Downtown Memphis
Residents are drawn to the dynamic pace of life in this growing, vital and cosmopolitan area. Art galleries and antique shops, restaurants, bistros and cafes are a short stroll or a trolley car ride away. The NBA Grizzlies are now playing in the FedEx Forum, a new, state of the art basketball arena adjacent to the Beale Street entertainment district. The Memphis Redbirds draw huge crowds to their new Auto Zone Stadium, and shoppers, moviegoers and nightclub patrons flock to the multi-level Peabody Place Mall.
More than 23,000 Memphians call downtown home and that number continues to grow as condominiums, apartments and houses are added. A new, state-of-the-art elementary school will open in Fall 2003 and act as a magnet to families with young children.
- Beale Street, the legendary “Home of the Blues”, not only features a number of blues clubs, but jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, and pop music. More than 25 nightclubs, shops and restaurants cater to the tastes and entertainment needs of millions of visitors each year.
· The Pinch District, located downtown near the Pyramid and the newly renovated Cook Convention Center and Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, is so-named because the turn-of-the-century Irish immigrants who first lived in the area looked “pinched” about the waist. Today, the district is home to funky bars, cafés and bistros that attract the patronage of local residents, convention-goers, Memphis Symphony Orchestra patrons, and the crowds attending events at the nearby Pyramid.
Midtown
With some of the city’s oldest residential neighborhoods, Midtown boasts broad, tree-lined avenues bordered by stately homes, bungalows and apartments. Overton Park, one of the largest urban parks in the country, is located in the heart of Midtown and is home to the Memphis Zoo, Memphis College of Art, Brooks Museum of Art and the Overton Park Shell. Several colleges and universities, including the University of Memphis and Rhodes College, add greatly to the area’s eclectic ambiance.
- Vollintine-Evergreen is a 1920’s era neighborhood, much of which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This Midtown neighborhood displays a diverse mixture of house styles, many useable green spaces as well as beautiful street medians.
- Cooper-Young is a charming community with quaint and historic residential homes blended with one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants and antique stores. More than 45,000 people are drawn to the annual Cooper-Young Festival featuring 250 vendors in a celebration of people, culture, music and Memphis heritage.
- Overton Square, located adjacent to the Cooper-Young neighborhood, offers a lively array of restaurants and bars, live theater and entertainment, music and movie theaters.
- Central Gardens earned its name because it “centers” on Central Avenue in Midtown and its resemblance to New Orleans’s famous Garden District. With stately turn-of-the-century homes overlooking tree-lined streets, Central Gardens has the feel of a simpler, more elegant era. In 1983, the neighborhood was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is consistently listed in Memphis Magazine’s annual survey as the ‘Best Neighborhood’ in the city.
East Memphis
Many of the city’s most prestigious residential areas, shopping centers and office centers are located in East Memphis. Public and private parks and gardens, including the Memphis Botanic Garden, Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Audubon Park and the Lichterman Nature Center lend a special appeal to the community.
· Chickasaw Gardens is located just to the east of Midtown. Elegant homes surround a park and lake filled with wildfowl. The Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium is adjacent to Chickasaw Gardens as well as the new Central Library.
· Cordova is one of the fastest growing communities in the Metro area. Large, upscale houses on spacious lots as well as many moderate-sized homes are available in the area. The state’s largest urban park, Shelby Farms, is just west of Cordova and offers a wide variety of recreational activities. Located on the north end of the community, Wolfchase Galleria is the largest shopping mall in the metropolitan region. Restaurants, office centers and churches abound in Cordova.
Shelby County
A number of incorporated cities and towns surround Memphis. Each has its own unique character and appeal.
- Arlington is a former rural outpost located in the northeast corner of Shelby County. The town is now a rapidly growing bedroom community.
- Bartlett, a family-oriented community located to the northeast of Memphis, boasts that 96 percent of the town’s residents live in single-family dwellings that range from starter homes to luxurious estates. Bartlett is noted for its excellent schools, numerous churches, shopping centers and library, a performing arts center and a public recreation center.
- Collierville has experienced rapid growth recently, but this east Shelby County city still has plenty of small town charm. Excellent schools, an historic Old Town Square, antique shops and a performing arts center are just few of the amenities that attract residents to this southeast Shelby County community.
- Germantown, Memphis’ premiere executive bedroom community, still bears traces of its origins as a village of white picket-fenced horse farms and narrow, hilly streets. The city features more than 300 acres of parkland, a large recreation center that includes indoor and outdoor swimming facilities, a community theater, chamber orchestra and a state-of-the-art performing arts center.
- Lakeland features beautiful lakefront homes and new subdivisions with trees and shaded lawns. Residents feel this northeast Shelby County own is an ideal place to raise a family.
- Millington, located in northwest Shelby County, is experiencing exciting new growth and investment. Nearby Meeman-Shelby State Park is a 12,500–acre, natural wonderland skirting the Mississippi River.
Greater Metro Area
Seven counties surrounding Memphis are feeling the effects of the city’s economic and residential growth.
Located just east of Shelby County, Fayette is just beginning to show signs of suburbia. Outdoor activities still predominate, including the annual National Field Trail Championships in Grand Junction and hunting, fishing and canoeing along the Ghost River, a section of the upper Wolf River that encompasses thousands of acres of cypress swamp.
Tipton County, located north of Shelby, retains it rural charm while being an easy commute to Memphis. With numerous opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, events such as the Covington Saddle Club Walking Horse Show and the Tipton County Barbecue Festival, residents believe they have the perfect mix of small town living and big city amenities just a short drive away.
Crittenden County, Arkansas
Located west of Shelby County, Crittenden County is easily reached from Memphis by two major interstate bridges across the Mississippi: I-55 and I-40.
· West Memphis is a growing city with a diverse economy and a variety of residential areas.
· Marion, the county seat, is only eleven miles from downtown Memphis and retains its small town flavor while enjoying its proximity to a cosmopolitan city.
DeSoto County, Mississippi
Three of the fastest-growing metro-area suburbs are located in DeSoto County, and the area is a growing commercial and industrial center of its own.
· Olive Branch is the fastest growing city in the fastest growing county in Mississippi.
· Horn Lake, like most communities in DeSoto County, has found a balance between growth and quality of life.
· Southaven, just south of the State line, has developed into a seamless bedroom community for the city of Memphis.
· Hernando, the county seat, maintains its rural quality while experiencing commercial, industrial and residential growth.
Tunica County, Mississippi
Just 35 miles south of Memphis, Tunica County has experienced explosive economic and residential growth with the development of the gaming industry in the county. Today, Tunica County is the third largest gaming destination after Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
- Historic downtown Tunica combines all the old southern charm with all the modern amenities.
Tate County, Mississippi
Located south of DeSoto County, Tate County is bisected by Interstate 55 and an easy commute to Memphis.
- Senatobia, the county’s largest city and the county seat, lies along this major interstate.
Marshall County, Mississippi
Just beginning to experience the growth that neighboring Tate County is undergoing, Marshall County still retains its rural roots. Holly Springs, located next to the Holly Springs National Forest and the county seat, is famous for its annual pilgrimage featuring antebellum homes listed on the National Register. |