The southeastern state of Tennessee is ranked 16th in the nation in terms of its population, which is estimated in 2017 to be over 6.7 million. The most populated city in the state is the state capital, Nashville, which is consolidated into the Nashville-Davidson metro area,Nashville, which boasts 678,448 residents. Memphis falls only slightly behind with 651,011 residents. There are four other cities with populations that exceed 100,000: Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville and Murfreesboro.
Municipalities in the state are classified as either a city or a town. There are no distinctions legally between the two, unlike other states where municipal charters, population and other factors may be considered. There are multiple charters that municipalities can operate under, including home rule, mayor-aldermanic, city manager-commission, and consolidated city-county governments. The smallest city in the state of Tennessee is Saulsbury located in Hardeman County, which has a population of just 81. There are two additional municipalities with populations under 100: Cottage Grove in Henry County and Hickory Valley in Hardeman County.