the national park . The park 's other two entrances - one just south of Gatlinburg , Tennessee , and the other just north of Cherokee , North Carolina - are home to multiple commercial attractions that draw millions of tourists annually . Townsend is low-key , with a handful of inexpensive restaurants and motels and several businesses geared toward outdoor sports , and a world-renowned horse show .
Blount County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of the 2010 census , the population was 123,010 . It had an estimated population of 131,349 in 2018 . The county seat is Maryville , which is also the county 's largest city . Blount County is included in the Knoxville , TN Metropolitan Statistical Area .
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an American national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains , part of the Blue Ridge Mountains , which are a division of the larger Appalachian Mountain chain . The border between Tennessee and North Carolina runs northeast to southwest through the centerline of the park . Great Smoky Mountains is the most visited national park in the United States with over 11.3 million recreational visitors in 2016 . The Appalachian Trail passes through the center of the park on its route from Maine to Georgia . The park was chartered by the United States Congress in 1934 and officially dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 .
Knoxville is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee , and the county seat of Knox County . As of the 2010 census , the city has a population of 178,874 , and is Tennessee 's third largest city after Nashville and Memphis . Knoxville is the principal city of the Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area , which was 868,546 in 2015 . First settled in 1786 , Knoxville was the first capital of Tennessee . The city struggled with geographic isolation throughout the early 19th century . The arrival of the railroad in 1855 led to an economic boom . During the Civil War , the city was bitterly divided over the secession issue , and was occupied alternately by both Confederate and Union armies . Following the war , Knoxville grew rapidly as a major wholesaling and manufacturing center . The city 's economy stagnated after the 1920s as the manufacturing sector collapsed , the downtown area declined and city leaders became entrenched in highly partisan political fights . Hosting the 1982 World 's Fair helped reinvigorate the city , and revitalization initiatives by city leaders and private developers have had major successes in spurring growth in the city , especially the downtown area . Knoxville is the home of the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee , whose sports teams , the Tennessee Volunteers , are popular in the surrounding area . Knoxville is also home to the headquarters of the Tennessee Valley Authority , the Tennessee Supreme Court 's courthouse for East Tennessee , and the corporate headquarters of several national and regional companies .
Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of the 2010 census , the population was 432,226 , making it the third-most populous county in Tennessee , and the 153rd-most populous county or county-equivalent in the nation . Its county seat is Knoxville , the third-most populous city in Tennessee . Knox County is included in the Knoxville metropolitan area . The county is at the geographical center of the Great Valley of East Tennessee . Near the heart of the county is the origin of the Tennessee River at the union of the Holston and French Broad rivers .
Lichterman Nature Center is a certified arboretum and nature center located in East Memphis , Tennessee . It has many outdoor and indoor animal exhibits , as well as several activities and events . The Lichterman Nature Center is one of the facilities within the Pink Palace Family of Museums .
Memphis is a city located along the Mississippi River in southwestern Shelby County , Tennessee , United States . The 2018 city population was 650,618 , making Memphis the largest city on the Mississippi River , the second most populous city in Tennessee , as well as the 26th largest city in the United States . Greater Memphis is the 42nd largest metropolitan area in the United States , with a population of 1,348,260 in 2017 . The city is the anchor of West Tennessee and the greater Mid-South region , which includes portions of neighboring Arkansas and Mississippi . Memphis is the seat of Shelby County , the most populous county in Tennessee . As one of the more historic and culturally significant cities of the southern United States , the city features a wide variety of landscapes and distinct neighborhoods . The first European explorer to visit the area of present-day Memphis was Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto in 1541 with his expedition into the New World . The high Chickasaw Bluffs protecting the location from the waters of the Mississippi would then be contested between the Spanish , French , and the English as Memphis took shape . Modern Memphis was founded in 1819 by three prominent Americans : John Overton , James Winchester , and future president Andrew Jackson . Memphis grew into one of the largest cities of the Antebellum South as a market for agricultural goods , natural resources like lumber , and the American slave trade . After the American Civil War and the end of slavery , the city experienced even faster growth into the 20th century as it became among the largest world markets for cotton and lumber . Home to Tennessee 's largest African-American population , Memphis played a prominent role in the American civil rights movement and was the site of Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. 's 1968 assassination .
Shelby County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of the 2010 census , the population was 927,644 . It is the state 's largest county both in terms of population and geographic area . Its county seat is Memphis , a port on the Mississippi River and the second most populous city in Tennessee . The county was named for Governor Isaac Shelby ( 1750-1826 ) of Kentucky . Shelby County is part of the Memphis , TN-MS-AR Metropolitan Statistical Area . It is bordered on the west by the Mississippi River . Located within the Mississippi Delta , the county was developed as a center of cotton plantations in the antebellum era , and cotton continued as an important commodity crop well into the 20th century . The economy has become more diversified .
West Tennessee is one of the three major regions ( called Grand Divisions ) of the state of Tennessee . The region includes 21 counties west of the Tennessee River . It consists primarily of flat lands that have rich soil and vast floodplain areas for the Mississippi River . Of the three regions , West Tennessee is the most sharply defined geographically . [ citation needed ] It is bounded by the Mississippi River and the western Tennessee River Valley and is the lowest-lying of the three divisions . This region 's boundaries have been expanded slightly to include all of Hardin County , which is bisected by the Tennessee River . [ citation needed ] The states of Kentucky and Mississippi provide the respective northern and southern boundaries , with the exception of a portion of Lauderdale County , Alabama , which lies southeast of Hardin County . As part of the Mississippi River basin , West Tennessee enjoys rich soil that led to large-scale cotton farming during the antebellum period and remains agriculturally significant today . The Grand Divisions , consisting of West Tennessee , Middle Tennessee , and East Tennessee , are also legally distinct . The earliest mention of this comes in the 1835-36 Acts of Tennessee , which states that the Supreme Court would hold one session each year in East Tennessee ( Knoxville ) , Middle Tennessee ( Nashville ) , and West Tennessee ( Jackson ) . According to the State Constitution , no more than two of the Tennessee Supreme Court 's five Justices can be residents of any one Grand Division and the Supreme Court rotates meeting in courthouses in each of the three divisions . The Supreme Court building for West Tennessee is in Jackson , Tennessee .
The Pink Palace Family of Museums is a group of museums maintained by the City of Memphis and Memphis Museums , Inc . The Pink Palace Family of Museums display collections of historical , educational , and technological significance . The following museums are part of the Pink Palace Family of Museums :
Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park is a state park in Shelby County , Tennessee near Memphis , Tennessee , located in the Southeastern United States . The park borders the Mississippi River and contains two lakes - Poplar Tree Lake and Lake Piersol . The Meeman Museum and Nature Center - named for conservationist and journalist Edward J. Meeman , the former editor of the Memphis Press-Scimitar , - is located on the park 's grounds . The park covers 12,539 acres ( 50.74 km2 ) and is the most visited state park in Tennessee . The unincorporated community Shelby Forest is adjacent to the park .
Millington is a city in Shelby County , Tennessee , United States . As of the 2010 census , it had a population of 10,176 . Millington was granted the title Flag City Tennessee by the Tennessee State Legislature . The Naval Support Activity Mid-South is located at the former Memphis Naval Air Station , which was changed functions from a training base to an administrative one in 1993 . There is also a general aviation airport that features the third longest runway in Tennessee .
The Owl 's Hill Nature Sanctuary is a 160-acre ( 0.6 km2 ) wildlife sanctuary in northwestern Williamson County , Tennessee . Fossil traces in Ordovician limestone and 300-year-old giant trees , vestiges of the great eastern deciduous forest that once covered Tennessee , are important collections on the site , as are pioneer trees and seasonal wildflowers . The ponds and wetlands provide valuable amphibian habitat , home to more than a dozen species . 125 species of birds have been recorded on site through population surveys performed by the National Audubon Society . Nearly all mammals native to Middle Tennessee are in residence at Owls Hill . In 1990 , an ambitious Master Plan was adopted to restore the natural habitat by overcoming almost a century of farm usage . First , wildlife conditions were improved through removal of several miles of wire fencing ; water sources were improved and added ; old orchard trees were pruned to restore their productivity . Increases in both predator and prey populations indicate that a healthy ecosystem is now evolving . The second phase included the construction of a trail system , teaching platforms , and remodeling of the visitor center to enhance environmental education programming . Finally , in 2007 , the Sanctuary initiated an exotic plant removal project . Native trees , shrubs , wildflowers and grasses are being reintroduced . Emphasis in all these areas continues to expand with current efforts directed at preserving the land surrounding the sanctuary against encroaching development .
Brentwood is a suburb of Nashville , Tennessee , located in Williamson County , part of Middle Tennessee . The population was 37,060 as of the 2010 U.S. Census , and estimated at 42,505 in 2018 .
Reelfoot Lake State Park is a state park in the northwest corner of Tennessee in the United States . It encompasses Reelfoot Lake and is situated in Lake and Obion counties . A major hunting and fishing preserve , it comprises 25,000 acres ( 100 km2 ) , 15,000 acres ( 61 km2 ) of which are water , and harbors almost every kind of shorebird , as well as the golden and American bald eagles . Other animals are also diverse and abundant . The many species of flowering and non-flowering plants attract botany enthusiasts from all over the country . Baldcypress dominates the margins of the lake , but many other trees and shrubs are also present .
Tiptonville is a town in and the county seat of Lake County , Tennessee , United States . Its population was 2,439 as of the 2000 census and 4,464 in 2010 , showing an increase of 2,025 . It is also home to the Northwest Correctional Complex , a maximum security prison , known for once housing mass murderer Jessie Dotson .
Lake County is a county located in the northwest corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee . As of the 2010 census , the population was 7,832 , making it the fifth-least populous county in Tennessee . Its county seat is Tiptonville . It shares a border with Kentucky to the north and is separated from Missouri to the west by the Mississippi River . Reelfoot Lake , formed after the Madrid earthquakes in the early 19th century , occupies much of the northern part of the county . Issues of control of the lake and the development of cotton plantations in this part of the county resulted in violence by local farmers against corporate owners in 1908 ; the state called in the militia to suppress night riding . Reelfoot Lake and surrounding property were finally acquired by the state beginning in 1914 . It is now within the Reelfoot Lake State Park and preserved for public use .
Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center ( 317 acres ) is a nonprofit arboretum , botanical garden , nature center and historical site located at 400 Garden Road , Chattanooga , Tennessee . The facility includes the 317-acre arboretum , 15 miles of trails , live animals indoor and outdoors , and a treehouse . The nature center participates in the endangered Red Wolf Species Survival Plan or SSP , breeding red wolves in captivity .
Chattanooga is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County , Tennessee , along the Tennessee River bordering Georgia . With an estimated population of 180,557 in 2017 , it is the fourth-largest city in Tennessee and one of the two principal cities of East Tennessee , along with Knoxville . Served by multiple railroads and Interstate highways , Chattanooga is a transit hub . Chattanooga lies 118 miles ( 190 km ) northwest of Atlanta , Georgia , 112 miles ( 180 km ) southwest of Knoxville , Tennessee , 134 miles ( 216 km ) southeast of Nashville , Tennessee , 102 miles ( 164 km ) east-northeast of Huntsville , Alabama , and 147 miles ( 237 km ) northeast of Birmingham , Alabama . The Chattanooga metropolitan statistical area is the fourth largest in Tennessee and the city of Chattanooga anchors a three-state area that includes Southeast Tennessee , Northwest Georgia , and Northeast Alabama . Major industry driving the economy includes automotive , advanced manufacturing , food and beverage production , healthcare , insurance , tourism , and back office and corporate headquarters . The city , with a downtown elevation of about 680 feet ( 210 m ) , is at the transition between the ridge-and-valley portion of the Appalachian Mountains and the Cumberland Plateau . Its official nickname is Scenic City , alluding to the surrounding by mountains and ridges . Unofficial nicknames include River City , Chatt , Nooga , Chattown , and Gig City , the latter a reference to Chattanooga 's claims that it has the fastest internet service in the Western Hemisphere . Chattanooga is internationally known for the 1941 song Chattanooga Choo Choo by Glenn Miller and his orchestra . Chattanooga is home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ( UTC ) and Chattanooga State Community College .
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee . It is located in East Tennessee . As of the 2010 census , the population was 336,463 , making it the fourth-most populous county in Tennessee . Its county seat is Chattanooga . The county was named for Alexander Hamilton , the first Secretary of the Treasury . Hamilton County is one of 95 counties within the state of Tennessee . Hamilton County is the fourth most populated county in Tennessee and has continued to grow in recent years . Hamilton County is part of the Chattanooga , TN-GA Metropolitan Statistical Area . The county was created on October 25 , 1819 . Hamilton county extended to the state line after absorbing parts of three different counties including Bledsoe , Marion , and Rhea . The county 's creation was the result of a treaty signed with the Cherokee Indians in 1817 . Hamilton County is the eighth-highest income Tennessee location by per capita income ( $ 26,588 ) .
Bristol is a city in Sullivan County , Tennessee , United States . The population was 26,702 at the 2010 census . It is the twin city of Bristol , Virginia , which lies directly across the state line between Tennessee and Virginia . The boundary between the two cities is also the state line , which runs along State Street in their common downtown district . Bristol is a principal city of the Kingsport−Bristol−Bristol , TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is a component of the Johnson City−Kingsport−Bristol , TN-VA Combined Statistical Area − commonly known as the Tri-Cities region . Bristol is probably best known for being the site of some of the first commercial recordings of country music , showcasing Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family , and later a favorite venue of the mountain musician Uncle Charlie Osborne . The U.S. Congress recognized Bristol as the Birthplace of Country Music in 1998 , and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum is located in Bristol . Bristol is the birthplace of Tennessee Ernie Ford . Bristol is also the site of Bristol Motor Speedway , a NASCAR short track that is one of the most well-known motorsports facilities in the country .
T.O . Fuller State Park is a state park in the city of Memphis , Tennessee , USA . It consists of 1,138 acres ( 461 ha ) of mostly forest located in South Memphis on Mitchell Road . It is the only state park within the city limits and is suitable for wildlife . The park is named in honor of Dr. Thomas O. Fuller , who spent his life empowering and educating African Americans . The park facilities were originally built for the use of African Americans in the Great Depression by the Civilian Conservation Corps ( CCC ) . It was the second state park in the USA that was open to African Americans . CCC camp number 1464-SP-10 , which was composed of African Americans , initiated construction of the park facilities in 1938 . During excavation for a proposed swimming pool in 1940 , CCC workers unearthed evidence of a prehistoric village . The site has since been developed as Chucalissa Indian Village and includes a village , preserved archeological excavations and the C.H . Nash Museum at Chucalissa .
Edwin Warner Park and Percy Warner Park , collectively known as Warner Parks , are two major public parks in Nashville , Tennessee . They are part of the park system managed by the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation of Nashville and Davidson County . Percy Warner Park 's front entrance is located at the end of Belle Meade Boulevard . The parks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Warner Park Historic District . The district is primarily within Nashville along the southern edge of Davidson County , Tennessee , but it extends into Williamson County , Tennessee as well . The two parks are adjacent to each other , separated by Old Hickory Boulevard , and are located approximately 9 mi ( 14 km ) from downtown Nashville . They are bounded on the northwest by Tennessee State Route 100 , on the east and north by Chickering Road , and partially on the south by Old Hickory Blvd . and Vaughn Road . The two parks cover 2,684 acres ( 1,086.2 ha ) , making the combined parks the second largest municipal park in the state ( after Shelby Farms Park in Memphis which is 4,500 acres ) . The parks offer a variety of activities , including hiking trails , cross country courses , and an equestrian center . Through funds raised by Friends of Warner Parks , the Warner Parks system added 448 acres in late 2014 , expanding the park to more than 3,000 acres . Two properties were purchased for this expansion to enhance the park resources , including the 225-acre Burch Reserve with wooded hills and an old-growth forest previously owned by H. G. Hill Realty .