On this day in Tennessee history, February 23rd, there are several interesting events and occurrences that are worth noting. Here are five facts about this date:

1. In 1861, Tennessee held a referendum to decide whether or not to secede from the union. The vote was held on February 23rd and resulted in a narrow victory for those in favor of secession. This decision led Tennessee to become the last state to leave the union and join the Confederacy during the Civil War.

2. In 1906, Tennessee officially adopted the state insect as the firefly, after a group of schoolchildren started a campaign to make it the state bug. Tennessee is the only state in the US to have the firefly as its official insect.

3. In 1933, country music legend Johnny Cash was born in Kingsland, Arkansas. However, he later moved with his family to Dyess, Tennessee, where he grew up and began his music career.

4. On February 23rd, 1987, the Davidson County Courthouse in Nashville was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The courthouse was built in 1936 and is known for its Art Deco style.

5. In 2016, the Tennessee Department of Education announced that it would be partnering with Khan Academy, an online learning platform, to provide free SAT practice to all Tennessee high school students. This initiative was aimed at increasing college readiness and improving test scores in the state.