Memphis is situated on the bluffs of the Mississippi River
Memphis
Memphis is situated on the
bluffs of the Mississippi River, in the extreme southwest corner of Tennessee.
Located in Shelby County, the population of the metropolitan area is approaching
one million. Memphis is the country's 15th largest city, exceeding the
populations of Boston, Milwaukee, and Washington, D.C.
Laid out in 1819, Memphis today is a sophisticated city with a rich, complex
culture and heritage. Named for its counterpart on the Nile, Memphis means
"place of good abode." The city grew up on the riverboat traffic to
become the largest spot cotton market in the world. Nearly half of the United
States cotton crop passes through the city each year. Also because of the river,
the city has become one of the world's largest hardwood marketplaces.
Today, as a result of its central location in the country, its position as the
second largest inland American port, its having the world's 16th busiest
airport, and its being the home of Federal Express, Memphis has become the
nation's sixth largest distribution center.
A Major Distribution
Center
The visible success of many companies which "grew up" in Memphis
(Holiday Inn, Federal Express, Dobb's House, etc.), together with the city's
strategic location and low cost of living, have resulted in the recent
relocation to Memphis of the corporate headquarters of several major companies
including International Paper. Other large companies have developed new
manufacturing and distribution facilities here as well: Nike, Kellogg, Sharp
Manufacturing, and Williams-Sonoma. Fortune Magazine recently proclaimed Memphis
one of America's six "booming cities."
The Past and The
Present
The historic riverboat traffic, which played such an integral part in the
development of Memphis, added many other rich dimensions to life here. Most are
still present. Despite the now large population, Memphians still think of their
city as a small, friendly river town. They continue to cultivate that warm and
friendly southern penchant for personalism. Visitors to the city frequently
write letters to the editor of the newspaper attesting to the hospitality
extended by Memphians.
The riverboat traffic also helped create Beale Street - legendary thoroughfare
of gambling joints, music halls, and brothels that became the "Home of the
Blues." Blues enthusiasts from around the world frequently return to pay
homage to W.C. Handy and the renovated Beale Street historical area, alive once
more. Jazz, country and western, bluegrass, rock, and gospel are all part of the
sound that makes Memphis the fourth largest recording center in the nation. The
emergence in the 1950s of Elvis Presley as "the King" of rock-n-roll
was largely a result of the rich musical fabric of this area in which he was
born and raised.
The bluffs of the Mississippi - where city and river join - continue to undergo
renovation and new development. The Pyramid houses a 20,000 seat sports and
entertainment arena, which is home of the University of Memphis basketball team.
Within the Pyramid and on the adjacent Mud Island are the Mississippi River
Museum, outdoor sports facilities, shopping areas, restaurants and a concert
hall.
For a decade now, the highlight of each year has been the Memphis In May
celebration. A different country is honored each year, and throughout the city
students and teachers, merchants, museums, restaurateurs, musicians, artists,
athletes, politicians, and citizens focus on all aspects of life in the honored
country. On the last Saturday in May each year, some 50,000 Mid-Southerners
gather on the banks of the Mississippi to hear the Memphis Symphony Orchestra
play music from the chosen country. Known as the "Sunset Symphony"
this traditional event includes the assembled crowd's singing of Jerome Kern's
"Old Man River." Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture," complete
with fireworks, provides a fitting climax to the month long festival. The event
gives credence to the observation that Memphis is not just near the Mississippi
River, it is one with it.
Education
Twelve colleges and universities contribute to the city's appealing character
and overall style of living. The public school system includes 37 high schools,
41 middle schools, and 126 elementary schools. Additionally, there are more than
71 private and parochial schools, kindergarten through high school.
The healthcare industry in Memphis employs some 44,000 people and contributes
$3.5 billion annually to the area's economy.
Its 21 major hospitals - more than 7,600 beds - make Memphis the largest medical
complex in the South. Each year, healthcare providers serve more than 2 million
people from Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky and Missouri.
The Cost of
Living
Memphis is one of the country's least expensive cities in which to live. In a
survey of 15 urban areas with populations greater than 500,000, Memphis ranked 6
percent below the group average.
Housing
A wide selection of housing options is found in Memphis and Shelby County - from
downtown riverfront condominiums to suburban apartment complexes, from new
Germantown colonials to older Midtown homes with turn-of-the-century charm. In
keeping with the low cost of living in Memphis, housing costs are also below the
national average.
There are other attributes that make the city a very desirable place to live.
For example, Memphis has received the award for the cleanest city with a
population of more than 500,000 more often than any other city in its category.
The award is given annually by the "Keep America Beautiful"
Corporation.
Memphis is situated on the
bluffs of the Mississippi River, in the extreme southwest corner of Tennessee.
Located in Shelby County, the population of the metropolitan area is approaching
one million. Memphis is the country's 15th largest city, exceeding the
populations of Boston, Milwaukee, and Washington, D.C.