Memphis, founded in 1820, was named after the ancient capital of Egypt on the Nile River.

Today it is the largest city in the state of Tennessee, the second largest in the southeastern region, and the 17^th largest in the United States. It is home to many nationally and internationally known corporations, including approximately 150 businesses from 22 countries. It has an extensive network of parks and public works.

At one time, Memphis was a major slave market, due to the South’s cotton economy being dependant on the forced labor of large numbers of African-American slaves. It became a Confederate stronghold after Tennessee seceded from the Union in 1861. But, following its capture by the Union army, the city became a Union supply base and prospered throughout the war.

During the 1930s, Memphis grew into the world’s largest spot cotton market and the world’s largest hardwood lumber market. Into the 1950s, it was the world’s largest mule market.

During the 1960s, the city was the center of civil rights issues, and Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated here, at the Lorraine Motel, on April 4, 1968. But the 2000 census showed the modern-day Memphis having a population that was 61.41% African American and the city encourages the development of “minority” businesses.

Known for its cultural contributions to the identity of the American south, Memphis was home to many notable musicians, including Muddy Waters, Robert John, B.B.King, Howlin’ Wolf and Elvis Presley. It is the site of an important tourist attraction – Graceland, the much-visited home of Presley.

VITAL STATISTICS

Location – Southwest corner of Tennessee

Elevation - 337 Ft.

Population –

City – 670,902 (2006)

Metropolitan Statistical
Area (MSA) – 1,260,581

Climate – Humid and subtropical with 4 distinct seasons. May to late
September 68 to 95 deg. Brief thunderstorms. Winters mostly mild, but rainy.

MEMPHIS METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA)

This is the 42^nd largest of its kind in the United States and includes the Tennessee counties of Shelby, Tipton, and Fayette, as well as the Mississippi counties of DeSoto, Marshall, Tate, and Tunica, and the Arkansas county of Crittenden.

ECONOMY

Memphis has appeared in the top eight of the 50 best metro areas in the U.S. for starting and growing business. Its central location makes it ideally located for commerce among the transportation and shipping industry. The city is home to the world’s busiest cargo airport, which serves as the primary hub for FedEx shipping, and home to the corporate headquarters of FedEx Corporation, AutoZone Incorporated and International Paper.

TOP 36 EMPLOYERS

Federal Express Corporation, Memphis City Schools, United States Government, Methodist Healthcare, Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corporation, Shelby County Government, Memphis City Government, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Naval Support Activity mid-South, Tennessee State Government, Shelby County Schools, Park Place Entertainment (casinos and hotels), University of Tennessee - Memphis, Internal Revenue Service, Kroger Delta Marketing (grocery stores), United States Post Office, First Tennessee Bank, International Paper (printing and writing paper), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, University of Memphis, Horseshoe Casino and Hotel, Memphis Light -Gas and Water, Catholic Diocese of Memphis, Century Management Inc. (fast food restaurants), Desoto County School System, United Parcel Service, Northwest Airlink, AutoZone Inc., Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Hospital, Veterans’ Affairs edical Center, UT Medical Group Inc., Williams-Sonoma (specialty home products), Valenti Mid South Management LLCC (fast food places) Gold Strike Casino Resort.

ONE MEMPHIS

This organization was initiated in 2002 to promote and encourage minority business development. One phase is a cooperative effort of the Chamber, the Mid-South Minority Business Council, the Black Business Association, the Hispanic Business Association, and the National Alliance of Women Business Owners, offering minority and women-owned firms additional training and networking resources.

ENTERTAINMENT AND FILM

This industry has developed here in recent years. Several motion pictures have been filmed in Memphis, including The Firm (1993), Cast Away (2000), and Walk The Line (2005).

TOURISM

Many tourist attractions make Memphis a popular and successful location for the tourist industry

RAIL AND RIVER TRANSPORTATION

A large volume of railroad freight traffic moves through Memphis due to two Mississippi River railroad crossings and the convergence of east-west rail routes with north-south routes. The city also has the second biggest cargo port on the Mississippi River (the fourth biggest inland port in the U.S.)

EDUCATION

The city of Memphis is served by Memphis City schools and surrounding suburbs in Shelby County are served by Shelby County schools. Colleges and universities located in the city include the University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State university), Rhodes College (formerly Southwestern at Memphis), Le Moyne-Owen College, Crichton College, and Christian Brothers University. The University of Tennessee College of Dentistry – founded in 1878 – is the oldest dental college in the South and the third oldest public college of dentistry in the United States.

PARKS AND RECREATION

One of the largest urban parks in America is Shelby Farms park, located at the eastern edge of the city of Memphis. Other area parks include W.C. Handy Park, Tom Lee Park, Audubon Park, Overton Park (including the Old Forest Arboretum of Overton Park), the Lichterman Nature Center – a nature learning center, and the Memphis Botanic Garden.

SPORTS

Several professional sports teams have their home here. They include the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association, the Memphis Redbirds off the Pacific Coast League (a Triple A baseball farm team for the St. Louis Cardinals), the Memphis Riverkings – a professional hockey team of the Central Hockey League, and the Memphis Panthers football team which plays in the North American Football League. Pro wrestling has been well represented by Jerry “The King” Lawler.

A PLACE FOR MUSIC

Various American music genres – including Blues, Gospel, Rock n’ Roll, and “sharecropper” country music have been developed here. Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and B.B. King were all getting their starts in Memphis in the 1950s.

AND WHAT ABOUT ART?

The Cooper-Young (Art) Festival , held here annually in September draws artists from all over North America, and includes art sales, contests, and displays. The Brooks Museum of Art, founded in 1916, is the oldest and largest fine art museum in the state of Tennessee, with a permanent collection that includes works from the Italian Renaissance and Baroque eras to British, French Impressionists, and 20^th-century artists.

GRACELAND

This former home of Rock ‘n’ Roll legend Elvis Presley is one of the most visited homes in the United States – second only to The White House, attracting over 600,000 domestic and international visitors a year. Since November 7, 1991, Graceland has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

MUSEUMS

There are many interesting museums here including the following: the National Civil Rights Museum is located in the former Lorrain Motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, and includes an historical overview of the American civil rights movement. The Cotton Museum is located on the old trading floor of the Memphis Cotton Exchange. Victorian Village features a series of fine Victorian mansions, some of which are open to the public as museums. The Pink Palace Museum is the Mid-South’s science and historical museum and includes America’s third largest planetarium. Mud Island Mississippi River Park and Mississippi River Museum is located on Mud Island in downtown Memphis.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

There are also many of these. Here are a few: Arena Beale Street, where a young B.B. King used to play his guitar, Sun Studio, where a number of famous musicians, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Charlie rich, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Lewis, got their start. Memphis Zoo, the Memphis Walk of Fame, and the Memphis Queen riverboat cruises.