Tennessee: elevation, cities and highest point
Tennessee has 7,315,076 people (2025) and 95 counties. Its highest point is Kuwohi, at 6,643 ft, and its lowest, the Mississippi River, at 178 ft. Here you’ll find the elevation of its capital, its cities over 100,000 people and its summit, with a map of its counties.
By the All Map Tools Team
- Population (2025)
- 7,315,076
- The 15th most populous of the 50 states
- Land area
- 41,225 sq mi
- The 34th largest state
- Counties
- 95
- According to the Census (2025)
- Lowest point
- 178 ft
- Mississippi River
Map of Tennessee’s counties
- Capital’s county
- County with a city page
- City, by elevation
- Highest point
Elevation
The capital, Nashville, sits at 555 ft (169 m): the 24th highest of the 50 state capitals. Tennessee’s highest point, Kuwohi, is 189 mi away in a straight line and 6,088 ft higher.
Between its highest point (6,643 ft) and its lowest (178 ft) there’s 6,465 ft of relief, according to the USGS table. Of the 50 state high points, Tennessee’s is the 17th highest.
Tennessee has 6 cities with a page. The highest is Knoxville, at 899 ft, and the lowest is Memphis, at 259 ft: 640 ft apart.
Tennessee borders 8 states. Their highest points are Black Mountain, in Kentucky (4,145 ft), Mount Mitchell, in North Carolina (6,684 ft), Mount Rogers, in Virginia (5,729 ft), Magazine Mountain, in Arkansas (2,753 ft), Taum Sauk Mountain, in Missouri (1,772 ft), Brasstown Bald, in Georgia (4,784 ft), Woodall Mountain, in Mississippi (806 ft), and Cheaha Mountain, in Alabama (2,407 ft): Tennessee’s is the 2nd highest of the 9. Their capitals: Frankfort (504 ft), Raleigh (315 ft), Richmond (213 ft), Little Rock (337 ft), Jefferson City (630 ft), Atlanta (1,050 ft), Jackson (279 ft), and Montgomery (238 ft).
Cities of 100,000 to 250,000 people (4)
Population
Tennessee had 7,315,076 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 5.8% more than in April 2020 (6,912,319). Across 41,225 sq mi of land, that’s 177 people/sq mi.
Its most populous place is Nashville, with 721,074 people, which is also the capital. The Census counts 504 cities, towns and census-designated places (CDPs) in Tennessee.
| Place | Population | Land area | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 721,074 | 476 sq mi | 555 ft |
| Memphis | 609,647 | 290 sq mi | 259 ft |
| Knoxville | 202,021 | 98.7 sq mi | 899 ft |
| Chattanooga | 194,144 | 142 sq mi | 676 ft |
| Clarksville | 188,829 | 100 sq mi | 474 ft |
| Murfreesboro | 171,178 | 64.8 sq mi | 613 ft |
| Franklin | 90,226 | 44.5 sq mi | — |
| Johnson City | 74,943 | 43.8 sq mi | — |
| Jackson | 69,339 | 59.2 sq mi | — |
| Hendersonville | 64,266 | 31.7 sq mi | — |
Neighboring states
Tools
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Tennessee?
Kuwohi, at 6,643 ft, according to the USGS table. It’s the 17th highest of the 50 state high points.
What is the lowest point in Tennessee?
The Mississippi River, at 178 ft, according to the same USGS table.
What is the elevation of Nashville, the capital?
555 ft above sea level, at its reference point in the USGS gazetteer. It’s the 24th highest state capital.
What is the highest city in Tennessee?
Of the cities with a page (the capital and those over 100,000 people), Knoxville, at 899 ft. Some smaller towns are higher: look them up with the point elevation tool.
How many counties does Tennessee have?
95, according to the Census Bureau in 2025.
Sources
- Population, land area and counties: U.S. Census Bureau (Vintage 2025 estimates and 2025 Gazetteer), public domain.
- Highest and lowest points: USGS, “Elevations and Distances in the United States” (and, for Denali, the 2015 survey), public domain.
- City elevations: USGS 3DEP at each city’s GNIS point, public domain.
- County map: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Cartographic Boundary Files (1:500,000).
Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know