Statehood 1796

Tennessee

What is now Tennessee was initially part of North Carolina, and later part of the Southwest Territory, formally established on May 26, 1790, after North Carolina ceded the lands to the federal government in April 1790. The Southwest Territory was governed by appointed Governor William Blount and existed until June 1, 1796, when Tennessee was admitted to the Union as the 16th state. The source text does not describe earlier European colonial claims (Spanish, French, or British) over the Tennessee region in detail.

Statehood
1796
Historic sites
2,270
Military engagements
826

Pre-contact era

The source text does not provide information about pre-contact indigenous peoples of Tennessee. No details about native inhabitants prior to European contact are included in the provided source text.

Colonial history

The Southwest Territory was also known as the Territory South of the River Ohio. Its lands were taken from western areas of Virginia and from lands ceded by the State of North Carolina from the Washington District. The territory's first and only appointed governor was William Blount, appointed by President George Washington.

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The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Explore Tennessee records

2,270
National Register historic sites
National Register listings ›
826
Military engagements
Military history records ›
2
Civil War regiments
Union, Confederate, USCT ›
13
Indigenous groups
Heritage records ›
12
Notable figures
Born in Tennessee ›
44
Colonial-era events
1492 to early statehood ›
2
Archaeological sites
Prehistoric sites ›
Tennessee counties
Census population history ›
Sources

State history content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Historic sites data: National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

About Tennessee

When did Tennessee become a state?
Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796.
What European powers colonized Tennessee?
The territory that became Tennessee passed through several colonial periods. The Southwest Territory was also known as the Territory South of the River Ohio. Its lands were taken from western areas of Virginia and from lands ceded by the State of North Carolina from the Washington District. The territory's first and only appointed governor was William Blount, appointed by President George Washington.
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