Memphis

Memphis is a city located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat of Shelby County, the most populous county in Tennessee. The city is located on the fourth Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi Rivers.

History

Memphis was founded in 1819 by three prominent Americans: John Overton, James Winchester, and future president Andrew Jackson. The city was named after the ancient capital of Egypt on the Nile River. Memphis grew into one of the largest cities of the Antebellum South as a market for agricultural goods, natural resources like lumber, and the American slave trade.

After the American Civil War, Memphis's growth was further stimulated by a series of yellow fever epidemics, devastating the city's population. The city recovered through the efforts of the Sanitation Workers Strike in 1968, which led to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr..

Geography

Memphis is located in the southwestern corner of Tennessee and is bordered by Mississippi to the south and Arkansas to the west. The Mississippi River serves as the western border of Memphis and provides a major transportation and trade route.

Economy

Memphis serves as a primary hub for the transportation and shipping industry. Its location allows for easy access to the Mississippi River, major railway networks, and interstate highways. The city is home to three Fortune 500 companies: FedEx, AutoZone, and International Paper.

Culture

Memphis is widely known for its cultural contributions to the identity of the American South. Many renowned musicians grew up in and around the Memphis and northern Mississippi area. These included such musical greats as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Muddy Waters, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Robert Johnson, and B.B. King.

Education

Memphis is home to several institutions of higher education including the University of Memphis, Rhodes College, and Christian Brothers University.

Sports

Memphis is home to the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and the Memphis Tigers football team of the University of Memphis.

See also

• History of Memphis, Tennessee
• Culture of Memphis, Tennessee
• Economy of Memphis, Tennessee
• Geography of Memphis, Tennessee

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