Hello, I missed the original posting, but saw this summary and felt a need to make a correction. Linda Long said: <<It was interesting to learn that the 3 grand divisions are only recognized as West, Middle, and East depending upon who is the current Governor.>> I am not sure where you got this information, but it is slightly incorrect. Allow me to explain. The Grand Divisions of Tennessee can be defined culturally, geographically, and politically. While cultural and geographical definitions may vary among the residents of Tennessee, the political boundaries of the Grand Divisions are established by state law. The governor and other branches of the state government must recognize those boundaries. Keep in mind that these political boundaries do not always agree with historic, cultural, or geographic boundaries established in the minds of the inhabitants. The political boundaries take culture and geography into account, but must also sometimes take population figures into account. Thus, a traditional East Tennessee county may find itself in the Middle Tennessee political district (or vice versa) to satisfy a need to provide equal representation to all divisions. Not to be overlooked is the ease of transportation and direct lines of communication. An Middle Tennessee border county may find it has a better infrastructure connection (interstate connections, etc.) to the West Tennessee district than to its Middle Tennessee neighbors. All of these factors are taken into account when the state legislature takes up the issue of "defining" the Grand Divisions. For example, Fentress County straddles the Cumberland Plateau and the Cumberland Mountains. Geographically it could be considered in either Middle or East Tennessee (Middle Tennessee begins at the plateau, East Tennessee encompasses the Cumberland and Appalachian Mountain ranges and the Tennessee Valley in between). Culturally it also carries traits of both divisions. Thus, one citizen of the county may consider himself an East Tennessean while his next door neighbor might consider himself a Middle Tennessean. State law, I believe, considers Fentress County as part of Middle Tennessee, while the East Tennessee Historical Society includes Fentress County in its cultural definition of East Tennessee. Similar situations exist for other "border" counties on the East/Middle border and the Middle/West border. The key point, however, is that the governor cannot ignore the grand divisions at his pleasure. On the contrary, most of the state's governing boards and committees, including the state Supreme Court, have requirements for representation from each of the Grand Divisions. A governor who chose to not recognize the political boundaries of the Grand Divisions would find himself on the wrong side of the law more often than not. As I said, I suspect the confusion and the misleading statement about the governor's ability to recognize the divisions comes from the fact that the political boundaries do not always mesh with the cultural boundaries the residents carry in their heads and hearts. I hope this information was helpful. Sincerely, Shane Rhyne, Public Relations Director East Tennessee Historical Society Knoxville, Tennessee www.east-tennessee-history.org ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 11:37 AM Subject: TN-3 Grand Divisions > I want to thank all of you who emailed answers to my questions > about the 3 grand divisions of Tennessee (West, Middle, East). > > It was interesting to learn that the 3 grand divisions > are only recognized as West, Middle, and East > depending upon who is the current Governor. > > To the person who asked his friend or > family member who is a TN history teacher > to email me, would thank him for me. > I believe he emailed his answers, too, > but didn't identify himself as a history teacher. > > Thanks again. > > Linda Fuller Long, Yorba Linda, CA (but formerly from West TN) >

I feel the statement regarding <<It was interesting to learn that the 3 grand divisions are only recognized as West, Middle, and East depending upon who is the current Governor.>> probably referred to the fact that we used to have signs on our borders that said: "Welcome to the 3 great states of Tennessee" or something to that effect. I don't remember which governor it was but one of the governors ordered the signs removed when he became governor. He felt it would solve the division problems and restore unity to the state. There was a big uproar around here at the time because we were proud of being from WEST Tennessee. Leslie Moore [email protected] Lake County, TN CC http://www.ecsis.net/lakecounty/history/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "East Tennessee Historical Society" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 12, 2001 9:17 AM Subject: Re: TN-3 Grand Divisions > Hello, > > I missed the original posting, but saw this summary and felt a need to make > a correction. > > Linda Long said: <<It was interesting to learn that the 3 grand divisions > are only recognized as West, Middle, and East depending upon who is the > current Governor.>> > > I am not sure where you got this information, but it is slightly incorrect. > Allow me to explain. > > The Grand Divisions of Tennessee can be defined culturally, geographically, > and politically. While cultural and geographical definitions may vary among > the residents of Tennessee, the political boundaries of the Grand Divisions > are established by state law. > > > The governor and other branches of the state government must recognize those > boundaries. Keep in mind that these political boundaries do not always agree > with historic, cultural, or geographic boundaries established in the minds > of the inhabitants. The political boundaries take culture and geography into > account, but must also sometimes take population figures into account. Thus, > a traditional East Tennessee county may find itself in the Middle Tennessee > political district (or vice versa) to satisfy a need to provide equal > representation to all divisions. Not to be overlooked is the ease of > transportation and direct lines of communication. An Middle Tennessee border > county may find it has a better infrastructure connection (interstate > connections, etc.) to the West Tennessee district than to its Middle > Tennessee neighbors. All of these factors are taken into account when the > state legislature takes up the issue of "defining" the Grand Divisions. > > For example, Fentress County straddles the Cumberland Plateau and the > Cumberland Mountains. Geographically it could be considered in either Middle > or East Tennessee (Middle Tennessee begins at the plateau, East Tennessee > encompasses the Cumberland and Appalachian Mountain ranges and the Tennessee > Valley in between). Culturally it also carries traits of both divisions. > Thus, one citizen of the county may consider himself an East Tennessean > while his next door neighbor might consider himself a Middle Tennessean. > State law, I believe, considers Fentress County as part of Middle Tennessee, > while the East Tennessee Historical Society includes Fentress County in its > cultural definition of East Tennessee. > > Similar situations exist for other "border" counties on the East/Middle > border and the Middle/West border. > > The key point, however, is that the governor cannot ignore the grand > divisions at his pleasure. On the contrary, most of the state's governing > boards and committees, including the state Supreme Court, have requirements > for representation from each of the Grand Divisions. A governor who chose to > not recognize the political boundaries of the Grand Divisions would find > himself on the wrong side of the law more often than not. > > As I said, I suspect the confusion and the misleading statement about the > governor's ability to recognize the divisions comes from the fact that the > political boundaries do not always mesh with the cultural boundaries the > residents carry in their heads and hearts. > > I hope this information was helpful. > > Sincerely, > > Shane Rhyne, Public Relations Director > East Tennessee Historical Society > Knoxville, Tennessee > www.east-tennessee-history.org > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, March 09, 2001 11:37 AM > Subject: TN-3 Grand Divisions > > > > I want to thank all of you who emailed answers to my questions > > about the 3 grand divisions of Tennessee (West, Middle, East). > > > > It was interesting to learn that the 3 grand divisions > > are only recognized as West, Middle, and East > > depending upon who is the current Governor. > > > > To the person who asked his friend or > > family member who is a TN history teacher > > to email me, would thank him for me. > > I believe he emailed his answers, too, > > but didn't identify himself as a history teacher. > > > > Thanks again. > > > > Linda Fuller Long, Yorba Linda, CA (but formerly from West TN) > > > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry.com for a FREE 14-Day Trial and enjoy access to the #1 > Source for Family History Online. 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