Nature lovers who visited National Parks Service land in Tennessee last year spent $870 million in the surrounding communities, according to a new federal report.

• That money helped support more than 11,700 jobs, the federal agency says.

Driving the news: The Parks Service released a report last month tracing the economic ripple effects from national parks, monuments, recreation areas and other sites it oversees.

• You can dive into state and park data online.

State of play: Tennessee ranked seventh in the country for park visitor spending, with more than 11 million visits to national park sites within our borders.

• Spending has been on an upward swing in the state for several years, although it dipped slightly at the beginning of the pandemic.
• Most of the money went toward lodging, restaurants and gas.

The intrigue: The Great Smoky Mountains drew more spending than any other location in the national system.

• The sprawling park brought in nearly $1.3 billion in visitor spending — although we share that total with our neighbors in North Carolina.

Zoom in: Natchez Trace Parkway, which starts in Nashville and weaves through Alabama and Mississippi, counted 6.4 million visitors and $178 million in spending across three states.

• Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro drew more than 365,000 visits and $23.8 million in spending.

What they're saying: "Tennessee's 13 national parks are transformative to communities as they drive jobs, visitor spending and economic value," Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell tells Axios.

Zoom out: Nationwide, nearly 300 million people spent more than $20 billion in the communities surrounding national park areas in 2021.

💭 Adam's thought bubble: I love living so close to the Natchez Trace Parkway. Every year, I pick a day to make some of the scenic drive when the autumn leaves are at their most vibrant.

• It doesn't hurt that you can bookend your visit with a biscuit from the Loveless Cafe.

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One stamp won't cut it if you're mailing in an absentee ballot for the Aug. 4 election, the Tennessean reports.

• Because the ballot is particularly long, the Davidson County Election Commission says you'll need extra postage.
• Election administrator Jeff Roberts tells Axios the easiest solution is to use two Forever stamps (currently valued at 60 cents), although you could also pay the exact amount at a post office.

Between the lines: The extra-large ballot — which includes federal, state and local races — is the longest in Metro Nashville history.

Be smart: Early voting expands across the city today. Voters who are casting their ballots in person can pick among 11 early voting locations.

• Early voting ends July 30. Polls will open 7am-7pm on Election Day.

By the numbers: Only 829 people had voted early in Nashville by Tuesday, according to the election commission.

• That's 0.17% of the city’s registered voters.

📍 The Tennessee Human Rights Commission tapped a new leader. (The Associated Press)

⚖️ A state lawmaker from Memphis was arrested in Nashville and charged with misdemeanor assault and felony theft. (Nashville Post)

Quote du jour:

"When I tell you what happened in this case, you may think it's a made up story from a Hollywood movie."

There's no denying it. Nashville, like the rest of the nation, is getting older.

By the numbers: The median age in Davidson County crept up to 35 in 2021, according to U.S. Census data. That's in line with national trends that saw most county populations get older between 2020-2021.

• The national median age reached 38.8 last year.

The big picture: Experts expect Tennessee will get progressively older over the coming decades.

• The fastest-growing age group in the state is 65+, per the University of Tennessee.

Between the lines: The Tennessee Comptroller's Office predicts this trend will increase demand for publicly funded support services for low-income elderly residents.

Explore the interactive map.

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