Memphis Overview

Memphis is a city located in the southwestern corner of the state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. With a population of over a million people, Memphis is the largest city in the state of Tennessee and 20th largest in the United States. Located on the Mississippi River, Memphis is just north of Mississippi and east of Arkansas. In addition to the counties of Fayette, Shelby, and Tipton in Tennessee, the greater Memphis MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) includes the counties of Crittenden in Arkansas and Desoto in Mississippi. Memphis is the youngest of Tennessee's major cities. A resident of Memphis is referred to as a Memphian, and the Memphis region is known, particularly to media outlets, as the "Mid-South."

Several large parks are scattered through the city, notably Overton Park in Midtown and the 4,500 acres Shelby Farms. The city is a national transportation hub and Mississippi River crossing for Interstate 40, (east-west), Interstate 55 (north-south), barge traffic, Memphis International Airport (FedEx's "SuperHub" facility) and numerous freight railroads that serve the city.

Memphis is well known for its contributions to the identity of the American South. Many renowned musicians grew up in and around Memphis. These include such musical greats as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Muddy Waters, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Robert Johnson, W. C. Handy, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. Jones, Al Green, Justin Timberlake, Three 6 Mafia, The Sylvers, and many others.

Memphis is home to many festivals and events throughout the year. Once a year Memphis hosts Memphis in May, one of the largest celebrations the city has.  This month-long series of events promotes Memphis' heritage and outreach of its people far beyond the city's borders. There are four main events, the Beale Street Music Festival, International Week, the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, and the Sunset Symphony. The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is the largest pork barbecue cooking contest in the world.  In April, there is an event in downtown Memphis called Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival, or simply known as Africa in April. Africa in April is a three-day festival with vendor's markets, fashion showcases, blues showcases, and an international diversity parade. During June, Memphis is home to the Memphis Italian Festival at Marquette Park. This festival has musical acts, local artisans, and Italian cooking competitions. Carnival Memphis, formerly known as the Memphis Cotton Carnival, is an annual series of parties and festivities in June that salutes various aspects of Memphis and its industries. An annual King and Queen of Carnival are secretly selected to reign over Carnival activities. A market and arts festival, the Cooper-Young Festival, is held annually in September in the Cooper-Young district of Midtown Memphis. The event draws artists from all over North America and includes local music, art sales, contests, and displays.

Memphis offers a wide variety of things to see and do. The FedEx Forum Arena which is home to the Memphis Grizzlies NBA basketball team and the University of Memphis Tigers opened in Downtown Memphis in 2004.  The FedEx Forum Arena is host to other events including major concerts like The Rolling Stones, Elton John, and Destiny's Child, along with major boxing events, ice shows, the circus and more.

Turn-of-the-century trolley cars, restored to their former elegance, have returned to Main Street. They follow the same paths of their post-Civil War, mule-drawn predecessors, providing down town workers and visitors with convenient transportation and an exciting way to see the sights.

Music lovers from around the world flock to downtown Memphis to visit Beale Street where they sample the blues, jazz and rock 'n' roll. Beale Street is a favorite of both local and national blues artists who play in the many nightclubs or in Handy Park. Visit the Memphis Music and Blues Museum where you'll hear rare recordings and see vintage memorabilia from Sun Studios and Stax Records.

The Memphis Cook Convention Center features the new, state-of-the-art 2,100 seat Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, home of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. The center also features over 300,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space.

In Midtown Memphis, residents are restoring homes to their original splendor in the historic Cooper-Young neighborhood, which is near the Overton Square entertainment district and local colleges and universities. New businesses, restaurants, nightspots and galleries have opened. The vintage clothing stores, coffee houses and art galleries featuring local work give the area a distinctive Bohemian feel. Every year, residents open their homes for tours and stage a popular street festival.

With an average temperature of 62 degrees, Memphis has year-round easy living. The moderate climate allows golf and other outdoor activities to be played during all seasons. Almost all precipitation is in the form of rain. During the winter months, residents are excited if they encounter a few snowflakes. Visitors to the city are quick to notice how beautiful the neighborhoods are. Tree-lined streets make the spring and fall seasons especially breathtaking.