Memphis

The city sits on the eastern bank of the Mississippi in the southwestern corner of Tennessee and spreads across a wide plain with residential areas, commercial zones, and parks. Broad streets run through different neighborhoods while the river winds through flat bottomland further south.

Three founders laid out a new settlement here in 1819 and named it after the ancient Egyptian capital on the Nile. The location on the river later made it an important trading center for cotton during the 19th century.

People here treat barbecue as a serious topic and locals often debate the best way to smoke ribs and slow-cook pork. Blues music remains part of everyday life for many residents who gather in small clubs throughout the downtown area in the evenings.

The airport sits east of downtown and mainly serves as a hub for cargo flights, while the city itself is easiest to explore by car. Most attractions are spread across different neighborhoods and not always within walking distance of each other.

Musicians perform blues, jazz, and rock every evening on a three-block stretch downtown in various venues. Many of these performances start early in the evening and often continue late into the night.

Location: Shelby County

Inception: 1819

Elevation above the sea: 103 m

Shares border with: West Memphis

Address: Memphis, TN, USA

Website: https://memphistn.gov

GPS coordinates: 35.11750,-89.97111

Latest update: December 19, 2025 08:22