Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 census, making it the second-most populous city in Tennessee, the fifth-most populous in the Southeast, and the 28th-most populous in the US. Memphis is the largest city proper on the Mississippi River and anchors the Memphis metropolitan area that includes parts of Arkansas and Mississippi, the 45th-most populous metropolitan area in the U.S. with 1.34 million residents. European exploration of the area began with Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto in 1541. Located on the high Chickasaw Bluffs, the site offered natural protection from Mississippi River flooding and became a contested location in the colonial era. Modern Memphis was founded in 1819 by John Overton, James Winchester, and Andrew Jackson. The city thrived due to its river traffic and cotton-based economy, becoming one of the largest cities in the Antebellum South. After the American Civil War, it remained a key hub for the cotton and hardwood industries. Memphis is also notable for its role in the American Civil Rights Movement; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated there in 1968, and the city is now home to the National Civil Rights Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate. Memphis is one of the nation's leading commercial centers in transportation and logistics. The largest employer is FedEx, which maintains its global air hub at Memphis International Airport, one of the world's busiest cargo airports. The Port of Memphis also hosts the fifth-busiest inland water port in the U.S. Memphis is also known for its music scene, with Beale Street central to the development of Memphis blues and a broader legacy that includes soul, rock and roll, and hip-hop. Cultural landmarks include Graceland, Sun Studio, the Memphis Pyramid, and Stax Museum of American Soul Music. The city is also famed for its Memphis-style barbecue and hosts the annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. It is home to the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA and several colleges and universities, including the University of Memphis, LeMoyne–Owen College, and Rhodes College.

Infobox

Country

United States

State

Tennessee

County

Shelby

Founded

May 22, 1819 (1819-05-22)

Incorporated

December 19, 1826 (1826-12-19)

Dissolved

January 31, 1879 (1879-01-31)

Rechartered

April 5, 1893 (1893-04-05)

Founded by

John Overton, James Winchester, and Andrew Jackson

Named after

Memphis, Egypt

• Mayor

Paul Young (D)

• City

633,104

• Land

294.92 sq mi (763.83 km2)

• Water

7.63 sq mi (19.77 km2)

Elevation

338 ft (103 m)

• Estimate (2024)

610,919

• Rank

77th in North America28th in the United States2nd in Tennessee

• Density

2,146.7/sq mi (828.85/km2)

• Urban

1,056,190 (US: 45th)

• Urban density

2,150/sq mi (830.1/km2)

• Metro

$102.934 billion (2023)

Demonym

Memphian

Time zone

UTC−6 (CST)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

ZIP Codes

ZIP Codes 37501, 37544, 38101, 38103–38109, 38111–38120, 38122, 38124–38128, 38130–38139, 38141, 38145, 38148, 38150–38152, 38157, 38159, 38161, 38163, 38166–38168, 38173–38175, 38177, 38181–38182, 38184, 38186–38188, 38190, 38193–38194, 38197

Area code

901

FIPS code

47-48000

Website

memphistn.gov