TIPTON COUNTY, TN
County Offices
220 Highway 51 North
Covington, TN 901-476-0207
www.tiptonco.com
Chamber of Commerce
106 West Liberty Avenue
Covington, TN 901-476-9727
www.covington-tiptoncochamber.com
Situated north of Shelby County, rural Tipton County is home to friendly hometowns that also serve as bedroom communities to commuters into Metropolitan Memphis. The area claims a diverse economy that blends agricultural activity and agribusiness with thriving companies involved in manufacturing, retail, wholesale firms, and personal or industrial services. Covington serves as the seat of county government and the hub of healthcare, education, culture, entertainment, and commercial conveniences. Several other cities and towns in Tipton County are experiencing considerable growth and expansion, developing a surprisingly rich infrastructure and an array of amenities that are usually associated with much larger communities.
One of the regions fastest growing areas, Tipton County is located along the scenic Mississippi River approximately 45 minutes from of downtown Memphis. This region is linked to Memphis by the four-lane US Highway 51, which is approximately 25 miles from Interstate 40 and 20 miles from Interstate 55. Local airports provide facilities for private jets and airplanes, with first-rate commercial service available just 10 miles from Tipton County at the Memphis International Airport.
Services
State-of-the-art healthcare services and facilities are guaranteed to residents of Tipton County through the Baptist Memorial Healthcare System. Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton is only one of many highly respected hospitals within the system, delivering advanced care to a regional rural population. Upgrades and additions to the hospital reflect the response to population growth, including the addition of a surgery center, cardiac rehab services, a sleep disorder unit, an observation area in the emergency room, and radiology renovations. Supportive services within the county include skilled professionals in private practice, counseling, the Covington Manor Nursing Center, the Covington Care Center, the Mid-South Physical Therapy and Fitness Center, and the programs offered by the Tipton County Health Department. The strength and breadth of this network makes it possible to meet routine needs and even many advanced healthcare needs conveniently close to home.
Parents and students of all ages will be pleased with the opportunities for quality education, underlined by schools within the Tipton County School District. New and improved schools that respond to regional growth and innovative programs are hallmarks of the district. The leading city of Covington is home to the public Covington Integrated Arts Academy for students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, and one private school is available in the Atoka-Munford area. Covington is also the center for higher education, home to the Tennessee Technology Center for a wide range of vocational and technology training. Dyersburg State Community College has placed the Jimmy Naifeh Center in Covington, providing opportunities to earn two-year degrees and certificates or continuing education. Nearly all of the college’s courses are available at the center, which features the latest technology and networked computers that are equipped with advanced software for everything from videoconferencing to satellite downlinks. Several colleges, universities, and business or technical schools are located in nearby Millington and Metropolitan Memphis.
Lifestyle
“A peaceful and easy feeling” is an appropriate description of the atmosphere that prevails in Tipton County’s welcoming communities, where new-home construction is progressing at a rapid rate. Newcomers will find a delightful blend of architectural treasures from the past with contemporary amenities and modern services. Civic, hobby, and social clubs are especially active in these friendly hometowns, where school and church activities bring neighbors and friends together. In Tipton County, local residents can still meet the mayor and community leaders over a cup of coffee in the local cafe. Seasonal celebrations and festivals dot the calendar with red-letter events, including equestrian events like the Covington Saddle Club Walking Horse Show and the Tipton County Barbeque Festival. The latter attracts visitors from across the Mid-South to Cobb Memorial Park for a three-day extravaganza that includes a sanctioned cooking contest, a demolition derby, arts and crafts, a truck pull, and live entertainment.
Among the area highlights are historical sites and museums that honor Native American, early 1800s, and Civil War eras. Local parks and recreation centers are well developed, providing ball fields, walking paths, charming gazeboes, playgrounds, tennis courts, and sports facilities. Golf courses add panoramic beauty and relaxing play. Valentine Regional Park stretches over 107 acres to provide a scenic lake, a horse arena, sports fields, and nature trails. Atoka Raceway Park is billed as “Little Bristol” with the Mid-South’s fastest 1/8+ mile high-banked dirt oval track.
Tipton County and the surrounding Tennessee countryside offer abundant opportunities for outdoor adventure, including premier hunting and fishing areas. The Mississippi River remains popular, although Glen Springs Lake provides a recently constructed 300-acre recreational fishing lake just west of Munford. The lake offers fishing piers, a covered boat dock, launching ramps, a bait and tackle shop, a club house, and picnic pavilions. Those who are looking for small-town friendliness, a warm hometown spirit, and a growing list of local amenities will want to explore the obvious and hidden treasures of Tipton County.
Brighton, Atoka
Brighton Offices
901-476-8661
www.townofbrighton.com
Atoka Offices
901-837-5300
Chamber of Commerce
901-837-4600
Located approximately 30 miles north of Memphis along US Highway 51, Brighton offers a rapidly expanding community that is seeing significant residential development. Newcomers will find a pleasing mix of well-kept older homes shaded by mature greenery and lovely new construction in a variety of architectural styles. Commercial conveniences are on the rise to support an expanding population, including Tipton County’s first 24-hour fitness center. Nearby Atoka is another growing bedroom community for Shelby County and Metropolitan Memphis that shares a South Tipton County location with Brighton. Atoka is home to the regional attraction of Atoka Raceway Park. The city offers lush parks with modern ball fields, walking and jogging paths, and a train theme playground. Both communities provide a quintessential “Mayberry” atmosphere where neighbors wave to each other from front porches or stop to chat at the market.
Covington
Municipal Offices
901-476-9613
www.covingtontn.com
Chamber of Commerce
901-476-9727
https://www.covington-tiptoncochamber.com/
Serving as the heart of Tipton County, the largest city and county seat of Covington harmonizes grand architecture from the past with vibrant new construction. Many of the fine homes and public buildings that sprang up around the turn of the century are still standing today, reminders of the first period of phenomenal growth and prosperity. Modern Covington is once again booming with new construction, creating a well-balanced hub city as well as a bedroom community for Shelby County and Metropolitan Memphis. Covington is home to wonderful parks and recreational programs, a regional hospital, a public technical college, and a full-service center for Dyersburg State Community College. One of the community highlights is the Tipton County Museum, nestled in the county’s largest urban park with a 20-acre wildlife sanctuary, a wetland study area, and a nature trail through woodland forest.
Munford
Municipal Offices
901-837-0171
www.munford.com
Chamber of Commerce
901-837-4600
www.southtipton.com
Munford follows closely behind Covington as one of the principle towns in fast-growing Tipton County. Approximately 25 miles north of Memphis, Munford is attracting many commuters who appreciate the warmth of a small hometown graced by the beauty and charm of rural surroundings. An impressive school system, low property taxes, affordable land, new homes, unique retailers, and plans for quality growth are all hallmarks of this attractive community. Colorful, well-attended events such as Celebrate Munford, Celebrate Independence, and the Fill-the-Sleigh Christmas Parade add exciting dates to the annual calendar of events. Commercial developments like the new Patriot Square are adding convenient services and shops to the expanding Highway 51 corridor. This well-managed city seems to excel in every endeavor, such as the “New Facility Award” from the state of Tennessee that followed the 2006 opening of Centennial Park.
