Community > Live > Neighborhoods
Variety, as they say, is the spice of life, and Memphis has gotta be one of the spiciest cities around. Variety can be found throughout the city: From the towering trees in Shelby Forest to the metal towers in cosmopolitan downtown, the Memphis area offers everything you could want and more.
Variety can be found not only in the landscaping, history, and music of the city but also in the character of each neighborhood: Each has its own personality that distinguishes it from all the others.
This is a brief peek of several of our neighborhood communities. You may want to visit the city’s neighborhood directory Neighborhood Association Directory to help you discover the perfect place to call home.
Cordova is a beautiful suburban area on the eastern edge of Memphis. It offers a combination of a successful economy and a family atmosphere; with shopping centers, big-box retailers, restaurants, office space, small businesses, and churches, Cordova has something for everyone. The Wolfchase Galleria is an anchor for shoppers around the region. But not everything in Cordova is developed land: The beautiful Shelby Farms Park, the nation’s largest urban park, borders Cordova and offers visitors fields, wooded terrains, bike, jogging, and hiking trails, and horseback riding. On the great waters of the Wolf River and Patriot Lake, a calming influence in the midst of the city can be found, under power of sail or paddle.
Downtown is one of the most eclectic, diverse, and exciting places around. With a range of entertainment options that includes all types of music, art, theater, and dance, downtown is a fascinating cultural hub. Famous Beale Street offers great food, cool drinks, and hot Memphis music. The history behind the influential area is preserved in a number of museums and historical spots.
Downtown also has plenty of family friendly activities and entertainment. FedExForum attracts some of the most popular touring musical acts in the world, and the Memphis Grizzlies and University of Memphis Tigers are a great attraction for sports fans there. And wherever you want to go is just a short walk or trolley ride away.
Downtown’s prime riverside real estate is made up of several dynamic neighborhoods, including Harbor Town on Mud Island, South Bluffs, the South Main Historic Arts District, and South End.
East Memphis is a commercial and residential powerhouse. There are many thriving businesses and great shopping opportunities along the Poplar, Walnut Grove, and Park Avenue corridors and the surrounding neighborhoods. The Oak Court Mall offers top-notch stores and plenty of job opportunities. Surrounding boutiques, shops, and restaurants dot the area.
With Audubon Park, the Memphis Botanic Garden, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and Lichterman Nature Center, there’s no shortage of natural beauty and lovely surroundings.
With moderately priced, stately homes, Frayser has great housing options. Nestled near gorgeous Shelby Forest, Frayser is also notable for its rich, hilly terrain and large, sweeping trees. Frayser is outlined by three rivers: The Mississippi, the Loosahatchie and the Wolf. It has 10 local parks that distinguish the area, including Firestone Park, Davy Crockett Park, and Rodney Baber Park — Davy Crockett is known for its golf course, while the community enjoys summer sports in Baber Park.
Hickory Hill lies in Southeast Memphis, a comfortable neighborhood with a diverse demographic and many nice middle-class neighborhoods. The area offers upscale homes, with pools and vaulted ceilings. Locals can shop at many rapidly expanding commercial retail centers. With Bill Morris Parkway bordering one side of it, Hickory Hill is accessible to everywhere else in the region.
The Jackson/Berclair area consists of working- class neighborhoods as well as large, historic homes on sprawling green lots. The areas have easy access to Memphis through Sam Cooper Boulevard, I-240, Jackson Avenue, and Summer Avenue. The area also contains Grahamwood Elementary School, an award-winning school renowned for its academic excellence. There are also numerous churches in the area, along with some of the locally owned shops along Jackson and Summer.
Midtown is another great area full of eclectic atmospheres, cultural opportunities, and beautiful scenery. Historic Cooper-Young has excellent food, drink, and entertainment, including plenty of opportunities for live music at Young Avenue Deli and the widest collection of movies at Black Lodge Video. Cooper-Young has almost every cultural opportunity a person could want.
Overton Square is another area of Midtown that offers great food with places such as Boscos Squared, Paulette’s, and the Bayou Bar and Grill. Overton Square is also home to two great local theaters, Playhouse on the Square and TheatreWorks, as well as the Malco movie theater Studio on the Square. Other places of note in Midtown include the Memphis Zoo, the Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis College of Art, and Overton Park and Golf Course. The University of Memphis, Rhodes College, Christian Brothers University, and Crichton College also reside here.
North Memphis/Uptown began as a residential area and blossomed into a successful commercial environment. The area lies close to the Mississippi River and downtown but is broken up into several neighborhoods such as Douglass and Hollywood. Some of these neighborhoods date back to the 1830s. The area is home to many community centers and parks, including Guthrie, Klondike, and Bickford Parks. There are also shopping opportunities and locally owned businesses.
Parkway Village and Oakhaven lie conveniently near Memphis International Airport. The area has many amenities, particularly for those who work at FedEx, Delta Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines, and the logistics industry. The homes here are moderately priced and range from average sized subdivision houses to large, tree-covered lots.
Raleigh is a neighborhood that lies between the suburbs of Bartlett and Frayser. Raleigh has historical significance as the former Shelby County seat from 1827 to 1867, until Memphis annexed it. Covington Pike’s business district lies in the south of Raleigh, offering the city’s grand strip of automobile dealerships. On the north end of Raleigh, citizens find commerce of a different kind with shopping at Raleigh Springs Mall. Raleigh-Egypt High School is home to one of the best basketball programs in the state, and Craigmont High School offers one of the best International Studies programs in the Mid-South.
South Memphis has some of the best homes in Memphis, many of which were built just after the turn of the 20th century. The homes are located on large, stately, gorgeously landscaped lots. Many of the homes are moderately-priced and afford great housing to residents.
The internationally renowned Stax Museum of American Soul Music is located in South Memphis. Stax not only has a museum honoring some of the world’s greatest musicians but also has the excellent Soulsville Charter School. Stax offers music education to many of the local underprivileged children at the Stax Music Academy. The historic Elmwood Cemetery and LeMoyne-Owen College are located in this area. South Memphis has easy access to I-55 and I-240.
Whitehaven boasts the famous home of Elvis Presley, Graceland. Besides the cultural draw of Graceland, Whitehaven’s tree-lined subdivisions and quick commute to the Memphis International Airport and I-240 hold an entirely different appeal. Whitehaven dates back to the late 19th century and has a current population of over 50,000. There are three high schools in Whitehaven: Whitehaven, Hillcrest, and the Catholic school Bishop Byrne. Whitehaven also offers great local shopping in Southland Mall and Southbrook Shopping Center. Local sports are also accessible through the Will Carruthers Softball Complex. Houses in Whitehaven are moderately priced, with both old and new homes available.
Arlington is made up of historical small-town staples. In a one room building built in 1905, the Rachel H.K. Burrows Museum houses a collection of local memorabilia. The famous S.Y. Wilson & Company — “Wilson’s Store” as it’s known to locals — has been a successful business since 1893. The Blacksmith Shop is another high point, with bellows from the 1800s. The Historic Post Office is a final landmark from the 1900s that has become a museum honoring local veterans.
Arlington offers many unifying community events, such as the Arlington Barbecue Burnout and Arlington in April, an annual event that features music, games, crafts, rides, and food, all in celebration of Arlington and its community. The Playground of Dreams was constructed in 2006 by local residents from a plan created and designed by the children of the community.
Bartlett is one of Memphis’ fastest-growing suburbs, with its sprawling green spaces and room for families. Bartlett has 26 parks and a new, $5.5 million public recreation center. The city has an array of excellent public schools, a library, a new hospital, numerous churches, shopping centers, and many professional buildings.
One of the other new exciting additions to Bartlett is the Bartlett Station Municipal Center. This building is open to rent for functions such as corporate events, weddings, bridal showers, and birthday parties. The Bartlett Station Municipal Center is also home to the American Legion and Bartlett City Beautiful.
Bartlett’s wide variety of community activities includes the Bartlett Community Chorus and Community Theatre, found at the Station Municipal Center. The $3 million Bartlett Performing Arts and Conference Center has also recently been built and has instantly become a citizen favorite. From arts to athletics, the Bartlett Athletics Office provides recreational sports opportunities for teams or individuals in baseball, softball, basketball, and volleyball.
Historical Collierville has classic small-town appeal. With lovely natural surroundings, award-winning schools, a community theater, and recreational centers, Collierville is a great place for raising a family.
Collierville’s historic town square, built in the late 1800s, is still a focal point of the town today. Collierville has 11 parks with 300 acres of parkland, 25 athletic fields, and six miles of walking trails. Collierville also offers world-class shopping, such as at the Avenue Carriage Crossing mall, antique stores, and fine dining.
Germantown is a picturesque community that offers residents an attractive and energetic place to live. Germantown has a rapidly expanding medical community — with Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital and Baptist Rehabilitation Hospital as the cornerstones — and is the headquarters of the ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company. Germantown has many award-winning schools, and the city has upscale shopping at Saddle Creek, Germantown Collection, Germantown Village Square, and Exeter Place.
Germantown also has 700 acres of parkland. The Wolf River nature area offers animal displays, butterfly gardens, and nature programs. Community activities include the Germantown Charity Horseshow, the IRIS Chamber Orchestra, Germantown Symphony Orchestra, community chorus, city art collection, recreational center, Germantown Community Theatre, and the world-class Germantown Performing Arts Center.
Located in northeast Shelby County, Lakeland is home to many businesses and is just a few miles away from Wolfchase Galleria and the Lakeland Outlet Mall. There is also no property tax in Lakeland.
Millington is the home of the Naval Support Activity Mid-South, one of the state’s largest employers. Millington has several opportunities for entertainment in the Memphis Motorsports Park, USA Stadium, and Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park. Meeman -Shelby offers visitors 12,500 acres of natural beauty and activities such as boating, fishing, hiking, and hunting.
Today, the city is building an addition to the Millington Municipal Airport Authority: a $1.5 million terminal to the third largest runway in the state. Millington also has several great schools, colleges, and a library. Ingram Micro, a computer wholesaler with an $11 million annual payroll, contributes significantly to Millington’s local economy.