Regions
Tennessee has six popular land regions, including the Blue Ridge, Appalachian Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau, Highland Rim, Nashville Basin, and Gulf Coastal Plain.
Agriculture
Agriculture continues to be a leading industry for the Volunteer State, generating $3.7 billion in revenue. There are approximately 77,300 farms in the state, covering 10.8 million acres. The average size farm comprises 155 acres. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to all 95 counties.
Tennessee’s most valuable crops are soybeans and broilers. The state also produces substantial quantities of nursery crops, corn, cattle, and calves. Most of the cropland is found in the western region of the state.
Wildlife
Tennessee wildlife is abundant within the state on both land and water. Its primary wildlife includes white-tailed deer, elk, wild turkeys, and black bears. Popular fish species include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, trout, sturgeon, channel catfish, and flathead catfish.
Tennessee is committed to protecting cropland, improving water quality, and conserving wildlife habitats.
Major Rivers and Lakes
Tennessee’s three longest rivers are the Mississippi River, Cumberland River, and Tennessee River. Their tributaries include the Obion River, Little Tennessee River, and Duck River.
Lake Kentucky, the largest lake in Tennessee, is located on the Tennessee River. The surface area of this lake is approximately 160,320 acres (250.5 square miles). Other significant lakes include Guntersville Lake, Lake Barkley, and Pickwick Lake.
State and National Parks
Tennessee has 56 state parks and 12 national parks.
National Parks:
- Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
- Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail
- Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
- Fort Donelson National Battlefield
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Manhattan Project National Historical Park
- Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
- Obed Wild and Scenic River
- Shiloh National Military Park
- Stones River National Battlefield
| State Summary | |
| Nickname | Volunteer State |
| Neighboring States | Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri |
| Regions | Blue Ridge, Appalachian Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau, Highland Rim, Nashville Basin, and Gulf Coastal Plain |
| State Flower | Iris |
| State Bird | Mockingbird |
| Big Game | White-tailed deer, elk, wild turkeys, and black bears |
| Small Game | Armadillo, collared dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel, migratory birds, and furbearers |
| Freshwater Fish | Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, black crappie, trout, sturgeon, channel catfish, and flathead catfish |
| Saltwater Fish | N/A |
| Hunting Information | https://www.tn.gov/twra/hunting.html |
| Total Acreage | 26.9 million |
| Total Public Land Acreage | 2.4 million |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 51.6 inches |
| Farmland by Acreage | 10.8 million |
| Woodlands by Acreage | 14.4 million |
| Coastline | N/A |
| Conservation Program | https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/tn/programs/financial/?cid=nrcs141p2_016433 |
| Primary Crops | Soybeans and broilers |
| Main Rivers | Mississippi River, Cumberland River, Tennessee River, and Clinch River |
| Largest Lake | Kentucky Lake |
| Other Lakes | Guntersville Lake, Lake Barkley, and Pickwick Lake |
| Other Tributaries | Obion River, Little Tennessee River, French Broad River, and Duck River |
Our Rural Real Estate Offices
Mossy Oak Properties Tennessee began with the goal of becoming a trusted resource for folks looking to buy or sell rural land for sale in Tennessee. Our land brokers and agents understand what people are looking for in rural property because we share the same lifestyle and love for the land as you do. We understand the importance of honor and integrity and that buying or selling land is an emotional and life-changing experience for consumers.
Only Mossy Oak Properties Tennessee can provide the powerful combination of brand strength, local expertise, quality service, and national exposure. Whether you want to buy or sell rural real estate, a Mossy Oak Properties land specialist is a must-have on your team.
Find a Tennessee land real estate agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What regions of Tennessee offer the best land investment opportunities?
Middle Tennessee has seen the absolute strongest price jumps simply because Nashville has grown so fast pushing housing and recreational land prices up massively within an hour of the city. East Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains foothills has always pulled in buyers looking to retire.
West Tennessee holds incredibly productive farm dirt in the Mississippi River basin at prices that reflect true farming value. The Cumberland Plateau counties sitting right between Nashville and Knoxville offer great hunting and timber dirt at much fairer prices. For buyers who want to buy farm dirt without paying massive city premiums West Tennessee counties like Dyer Gibson and Weakley are the absolute best places to look.
What are typical land prices across Tennessee regions?
According to the 2025 USDA Land Values Summary Tennessee dirt prices have climbed fast. Because of massive lifestyle demand Middle Tennessee building and recreational dirt within an hour of Nashville easily runs $5,000 to $15,000 per acre. Cumberland Plateau hunting and timber dirt in White Overton and Fentress counties runs $2,000 to $5,000 per acre.
West Tennessee row crop dirt in Dyer Gibson and Obion counties runs $5,000 to $8,500 per acre. East Tennessee mountain and foothill dirt in Blount Monroe and McMinn counties runs $3,000 to $8,000 per acre. Tennessee dirt has jumped in value way faster than most nearby states over the last ten years because of the booming Nashville economy and massive numbers of people moving into the state.
What property taxes should Tennessee rural landowners expect?
Tennessee uses the Greenbelt Law which allows farm forest and open space dirt to be taxed based on what it produces rather than its full market selling price. If you put your timber dirt into the Greenbelt program the state taxes you based on a tiny fraction of the actual value dropping your yearly tax bill to almost nothing. Farm dirt gets the exact same amazing treatment.
If you ever sell a Greenbelt property to a housing developer or take it out of the program you have to pay a penalty covering the last three years of back taxes plus interest. According to the Tennessee Department of Revenue the state completely killed the Hall Income Tax on January 1 2021 meaning Tennessee now has absolutely zero state income tax on anything. This makes the state incredibly cheap for holding land long term.
What makes Tennessee a popular destination for out of state land buyers?
Tennessee offers an incredible mix of beautiful landscapes zero state income tax a massive hunting culture great timber and a booming economy centered right around Nashville. The Cumberland Plateau gives you totally wild backcountry within a two to three hour drive from Nashville.
East Tennessee sits right next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and features an unbelievable network of lakes for outdoor fun. Tennessee constantly ranks as one of the absolute hottest rural land markets in the Southeast for both local and out of state buyers drawing massive numbers of people running away from expensive states like California New York Illinois and Florida.
