SHELBY COUNTY, TN
County Offices
160 North Main Street
Memphis, TN 901-545-4500
www.shelbycountytn.gov
Chamber of Commerce
22 North Front Street
Memphis, TN 901-543-3500
www.memphischamber.com
Newcomers to Shelby County will discover an excellent quality of life, one of the world’s finest airports, and a logistics infrastructure that is second to none. In recent years, the Memphis metropolitan statistical area has experienced record-breaking expansion, with billions of dollars poured into new capital investments. This trend has kept Shelby County at the top of the state for economic growth, transforming the area from its widely recognized role of “America’s Distribution Center” into that of “North America’s Logistics Center.”
Drivers of this phenomenal expansion include Memphis International Airport, the rapid growth of the FedEx Corporation and UPS, a major bulk mail facility for the US Postal Service, and the convergence of intermodal railroads. Highways are below the snow line in the geographic heart of the county, and majestic Mississippi River gives Shelby County a significant presence on the nation’s major inland waterway. The completion of Interstate 69 will link Canada with Mexico, integrating Shelby County as an important hub.
Services
Residents of Shelby County enjoy easy access to quality educational facilities and programs on every academic level. Memphis City Schools and the Shelby County School System are recognized for innovative program and excellence in education. Money magazine selected Shelby County Schools as one of the nation’s “100 Top School Districts” for providing an education far above average standards at a below average cost. School Match, Inc., has consistently honored Shelby County schools with its prestigious “What Parents Want” award. Scores of private schools dot the metropolitan area, adding opportunities for alternative learning environments in parochial or independent private schools.
Opportunities to pursue a higher education close to home begin with regional community colleges: Southwest Tennessee Community College, Northwest Mississippi Junior College, and Mid-South Community College. The private institutions of Remington College and ITT Technical Institute expand the options for a technical or career-oriented education. Four-year private colleges and universities include Belhaven College, Christian Brothers University, Crichton College, LeMoyne Owen College, Memphis College of Art, Rhodes College, the Southern College of Optometry, and Union University-Germantown. The state-supported University of Memphis is home to the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, the Herff College of Engineering, and a number of other respected colleges. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is ideally located in downtown Memphis. UTHSC brings together five medical schools, schools of dentistry and pharmacy, and sub-disciplines of the allied health sciences into one outstanding campus.
Shelby County is renowned as a center for advanced healthcare, home to nationally acclaimed institutions like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in downtown Memphis. This Nobel Prize-winning hospital is one of the world’s foremost research and treatment centers for catastrophic diseases in children. The Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation operates four hospitals and a rehabilitation facility in the Memphis area. Closely affiliated with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, the cornerstone Baptist Memorial Hospital is a tertiary-care teaching hospital on a campus that encompasses the new Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women. Methodist Healthcare has developed specialized Centers of Excellence and operates six area hospitals as well as the Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center. Regional Medical Center, commonly called “The Med,” offers the region’s only Level I trauma center. The Tenet Health system is represented by Saint Francis Hospital in East Memphis and a new hospital in Bartlett. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center partners with St. Jude to form a world-class healthcare and technology center.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Shelby County will discover a bustling urban environment surrounded by wonderful tree-shaded neighborhoods and vibrant suburbs that support every imaginable lifestyle choice. The leading city of Memphis provides a wealth of cultural, recreational, and entertainment amenities, underlined by a reputation as a “city of music.” City and county leaders have formed a music commission to nurture new talent and recruit additional music industry business to the area, continuing a rich heritage. The Blues Foundation is based in Memphis, and the city is home to one of seven National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences districts. The list of performing and visual arts venues, fine museums, and performance groups is long and impressive. Ballet Memphis, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and Memphis Opera are among the many talented groups that provide audience-pleasing shows. Other highlights include the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Rock and Soul Museum, the National Ornamental Metal Museum, the Children’s Museum of Memphis, and the Pink Palace family of museums.
Outdoor adventures abound in this mid-South region, where Ducks Unlimited represents the world’s largest international wetlands conservation organization. Fishing lakes are well-stocked and easily accessible. Weekend beach getaways are available along the Gulf Shores of Alabama and somewhat further along the Florida panhandle. With eight lakes, four rivers, and ten state parks located within a three-hour drive from home, this region provides a scenic backdrop for every sport and activity. Pickwick Landing State Park, Nathan Bedford Forest State Park, and Reelfoot Lake State Park are among the jewels of recreational sites close to home. Sporting events are first-rate, including the Germantown Charity Horse Show and other national equestrian events at the Shelby Showplace Arena.
Golf courses, swimming pools, tennis courts, community centers, country clubs, and hundreds of lush parks dot the region. Spectator sports are well supported, underlined by the $37 million AutoZone Park featuring the Memphis Redbirds and the spectacular new $250 million FedEx Forum. This stunning venue is home to the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tiger’s basketball team. The Memphis RiverKings keep hockey fans cheering the DeSoto Civic Center. Another feather in Shelby County’s cap is the Mike Rose Soccer Complex, one of the finest in the entire nation.
The housing options in Shelby County are attractive and affordable, ranging from urban neighborhoods and grand, well-kept older homes to upscale enclaves and country manors. Beyond the neighborhoods available in Memphis, a number of incorporated cities and towns dot the Shelby County landscape—each one proud of its unique character and appeal. Take your time discovering all that Shelby County has to offer, from the bright neon lights of Memphis to quiet rural corners graced by open space and country charm.
Arlington
Municipal Offices
901-867-2620
www.townofarlington.org
Chamber of Commerce
901-867-0545
www.arlingtontnchamber.com
Transforming from a rural town to a thriving bedroom community, Arlington draws newcomers to a surprisingly diverse selection of housing. Tranquil neighborhoods offer everything from traditional to contemporary, historic Victorian to modern French country. Well-kept lawns dotted with flowerbeds and shaded by mature greenery are nestled in subdivisions that claim their own unique advantages. Although new-home construction has boomed for a number of years, residents and planners are determined to preserve the small-town flavor that makes Arlington so appealing. The historic downtown area combines with historic sites and landmarks to grace the town with quaint charm. S.Y. Wilson & Company, founded in 1893, still forms the cornerstone of Arlington’s commercial activity. The Rachel H.K. Burrows Museum displays local memorabilia in a 1905 one-room building. Even the new senior center was designed as a replica of Arlington’s 1800s railroad depot station. Serving as the gateway to Memphis, Arlington is the site of a bustling visitor’s center for Memphis and Shelby County.
Bartlett
Municipal Offices
901-385-6400
www.cityofbartlett.org
Chamber of Commerce
901-372-9457
www.bartlettchamber.org
“Phenomenal growth” is the best description of Bartlett, boasting a 1400 percent population increase from 1960 to 1980. The population has nearly tripled since 1980. This formerly agricultural area has emerged as a powerhouse of business and industry and a desirable suburb. The spectacular Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center with its world-class shows and events is a reflection of the city’s new image. Other highlights include lush city parks, the local library, shopping centers, a new hospital, a community center, and a recreation center. The extensive greenway and park system, along with a commitment to tree planting, has created an unusually appealing cityscape. The CSX Railroad still operates through the center of town, reminiscent of a proud stagecoach and rail past. The residential area north of Bartlett Station offers a charming historic district crowned by the Bartlett Museum in the restored Gotten House. Centrally located in the county, Bartlett offers easy access to Interstates 40 and 240 as well as Highways 64, 70, and 79.
Collierville
Municipal Offices
901-457-2200
www.collierville.com
Chamber of Commerce
901-853-1949
www.colliervillechamber.com
Distinguished as one of the fastest-growing communities in Tennessee, Collierville is drawing record numbers of newcomers to award-winning schools, cultural attractions, and a friendly small-town atmosphere. The exceptional quality of life has driven economic expansion as well, including the state-of-the-art FedEx information technology campus and the leading healthcare center of Baptist Memorial Hospital. The Historic Town Square serves as the heart of the community, anchoring the area’s strong sense of reverence for its rich history. Other highlights include a celebrated community theatre and performing arts center, well-equipped recreational centers, beautiful open spaces, and an extensive greenbelt plan. Collierville serves as a commercial, healthcare, and entertainment hub for residents of surrounding counties. Just 25 miles east of Memphis, Collierville blends an appealing suburban atmosphere with an intimate community spirit.
Germantown
Municipal Offices
901-757-7200
http://www.germantown-tn.gov
Chamber of Commerce
901-755-1200
www.germantownchamber.com
Considered among the premier executive bedroom communities for Memphis, charming Germantown is rich in amenities that translate into an enviable quality of life. The area reflects traces of its genesis as a village of white picket-fenced horse farms and narrow, hilly streets. More than 300 acres of parkland grace the cityscape, complementing picturesque neighborhoods lined with lovely homes in a variety of architectural styles. Highlights in Germantown include a state-of-the-art recreation center and outstanding cultural attractions from performance venues to a community theatre, a chamber orchestra, a talented choral group, and active arts organizations. The Germantown Performing Arts Centre has a national reputation for presenting world-class artists in music, dance, opera, and theatre. Commercial development is as attractive as the residential neighborhoods, ensuring a convenient lifestyle in an upscale suburban setting.
Lakeland
Municipal Offices
901-867-2717
http://www.lakelandtn.gov
Nestled in a panoramic area, Lakeland’s sparse development and breathtaking home sites ensure the pleasure of country living in close proximity to urban amenities. Lakeland began in 1959 as an amusement park graced by the beauty of 387-acre Garner Lake. Less than two decades later, the community incorporated in 1977 as the newest city in Shelby County in 72 years. Lakeland welcomes newcomers to spectacular subdivisions that excel in woodland beauty, scenic walking trails, and suburban serenity. Quality developers are committed to working with the rolling terrain and preserving mature trees and greenery of this idyllic environment. Highly desirable subdivisions like Plantation Hills, The Point, and East Shores feature handsome homes—many with generous lots for an added measure of wooded seclusion. Residents of Lakeland are minutes away from Wolfchase Galleria and a world of commercial conveniences. Commuters enjoy the advantage of Interstate 40 and US Highways 64 and 70.
Millington
Municipal Offices
901-873-5701
http://www.millingtontn.gov
Chamber of Commerce
901-872-1486
www.millingtonchamber.com
Just 12 miles north of downtown Memphis, Millington is minutes away from the world of excitement that Memphis offers. The unique landscape of the Loosahatchie River wetlands separates the two cities, preserving Millington’s slower pace of living and the serenity of a rural-
suburban environment. Recreational attractions are many, including Memphis Motorsports Park, golf courses, tennis courts, community festivals, and opportunities for first-rate outdoor adventures. Nearby Meeman-Shelby State Park is a 12,500–acre, natural wonderland skirting the Mississippi River. Camping, canoeing, hiking, and biking are common pastimes, with baseball and softball action centered at the USA Stadium. Millington is the proud home of a new campus for the University of Memphis, a reflection of the excellence that garnered the Governor’s Three Star Award for community quality. Civic leaders are dedicated to protecting the area’s outstanding quality of life in the face of economic growth and development.
