Tennessee, state in the south-central United States. It is bordered by Kentucky and Virginia (N), North Carolina (E), Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi (S), and, across the Mississippi R., Arkansas and Missouri (W).   Area, 42,244 sq mi (109,412 sq km). Pop.(2000) 5,689,283, a 16.7% increase since the 1990 census. Capital, Nashville. Largest city, Memphis. Motto,Agriculture and Commerce. State bird, mockingbird. State flower, iris. State tree, tulip poplar. Living in Rutherford County… the best of all worlds Rutherford County, Tennessee offers a superior quality of life that combines the best of both worlds: the conveniences of an urban area and the pastoral nature of the countryside, and is also the home of Middle Tennessee Universarty. People are drawn here for the moderate climate , diverse cultural offerings and recreation , top-quality healthcare and housing at both the executive and entry levels. While the cost of living is very low, the quality of living is one of the highest. This 612-square-mile county sits in the center of the state, the “heart” of Tennessee. The county has served as a main corridor and thoroughfare between the capitol city of Nashville and another large Tennessee city, Chattanooga. Today is no exception. Rutherford County is one of the fastest growing counties in Tennessee and has experienced an economic boom with many restaurants and shopping centers. Formerly home to the state capitol (Murfreesboro, from 1819 to 1826), the settlement of Rutherford County dates from the end of the Revolutionary War. Also the site of a major Civil War Battle of Stones River, the county has a rich history and strong legacy.