Area: 42,244 sq mi (109,412 sq km). Population: (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. Tennessee's flag features three stars, representing the state's three major regions:  West, Middle, and East.   Mild winters and warm Southern summers are the rule, and our breathtaking transition seasons draw tourists from near and far to see glorious blooming dogwoods in spring and the eye-popping colors of autumn.  The green rolling hills of Middle Tennessee are dotted with horse farms and quaint rural towns, yet the region is also home to a vibrant business community served by three major interstates and a great international airport. The state of Tennessee boasts twenty-three state parks, covering some 132,000 acres, as well as parts of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee National Forest, and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.   Middle Tennessee also has many sites of historic interest, including the Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson; the Sam Davis Home; Belle Meade Mansion; and Fort Donelson and Stones River national battlefields.  The Natchez Trace National Parkway generally follows the old Natchez Trace down from Middle Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi.  Historic Franklin is home to the famous Carter House and numerous charming antebellum homes in the downtown historic district, including the Lotz House, left, home of the largest collection of Civil War memorabilia in the mid-south. The eRealty Shop is conveniently located in the region's premier shopping and dining complex, Cool Springs.  We sell homes and land throughout beautiful Middle Tennessee, and we specialize in the gracious communities of Brentwood, Franklin and southern Nashville.  Contact Barb & Eric for more details about properties, neighborhoods and schools.