Editing Middle Tennessee (section)

{{Short description|Geographic and cultural region of Tennessee, United States}}
{{about|the geographic region of Middle Tennessee|the university in Murfreesboro|Middle Tennessee State University|that university's athletic program|Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Middle Tennessee
| image_skyline                   = {{photomontage
   | photo1a = Nashville Skyline from Ft Negly- Photo 2- June 2022.jpg
   | photo2a = Tennessee State Capitol - Nashville Tn (46595212294).jpg
   | photo2b = Ryman Auditorium.jpg
   | photo3a = Stones River National Battlefield in Spring.jpg
   | photo3b = Peabodyvu.JPG
   | photo4a = Fall Creek Falls.jpg
   | photo4b = Cedar-glade-col-tn1.jpg
   | spacing = 1
   | color_border = white
   | color =  white
   | size = 310
   | foot_montage = Images, from top down, left to right: Skyline of [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], the [[Tennessee State Capitol]], the [[Ryman Auditorium]], [[Stones River National Battlefield]] in [[Murfreesboro, Tennessee|Murfreesboro]], [[Vanderbilt University]], [[Fall Creek Falls]], [[Cedars of Lebanon State Park]]
}}
| image_caption                   = 
| image_map                       = File: Map of Middle Tennessee counties.png
| mapsize                         = 275px
| map_caption                     = The counties of Tennessee highlighted in red that are designated part of Middle Tennessee.
| population_as_of                = 2020
| seat_type                       = Largest city
| seat                            = [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]
| population                      =2,883,086
| area_footnotes                  =
| official_name                   = 
| settlement_type                 = [[Grand Divisions of Tennessee|Grand Division]]
| area_land_sq_mi                 =17,009.41
| area_note                       =
| subdivision_name                = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_name1               = {{flag|Tennessee}}
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_type1               = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Tennessee|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2               =
| population_density_sq_mi        =169.50
| nickname                        = Middle TN, Middle Tenn.
| population_demonym              = Middle Tennessean
| area_codes = [[Area code 423|423]], [[Area codes 615 and 629|615, 629]], [[Area code 931|931]]
}}

'''Middle Tennessee''' is one of the three [[Grand Divisions of Tennessee]] that composes roughly the central portion of the state. It is delineated according to state law as 41 of the state's 95 counties.<ref name=tnsos>{{cite web |title=Tennessee Blue Book 2015-2016 |url=https://sos.tn.gov/sites/default/files/Pg.%20639%20Three%20Grand%20Divisions.pdf |website=sos.tn.gov |publisher=[[Tennessee Secretary of State]] |access-date=June 5, 2021 |location=Nashville |page=639 |date=2015}}</ref> Middle Tennessee contains the state's capital and largest city, [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]], as well as [[Clarksville, Tennessee|Clarksville]], the state's fifth largest city, and [[Murfreesboro, Tennessee|Murfreesboro]], the state's sixth largest city and largest suburb of Nashville. The [[Nashville metropolitan area]], located entirely within the region, is the most populous [[list of metropolitan areas of Tennessee|metropolitan area]] in the state, and the [[Clarksville metropolitan area]] is the state's sixth most populous. Middle Tennessee is both the largest, in terms of land area, and the most populous of the state's three Grand Divisions.

Geographically, Middle Tennessee is composed of the [[Highland Rim]], which completely surrounds the [[Nashville Basin]]. The [[Cumberland Plateau]] is located in the eastern part of the region. Culturally, Middle Tennessee is considered part of the [[Upland South]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jordan-Bychkov |first1=Terry G. |author1-link=Terry G. Jordan-Bychkov |title=The Upland South: The Making of an American Folk Region and Landscape |date=2003 |publisher=Center for American Places |isbn=9781930066083 |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vPgRAAAAYAAJ |access-date=June 13, 2021 |via=Google Books}}</ref> Commodity crops such as [[cotton]] and [[tobacco]] were cultivated by migrant settlers in the region in the [[Antebellum South|antebellum era]], who were largely dependent on the labor of [[Slavery in the United States|enslaved African Americans]]. In addition, planters bred and trained livestock, such as the world-famous [[Tennessee Walking Horse]], which was developed as a breed in the region during this time.

Middle Tennessee was a crucial region during the [[American Civil War]]. Tennessee was occupied by Federal troops from 1862 through the end of the war. Many battles and campaigns were waged by Confederates in this region, especially in efforts to control the major rivers. Confederate General [[Nathan Bedford Forrest]] conducted extensive raids through this area, destroying many Union assets in the 1864 [[Battle of Johnsonville]]. The bloodiest major battle of the American Civil War by the proportion of engaged soldiers who became casualties, the [[Battle of Stones River]], was also fought here.

In the 20th century, the ''[[Grand Ole Opry]]'' was established in Nashville, enhancing the city as the home of [[country music]]. Since the early 1970s, the region has been transformed by the entry of many new economic sectors, including automotive manufacturing, healthcare, finance, technology, tourism, and professional services. Both the Nashville and Clarksville metropolitan areas are among the fastest-growing regions in the nation.