List of municipalities in Tennessee

As of 2007, 212 of the state's municipalities were operating under charters established by private act of the legislature.

In 1953, amendments to the Tennessee Constitution prohibited subsequent incorporations by private act and provided for several new forms of municipal charter.

Home rule charters are authorized by Article XI, Section 9, of the Tennessee State Constitution, as amended in 1953.

"[3] These terms do not have legal significance in Tennessee[4] and are not related to population, date of establishment, or type of municipal charter.

Under current state law (TCA Title 6), a minimum of 1,500 residents are required to incorporate as a new municipality under the mayor-alderman or city manager-commission charter, and a minimum of 5,000 residents are required to incorporate under a modified city manager-council charter.

Map of the United States with Tennessee highlighted
These directional signs in Crossville , photographed in 1937 by Ben Shahn as part of a New Deal program, helped travelers find their way to other Tennessee cities and towns.