FAYETTE COUNTY, TN
County Offices
13095 North Main Street
Somerville, TN 901-465-5202
www.fayettetn.us
Chamber of Commerce
107 West Court Square
Somerville, TN 901-465-8690
www.fayettecountychamber.com
Situated east of Shelby County in rural Tennessee, the small communities of Fayette County are beginning to see a transformation from rural to suburban. The close-knit spirit of towns that were established in the 1800s—often preserving grand old architecture—blends with access to cosmopolitan urban centers for the best of both worlds. This agricultural region was founded on cotton and corn production with a mix of sprawling plantations and small farms. Recent decades have seen greater diversification into cash crops like soybeans, beef cattle, dairying, and egg production. Most communities have also developed industrial parks to attract additional manufacturing firms. Suburban sprawl from Metropolitan Memphis is changing the face of Fayette County, adding lovely new residential neighborhoods with a country flavor and driving up the census in welcoming small towns.
Services
Residents of Fayette County may enjoy the slower pace and pleasures of a country lifestyle, but they also have the advantage of services that rival those found in more urbanized regions. The Methodist Healthcare Fayette Hospital anchors the state-of-the-art healthcare services, providing specializations that are not typically available at a community hospital such as oncology, advanced diagnostics, cardiology, urology, and nephrology services. Methodist Healthcare Fayette Hospital has been rated for one of the best emergency facilities in West Tennessee, with the fastest service delivery time of the hospitals in the respected Methodist Healthcare system. Even patients who care necessitates a trip to a Memphis hospital can have pro-procedure testing and follow-up exams locally. Physical and occupational therapy and private physicians in nearly every major specialty ensure that most healthcare needs are met conveniently. The Fayette County Health Department promotes health and wellness through a wide variety of programs that include family-planning services, immunizations, well-baby exams, health education, and environmental programs.
Educational resources are equally well-developed locally, where quality public schools are complemented by options for a private education. The Fayette County Career Center provides an ideal complement to the Fayette County Adult Learning Center. While the latter ensures the opportunity to acquire or improve functional skills, the career center focuses on assessment of job skills and career development plans. Students of all ages will find a wealth of resources from assistance with resume writing and interviewing to occupational training programs. The Tennessee Technology Center at Whiteville in Tennessee provides a state-of-the-art facility for acquiring or upgrading skills. Southwest Tennessee Community College bases its main campus in Memphis but offers classes and students support in two Fayette County locations: the Fayette County Career Center and Fayette-Ware Comprehensive High School. Local distance-learning laboratories also link Fayette County students with main-campus classrooms. The nearby Memphis Metropolitan Area in Mississippi adds a number of valuable options for higher education, including nationally recognized research universities, medical schools, and private colleges.
Lifestyle
With development driven by nearby Memphis, beautiful Fayette County is becoming one of the fastest-growing areas in Tennessee. Small towns that excel in quality of life and a strong community spirit are drawing newcomers to a rural but progressive lifestyle within minutes from cosmopolitan amenities. Within the county, picturesque towns showcase celebrated historic treasures from stately antebellum homes to prominent churches that grace quaint cityscapes with architectural splendor. Contrasting with vintage structures, cities and towns are experiencing a boom of new-home construction for a harmony of reverence for yesterday with a contemporary lifestyle that includes modern amenities.
Beyond the historic heritage of its communities, Fayette County is well-known for the breathtaking beauty of forested landscapes dotted with sparkling lakes or the vast fields of scenic farms. Active parks and recreation departments ensure lush parks, sports equipment and facilities, and supervised programs for all ages. At the same time, the rolling fields of Fayette County have long supported the interests of sports enthusiasts and environmentalists. Some of the finest fishing and hunting land in the region in the surrounding countryside, crowned by popular competitive events like the annual National Field Trials for bird dogs held at the historic Ames Plantation. Herb Parsons Lake was actually named in honor of Herb Parsons, a world champion Winchester rifle exhibition shooter. Naturalists appreciate the Wolf River Wildlife Management Area and the Ghost River State Natural Area. Many enjoy canoeing and kayaking along these quiet waters through unspoiled wetlands. The Wolf River meanders across the southern part of the county and is widely recognized as a unique natural treasure.
The sparse development in Fayette County is part of the magnetism for newcomers, who discover a slower pace of life and friendly neighbors. Civic, social, and hobby groups are abundant, providing opportunities to become immediately involved. Recreational farms, fresh produce, unique shopping, and a growing list of amenities are just a few of the attractions to rural Fayette County.
Braden, Gallaway
Braden Offices
901-594-5380
Gallaway Offices
901-867-3333
Chamber of Commerce
901-465-8690
www.fayettecountychamber.com
Situated in the northeastern corner of the county, the small communities of Braden and Gallaway are bordered by Tipton County to the north and on the west by Shelby County in Mississippi. Just 20 miles from Memphis, these sleepy towns are gaining new residents who appreciate the serenity of a rural bedroom community. Gallaway was incorporated in 1968 and is home to several thriving industries and a full-care nursing home. Recreational amenities include a community center for seniors and a youth department that oversees summer programs. The small village of Braden has earned the distinction of having the smallest post office in Tennessee. In spite of the 80-year-old wood and metal boxes that remain in this tiny building, services are thoroughly modern. Highways 59 and 70 provide quick commutes and access to regional amenities for residents of Gallaway and Braden.
Hickory Withe
County Offices
901-465-5202
www.fayettetn.us
Chamber of Commerce
901-465-8690
www.fayettecountychamber.com
The community of Hickory Withe in Fayette County fringes the edge of the Tennessee and Mississippi state line along both sides of Highway 64. In spite of growth, the town has yet to incorporate. The impetus for doing so is not currently evident, since the community is expansive in relationship to its population and boasts an affluent tax base that provides considerable revenue. The majority of residents who have settled into its residential neighborhoods are commuters to regional employment centers, with Shelby County in Mississippi being minutes away and Memphis a 28-mile drive from home. The close proximity of Arlington expands the access to commercial conveniences and recreational facilities. This land-rich area is ideal for those who are interested in a country home or a custom build on a multi-acre property.
Oakland
Municipal Offices
901-465-8523
Chamber of Commerce
901-466-0286
http://www.oaklandtnchamber.com
First settled in the 1800s, the Oakland town square originally revolved around the centerpiece of the Main Street train depot. The “main street” of modern Oakland is the intersection of Highways 64 and 194, serving as the heart of a booming new commercial corridor. New-home construction is considerable in Oakland, which has experienced a 250 percent growth rate since the 2000 census. More than two dozen vibrant new residential neighborhoods offer thousands of new-home lots. Newcomers will find everything from modest starter homes to upscale executive residences in distinctive neighborhoods that proudly offer unique advantages. Beautiful Fairoaks Golf Course stretches over 165 lush acres, surrounded by lovely homes. Octoberfest at Oakland Center Mall is one of many popular events in a city that is actively expanding community parks and recreational programs.
Piperton, Rossville, Moscow
Piperton Offices
901-853-4834
www.pipertontn.com
Rossville Offices
901-853-4681
Moscow Offices
901-877-3585
Chamber of Commerce
901-465-8690
www.fayettecountychamber.com
The growing community of Piperton serves as a key gateway between Fayette and Shelby counties, adjoining the town of Collierville and Shelby County in Mississippi to the west. The suburban growth in Piperton is driving transportation efficiencies along Highway 385 as it traverses the western border of the county. Combining small-town charm and a strong community spirit with a progressive attitude, Piperton has been at the forefront of efforts in Fayette County to implement zoning and development guidelines that encourage quality development while they preserve the rural ambiance that makes this area so appealing. Planners and residents would like to see Piperton develop into a balanced city with a thriving local economy rather than a bedroom community of commuters. Nearby Rossville provides a quaint hometown setting and is known for its quaint historic district along Main Street and the Old Town Square.
Somerville, Williston
Somerville Offices
901-465-9500
Williston Offices
901-465-9661
Chamber of Commerce
901-465-8690
www.fayettecountychamber.com
Some of the fastest growth in Tennessee is being experienced by the town of Somerville, a former agricultural area where subdivisions, schools, and commercial conveniences are springing up to support the influx of new residents. The overflow of commuters to Memphis is transforming former farm fields into an attractive suburb. Newcomers will find a pleasing mix of small-town spirit and a slower pace of living within a reasonable commute from cosmopolitan advantages. The sleepy little town of Williston is nestled in a quiet corner of Fayette County, nestled against Highway 76 where it meets Macon Road about six miles south of Somerville. Quiet streets prevail in Williston unless the town gathers for a holiday celebration or the popular Home Tour each October, which is accompanied by live musical entertainment in the square. Just east of Rossville, Moscow is well known as the gateway to Wolf River recreational opportunities and the surrounding unspoiled wilderness.
