National Park Service
A Study of the Park and Recreation Problem of the United States 		NPS Logo

TENNESSEE

SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT of the people live in rural sections. Negroes constitute about 18 percent of the total population. Principal centers of population, both white and Negro, are Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville. The east-central section is the most thickly populated rural area. The majority of the population is of low economic status. Consequently, the average individual (or family) is unable to travel far or pay much for recreation.

The eastern section of Tennessee constitutes the heart of the Southern Highlands region. It is rich in scenic resources, and possesses exceptionally fine recreational possibilities.

The State now has under development a well-distributed system of parks for its white people. It also has two Negro areas, one near Memphis and the other near Chattanooga. Principal needs are for outlying city areas near Nashville, and Knoxville, and for additional Negro areas. In the predominately agricultural sections of the State, numerous small recreational areas are needed for rural people. There is need also for continued conservation of the scenic resources in the Southern Highlands region and coordination of the recreational programs of the Federal, State, and local agencies. The series of lakes created by the Tennessee Valley Authority will undoubtedly have major effect on the recreation of the State.

map
(click on image for an enlargement in a new window)



FEDERAL

National park:
56. Great Smoky Mountains209,931.45

National monument:
17. Meriwether Lewis300

National monument project:
58. Andrew Johnson Homestead


National military parks:
10. Shiloh3,716.66
15. Fort Donelson102.54
30. Stones River323.86
39. Chickamauga-Chattanooga1,833.45
     Total
5,976.51

National memorial:
32. Camp Blount


National cemeteries:
10. Shiloh10.25
15. Fort Donelson15.34
30. Stones River20.09
39. Chattanooga136.15
     Total
181.83

National parkway project:
22. Natchez Trace
11,000

Proposed national historic park and national recreation area:
51. Cumberland Gap
20,000

Proposed national parkways:
4. Mississippi River

27. Natchez Trace Extension


Recreational demonstration areas:
3. Shelby Forest12,305
23. Montgomery Bell3,744
38. Falls Creek Falls15,776
     Total
31,825

National forest:
55. Cherokee1529,577

National wildlife area:
6. Lake Isom Migratory Waterfowl Refuge20.16

Tennessee Valley Authority parks:
11. Pickwick Dam Reservation1,700
48. Norris Park3,800
53. Big Ridge Park4,500
     Total
10,000


INTERSTATE

Trailway:
59. Appalachian



STATE

State parks:
1. Shelby510
9. Chickasaw2

12. Natchez Trace2

29. Lebanon Cedar2

37. Standing Stone2

40. Booker T. Washington350
41. Harrison Bay1,235
43. Cumberland1,500
44. Pickett1,700
49. Cove Lake850
60. Wataugo2,500
     Total
8,645

Proposed State parks:
25. Davidson County
1,000
26. Robertson County
2,500
31. Bedford County
500
47. Knox County
500
     Total
4,500

State monument:
13. Nathan Bedford Forest87

State forests:
9. Chickasaw311,000
12. Natchez Trace340,000
16. Stewart4,000
18. Lewis1,257
29. Lebanon Cedar38,300
34. Marion Franklin7,500
35. Grundy211
37. Standing Stone38,500
42. Bledsoe7,400
44. Pickett9,800
45. Morgan8,367
     Total
106,335

State wildlife areas:
7. Reelfoot Lake Game Refuge19,842
57. Buffalo Springs450
     Total
20,292

Proposed trailway:
46. Cumberland Mountain



LOCAL

Municipal parks:
24. Warner Park—Nashville2,575
50. Memphis (2 areas)83
52. Johnson City (1 area)1,900
     Total
4,558

Proposed local parks:
2. Shelby County
500
5. Dyer County
300
8. Haywood County (2 areas)
1,000
14. Henry County
200
19. Lawrence County
200
20. Giles County
200
21. Maury County
200
28. Trousdale
200
33. Lincoln County
200
36. Warren County
200
54. Knoxville
500
     Total
3,700

1 Area under Federal administration June 1938.

2 Soil Conservation Service areas transferred to State for administration. Total acreage given under State forests.

3 Soil Conservation Service areas transferred to State for administration.


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park-recreation-problem/tennessee.htm
Last Updated: 18-May-2016