Memphis, Tennessee – Home of Blues, Soul and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Memphis is a city located along the Mississippi River in the southwestern corner of Tennessee. With a population of 651,073 as of 2019, Memphis is the second most populous city in Tennessee after Nashville and one of the largest cities in the southeastern United States.
Nicknamed the “Birthplace of Rock and Roll” and “Home of Blues and Soul”, Memphis has played a major role in the development of various music genres and is considered one of the top music destinations in the world. The city is also known for its cultural contributions to the identity of the American South.
History of Memphis [1]
The area was first settled in the first millennium AD by people of the Mississippian Culture who built villages and earthwork mounds. The historic Chickasaw Indian tribe occupied the site beginning in the 16th century until the Treaty of 1818 when the land was ceded to the United States. Memphis was founded in 1819 by John Overton, James Winchester and Andrew Jackson.
Memphis grew into one of the largest cities of the Antebellum South as a market for agricultural goods, natural resources like lumber, and the American slave trade. Occupied by Union forces during the American Civil War, Memphis became a destination for freed slaves and Irish immigrants after the war.
The city faced yellow fever epidemics in the 1870s and a series of floods in the early 20th century. Despite this, Memphis grew rapidly, anchored by its cotton industry and the hardworking multi-ethnic residents that called it home. It was at the center of civil rights issues and labor unrest in the 1960s, but rebounded as one of the nation’s largest cities by the 1980s.
Geography and Climate
Memphis is located in the southwest corner of Tennessee at 35.1495° N, 90.0489° W. It sits on the fourth Chickasaw Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The city has a total area of 324.0 square miles (839.2 km2), of which 315.1 square miles (816.0 km2) is land and 8.9 square miles (23.2 km2) is water.
Summers are hot and humid in Memphis, with average high temperatures in the 90s Fahrenheit. Winters are mild, with average temperatures in the 40s. Rainfall is abundant year-round, with the highest amounts typically occurring between November and May.
Demographics
As of the 2010 Census, there were 646,889 people and 245,836 households residing in Memphis. The racial makeup of the city was 63.33% African American, 29.39% White, 1.46% Asian American, 1.57% Native American and 2.04% Other. 5.34% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The median household income was $32,285 and the per capita income was $17,838. Approximately 26.2% percent of the population was living below the poverty line.
Economy and Major Employers
Historically, Memphis’ economy was based on the cotton trade, agricultural and natural resources like hardwood lumber. In the 20th century, the city diversified into manufacturing, transportation, healthcare and financial services.
Major private sector employers in Memphis today include FedEx, AutoZone, International Paper, and Saint Francis Hospital.
The largest public sector employers are the Memphis City Schools, Shelby County Government, City of Memphis Government, Memphis VA Medical Center, and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
The Memphis metro area had a GDP of $124 billion in 2017. Major industries today include logistics and transportation, healthcare, education, manufacturing, tourism and banking. Despite economic ups and downs, the city has continued to thrive and reinvent itself.
Attractions and Points of Interest
As the birthplace of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll music, Memphis is home to iconic attractions for music lovers including Sun Studio, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Beale Street, Graceland, and the Memphis Rock N Soul Museum.
Other major attractions include the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, the National Ornamental Metal Museum, and the Memphis Riverfront along the Mississippi River. Outdoor activities can be enjoyed at Shelby Farms Park, the largest urban park in the United States.
Professional sports are popular in Memphis, with teams including the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, the minor league baseball Memphis Redbirds, and the pro football Memphis Express.
Transportation
The Memphis International Airport serves over 4 million passengers annually with flights to destinations across the United States and international service to Canada, Mexico and Europe. Public transportation is provided by the Memphis Area Transit Authority bus system and trolley lines.
Major highways include I-40, I-55 and I-240 providing connections throughout the region. The city is also home to five Class I railroads and the second busiest cargo port on the Mississippi River.
Education
Public education is provided by Shelby County Schools, which operates over 200 schools serving over 100,000 students. There are also state-run schools under the Achievement School District as well as charter and private schools.
Colleges and universities in Memphis include the University of Memphis, Rhodes College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Christian Brothers University and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Memphis Library System
The city’s public library system is called the Memphis Public Library & Information Center. It operates 18 branch locations across the city. The main library branch is the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library located at 3030 Poplar Avenue.
Local Government
Memphis is governed by a mayor and 13-member city council. The current mayor is Jim Strickland who was elected in 2016. City Hall is located at:
125 North Main St.Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 636-6000
The city resides within Shelby County. The county seat is located at:
160 North Main St.Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 222-2300
Tourism Website
The Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes tourism and provides information on attractions, events, restaurants and more. Visit their website at www.memphistravel.com.
Follow Memphis city government and community happenings on Facebook.
Famous Memphis Landmarks
Here are some of the most iconic landmarks in Memphis:
- Beale Street – Home of blues music and the heartbeat of downtown Memphis.
- Graceland – Elvis Presley’s mansion and the second most visited home in America after the White House.
- Orpheum Theatre – A stunning 1928 movie palace that still operates as a performing arts center.
Graceland Address and GPS Coordinates:
3734 Elvis Presley Blvd.Memphis, TN 38116
GPS: 35.0686° N, 90.0246° W
Orpheum Theatre Address and GPS Coordinates:
203 S Main St.Memphis, TN 38103
GPS: 35.1438° N, 90.0528° W
Beale Street GPS Coordinates:
35.1615° N, 90.0548° W