Tennessee 2014
The capital city of Tennessee is Nashville, located in the north-central part of the state. It is known for its lively music scene and numerous tourist attractions, including the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and historic Ryman Auditorium. Nashville is also home to several universities and colleges, including Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, Fisk University, and Tennessee State University. The city also boasts an extensive system of parks and greenways.
According to countryaah.com, the largest city in Tennessee is Memphis. Located in southwestern Tennessee along the Mississippi River, it is known for its rich history as a cultural center for blues music and soul food. It’s home to Elvis Presley’s Graceland mansion, Sun Studio where many legendary musicians recorded albums, Beale Street with its jazz clubs and restaurants, Mud Island River Park with its scale model of the Mississippi River Delta, and the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated.
Politics of Tennessee in 2014
In 2014, Tennessee was a Republican-dominated state, with both the Governor and the majority of the state legislature being members of the GOP. The Governor of Tennessee at that time was Bill Haslam, who had been elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 with a landslide victory. The Republican Party held a supermajority in both chambers of the state legislature. This meant that they had enough votes to pass legislation without any input from the Democratic minority.
In terms of policy, Tennessee was generally considered to be fairly conservative. It had some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation, as well as some of the strictest gun control laws. The state also had an anti-union stance and favored lower taxes for corporations and businesses. In terms of social issues, Tennessee was seen as being quite conservative; it did not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions until 2015 when it was forced to do so by a federal court ruling.
The economy in Tennessee during 2014 was generally healthy; unemployment rates were low and there were many job opportunities available for those willing to look for them. That said, there were still some areas where poverty levels remained high and many Tennesseans struggled to make ends meet on low wages or part-time jobs that did not offer benefits or other forms of security.
The education system in Tennessee during 2014 received mixed reviews; while there were some schools that performed very well academically, many others struggled due to inadequate funding and resources from state government. This led to an Overall, decline in student performance on standardized tests across the state during this period.
Tennessee also faced several environmental challenges during this period; air pollution levels remained high due to industrial activities taking place across much of the state, while water pollution levels were also concerning due to agricultural runoff from farms located near rivers and streams throughout Tennessee’s landscape. These issues were compounded by climate change which caused extreme weather events such as floods and droughts which further damaged ecosystems across the region.
Overall, Tennessee’s politics during 2014 could be described as conservative with a focus on economic growth through business tax cuts and restrictions on labor unions along with socially conservative policies such as restrictions on abortion rights and same-sex marriage recognition; however, there were still significant challenges facing Tennesseans such as poverty levels remaining high despite job growth along with environmental issues caused by climate change impacting ecosystems throughout the region.
Population of Tennessee in 2014
In 2014, according to beautyphoon, the population of Tennessee was estimated to be around 6.5 million people. The majority of the population was concentrated in metropolitan areas such as Memphis, Nashville-Davidson County, and Knoxville. The state’s population was largely white, with more than 80% of residents identifying as Caucasian or White alone. African Americans made up more than 16% of the state’s population and Hispanics or Latinos composed about 7%.
The median age in Tennessee in 2014 was 37.9 years old and the median household income was $45,890 per year. Poverty levels in the state remained high; nearly 16% of people living below poverty level compared to a national average of 14%. This is partially due to low wages for many jobs available in Tennessee; despite job growth during this period, wages for many positions still remained low due to restrictions on labor unions and other forms of labor protections.
Tennessee has a diverse religious landscape; while Christianity is still by far the most popular religion practiced by Tennesseans, there are also sizable numbers of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews and others with different religious beliefs living in the state. In terms of education attainment levels among adults over 25 years old in 2014, roughly 85% had at least a high school diploma while almost 30% had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Tennessee has long been known as one of “the Bible Belt” states; it has some of the highest church attendance rates in America with nearly 60% attending weekly services according to surveys conducted during this time period. This reflects both its strong religious heritage as well as its socially conservative values which were reflected in many laws passed during this period such as restrictions on abortion rights and same-sex marriage recognition until 2015 when these policies were overturned by federal court rulings.
Economy of Tennessee in 2014
In 2014, according to ablogtophone, the economy of Tennessee was driven largely by the manufacturing, finance, and services sectors. Manufacturing was a major contributor to the state’s economy with products ranging from automotive and aerospace components to food and beverages. The finance sector was also a key part of Tennessee’s economy as home to numerous banks and insurance companies. The services sector included healthcare, education, hospitality and tourism, retail trade, professional services such as accounting and law firms, telecommunications firms, and more.
At the time of this writing in 2014, unemployment in Tennessee stood at 8%, slightly above the national average of 6.7%. Despite this high rate of unemployment there were still many job opportunities available throughout the state due to ongoing business expansion projects in a number of industries including automotive manufacturing and logistics.
The median household income in 2014 was $45,890 which is lower than the national median household income of $51,939 at that time. This discrepancy is partially attributed to lower wages offered for many jobs in Tennessee compared to other states due to restrictions on labor unions as well as other forms of labor protections that limited wage growth for many positions.
In terms of economic development during this period there were numerous projects going on throughout the state including construction projects related to tourism infrastructure such as hotels and retail outlets; expansions by existing manufacturers such as Nissan Motor Company; new business investments such as Amazon’s establishment of fulfillment centers; research projects at universities like Vanderbilt University; and more.
Events Held in Tennessee in 2014
In 2014, there were numerous events held throughout Tennessee. In February, the annual Mardi Gras celebration was held in Nashville with parades, floats, and live entertainment. In April, the Tennessee State Fair took place in Nashville with rides, exhibits, and competitions. Later that month the CMA Music Festival was held in Nashville featuring performances from some of country music’s biggest stars.
In May, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival took place in Manchester featuring over 100 acts on multiple stages over four days. Also in May was the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga which included performances by top artists from around the world and activities such as a Ferris wheel and zip line. June saw the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis with blues performances from local and international artists as well as food vendors and other attractions.
July brought a number of events to Tennessee including the National Quartet Convention in Pigeon Forge which featured gospel music performances; Knoxville’s Rhythm N’ Blooms festival which featured folk and Americana acts; and Bristol’s Rhythm & Roots Reunion which offered bluegrass music along with dance lessons for attendees. August saw the return of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Centennial celebration with activities such as parades, concerts, fireworks displays, steam engine train rides through Cades Cove, and more.
September brought an array of events to Tennessee including Oktoberfest at Ober Gatlinburg; Elvis Week at Graceland; The Big Ears Festival featuring avant-garde music in Knoxville; Fall Festivals offering traditional Appalachian crafts throughout East Tennessee; Tailgate TN offering country music performances at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville; and more.
October saw multiple events including Memphis’ World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest with professional teams competing for prizes; National Storytelling Festival celebrating oral storytelling traditions at Jonesborough; Halloween celebrations throughout East Tennessee featuring haunted houses and costume contests; Ocoee River Jam offering outdoor music concerts near Chattanooga; Fall Float Fest at Norris Lake offering boat races and live entertainment; Christmas Village lighting up downtown Gatlinburg for holiday festivities; and more.
