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This article is about the river. For the song, see Tennessee River (song). " Tennessee River " is a song made famous by the Country music band Alabama.
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville from the top of Neyland Stadium.
The Tennessee River in downtown Knoxville from the top of Neyland Stadium. Neyland Stadium is a sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. It serves primarily as the home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team but is also used
Origin Confluence of French Broad and Holston at Knoxville. Confluence, in Geography, describes the meeting of two or more Bodies of water. The French Broad River flows from near Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into Tennessee. The Holston River is a major River system of southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee.
Mouth Ohio River at Paducah, Kentucky
Basin countries USA
Length 652 mi (1049 km) [1]
Source elevation 813 ft (248 m) [2]
Mouth elevation 302 ft (92 m) [3]
Avg. The Ohio River is the largest Tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky 's Jackson Purchase Region and the County seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States A drainage basin is an extent of Land where Water from Rain or Snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a River, The United States of America —commonly referred to as the discharge 70,575 ft3/s (2,000 m³/s) [4]
Basin area 40,876 mi² (105,870 km²) [4]
The John Ross Bridge, spanning the Tennessee River in Chattanooga.
The John Ross Bridge, spanning the Tennessee River in Chattanooga. In Hydrology, the discharge or outflow of a River is the volume of Water transported by it in a certain amount of time
The "Steamboat Bill" Hudson Memorial Bridge in Decatur, Alabama.
The "Steamboat Bill" Hudson Memorial Bridge in Decatur, Alabama. The "Steamboat Bill" Memorial Bridges are two bridges that span one of the widest points along the Tennessee River within the City of Decatur Alabama Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the US state of Alabama.
Natchez Trace Parkway, crossing the Tennessee River in Cherokee, Alabama
Natchez Trace Parkway, crossing the Tennessee River in Cherokee, Alabama
Map of the Tennessee Watershed
Map of the Tennessee Watershed

The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. Cherokee Alabama Post Officejpg|thumb|right|100|Cherokee Post Office September 3 2007]] Cherokee is a town in Colbert County, Alabama, United States The Ohio River is the largest Tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. It is approximately 652 miles (1049 km) long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The Southern United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South &mdashconstitutes a large distinctive The Tennessee Valley is the Drainage basin of the Tennessee River and is largely within the U The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names. The Cherokee (ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ a-ni-yv-wi-ya, in the Cherokee language) are a people native to North America, who at the time of European contact [1]

Contents

Course

The Tennessee River is formed at the confluence of the Holston and French Broad Rivers on the east side of Knoxville, Tennessee. The Holston River is a major River system of southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee. The French Broad River flows from near Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into Tennessee. From Knoxville, it flows southwest through East Tennessee toward Chattanooga before crossing into Alabama. East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the state of Tennessee, one of Alabama (formally the State of Alabama;) is a State located in the southern region of the United States of America. It loops through northern Alabama and eventually forms a small part of the state's border with Mississippi, before returning to Tennessee. North Alabama is a region of the US state of Alabama, generally considered to include 12 counties: Cherokee, Colbert, Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. At this point, it defines the boundary between Tennessee's other two regions—Middle and West Tennessee. Middle Tennessee is a distinct portion of the state of Tennessee, delineated according to state law as the 41 counties West Tennessee is one of the three Grand Divisions in the US state of Tennessee. The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project providing navigation on the Tombigbee River and a link to the Port of Mobile, enters Tennessee near the Tennessee-Alabama-Mississippi boundary. The Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (popularly known as the Tenn-Tom) is a 234 mile (377 km artificial waterway that provides a connecting link between the Tennessee The United States Army Corps of Engineers ( USACE) is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 34600 Civilian and 650 Military personnel The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 400 mi (644 km long in the U This waterway reduces the navigation distance from Tennessee, north Alabama, and northern Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico by hundreds of miles. The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world The final part of the Tennessee's run is in Kentucky, where it separates the Jackson Purchase from the rest of the state. The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. The Jackson Purchase is a region in the state of Kentucky bounded by the Mississippi River It then flows into the Ohio River at Paducah, Kentucky. Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky 's Jackson Purchase Region and the County seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States It is one of a very few rivers in the United States which leave a state and then re-enter it; the Cumberland River is another such river. The Cumberland River is an important waterway in the Southern United States.

Dams

The river has been dammed numerous times, primarily by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) projects. The Tennessee Valley Authority operates the Tennessee River system to provide a wide range of public benefits year-round navigation Flood damage reduction affordable The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA is a federally owned Corporation in the United States created by congressional charter in May 1933 to provide The placement of TVA's Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River and the Corps' Barkley Dam on the Cumberland River directly led to the creation of Land Between the Lakes. The Cumberland River is an important waterway in the Southern United States. The Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area located in Kentucky and Tennessee between A navigation canal located at Grand Rivers, Kentucky links Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. Grand Rivers is a city in Livingston County, Kentucky, United States. Kentucky Lake is a major navigable Artificial lake along the Tennessee River in Kentucky and Tennessee. Lake Barkley, a 58000-acre Artificial lake in Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon, and Trigg counties in Kentucky and extending The canal allows for a shorter trip for river traffic going from the Tennessee to most of the Ohio River, and for traffic going down the Cumberland River toward the Mississippi.

Important cities and towns

Cities in bold type have more than 30,000 residents

Historic beginning

Fish catch near Wilson Dam on the Tennessee River around 1940.
Fish catch near Wilson Dam on the Tennessee River around 1940. Bridgeport is a small city in Jackson County, Alabama, United States. Cherokee Alabama Post Officejpg|thumb|right|100|Cherokee Post Office September 3 2007]] Cherokee is a town in Colbert County, Alabama, United States Clifton is a city in Wayne County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2699 at the 2000 census Crump is a city in Hardin County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 1521 at the 2000 census Decatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the US state of Alabama. Florence is a city in and the County seat of Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States, in the northwestern corner of the state Grand Rivers is a city in Livingston County, Kentucky, United States. Guntersville is a city in Marshall County, Alabama, United States and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. Harrison is a Census-designated place (CDP in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Huntsville is a city in Madison and Limestone Counties in the U Killen is a town in Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States. Langston is a town in Jackson County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. Lenoir City is a city in Loudon County, Tennessee, United States. Loudon is a city in and the County seat of Loudon County, Tennessee, United States. New Johnsonville is a city in Humphreys County, Tennessee, United States. Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky 's Jackson Purchase Region and the County seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States Redstone Arsenal is a US Army post and a Census-designated place (CDP located next to the city of Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama Savannah is a city in Hardin County, Tennessee, United States. Scottsboro is a city in Jackson County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. Sheffield is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States, and is included in The Shoals MSA Soddy-Daisy is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Signal Mountain is a town in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. South Pittsburg is a city in Marion County, Tennessee, United States. Triana is a town located on the southern county line of Madison County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Waterloo is a town in Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States.

Officially the Tennessee River begins at mile post 652, where the French Broad River meets the Holston River. According to Tennessee Valley Authority historians, until 1933 the river that flowed past Knoxville was designated the Holston River, and the Tennessee River was considered to begin at the confluence of the Holston and the Little Tennessee River at Lenoir City 51 miles downstream and 601 miles upstream from the Ohio River at Paducah, Kentucky. Lenoir City is a city in Loudon County, Tennessee, United States. Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky 's Jackson Purchase Region and the County seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States The nomenclature was changed in 1933 due to a Congressional mandate that the Tennessee Valley Authority headquarters be located on the banks of the Tennessee River. Because the TVA headquarters were to be located in downtown Knoxville, the confluence of the Holston and French Broad Rivers was designated to be the beginning of the Tennessee River, placing the beginning of the river upstream from Knoxville.

Water rights and border dispute with Georgia

At various points since the early 19th century, Georgia has disputed its northern border with Tennessee, thereby denying Georgia its historical riparian and navigation rights to the waters of the Tennessee River. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule In 1796, when Tennessee was admitted to the Union, the border was originally defined by United States Congress as located on the 35th parallel, thereby ensuring that at least a portion of the river would be located within Georgia. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses As a result of an erroneously conducted survey in 1818 (ratified by the Tennessee legislature but not Georgia), however, the actual border line was set on the ground approximately one mile south, thus placing the disputed portion of the river entirely in Tennessee. [5] [6].

Georgia made several unsuccessful attempts to correct the erroneous survey line in the 19th and 20th centuries.

In 2008, as a result of a serious drought and resulting water shortage, the Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution directing the governor to pursue its claim in the United States Supreme Court. The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary. [7] [8]

Many Tennessee lawmakers have dismissed the Georgia claims and are mounting a legislative challenge to keep the border where it is.

Popular culture

Tennessee River tributaries

Tributaries and sub-tributaries are hierarchically listed in order from the mouth of the Tennessee River upstream.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b USGS GNIS: Tennessee River
  2. ^ U. The Big Sandy River in Tennessee rises about five miles (eight km northwest of Lexington Tennessee, in the same vicinity as two other important rivers of West The Duck River is the longest River located entirely within the U The Buffalo River is the longest unimpounded River in Middle Tennessee, flowing through the southern and western portions of that region The Piney River of Middle Tennessee rises in Dickson County Tennessee near the city of Dickson. The Beech River is a Stream draining the east-central portion of West Tennessee. Bear Creek (Alabama is a river in the state of Alabama. It is a Tributary of the Tennessee River. Mulberry Creek is a short tributary of the Tennessee River in northern Alabama in the United States The Elk River is a Stream in Middle Tennessee. Hydrography The Elk River rises in Grundy County Tennessee, in Burroughs Cove near the commmunity For other rivers named Flint see Flint River (disambiguation page. The Paint Rock River is a short Tributary of the Tennessee River in northern Alabama in the United States. The Sequatchie River drains the Sequatchie Valley, a large valley in the Cumberland Plateau in Middle Tennessee. Initial movements in the Chickamauga Campaign In his successful Tullahoma Campaign in the summer of 1863 Rosecrans moved southeast from Murfreesboro Tennessee The Hiwassee River has its headwaters on the north slope of Rocky Mountain in Towns County in northern Georgia (as the Hiawassee River) and flows Conasauga Creek is a tributary Stream of the Hiwassee River, located in southeast Tennessee, in the United States. The Toccoa River and Ocoee River are actually a single River that flows northwestward through the southern Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern The Nottely River is a river in the United States. The river originates in the Blue Ridge Mountains in northern Georgia. This article is about the Piney River of East Tennessee. For information about the Piney River of Middle Tennessee, see Piney River (Middle Tennessee. The Clinch River rises in Southwest Virginia and flows southwest through the Great Appalachian Valley, gathering various tributaries including the The Emory River is a Stream draining a portion of Tennessee 's Cumberland Plateau. The Obed River is a Stream draining a part of the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. The Powell River in the United States rises in southwest Virginia and flows into East Tennessee. The Little Tennessee River is a tributary of the Tennessee River, approximately 135 miles (217 km long in the Appalachian Mountains in the southeastern The Tellico River rises in the westernmost mountains of North Carolina, but it flows mainly through Monroe County Tennessee. The Tuckasegee River (also frequently spelled Tuckaseegee) flows in western North Carolina, USA The Nantahala River is a river in western North Carolina in the United States, within the Nantahala National Forest, and near the Great Smoky The Cullasaja River is a short River located entirely in Macon County, North Carolina. Little River is a scenic River in Tennessee which drains a area containing some of the most spectacular scenery in the southeastern United States. The French Broad River flows from near Rosman in Transylvania County, North Carolina, into Tennessee. The Little Pigeon River is a River located entirely within Sevier County, Tennessee. The Nolichucky River is a major Stream draining the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina and East Tennessee. This article describes the Pigeon River which flows from western North Carolina into East Tennessee. The Holston River is a major River system of southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee. The Holston River is a major River system of southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee. The Holston River is a major River system of southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee. The Watauga River is a Stream of western North Carolina and East Tennessee. The Doe River is a naturally flowing river in northeast Tennessee that forms in Carter County near the North Carolina line just south of Roan Mountain The Holston River is a major River system of southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee. This is a list of Bridges and other crossings of the Tennessee River from the Ohio River upstream to its source(s The Tennessee Valley Authority operates the Tennessee River system to provide a wide range of public benefits year-round navigation Flood damage reduction affordable List of Rivers of Alabama ( US state) By Drainage Basin This list is arranged by drainage basin with respective tributaries List of Rivers in Kentucky ( US state) By Drainage Basin This list is arranged by drainage basin with respective tributaries The list of rivers in Mississippi includes any Rivers that flow through part of the U This is a list of rivers in the US state of Tennessee: By Drainage Basin This list is arranged by drainage basin with respective tributaries S. Geological Survey. Shooks Gap quadrangle, Tennessee. 1:24,000. 7. 5 Minute Series. Washington D. C. : USGS, 1987.
  3. ^ U. S. Geological Survey. Paducah East quadrangle, Kentucky. 1:24,000. 7. 5 Minute Series. Washington D. C. : USGS, 1982.
  4. ^ a b "Arthur Benke & Colbert Cushing, "Rivers of North America". Elsevier Academic Press, 2005 ISBN 0-12-088253-1
  5. ^ Georgians thirst to move Tennessee state line (February 8, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola.
  6. ^ Desperate for water, Georgia revisits border dispute (February 8, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-13. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola.
  7. ^ Jones, Andrea. "Ga.'s quest to move Tenn. border advances", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 20, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-14. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the  
  8. ^ Dewan, Shaila. "Georgia Claims a Sliver of the Tennessee River", The New York Times, February 22, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-14. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the  
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Alabama Department of Transportation (1997). County Highway Maps (Lizardtech Plugin). University of Alabama. Retrieved on 2007-06-25. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 524 - Battle of VĂ©zeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians
  10. ^ a b c d Army Corp of Engineers (1997). Tennessee River Navigation Charts. Army Corp of Engineers. Retrieved on 2007-07-04. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples

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