Memphis, Tennessee
Flag Seal
Nickname: The River City, The Bluff City
Coordinates: 35°07′03″N 89°58′16″W / 35.1175, -89.97111
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
Counties	Shelby County
Founded	1819
Incorporated	1826
Government
- Mayor	W. W. Herenton (D)
Area
- City	313.8 sq mi (763.4 km²)
- Land	302.3 sq mi (723.4 km²)
- Water	15.4 sq mi (40.0 km²)
Elevation	337 ft (103 m)
Population (2005)
- City	680,768
- Density	2,327.4/sq mi (898.6/km²)
- Metro	1,260,581
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Website: http://www.memphistn.gov

Memphis is a city in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. Memphis rises above the Mississippi River on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff just below the mouth of the Wolf River. As of 2006, Memphis had an estimated population of 680,768, making it the largest city in the state of Tennessee, the second largest in the southeastern region (only to Jacksonville, Florida), and the 17th largest in the United States [1]. The greater Memphis metropolitan area (including the adjacent areas of Mississippi and Arkansas) has a population of 1,260,581. This makes Memphis the second largest metropolitan area in Tennessee, surpassed only by metropolitan Nashville. Memphis is the youngest of Tennessee's four major cities (traditionally including Knoxville and Chattanooga and Nashville). A resident of Memphis is referred to as a Memphian. Memphis was the wife of Epaphus, the founder of Memphis, Egypt in Greek mythology. ... File links The following pages link to this file: Memphis, Tennessee Categories: GFDL images ... Memphis City Flag File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Memphis City Seal This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... // A nickname is a name of a person or thing other than its proper name. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states, which are... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... United States of America, showing states, divided into counties. ... Shelby County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... 1819 common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... A Municipal corporation is a legal definition for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to) cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, and boroughs. ... The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Dr. Willie W. Herenton is the mayor of Memphis, Tennessee. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude and geographical regions, we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... Basic Definition In geography, the elevation of a geographic location is its height above mean sea level (or some other fixed point). ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The metre or meter is a measure of length. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Though DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Look up city, City in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Shelby County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... The Chickasaw bluff is the most northern of four bluffs on the lower Mississippi River. ... The Wolf River is a small river of West Tennessee and Mississippi. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Motto: Where Florida Begins Location in the state of Florida Coordinates: , Country United States State Florida County Duval Government  - Mayor John Peyton (R) Area  - City  885 sq mi (2,264. ... Ten most populous cities in the United States Los Angeles San Jose San Diego Phoenix Chicago New York City Houston San Antonio Dallas Philadelphia The following is a list of the most populous incorporated places in the United States. ... City nickname: The River City or The Bluff City Location in the state of Tennessee County Shelby County, Tennessee Area  - Total  - Water 763. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Nickname: Location in Davidson County and the state of Tennessee Coordinates: Country United States State Tennessee Counties Davidson County Founded: 1779 Incorporated: 1806 Government  - Mayor Bill Purcell (D) Area  - City  526. ... Nickname: Location within the U.S. State of Tennessee Coordinates: Cities in Tennessee Tennessee Government  - Mayor Bill Haslam (R) Area  - City 254. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

History

Mississippi River landing, Memphis, 1906

The Memphis area was first settled by the Mississippian Culture and then by the Chickasaw Indian tribe. Image File history File links Riverboats_at_Memphis. ... Image File history File links Riverboats_at_Memphis. ... The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 900 to 1500 CE, varying regionally. ... The Chickasaws are a Native American people of the United States, originally from present-day Mississippi, now mostly living in Oklahoma. ... Native Americans are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States, including parts of Alaska. ...

European exploration came years later, with Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto believed to have visited what is now the Memphis area as early as the 1540s. By the 1680s, French explorers led by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle built Fort Prudhomme in the vicinity, the first European settlement in what would become Memphis, predating English settlements in East Tennessee by more than 70 years. [2] Hernando de Soto. ... Events and Trends 1541 Hernando de Soto is the first European to see the Mississippi River. ... Events and Trends The Treaty of Ratisbon between France and England in 1684 ended the Age of Buccaneers. ... Engraving of La Salle René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle (November 22, 1643 – March 19, 1687) was a French cleric and explorer. ... East Tennessee is a name given to approximately the eastern third of the state of Tennessee. ...

Despite such early outposts, the land comprising present-day Memphis remained in a largely unorganized territory throughout most of the 18th century, while the boundaries of what would become Tennessee continued to evolve from its parent — the Carolina Colony, later North Carolina and South Carolina. By 1796, the community was the westernmost point of the newly admitted state of Tennessee. (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... The Carolina Colony grants of 1663 and 1665 The Province of Carolina was a North American English colony that existed from 1663 to 1729, when it was divided into the Provinces of North and South Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Area  Ranked 28th  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (240 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (901 km)  - % water 9. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston(1670-1789) Columbia(1790-present) Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32°430N to 35°12N...

Cotton merchants on Union Avenue, Memphis in 1937

Memphis was founded in 1820 by John Overton, James Winchester, and Andrew Jackson and was incorporated as a city in 1826. The city was named after the ancient capital of Egypt on the Nile River. Image File history File links Union_Avenue. ... Image File history File links Union_Avenue. ... 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Andrew Jackson (disambiguation). ... The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Memphis, coordiates , , was the ancient capital of the first nome of Lower Egypt, and of the Old Kingdom of Egypt from its foundation until around 1300 BC. Its Ancient Egyptian name was Ineb Hedj (The White Walls). The name Memphis is the Greek deformation of the Egyptian name of Pepi... There is also Nile, a death metal band from South Carolina, USA. The Nile in Egypt Length 6 695 km Elevation of the source 1 134 m Average discharge 2 830 m³/s Area watershed 3 400 000 km² Origin Africa Mouth the Mediterranean Basin countries Uganda - Sudan - Egypt The...

The cotton economy of the antebellum South depended on the forced labor of large numbers of African-American slaves, and Memphis became a major slave market. Slaves seeking their freedom turned to the Underground Railroad to escape to the free states of the North, and the Memphis home of Jacob Burkle was a way-station on their route to freedom. This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... The Burkle Estate is a historic home at 826 North Second Street in Memphis, Tennessee. ...

At the time of the American Civil War, Memphis was already an important regional city because of its river trade and railroad connections, particularly the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, completed in 1857. Tennessee seceded from the Union in June 1861 and Memphis briefly became a Confederate stronghold. Union forces captured Memphis from Confederacy in the Battle of Memphis on June 6, 1862, and the city remained under Union control for the duration of the war, except for a dramatic raid conducted by Nathan Bedford Forrest. Memphis became a Union supply base and continued to prosper throughout the war. Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... The Memphis and Charleston Railroad completed in 1857 was the first railroad in the United States to link the Atlantic Ocean with the Mississippi River. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (from April 3, 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Religion... In this map:  Union states prohibiting slavery  Union territories  Border states on the Union side which allowed slavery  Kansas, which entered and fought with the Union as a free state after the Bleeding Kansas crisis  The Confederacy  Confederate claimed and sometimes held territories During the American Civil War, the Union... Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders Charles Henry Davis Charles Ellet, Jr. ... June 6 is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Second Battle of Memphis was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on August 21, 1864 in Shelby County, Tennessee. ... For the World War II general, see Nathan Bedford Forrest III. Nathaniel Bedford Forrest (July 13, 1821–October 29, 1877) was a Confederate Army general during the American Civil War. ...

Extensive yellow fever epidemics in the 1870s (1873, 1878, 1879) devastated the city. At that time it was not understood that this fatal disease was carried by a mosquito vector, so public health measures were unsuccessful. So many died or fled the epidemics that in 1879 Memphis lost its city charter and until 1893 was merely a taxing district. Eventually improvements in sanitation removed the breeding grounds of the mosquito vector and the city began to grow again. In 1897, Memphis' pyramid-shaped pavilion was a conspicuous part of the Tennessee Centennial exposition. 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... A pyramid is any three-dimensional structure where the upper surfaces are triangular and converge on one point. ... The Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition was a Worlds Fair staged between May 1 and October 31 of 1897 in Nashville. ...

Memphis grew into the world's largest spot cotton market (over 40% of the nation's crop was traded here) and the world's largest hardwood lumber market. Into the 1950s, it was the world's largest mule market.[3] From the 1910s to the 1950s, Memphis was a hotbed of machine politics under the direction of E. H. "Boss" Crump. During the Crump era, Memphis developed an extensive network of parks and public works as part of the national City Beautiful Movement. // The 1910s represent the culmination of European militarism which had its beginnings during the second half of the 19th Century. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the system of organization called a political machine. ... Edward Hull Crump (October 2, 1874–October 16, 1954) was a Memphis, Tennessee insurance broker, businessman, and political figure in the early 20th century. ... The City Beautiful movement was a Progressive reform movement in North American architecture and urban planning that flourished in the 1890s and 1900s with the intent of using beautification and monumental grandeur in cities to counteract the perceived moral decay of poverty-stricken urban environments. ...

Jazz musician, Memphis, 1939

During the 1960s the city was at the center of civil rights issues, notably the location of a sanitation workers' strike. Memphis is also known as the place where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel, the day after giving his prophetic "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech at the Mason Temple. Image File history File links Jazz_drummer. ... Image File history File links Jazz_drummer. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... “Martin Luther King” redirects here. ... Motel where Rev. ... Mason Temple is the central house of worship of the Church of God in Christ, this denomination is the largest Pentecostal group in the United States. ...

Memphis is well known for its cultural contributions to the identity of the American south, including musical and culinary offerings. Many notable blues musicians grew up in and around the Memphis and northern Mississippi, and performed there regularly from the early 1900s onward. These included such musical greats as Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, and Howlin' Wolf. The first African American-formatted radio station, WDIA, was founded in the city in 1947 by Bert Ferguson and John Pepper, and included a young B. B. King as disc jockey. B. B. King's moniker was derived from his WDIA nickname 'Beale Street Blues Boy', a reference to Memphis' Beale Street on which many nightclubs and blues venues were located. McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1915 – April 30, 1983), better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician and is generally considered the father of Chicago blues. He is also the actual father of blues musician Big Bill Morganfield. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Riley B. King aka B. B. King (b. ... Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976), better known as Howlin Wolf or sometimes, The Howlin Wolf, was an influential blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... WDIA is an AM radio station in Memphis, TN. Similar to the Orange Mound neighborhood in Memphis, it was the first ever American radio station programmed by Negroes. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... John Pepper, real name József Pogany, also known as Joseph, (1886 - 1937) was a Hungarian-born American Communist. ... Beale Street is a street in Memphis, Tennessee and a significant location in African-American history and the history of the blues. ...

In addition to a rich musical heritage, Memphis also boasts a long culinary legacy dominated by regional barbecue. Memphis barbecue is rendered distinct by its sole usage of pork (as opposed to beef), focus on rib and shoulder cuts of meat, and multiple locally-owned barbecue restaurants. Celebration of this local dish reaches its climax each year in May, when the Memphis in May Festival holds its annual World-Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. It has been suggested that Grilling be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that Grilling be merged into this article or section. ... Memphis in May is a month long festival held in Memphis, Tennessee. ...

Geography and climate

The Mud Island monorail on Front St in downtown Memphis

Memphis is located at 35°7′3″N, 89°58′16″W (35.117365, -89.971068).^GR1 According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 763.4 km² (313.8 mi²). 723.4 km² (302.3 mi²) of it is land and 40.0 km² (15.4 mi²) of it (5.24%) is water. Image File history File links I took this picture and allow its free use File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links I took this picture and allow its free use File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

Climate

Memphis has a humid subtropical climate, with four distinct seasons. The summer months (late May to late September) are persistently hot (between 68 °F [20 °C] and 95 °F [35 °C]) and humid due to moisture encroaching from the Gulf of Mexico. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent during some summers, but usually brief, lasting no longer than an hour. Early Autumn is pleasantly drier and mild, but can remain hot until late October. Abrupt but short-lived cold snaps are common. Late Autumn is rainy and colder, December being the third rainiest month of the year. Fall foliage becomes especially vibrant after the first frost, typically November, and lasts until early December. Winters are mild, but cold snaps can occur. The official all-time record low temperature was -13.0 °F (-25.0 °C), which occurred on December 24, 1963. Mild spells are sometimes warm with temperatures as high as 75 °F (23 °C) during January and February. Snowfall is not abundant but does occur during most winters, with an annual average of 5.7 inches (14.4 cm) at the airport. Spring often begins in late February or early March, following the onset of a sharp warmup. This season is also known as "severe weather season" due to the higher frequency of tornadoes, hail, and thunderstorms producing winds greater than 58 mph (93 km/h). Average rainfall is slightly higher during the spring months (except November) than the rest of the year, but not to any noticeable extent. Historically, April is the month with the highest frequency of tornadoes, though tornadoes have occurred every month of the year. Memphis is sunny approximately 64% of the time. The humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and chilly to mild winters. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... December 24 is the 358th day of the year (359th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Non-metric source

Metric source

Cityscape

View of the three bridges spanning over the Mississippi, as viewed from the Tom Lee Park, west of downtown Memphis.

The city of Memphis is located in southwestern Tennessee and sits on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River. It is the regional hub for a tri-state area of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. Interstate 40 enters the city from the northeast, and loops above the central part of the city, exiting across the Mississippi River and travelling to the west. Interstate 55 approaches the city from the south and connects with I-240, which completes the loop around central Memphis with I-40, and also leaves to the west. U.S. Highway 72 leaves the city traveling to the southeast. The west end of U.S. Highway 78 begins in Memphis, TN on Linden Avenue at the intersection of 2nd Street. As it leaves Memphis, US 78 follows Lamar Avenue, historically known as Pidgeon Roost Road for the nestings of passenger pigeons formerly in the vicinity. The east end of U.S. Highway 78 terminates in Charleston, South Carolina. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 431 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 690 pixel, file size: 505 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 431 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 690 pixel, file size: 505 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Location Tom Lee Park is located in downtown Memphis, TN, over looking the Mississippi River. ... Official language(s) English Capital Nashville Largest city Memphis Largest metro area Nashville Area  Ranked 36th  - Total 42,169 sq mi (109,247 km²)  - Width 120 miles (195 km)  - Length 440 miles (710 km)  - % water 2. ... For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... There are a number of places in the United States known as tri-state areas where three states meet at one point or in close proximity to each other. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Interstate 40 (abbreviated I-40) is a major west-east interstate highway in the United States. ... Ordinal directions are the four compass directions: northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest, located halfway between the cardinal directions. ... A compass rose with west highlighted This article refers to the cardinal direction; for other uses see West (disambiguation). ... Interstate 55 (abbreviated I-55) is an interstate highway in the central United States. ... A compass rose with South highlighted South is most commonly a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. ... Interstate 240 is an Interstate highway in the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... United States Highway 72 is an east-west United States highway that runs for 432 miles from southeast Tennesee through northern Alabama and northern Mississippi to southwest Tennessee. ... Ordinal directions are the four compass directions: northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest, located halfway between the cardinal directions. ... Binomial name Ectopistes migratorius (Linnaeus, 1766) The Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) or Wild Pigeon was a species of pigeon that was once the most common bird in North America. ...

Aquifer

Shelby County is located over four natural aquifers, one of which is recognized as the "Memphis sand aquifer" or simply as the "Memphis aquifer." This particular water source, located some 350 to 1100 feet underground, is stated to contain more than 100 trillion US gallons (380 km³) of water by Memphis Light, Gas, and Water,[4] which draws, verifies the cleanliness of, and distributes the water to over 250,000 customers. Furthermore, in the time since the tapping of the well in 1887, the aquifer has only descended 125 feet, suggesting a reliable water source in Memphis for years to come.[5] Most Memphians recognize this as their primary water source, and take great regional pride in their possession of the aquifer. Memphis water is notably soft, low in mineral content, and free of toxic substances.[6] An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, silt, or clay) from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. ... Hard water is water that has a high mineral content. ...

Sections and suburbs

See also: Memphis Metropolitan Area City nickname: The River City or The Bluff City Location in the state of Tennessee County Shelby County, Tennessee Area  - Total  - Water 763. ...

The core of Memphis is marked by five major districts, with smaller districts lying within their borders. These are Downtown, Midtown, North Memphis, South Memphis, and East Memphis. In recent decades the city has expanded further by annexing adjacent territories, so these names can be somewhat misleading to those who are unfamiliar to the area. Located on the Mississippi River between I-40 and I-55. ... Midtown is one of the 5 defined districts of Memphis, Tennessee, USA containing different individual areas loosely defined as Danny Thomas on the West, North Parkway and Summer to the North, Highland to the East and Lamar and Park to the South. ... Raleigh is the eastern-most area within the city limits of Memphis, Tennessee. ... South Memphis is one of the oldest portions on Memphis, it is located just south of downtown. ... East Memphis is a rough geographical region of Memphis, Tennessee, but a very large region, with the following general neighborhood borders: On the West: Midtown (which is defined usually either as west of either Hollywood or E. Parkway) On The South: Hickory Hill, Orange Mound (usually Park Ave. ...

Sections and neighborhoods

Berclair is a district of Memphis, Tennessee. ... Central Gardens is a neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee. ... Chickasaw Gardens is an older upscale neighborhood in Memphis, Tn located near the center of the I-240 loop. ... Cooper-Young is a neighborhood in midtown Memphis, Tennessee that is centered at the intersection of Cooper Street and Young Avenue. ... Cordova is a community located on the east side in the City of Memphis, north of Germantown, Tennessee, and northwest of Collierville, Tennessee, in Shelby County . ... Located on the Mississippi River between I-40 and I-55. ... The Memphis Medical District, is an area which was created to provide a central location for medical care, for both Memphis, and surrounding cities. ... Mud Island is not actually an island but a small peninsula, surrounded by the Mississippi River to the west, Wolf River Harbor to the east. ... East Memphis is a rough geographical region of Memphis, Tennessee, but a very large region, with the following general neighborhood borders: On the West: Midtown (which is defined usually either as west of either Hollywood or E. Parkway) On The South: Hickory Hill, Orange Mound (usually Park Ave. ... Frayser is a neighborhood in north Memphis, Tennessee. ... Harbor Town is a upscale neighborhood just north of downtown Memphis, Tennessee on the Mississippi River. ... Hickory Hill is a neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee. ... Hollywood is a neighborhood in Memphis Tennessee. ... Lenox is a neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee. ... Orange Mound is a neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee and was the first African-American neighborhood in the United States to be built by African-Americans. ... Raleigh is the eastern-most area within the city limits of Memphis, Tennessee. ... North Memphis is a section on the north side of Memphis, Tennessee. ... Midtown is one of the 5 defined districts of Memphis, Tennessee, USA containing different individual areas loosely defined as Danny Thomas on the West, North Parkway and Summer to the North, Highland to the East and Lamar and Park to the South. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... South Memphis is one of the oldest portions on Memphis, it is located just south of downtown. ... Southside, is a subdistrict located in South Memphis, Tennessee. ... Locate near downtown Memphis. ... Victorian Village, Memphis is an area of Memphis, Tennessee located in the eastern quadrant of downtown Memphis. ... Whitehaven is a neighborhood on the south side of Memphis,Tennessee, first organized in the late 19th century. ... Wolfchase is a neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee located in Bartlett. ...

Suburbs and towns in the Memphis Metropolitan Area

Horn Lake is a city located in DeSoto County, Mississippi. ... Olive Branch is a city located in DeSoto County, Mississippi. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Walls, is a town located in northwest DeSoto County, Mississippi near the Mississippi River, part of the larger region known as “The Delta”, and known for its rich, dark soil. ... Tunica is a town in Tunica County, Mississippi, United States, located on the Mississippi River. ... Tunica Resorts, Mississippi is a town located in Tunica County, Mississippi, north of the county seat of Tunica. ...

People and culture

Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 650,100 people, 250,721 households, and 158,455 families residing in the city. The population density was 898.6/km² (2,327.4/mi²). There were 271,552 housing units at an average density of 375.4/km² (972.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.41% African American, 34.41% White, 1.46% Asian, 0.19% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.45% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.97% of the population. 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

There were 250,721 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.1% were married couples living together, 23.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.18. This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ...

In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,285, and the median income for a family was $37,767. Males had a median income of $31,236 versus $25,183 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,838. About 17.2% of families and 20.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.1% of those under age 18 and 15.4% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Crime

While in 2004, violent crime in Memphis was at a record low for more than a decade, that trend has changed. In 2005, Memphis was ranked the 4th most dangerous city with a population of 500,000 or higher in the U.S.[8] Crime in Memphis increased in 2005, and has seen a dramatic rise in the first half of 2006. Nationally, cities follow similar trends, and crime numbers tend to be cyclic. Local experts and criminologists cite as possible causes to the rise in crime in Memphis to gang recruitment, and to a reduction of federal funding by 66% to the Memphis Police Department.

In the first half of 2006, robbery of businesses increased 52.5%, robbery of individuals increased 28.5%, and homicide increased 18% over the same period of 2005.[9] The Memphis Police Department has responded with the initiation of Operation Blue C.R.U.S.H. (Crime Reduction Using Statistical History), which targets crime hotspots and repeat offenders.[10] Memphis ended 2005 with 154 murders, 2006 ended with 160 murders. In 2006, the Memphis metropolitan area ranked second most dangerous in the nation.[11]

Metropolitan area

Hernando de Soto Bridge and the Memphis skyline photographed from the Arkansas side.

The Memphis Metropolitan Area (MSA), the 42nd largest in the United States, has a 2003 population of 1,239,337, 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. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 625 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1438 pixel, file size: 391 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Memphis, Tennessee Hernando de Soto Bridge... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 625 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1438 pixel, file size: 391 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Memphis, Tennessee Hernando de Soto Bridge... City nickname: The River City or The Bluff City Location in the state of Tennessee County Shelby County, Tennessee Area  - Total  - Water 763. ... The following is a list (by population) of all Metropolitan Statistical Areas as defined by the United States Census Bureau. ... Shelby County is a county in the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... Tipton County is a county located in the state of Tennessee. ... Fayette County is a county located in the state of Tennessee. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... DeSoto County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. ... Marshall County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. ... Tate County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. ... Tunica County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... Crittenden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. ...

Cultural events and fairs

One of the largest celebrations in Memphis is Memphis in May. The month-long series of events promotes Memphis' heritage and outreach of its people far beyond the city's borders. Each year, Memphis in May honors a different country, highlighting various aspects of the honored nation's history and culture. Since its founding, the economic and educational impact of Memphis in May has given a significant boost to the city each spring. The celebration includes a diverse mix, beginning during the first weekend of the month at Tom Lee Park, the site of the Beale Street Music Festival. During International Week, the city focuses on its honored country, part of a larger program in coordination with area schools to broaden cultural awareness among students. Other signature events of Memphis in May include the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and the closing event of the month — a performance of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra on the river called the Sunset Symphony. Memphis in May is a month long festival held in Memphis, Tennessee. ... Memphis in May is a month long festival held in Memphis, Tennessee. ...

Carnival Memphis (formerly known as the Memphis Cotton Carnival), is a series of parties and festivities staged every year by the Carnival Memphis Association and its member krewes (similar to that of Mardi Gras) during the early summer. Carnival salutes various aspects of Memphis and its industries, and is reigned over by the current year's secretly selected King & Queen of Carnival. Fall brings the Mid-South Fair to the city each year. Carnival Memphis (formerly known as the Memphis Cotton Carnival), is a series of parties and festivities staged annually since 1931 in Memphis, Tennessee by the centralized Carnival Memphis Association and its member krewes (similar to that of Mardi Gras) during the month of June. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Mid-South Fair comes to Memphis, Tennessee, every year from September 23 through October 2. ...

An 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 art sales, contests, and displays. Since the late 1980s the Cooper-Young Festival has grown into one of Memphis' most anticipated events, with over 50,000 guests in recent years enjoying a mix of art, music and crafts presented by over 300 artisans from around the country. The festival celebrates the arts, people, culture and Memphis heritage. In addition to art, the festival includes sales of clothing, jewelry, live music, and gay novelty items. Cooper-Young is a neighborhood in midtown Memphis, Tennessee that is centered at the intersection of Cooper Street and Young Avenue. ...

As a result of Hurricane Katrina, in August 2005 Memphis co-hosted the Voodoo Music Experience, normally the centerpiece of Halloween festivities in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2006 the annual musical event returned to New Orleans. Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa; 26. ... Halloween, or Halloween, is a tradition celebrated on the night of October 31, most notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting sweets, fruit, and other gifts. ... Nickname: Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States Coordinates: Country United States State Louisiana Parish Orleans Founded 1718 Government  - Mayor Ray Nagin (D) Area  - City  350. ...

The arts

Memphis is the home of founders and establishers of various American music genres, including Blues, Gospel, Rock n' Roll, and "sharecropper" country music (in contrast to the "rhinestone" country sound of Nashville). Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and B. B. King were all getting their starts in Memphis in the 1950s. They are respectively dubbed the "King" of Country, Rock n' Roll, and Blues. Other famous musicians who either grew up or got their starts in the Memphis area include the Box Tops, the Gentrys, the Grifters, Aretha Franklin, Carl Perkins, John Lee Hooker, Justin Timberlake, Howlin' Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Charlie Rich, Lucero (band), Al Green, Muddy Waters, Big Star, Tina Turner, Roy Orbison, Willie Mae Ford Smith, Sam Cooke, Booker T. and the MGs, Otis Redding, Arthur Lee, The Blackwood Brothers, Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, The Staple Singers, Sam and Dave, Three 6 Mafia, DJ Squeeky, 8 Ball & MJG,Elise Neal, Shawn Lane, The Sylvers, Anita Ward and "Father of the Blues" W.C. Handy. Johnny Cash (born J. R. Cash, February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American, multi Grammy Award-winning influential American country and rock and roll singer and songwriter. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... Riley B. King, better known as B. B. King or The King of Blues (born September 16, 1925 in Itta Bena, Mississippi), is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter, widely considered one of the best and most respected blues musicians of all time. ... The Box Tops were a United States pop music group of the late 1960s. ... The Gentrys were an American band of the