History and Facts about Memphis & Shelby County[ Memphis History | Memphis Facts | Shelby County Facts ]
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c. 1541
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Indians living near present-day Shelby County encounter the Hernando De Soto expedition.
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1739
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French explorers build Fort Assumption on Memphis site.
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1795
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Fort San Fernando de las Barrancas built by the Spanish.
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1797
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The U.S. gains control of the area; Fort Adams erected.
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1818
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The Chickasaw Nation signs treaty ceding West Tennessee to the U.S.
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1819
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John Overton, James Winchester, and Andrew Jackson found the city of Memphis on May 22. Shelby County formed.
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1825
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Frances Wright organizes utopian community of Nashoba near present-day Germantown.
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1826
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Memphis incorporated on December 19.
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1827
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County seat moved from Memphis to Raleigh.
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1840
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Memphis Appeal organized.
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1845
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U.S. government establishes a navy yard in the city.
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1850
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Memphis and South Memphis merge.
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1857
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The Memphis & Charleston Railroad completed, linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River.
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1862
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On June 6, Union fleet defeats Confederate naval forces in the Battle of Memphis. Federal troops occupy the city.
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1863
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Grant names Memphis as hospital and supply base to support the attack on Vicksburg.
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1865
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The Memphis Freedmen's Bureau established to provide services such as banking and education.
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1867
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Memphis regains the county seat.
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1878
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City's most devastating yellow fever epidemic claims 5,000 lives.
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1879
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Memphis declares bankruptcy, loses its charter, and becomes a Taxing District of the state.
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1887
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Artesian well water becomes available for the first time.
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1892
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Great Bridge at Memphis opened. Later named Frisco Bridge.
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1893
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Cossitt Library opens, the first public library in Memphis. Memphis regains its city charter. Black millionaire Robert Reed Church, Sr. buys first city bond.
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1895
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The ten-story Porter Building, the city's first skyscraper, opens.
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1899
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Church's Park & Auditorium, the city's first park and entertainment center for African Americans, opens.
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1906
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The Overton Park Zoo opens.
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1909
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W.C. Handy writes the "Memphis Blues." Memphis adopts the commission form of government.
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1911
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University of Tennessee Medical School merges with the Memphis Hospital Medical College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
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1912
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A major Mississippi River flood brings high water to downtown Memphis.
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1916
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Clarence Saunders opens his first Piggly Wiggly store.
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1923
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The Universal Life Insurance Company, one of the largest black-owned insurance companies in the nation, is founded.
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1925
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The present Peabody Hotel opens to the public. Tom Lee rescues 32 people when the excursion boat M.E. Norman capsizes in the Mississippi River.
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1928
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The Orpheum Theatre opens; replaced Grand Opera House.
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1937
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The Mississippi River Great Flood devastates huge area; thousands of homeless brought to Memphis.
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1939
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City purchases the local utility company and renames it Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division.
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1942
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The Naval Air Station at Millington is built.
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1943
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The Army (now Defense) Depot and the Mallory Air Force Depot built.
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1948
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Construction on the Memphis Harbor project begins.
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1950s
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Memphis named the country's quietest, cleanest and safest city on several occasions.
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1951
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Tri-State Defender, local black newspaper, begins publication.
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1952
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Kemmons Wilson opens his first Holiday Inn on Summer Ave.
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1954
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E.H. Crump, Memphis political leader for 45 years, dies. Elvis Presley gives his first concert in Memphis.
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1958
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Stax Records, creator of the "Memphis Sound," organized.
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1960s
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Federal court decisions end segregation in the city's public libraries, schools, parks and recreation facilities.
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1968
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated Apri1 4 at the Lorraine Motel while in Memphis to support the Sanitation Workers' strike.
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1972
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Federal Express Corporation organized.
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1973
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Busing begins in order to bring about full integration of schools.
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1976
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Benjamin L. Hooks elected executive director of the NAACP. Victorian Village named historic district.
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1977
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Elvis Presley dies at Graceland on August 16.
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1982
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Mud Island Park and River Walk open.
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1983
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Redeveloped Beale Street opens as a tourist attraction. Jesse H. Turner becomes first black to serve as chairman of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.
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1986
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Lighting of the Hernando DeSoto Bridge features 2,000 lights in a giant M.
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1987
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Ramesses the Great initiates the Wonders Series.
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1990
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World War II Memphis Belle moved to Mud Island.
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1991
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Dr. W.W. Herenton elected city's first black mayor. National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis Pyramid open.
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1993
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Downtown trolley begins operation.
� Compiled 1996 by the staff of the History Department
Memphis Facts
- Founded: 1819
- Incorporated: 1826
- Altitude:
Airport -- 331 feet above sea level
Mississippi River -- 188 feet above sea level.
- Area/Location:
296.35 square miles (as of August 1992)
35.10' North by 90.00' West at Madison and Front
- Official City Flower: Crape Myrtle
- Official City Tree: Dogwood
- Climate:
Temperature (Fahrenheit degrees):
Average annual 61.9
January average 41.2
July average 81.2
Record High 108 on July 13, 1980
Record Low -13 on Dec. 24, 1963
Precipitation
Average annual rainfall 48.6 inches
- Bridges -- Dates opened:
Frisco |
May 12, 1892 |
Harahan |
July 14, 1916 |
Memphis & Arkansas |
Dec. 17, 1949 |
Hernando De Soto |
Aug. 2, 1973 |
- Rail and Air Terminals:
Central Station
(Built 1914; Amtrak service began 1971)
Memphis International Airport
designated an international airport in 1969; terminal completed in 1975)
- Buildings, Tallest:
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100 North Main
430 ft., 37 stories
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Commerce Square
396 ft., 31 stories
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Sterick Building
365 ft., 31 stories
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Clark Tower
365 ft., 32 stories
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Morgan Keegan Tower
341 ft., 23 stories
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- Largest Colleges & Universities:
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Christian Brothers University
founded 1871
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LeMoyne-Owen College
founded 1871
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University of Memphis
founded 1912
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Rhodes College
founded 1848
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Shelby State Community College
founded 1972
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State Technical Institute
founded 1968
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University of Tennessee College of Medicine
founded 1911
- Government:
Mayor and Council form established in 1966.
- Population:
1820 |
364 |
1830 |
663 |
1840 |
1,799 |
1850 |
8,841 |
1860 |
22,623 |
1870 |
40,226 |
1880 |
33,592 |
1890 |
64,495 |
1900 |
102,320 |
1910 |
131,105 |
1920 |
162,351 |
1930 |
253,140 |
1940 |
292,942 |
1950 |
396,000 |
1960 |
497,524 |
1970 |
623,530 |
1980 |
646,356 |
1990 |
610,337 |
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� Compiled 1996 by the staff of the History Department
Shelby County
- Established: 1819
- Area: 755 square miles
- Government:
Mayor and Board of Commissioners (established in 1974)
- Incorporated Cities:
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Arlington
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Bartlett
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Collierville
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Germantown
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Lakeland
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Memphis
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Millington
- Total County Population:
1940 |
358,250 |
1950 |
482,393 |
1960 |
627,019 |
1970 |
722,041 |
1980 |
772,523 |
1990 |
815,161 |
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- Annual Events (beginning date):
Blues Music Awards (1980)
Cotton Makers Jubilee (1935)
Federal Express-St. Jude Golf Classic (1958)
Germantown Charity Horse Show (1949)
Great River Carnival (1931 -- formerly Cotton Carnival)
Liberty Bowl (1965)
Memphis in May International Festival (1977)
Mid-South Fair (1856)
U.S. National Indoor Tennis Championships (1977)
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� Compiled 1996 by the staff of the History Department |