Where We Live

Interested in working for Bass, Berry & Sims?  Learn more about Tennessee and your potential new hometown cities below!

Tennessee
Nashville
Memphis
Knoxville

Tennessee

Geography
The state of Tennessee covers an area of 41,217 square miles and is located in the upper south of  the eastern United States. Tennessee conveniently shares its border with eight neighboring states: North Carolina; Missouri; Arkansas; Kentucky; Virginia; Georgia; Alabama and Mississippi.

Tennessee has a moderate climate with cool winters and warm summers. The drop in elevation causes temperatures to rise significantly from east to west, with an average high temperature of 85°F and low temperature of 30°F. Ample precipitation, about 59 inches a year, is distributed fairly evenly throughout the seasons and the regions.

Demographics
Tennessee currently has an estimated total population of 6,038,803 residents, up from 5,810,590 residents in 2005. According to the 2006 American Community Survey, 48.8 percent of the population is male and 51.2 percent of the population is female. The average age of Tennesseans is 37.2 years old. The state's diversity includes: Whites (79.2 percent), Blacks (16.8 percent, which is 3.7 percent higher than the national average), American Indian and Alaska Native (0.3 percent), Asian (1.3 percent), and Hispanic or Latino (3.1 percent). More than 81 percent of residents are high school graduates and more than 21 percent possess a Bachelor's degree or higher. Small farms and towns still cover much of the state. Knoxville, Chattanooga, Nashville, Clarksville, Jackson and Memphis are all considered to be metropolitan areas and reflect Tennessee's growth in population and urbanization.

Economy
In 2010, Chief Executive magazine named Tennessee the third best state in the nation for business. In 2009, Site Selection magazine ranked Tennessee as the fifth best business climate in the United States, and Chief Executive magazine cited Tennessee as one of the five best places for jobs and business growth. Tennessee was also named 2009 State of the Year by Business Facilities magazine, based on the number of new jobs created and amount of capital investments made during the calendar year.

Manufacturing accounts for nearly one-third of the total state product. Chemicals, foods, aluminum, rubber products, nylon and whiskey are the major products manufactured in Tennessee, and many companies have located plants in the state as a result of their dependence on manufacturing. Today, Tennesseans have become increasingly concerned with attracting outside industry.

Tourism is another important industry due to the scenery, park systems, entertainment facilities and historic sites. Historical sites abound in Tennessee, especially for Civil War buffs because Tennessee was the scene of more fighting during the Civil War than any other state with the exception of Virginia. Many people, residents and visitors alike, are attracted to the easy access to nature provided by The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the largest national park in the eastern United States. The Ocoee River in southeastern Tennessee is rated among the top white water recreational rivers in the nation and was the site for the Olympic white water canoe/kayak competition in the 1996 Olympics.

Tennessee is also a center for insurance, printing and the recording of music. Service jobs have increased in the state. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has made many important contributions in energy production through their dams and nuclear research. Healthcare has also become an important industry and outstanding medical centers are located in the major cities.  Nashville is now considered a healthcare hub.

Transportation is aided by the Tennessee River system, consisting of the Tennessee River, Cumberland River and Mississippi River. Railroads, interstate routes, urban beltways and air travel also create easy access into and out of the state. Nashville and Memphis are considered to be important regional transportation centers for these reasons.

The cost of living in Tennessee is very reasonable, with each of the 11 cities ranking below the national average. Tennessee has also made it very reasonable for businesses to relocate to the state. According to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee's competitive incentives include:
  • A Right-to-Work state
  • Worker's Compensation Reform
  • Lowest utility costs in the nation
  • Consistently one of the lowest per capita taxed states in the nation
  • No state sales tax on manufacturing equipment for qualified businesses
  • No sales tax on pollution control equipment
  • No sales tax on raw material
  • No state property tax
  • No property tax on work in progress or finished product inventories
  • Offers an investment tax credit of one percent
  • Offers a franchise tax jobs credit
  • Offers accelerated depreciation on personal property
  • Offers infrastructure and training grants up to $750,000
  • Offers reduced sales tax on energy fuel and water for qualified manufacturers
  • Offers "Double Weighting" of Tennessee sales for Franchise and Excise taxes

The bottom line is a low cost of doing business in Tennessee. Many businesses are taking advantage of these competitive incentives and Tennessee's top five largest headquarters include the FedEx Corporation (Memphis), HCA Inc. (Nashville), Cracker Barrel Group Inc. (Lebanon), Dollar General Corporation (Goodlettsville), and AutoZone Inc. (Memphis).

Education
The State Board of Education administers elementary and secondary education in the state. Tennessee ranks among the top eight states nationwide for the quality of its state-funded pre-K program according to the National Institute for Early Education Research. Almost half of every state tax dollar goes to public education and Tennesseans have become increasingly committed to improving education opportunities. For a list of public and non-public schools in the state, please visit the Tennessee School Directory. Tennessee is also home to the University of Tennessee system, six regional universities, several community colleges and technical institutes, and noted private colleges such as Vanderbilt University, Fisk University and the University of the South at Sewanee.

>>top

Nashville

Nashville is the state capital of Tennessee, home to more than 550,000 people, and shares its boundaries with Davidson County. Nashville's climate is moderate and has four distinct seasons. Important industries in Nashville include commercial, manufacturing, tourism, financial services, insurance, health, transportation and music. Higher education fuels the middle Tennessee area's economy by enrolling nearly 100,000 students, employing 75,000 people and generating a $5.5 billion economic impact. Universities and colleges in and around Nashville include Vanderbilt University, Tennessee State University, Belmont University, David Lipscomb University, Trevecca Nazarene University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, Free Will Baptist Bible College, American Baptist College, Nashville State Community College, and Middle Tennessee State University.  Nashville's cost of living is 9.1 percent below the national average.

Nashville's downtown overlooks the Cumberland River, and the area boasts many thriving restaurants, dance halls, night clubs and shopping opportunities. Music Row is the center of the recording industry and lies just outside the downtown area near the Vanderbilt University campus.

City Awards/Recognitions:
  • Nashville was ranked one of the "Best Places to Live in 2010" by Men's Journal magazine (April 2010 edition).
  • Nashville ranks No. 1 on "America’s Friendliest City" from Travel + Leisure magazine, based on culture, shopping, restaurants, nightlife and more. Nashville is also ranked in the top 10 cities in the nation for live music and concerts, affordable getaways and safety.
  • Nashville ranks No. 12 on The Harris Poll's "List of Cities Where the Most People Would Like to Live" for 2009.
  • Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro metropolitan statistical area ranked No. 5 out of 366 metropolitan areas in the country for economic strength, according to POLICOM Corp., based on the condition of an economy from the viewpoint of it's impact upon the “standard of living” of the people who live and work in an area.
  • Nashville ranks No. 11 on "America's Best Bargain Cities" by Forbes.com based on cost of living, housing opportunity, unemployment rate and average salary.
  • Nashville ranks No. 25 on Forbes magazine's best places for business and careers in March 2009.
  • Nashville ranks in the top 20 among large markets on Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocation's "2008's Best Cities for Relocating Families."
  • Nashville is one of the top 100 U.S. Cities for Doing Business based on the most balanced economy and growth in 2008 from Inc. magazine.
  • Nashville is one of America’s Favorite Cities 2008 by Travel & Leisure magazine, scoring highest in affordability and friendly people.
  • Nashville ranks one of the top 10 “Best Places to Grow Old” by Forbes.com in 2008.
  • Nashville is one of Forbes.com 2008 “Best Cities for Young Professionals.”
  • Nashville is one of the "100 Top Places to Live in 2008" according to RelocateAmerica.com because of its low cost of living and low business tax base.
  • Nashville is one of AmericanSyle's 2008 "Top 25 Big Cities Arts Destinations."
  • Nashville ranks as one of "The 5 Friendliest Cities in America" by NBC's Today Show in April 2008.
  • Nashville received the top ranking as the 2007 Site Selection Competitiveness Award winner for business expansion.
  • Nashville is named one of the "100 Best Places to Live and Launch" by CNNMoney.com in April 2008 for the music scene and diversified economy.
  • Nashville ranks No. 3 on Bizjournals.com list of best cities for cultural amenities based on factors such as museums, galleries, performing arts companies and historical sites.
  • Nashville ranks No. 14 on Forbes magazine's best cities for jobs in 2008.
  • Nashville is one of the "Top 25 Places to Live to go to School in 2007" according to RelocateAmerica.com because of its high graduation rates and reputation for succeeding in higher learning institutions due to strong academic programs.
  • Nashville ranks No. 9 on Forbes magazine's top 10 U.S. cities for business and careers lists as of May 2007 based on factors such as the number of colleges, cost of doing business, job growth, net migration, crime rate and cost of living.
  • Nashville is one of the the "50 Best Cities to Live and Play" according to National Geographic Adventure magazine in 2007. 
  • Nashville ranks No. 5 on fDi magazine's "City of the Future" competition for most-business-friendly city among large metropolitan areas in 2007.
  • Nashville ranks No. 5 on Black Enterprise magazine's 10 best cities for African-Americans for May 2007.
  • Nashville ranks No. 1 on Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine's list of top "50 Smart Places to Live" for 2006 because of its low cost of living, high quality of life and good value in home prices.
  • Nashville ranks No. 1 on Expansion Management magazine's list of America's 50 Hottest Cities for Relocating and Expansion for 2005 and 2006.

Attractions/Recreation

Entertainment/Festivals

Museums/Historical Sites

Music

Parks

Sports

Visual & Performing Arts

Nashville Downtown Office

Nashville Chamber of Commerce

>>top

Memphis

Memphis is the largest city in Tennessee, home to more than 600,000 people, and overlooks the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi Rivers. Important industries in Memphis include transportation, commercial, manufacturing and cotton. Memphis is the site of Rhodes College, The University of Memphis, LeMoyne-Owen College, Christian Brothers University, Memphis College of Art, Southern College of Optometry and a campus of the University of Tennessee.  The corporate headquarters of FedEx, International Paper, AutoZone, ServiceMaster, First Horizon (First Tennessee Bank) and other Fortune 500 companies are located in Memphis. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is also located in Memphis. The cost of living in Memphis is 7.2 percent below the national average.

City Awards/Recognitions:
  • Memphis ranks No. 19 on Relocation.com’s list of “Best Cities for a Fresh Start.”
  • Memphis ranks in the top 50 cities in the nation on Expansion Management magazine's 2008 list of the "Best Cities for Relocating Families” for mid-sized markets.
  • Memphis ranks No. 7 as a place to make movies on MovieMaker magazine's list of Top 10 movie cities in the country for 2007.
  • Memphis ranks No. 131 on Forbes magazine's top 10 U.S. cities for business and careers lists as of May 2007 based on factors such as the number of colleges, cost of doing business, job growth, net migration, crime rate and cost of living.
  • Memphis ranks No. 39 on Inc. magazine's Boomtown '06 "Hottest Large Cities" list based on high employment growth rates.
  • Memphis ranks No. 16 in the nation on Expansion Management magazine's 2005 list of the "50 Hottest Cities" for relocating or expanding companies.
  • Memphis made Black Enterprise magazine's top 5 cities in which to live and do business in a 2004 ranking.
  • Memphis is in the top 10 of the most mannerly cities in America according to the etiquette book, "Common Sense Etiquette."
  • Memphis is ranked in the "Top Ten Metro Areas" by Site Selection magazine.

Attractions/Recreation

Entertainment/Festivals

Museums/Historical Sites

Music

Sports

Parks

Visual & Performing Arts

Memphis Office

Memphis Regional Chamber

>>top

Knoxville

Knoxville is an eastern Tennessee city, home to more than 100,000 people, and located along the Tennessee River between the Cumberland Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. Important industries in Knoxville include manufacturing, nuclear weapons research, healthcare, education, agriculture and tourism. Universities and colleges located in the city include the University of Tennessee, Knoxville College, Johnson Bible College, Pellissippi State Technical Community College and Tennessee School for the Deaf.  Cost of living in Knoxville is 10.7 percent below the national average.

City Awards/Recognitions:
  • Knoxville ranks No. 8 on "America's Best Places to Raise a Family" in 2010 by Forbes.com.
  • Knoxville is named one of 26 “Visitor Friendly Cities” by the Black Meetings & Tourism magazine in the June/July 2008 issue.
  • Knoxville ranks No. 10 on Forbes magazine's top 10 U.S. cities for business and careers lists as of May 2008 based on factors such as the number of colleges, cost of doing business, job growth, net migration, crime rate and cost of living.
  • Knoxville was listed as a top 10 "Best Places for Businesses and Careers" in 2008 by Forbes magazine.
  • Knoxville ranked top 5 "Best Cities for Relocating Families" among mid-sized markets by Worldwide ERC and Primacy Relocation in 2007 and 2008.
  • Knoxville ranks No. 27 on Inc. Magazine's Boomtown '07 "Midsized Cities" list.
  • Knoxville-Oak Ridge Innovation Valley ranks No. 5 on Forbes magazine's list of best places in the nation to do business and have a career for 2006.
  • Knoxville ranks No. 9 on Expansion Management magazine's "America's 50 Hottest Cities" list of best American cities to do business for 2006.
  • Knoxville's "Boomsday" is named "Top 20 Event" for the month of September 2006 by Southeast Tourism Society.
  • Knoxville ranks No. 1 on Places Rated Almanac Millennium Edition's list of "Best Places to Live" for cities under one million population.

Attractions/Recreation

Entertainment/Festivals

Museums/Historical Sites

Music

Sports

Parks

Visual & Performing Arts

Knoxville Office

Knoxville Chamber of Commerce

>>top