BusinessTN's popular annual business ranking, the tn250, is a one-of-a-kind, one-stop source for surveying the state's public and private company landscape. In their diversity of industry and location, these companies combine to form a reliable barometer of Tennessee's economic strength. Their performance over the past year testifies to the state's sound business foundation.

200 private companies

This year's expanded list of 200 private businesses includes those companies based in the state with the greatest amount of revenue, based on disclosure from the companies or other sources believed to be reliable.

50 publicly traded companies

While there are other public companies, the 50 presented here are among the most substantial of Tennessee's public companies in terms of revenue and trading liquidity—and, importantly, they are also the targets of research done by Franklin-based New Constructs, which once again this year scrubs Tennessee stocks, looking for values and pitfalls.

How to best to define the tn250?

They drive trucks, make carpet and feed your family on a Saturday night. They represent the old economy, from coal mining to farm equipment, and the new, from drug discovery to wind farm construction. The bottom line? The companies listed in the following pages are at the core of BusinessTN's coverage. Their success, both as businesses and as story makers, are what make Tennessee a vibrant business marketplace and BusinessTN the value that it is to executive readers across Tennessee.

• Top Private Companies [3]
• Top Public Companies [4]
• According to Trainer [5]
• Two Men and a Scrub [6]