Memphis, Tennessee
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/* Infobox */
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{{Redirect6|Memphis|the ancient Egyptian capital|Memphis, Egypt||}}
{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = City of Memphis
|settlement_type = [[City]]
|nickname = The River City, The Bluff City
|website = http://www.memphistn.gov
|image_skyline = Memphis_skyline_from_the_air.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|image_flag = Memphisflag.jpg
|image_seal = Memphisseal.jpg
|image_map = Memphis Shelby.png
|mapsize =
|map_caption = Location in [[Shelby County, Tennessee|Shelby County]] and the state of [[Tennessee]]
|subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Tennessee|County]]
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Tennessee]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Shelby County, Tennessee|Shelby]]
|government_type =
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = [[W. W. Herenton]] (D)
|established_title = Founded
|established_title2 = [[Municipal incorporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date = 1819
|established_date2 = 1826
|area_magnitude = 1 E8
|area_total_km2 = 763.4
|area_total_sq_mi = 313.8
|area_land_km2 = 723.4
|area_land_sq_mi = 302.3
|area_water_km2 = 40.0
|area_water_sq_mi = 15.4
|population_as_of = 2007
|population_total = 670902([[List of United States cities by population|18th]])
|population_metro = 1260581
|population_density_km2 = 898.6
|population_density_sq_mi = 2327.4
|population_footnotes = <ref name="07EST">{{cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-01.csv | title = Table 1: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places Over 100,000, Ranked by July 1, 2007 Population: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 | format = [[comma-separated values|CSV]] | work = 2007 Population Estimates | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division | date = [[2008-07-14]] | accessdate = 2008-07-14 }}</ref>
|timezone = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset = -6
|timezone_DST = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = -5
|latd = 35 |latm = 07 |lats = 03 |latNS = N
|longd = 89 |longm = 58 |longs = 16 |longEW = W
|elevation_m = 103
|elevation_ft = 337
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code|ZIP Codes]]
|postal_code = 37501, 37544, 38101-38120, 38122, 38124-38128, 38130-38139, 38141-38142, 38145, 38147-38148, 38150-38152, 38157, 38159, 38161, 38163, 38166-38168, 38173-38175, 38177, 38181-38182, 38184, 38186-38188, 38190, 38193-38194, 38197
|area_code = [[Area code 901|901]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 47-48000{{GR|2}}
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 1326388{{GR|3}}
|footnotes =
|
}}
'''Memphis''' is a [[city]] in the southwest corner of [[Tennessee]], and the [[county seat]] of [[Shelby County, Tennessee|Shelby County]]. Memphis rises above the [[Mississippi River]] on the 4<sup>th</sup> [[Chickasaw Bluff]] just south of the mouth of the [[Wolf River (Tennessee)|Wolf River]].
As of 2006, Memphis had an estimated population of 670,902, making it the largest city in the state of [[Tennessee]], the second largest in the southeastern region (only behind [[Jacksonville, Florida]]), and the [[List of United States cities by population|18th largest]] in the [[United States]] <ref name="07EST"/>.
The greater [[Memphis metropolitan area]], including adjacent [[U.S. County|counties]] in [[Mississippi]] and [[Arkansas]], has a population of 1,260,581. This makes Memphis the second largest metropolitan area in [[Tennessee]], surpassed only by metropolitan [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]].
Memphis is the youngest of Tennessee's four major cities (traditionally including [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]], [[Chattanooga, Tennessee|Chattanooga]], and Nashville). A resident of Memphis is referred to as a ''[[List of famous people from Memphis|Memphian]]'' and the Memphis region is known as the [[Mid-South]].
==History==
{{main|History of Memphis, Tennessee}}
===Early history===
[[Image:Chromesun mississippian priest digital painting.jpg|thumb|A [[Mississippian Culture|Mississippian era]] priest (Digital illustration, 2004)]]
The Memphis area was first settled by the [[Mississippian Culture]] and then by the [[Chickasaw]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian tribe]]. European exploration came years later, with [[Spain|Spanish]] explorer [[Hernando de Soto (explorer)|Hernando de Soto]] and [[France|French]] explorers led by [[René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle]].<ref>[http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=F047 Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture - Fort Prudhomme and La Salle]</ref>
The land comprising present-day Memphis remained in a largely unorganized territory throughout most of the 18th century. By 1796, the community was the westernmost point of the newly admitted state of Tennessee.
===Foundation===
Memphis was founded in 1820 , the city was named after the [[Memphis, Egypt|ancient capital]] of [[Egypt]] on the [[Nile River]].
The [[cotton]] economy of the antebellum South depended on the forced labor of large numbers of [[History of slavery in the United States|African-American slaves]], and Memphis became a major slave market.
[[Tennessee#History|Tennessee]] seceded from the Union in June 1861 and Memphis briefly became a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] stronghold. [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] forces captured Memphis in the [[Battle of Memphis]] on [[June 6]], [[1862]], and the city remained under [[Union army|Union]] control for the duration of the war. Memphis became a Union supply base and continued to prosper throughout the war.
===20th century===
[[Image:Union Avenue.jpg|thumb|[[Cotton]] merchants on Union Avenue (1937)]]
Memphis grew into the world's largest spot cotton market and the world's largest hardwood lumber market. Into the 1950s, it was the world's largest mule market.<ref>[http://www.cityofmemphis.org/framework.aspx?page=296 City of Memphis Website - History of Memphis]</ref>
From the 1910s to the 1950s, Memphis was a hotbed of [[machine politics]] under the direction of [[E. H. Crump|E. H. "Boss" Crump]]. During the Crump era, Memphis developed an extensive network of parks and public works as part of the national [[City Beautiful Movement]].
During the 1960s the city was at the center of [[civil rights]] issues, notably the location of a sanitation workers' strike. [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at the [[Lorraine Motel]].
Memphis is well known for its cultural contributions to the identity of the [[Southern United States|American south]]. Many notable blues musicians grew up in and around the Memphis and northern Mississippi area. These included such musical greats as [[Muddy Waters]], [[Robert Johnson (musician)|Robert Johnson]], [[B.B. King]], and [[Howlin' Wolf]].<ref>Peter Guralnick. New York Times, August 11, 2007</ref>
==Geography and climate==
{{main|Geography of Memphis, Tennessee}}
[[Image:Memphis Skyline.jpg|right|thumb|Skyline of Memphis as seen from the [[Hernando de Soto Bridge]] ]]
[[Image:Memphis front view.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Mud Island Monorail]], in [[Downtown Memphis, Tennessee|Downtown Memphis]] (2005)]]
Memphis is located in southwestern Tennessee at {{coor dms|35|7|3|N|89|58|16|W|city}}.{{GR|1}} According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 313.8 [[square mile|sq mi]] (763.4 km²), of which 302.3 sq mi (723.4 km²) is land and 15.4 sq mi (40.0 km²), or 5.24%, is water.
===Cityscape===
The city of Memphis is located in southwestern [[Tennessee]] and sits on the eastern bank of the [[Mississippi River]]. It is the regional hub for a [[tri-state area]] of [[Arkansas]], [[Mississippi]] and Tennessee. [[Interstate 40]] (I-40) enters the city from the [[Ordinal direction|northeast]], and loops above the central part of the city, exiting across the Mississippi River and travelling to the [[west]]. [[Interstate 55]] approaches the city from the [[south]] and connects with [[Interstate 240 (Tennessee)|Interstate 240]], which completes the loop around central Memphis with I-40, and also leaves to the west.
===Aquifer===
Shelby County is located over four natural [[aquifer]]s, one of which is recognized as the "Memphis sand aquifer" or simply as the "Memphis aquifer". This particular water source, located some 350 to 1100 ft (100 - 330 m) underground, is stated to contain more than 100 trillion [[gallons]] (380 [[km³]]) of water by Memphis Light, Gas, and Water.<ref>[http://mlgw.com/SubView.php?key=about_ourutilservices Memphis Light, Gas, and Water Website - About Our Services]</ref>
[[Image:Tom Lee Park.JPG|thumb|right|Three bridges over the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] (2007)]]
===Climate===
Memphis has a [[humid subtropical climate]], with four distinct seasons. The average high and low in July are 92°F (33°C) and 73°F (23°C), with high levels of [[humidity]] due to moisture encroaching from the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent during some summers, but usually brief, lasting no longer than an hour. Early Autumn is pleasantly drier and mild, but can remain hot until late October. Winters are mild to chilly, with average January high and low temperatures of 49°F (9°C) and 31°F (-1°C). Late Autumn is rainy and colder; December is the third rainiest month of the year. [[Snow]] does occur sporadically in winter, with an average annual accumulation of 5.1 inches (12.9cm).
==People and culture==
{{main|Culture of Memphis, Tennessee}}
===Demographics===
[[Image:Memphis skyline pyramid.jpg|thumb|Memphis skyline, view from [[Tom Lee Park]] (2006)]]
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 650,100 people, 250,721 households, and 158,455 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 2,327.4 people per sq mi (898.6/km²). There were 271,552 housing units at an average density of 972.2 per sq mi (375.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 61.41% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 34.41% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.46% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.19% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.45% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.04% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.97% of the population.
The [[Memphis Metropolitan Area|Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area]] (MSA), the [[List of United States metropolitan statistical areas by population|42nd largest]] in the United States, has a 2003 population of 1,239,337, and includes the Tennessee counties of [[Shelby County, Tennessee|Shelby]], [[Tipton County, Tennessee|Tipton]], and [[Fayette County, Tennessee|Fayette]], as well as the [[Mississippi]] counties of [[DeSoto County, Mississippi|DeSoto]], [[Marshall County, Mississippi|Marshall]], [[Tate County, Mississippi|Tate]], and [[Tunica County, Mississippi|Tunica]], and the [[Arkansas]] county of [[Crittenden County, Arkansas|Crittenden]].
===Crime===
[[Image:Mpdcar.jpg|thumb|[[Memphis Police Department|Memphis Police]] car (2007)]]
While in 2004, violent crime in Memphis was at a record low for more than a decade, that trend has changed. In 2005, Memphis was ranked the 4th most dangerous city with a population of 500,000 or higher in the U.S.<ref>[http://www.morganquitno.com/xcit06pop.htm#500,000+ Morgan Quitno 2006 Crime Rankings]</ref> Crime in Memphis increased in 2005, and has seen a dramatic rise in the first half of 2006. Nationally, cities follow similar trends, and crime numbers tend to be cyclic. Local experts and criminologists cite as possible causes to the rise in crime in Memphis to gang recruitment, and to a reduction of federal funding by 66% to the [[Memphis Police Department]].
In the first half of 2006, robbery of businesses increased 52.5%, robbery of individuals increased 28.5%, and homicide increased 18% over the same period of 2005. The Memphis Police Department has responded with the initiation of Operation Blue C.R.U.S.H. (Crime Reduction Using Statistical History), which targets crime hotspots and repeat offenders.<ref>
{{cite journal
| last = Ashby
| first = Andrew
| title = Operation Blue C.R.U.S.H. Advances at MPD
| journal = Memphis Daily News
| volume = 121
| issue = 76
| date = 2006-04-07
| url = http://www.memphisdailynews.com/Editorial/StoryLead.aspx?id=92313
| accessdate = 2007-08-02 }}</ref> Memphis ended 2005 with 154 murders, 2006 ended with 160 murders. In 2006, the Memphis metropolitan area ranked second most dangerous in the nation.<ref>[http://www.morganquitno.com/cit07pop.htm#25 Morgan Quitno 2007 Crime Rankings]</ref>
In 2006, Memphis ranked number one in violent crimes for major cities around the U.S according to the FBI's annual crime rankings, where it had ranked 2nd in 2005.<ref>{{cite journal
| last = Conley
| first = Christopher
| title = Memphis leads U.S. in violent crime
| journal = Commercial Appeal
| date = 2007-09-27
| url = http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2007/sep/27/memphis-leads-us-in-violent-crime/
| accessdate = 2007-10-31 }}
</ref>
===Cultural events===
One of the largest celebrations in Memphis is [[Memphis in May]]. The month-long series of events promotes Memphis' heritage and outreach of its people far beyond the city's borders. Part of this festival is the ''[[Memphis_in_May#The_World_Championship_Barbecue_Cooking_Contest|World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest]]'', the largest pork barbecue cooking contest in the world.
[[Carnival Memphis]], is an annual series of parties and festivities in the month of June that salutes various aspects of Memphis and its industries. An annual King and Queen of Carnival are secretly selected to reign over Carnival activities.
An arts festival, the [http://www.cooperyoungfestival.com/ Cooper-Young Festival], is held annually in September in the [[Cooper-Young, Memphis|Cooper-Young]] district of [[Midtown Memphis]]. The event draws artists from all over North America, and includes art sales, contests, and displays. Fall also brings the Mid-South Fair to the city each year.
===The arts===
Memphis is the home of founders and establishers of various American music genres, including [[Blues]], [[Gospel]], [[Rock n' Roll]], and "sharecropper" [[country music]] (in contrast to the "rhinestone" country sound of Nashville). [[Johnny Cash]], [[Elvis Presley]], and [[B. B. King]] were all getting their starts in Memphis in the 1950s. They are respectively dubbed the "King" of Country, Rock n' Roll, and Blues.
Well-known writers from Memphis include [[Civil War]] historian [[Shelby Foote]] and playwright [[Tennessee Williams]].
====Memphis in the arts====
Memphis is the subject of many major pop and country songs, including "Memphis" by [[Chuck Berry]], "Queen of Memphis" by [[Confederate Railroad]], "Memphis Soul Stew" by [[King Curtis]], "[[Maybe It Was Memphis]]" by [[Pam Tillis]], "[[Graceland (song)|Graceland]]" by [[Paul Simon]], "Memphis Train" by [[Rufus Thomas]], and "[[Walking in Memphis]]" by [[Marc Cohn]].
In addition, Memphis is mentioned in scores of other songs, including "[[Proud Mary]]" by [[Creedence Clearwater Revival]], "[[Honky Tonk Women]]" by the [[Rolling Stones]], "[[Life Is a Highway]]" by [[Tom Cochrane]], "[[Black Velvet]]" by [[Alannah Myles]], and many others.
===Religion===
[[Image:Elmwood-Asian.JPG|right|thumb|Asian-American tombstones in [[Elmwood Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee)|Elmwood Cemetery]] (2006)]]
Since its founding, Memphis has been home to persons of many different faiths. An 1870 map of Memphis shows religious buildings of the [[Baptist]], [[Catholic]], [[Episcopal]], [[Methodist]], [[Presbyterian]], [[Congregational]], and [[Christian]] denominations and a [[Jewish]] congregation.<ref>[http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3964m.pm009010 Bird's eye view of the city of Memphis, Tennessee 1870.]</ref>
In 2008, places of worship exist for [[Christians]], [[Jews]], [[Muslims]], [[Buddhists]], and [[Hindus]].
[[Bellevue Baptist Church]] is a [[Southern Baptist]] [[megachurch]] in Memphis that was founded in the early 20th century. Its current membership is approximately 27,000. For many years, it was led by [[Adrian Rogers]], a former three term president of the [[Southern Baptist Convention]].
The international headquarters of the [[Church of God in Christ]] is located in Memphis. Named after the denomination's founder, [[Charles Harrison Mason]], [[Mason Temple]] is where [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] gave his famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech the day before he was killed.
Memphis is the seat of a [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Memphis|Roman Catholic Diocese]].
==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Memphis, Tennessee}}
[[Image:Fedex-md11-N525FE-051109-21-16.jpg|thumb|[[FedEx Corporation|FedEx]] [[MD-11|MD-11F]] (2005)]]
The city's central location has led to much of its business development. Located on the Mississippi River and intersected by two [[Interstate highways]], Memphis is ideally located for commerce among the transportation and shipping industry. The city is home to the world's busiest cargo [[airport]], which serves as the primary hub for [[Fed Ex Corporation|FedEx]] shipping.
Memphis is home to a growing number of nationally and internationally known corporations, including approximately 150 businesses from 22 countries. This includes the corporate headquarters of [[Fed Ex Corporation|FedEx Corporation]], [[AutoZone Incorporated]] and [[International Paper]].
The [[entertainment industry|entertainment]] and [[film industry]] has developed in recent years. Several major motion pictures have been filmed in Memphis, including
''[[The Firm (1993 film)|The Firm]]'' (1993), ''[[Cast Away]]'' (2000) and ''[[Walk the Line]]'' (2005).
The city appeared in the top eight of the 50 best major metro areas in the U.S. for starting and growing a business in 2000, according to ''[[Inc. magazine]]''.
==Government==
{{main|Government of Memphis, Tennessee}}
Memphis is governed by a [[mayor]] and thirteen [[City Council]] members, six elected at large from throughout the city and seven elected from geographic districts. In 1995, the council adopted a new district plan which changed council positions to all districts. This plan provides for nine districts, seven with one representative each and two districts with three representatives each. The current mayor of the city of Memphis is Dr. [[W. W. Herenton]]
In recent years, there has been discussion of the potential of a consolidation of [[Shelby County, Tennessee|Shelby County]] and Memphis into a [[metropolitan government]], similar to that in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]].
==Education==
{{main|Education of Memphis, Tennessee}}
[[Image:Nurses.gif|thumb|Early nursing class in Memphis]]
The city is served by [[Memphis City Schools]] while surrounding suburbs in other areas of Shelby County are served by [[Shelby County Schools (Tennessee)|Shelby County Schools]].
Colleges and universities located in the city include the [[University of Memphis]] (formerly Memphis State University), [[Rhodes College]] (formerly Southwestern at Memphis), Memphis College of Art, [[Le Moyne-Owen College]], [[Crichton College]], [[Christian Brothers University]] and the [[University of Tennessee Health Science Center]] (Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Graduate Health Sciences and Allied Health Sciences).
The University of Tennessee College of Dentistry was founded in 1878 making it the oldest dental college in the South, and the third oldest public college of dentistry in the United States.<ref>[http://www.utmem.edu/dentistry/ University of Tennessee-Memphis Dentistry Website]</ref>
==Transportation==
{{main|Transportation of Memphis, Tennessee}}
===Highways===
[[Interstate 40]] (I-40) and [[Interstate 55]] (I-55) are the main freeways in the Memphis area. The interstates I-40 and I-55 (along with rail lines) cross the Mississippi at Memphis into the state of [[Arkansas]].
===Railroad===
[[Image:CityOfNewOrleansInMephis.jpg|thumb|right|[[Memphis Central Station|Central Station]], a stop of the ''[[City of New Orleans]]'' (2005)]]
A large volume of railroad freight traffic moves through Memphis, thanks to two Mississippi River railroad crossings and the convergence of several east-west and north-south rail lines.
By the early 20th Century, Memphis had two major rail passenger stations. After rail passenger service declined at mid-century, [[Union Station (Memphis)|Memphis Union Station]] was razed in 1969. [[Memphis Central Station]]<ref>[http://www.cbu.edu/~mcondren/MRP/MemphisCentralStation/MemphisCentralStation.htm Memphis Central Station Pictures]</ref> was renovated and now serves [[Amtrak]]'s famed [[City of New Orleans]], providing service between [[Chicago]] and [[New Orleans]].
===Airport===
Memphis is served by [[Memphis International Airport]], which handles [[World's busiest airport|more cargo than any other airport in the world]] as of 2007.
===River port===
Memphis also has the 2nd biggest cargo [[port]] on the [[Mississippi River]] (the 4th biggest inland port in the United States).<ref>[http://www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc/wcsc/pdf/inlandport03f.pdf Top US Inland Ports for 2003]</ref> The International Port of Memphis covers the Tennessee and Arkansas sides of the Mississippi River from [[river mile]] 725 (km 1167) to mile 740 (km 1191).<ref>[http://www.portofmemphis.com/about.asp Port of Memphis website - About Page]</ref>
===Bridges===
Four rail and highway bridges cross the Mississippi River at Memphis. They are, in order of their opening year: [[Frisco Bridge]] (1892), [[Harahan Bridge]] (1916), [[Memphis-Arkansas Memorial Bridge]] (1949) and the [[Hernando de Soto Bridge]] (1973).
==Tourism and recreation==
{{main|Tourism of Memphis, Tennessee}}
===Museums and art collections===
Many museums of interest are located in Memphis.
[[Image:Martin Luther King was shot here Small Web view.jpg|thumb|[[National Civil Rights Museum|Lorraine Motel]] in Memphis (2005)]]
'''National Civil Rights Museum'''<br/>
The [[National Civil Rights Museum]] is located in the former Lorraine Motel where [[Martin Luther King, Jr.]] was assassinated. It includes a historical overview of the American civil rights movement.
'''Brooks Museum of Art'''<br/>
The [[Memphis Brooks Museum of Art]], founded in 1916, is the oldest and largest fine art museum in the state of Tennessee.<ref>http://www.brooksmuseum.org Memphis Brooks Museum of Art</ref> The Brooks' permanent collection includes works from the [[Italy|Italian]] [[Renaissance]] and [[Baroque]] eras to [[United Kingdom|British]], [[France|French]] [[Impressionists]], and 20th-century artists.
'''Graceland'''<br/>
[[Graceland]], the former home of Rock 'n' Roll legend [[Elvis Presley]], is one of the most visited houses in the United States (second only to the [[White House]]), attracting over 600,000 domestic and international visitors a year. Featured at Graceland are two of Presley's private airplanes, his extensive automobile and motorcycle collection and other Elvis memorabilia. On [[November 7]], [[1991]] Graceland was listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>
'''Pink Palace'''<br/>
The [[Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium|Pink Palace Museum]], serves as the Mid-South's major science and historical museum, and features exhibits ranging from archeology to chemistry. It includes America's third largest planetarium and an [[IMAX|IMAX Theatre]]. One exhibit features a replica of the original [[Piggly Wiggly]] store, the first self-service grocery store, commemorating the invention of the supermarket by Memphian [[Clarence Saunders]] in 1916.
'''Memphis Walk of Fame'''<br/>
The [[Beale Street|Memphis Walk of Fame]] is a public exhibit located in the [[Beale Street]] historic district, which is modelled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but is designated exclusively for Memphis musicians, singers, writers, and composers. Honorees include [[W. C. Handy]], [[B. B. King]], [[Bobby Blue Bland]], and [[Alberta Hunter]] among others.
[[Image:Mud island river park.jpg|thumb|[[Mud Island, Memphis|Mud Island]] Mississippi River Park (2006)]]
'''Mud Island River Park'''<br/>
[[Mud Island, Memphis|Mud Island River Park and Mississippi River Museum]] is located on Mud Island in downtown Memphis. The Park is noted for its River Walk. The River walk is a 2112:1 scale working model showing 1000 mi (1600 km) of the Lower Mississippi River, from [[Cairo, Illinois]] to [[New Orleans, Louisiana]] and the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. 30 [[inch|in]] (75 cm) in the model equal 1 mi (1.6 km) of the Mississippi River. The Walk stretches roughly 0.5 mi (800 m), allowing visitors to walk in the water and see models of cities and bridges along the way.
'''Victorian Village'''<br/>
[[Victorian Village, Memphis|Victorian Village]] is a historic district of Memphis featuring a series of fine Victorian-era mansions, some of which are open to the public as museums.
'''Cotton Museum'''<br/>
[[The Cotton Museum]] is a museum that opened in March 2006 on the old trading floor of the [[Memphis Cotton Exchange]] at 65 Union Avenue in [[Downtown Memphis, Tennessee|downtown Memphis]].
===Parks===
[[Image:Memphis national cemetery.jpg|thumb|[[Memphis National Cemetery]] (2006)]]
Major Memphis parks include W.C. Handy Park, [[Tom Lee Park]], Audubon Park, [[Overton Park]] including the [[Old Forest Arboretum of Overton Park]], the [[Lichterman Nature Center]] - a nature learning center, and the [[Memphis Botanic Garden]].
[[Shelby Farms]] park, located at the eastern edge of the city, is one of the largest urban parks in America.
===Cemeteries===
The [[Memphis National Cemetery]] is a [[United States National Cemetery]] located in north Memphis.
[[Elmwood Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee)|Historic Elmwood Cemetery]] is one of the first rural garden cemeteries in the South, and contains the [[Carlisle S. Page Arboretum]].
===Other points of interest===
[[Image:Pyramidememphis1.JPG|thumb|[[Pyramid Arena]] (2006)]]
'''Beale Street'''<br/>
[[Blues]] fans can visit [[Beale Street]], where a young [[B.B. King]] used to play his guitar. He occasionally still appears there at the club bearing his name, which he partially owns. Street performers play live music, and bars and clubs feature live entertainment around the clock. In 2008, Beale Street is the most visited tourist attraction in the state of Tennessee.
'''Sun studio'''<br/>
[[Sun Records|Sun studio]] was where [[Elvis Presley]] first recorded "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin". Other famous musicians who got their start at Sun include [[Johnny Cash]], [[Rufus Thomas]], [[Charlie Rich]], [[Howlin' Wolf]], [[Roy Orbison]], [[Carl Perkins]], and [[Jerry Lee Lewis]].
'''Memphis Zoo'''<br/>
The [[Memphis Zoo]], which is located in [[Midtown, Memphis|midtown Memphis]], features many exhibits of mammals, birds, fish, and amphibians from all over the world.
'''Other'''<br/>
Other Memphis attractions include the [[Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium]] (also at the Midsouth Fairgrounds), the [[Pyramid Arena]], [[FedExForum]], and the [http://www.steamboats.org/gal-mq3.htm Memphis Queen] riverboat cruises.
==Sports==
{{main|Sports of Memphis, Tennessee}}
Memphis is home to several professional sports teams.
*[[Memphis Grizzlies]] of the [[National Basketball Association]], the only one of the "[[Major professional sports league|big four]]" major sports leagues in the city
*[[Memphis Redbirds]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]], a Triple A [[baseball]] farm team for the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]
*[[Mississippi RiverKings]], a professional [[ice hockey|hockey]] team of the [[Central Hockey League]]
*[[Memphis Panthers]], a [[American football|football]] team that plays in the [[North American Football League]]
Memphis has a fertile history when it comes to [[pro wrestling]]. The sport's greatest name to come out of the city is [[Jerry Lawler|Jerry "The King" Lawler]].
Memphis is also home to [[Memphis Motorsports Park]], just north of the city on the outskirts of Memphis and Millington.
==See also==
{{sisterlinks|Memphis, Tennessee}}
*[[List of famous people from Memphis]]
*[[List of mayors of Memphis]]
*[[Memphis Mafia]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.ci.memphis.tn.us/ Official City Government Website]
*[http://www.memphistravel.com/ Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau]
*[http://www.memphischamber.com/ Memphis Chamber of Commerce]
*[http://www.memphishistory.com/ Memphis History]
*[http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3964m.pm009010 Bird's eye view of the city of Memphis, Tennessee 1870.] (Library of Congress)
*[http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3964m.pm009020 Perspective map of the city of Memphis, Tenn. 1887.] (Library of Congress)
*{{wikitravel}}
{{coord|35.117365|-89.971068|format=dms|display=title}}
{{Shelby County, Tennessee}}
{{Memphis, Tennessee}}
{{Colleges and universities in the Memphis Metro Area}}
{{Tennessee}}
{{USLargestCities}}
[[Category:Settlements established in 1819]]
[[Category:Cities on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:Memphis, Tennessee| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Tennessee]]
[[Category:United States communities with African American majority populations]]
[[Category:County seats in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Memphis metropolitan area]]
[[ar:ميمفيس، تينيسي]]
[[bg:Мемфис (Тенеси)]]
[[ca:Memphis]]
[[cs:Memphis]]
[[da:Memphis (Tennessee)]]
[[de:Memphis (Tennessee)]]
[[et:Memphis (Tennessee)]]
[[es:Memphis (Tennessee)]]
[[eo:Memphis (Tenesio)]]
[[fa:ممفیس]]
[[fr:Memphis (Tennessee)]]
[[ko:멤피스 (테네시 주)]]
[[id:Memphis, Tennessee]]
[[ia:Memphis, Tennessee]]
[[is:Memphis]]
[[it:Memphis (Tennessee)]]
[[he:ממפיס]]
[[pam:Memphis, Tennessee]]
[[ka:მემფისი (ტენესი)]]
[[ku:Memphis]]
[[la:Memphis (Tennesia)]]
[[lt:Memfis (Tenesis)]]
[[nl:Memphis (Tennessee)]]
[[ja:メンフィス (テネシー州)]]
[[nap:Memphis]]
[[no:Memphis]]
[[pl:Memphis]]
[[pt:Memphis]]
[[ro:Memphis, Tennessee]]
[[ru:Мемфис (Теннесси)]]
[[simple:Memphis, Tennessee]]
[[sk:Memphis (Tennessee)]]
[[fi:Memphis]]
[[sv:Memphis, Tennessee]]
[[tl:Memphis]]
[[ta:மெம்ஃபிஸ்]]
[[tr:Memphis, Tennessee]]
[[uk:Мемфіс (Теннессі)]]
[[vo:Memphis (Tennessee)]]
[[zh:孟菲斯 (田納西州)]]