memphis-relocation-guideWelcome to Memphis – the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock’n’Roll!

You don’t have to be a great Blues fan to enjoy the charming loveliness and entertainment opportunities that the biggest city on the Mississippi River has in store for you and your family. Of course, if you are a music lover, then you should get ready for a lot of fun and unforgettable moments.

The purpose of our Memphis Relocation Guide is to give you a general idea of what this exciting city has to offer and to point out the reasons why a move to Memphis is nothing less than a great idea.

The city of Memphis (pop. 653,450) is the largest city in the state of Tennessee and the third largest one in the Southeastern United States. As a county seat of Shelby County, it is located in the southwestern corner of the state, at the confluence of Wolf and Mississippi Rivers.

Climate

Ready for an enjoyable riverboat cruise along the Mississippi River?
Ready for an enjoyable riverboat cruise along the Mississippi River?

Memphis has a humid subtropical climate with 4 distinct seasons. Spring is usually the season of severe weather (brief afternoon and evening thunderstorms, and occasional hail), winter is generally mild with cold spells (snowfall is not very abundant but is almost always present), summer is hot with a high degree of humidity coming from the Gulf of Mexico and autumn is rainy and chilly with spectacularly vibrant fall foliage.

The 24th day of December, 1963 produced the lowest temperature ever recorded in the city of Memphis (−13 °F (−25 °C)), while the hottest day in the city’s history was registered on July 13, 1980 (108 °F (42 °C)).

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Economy

The city’s strategic location on the Mississippi River has determined its role as a large shipping hub throughout its history. Even today, Memphis is a transportation center of great significance: the Memphis International Airport is the busiest domestic airport and the second largest cargo airport in the world (after Hong Kong). Therefore, it should come as no surprise that FedEx Express – the world’s largest express transportation company, has its main headquarters in the city.

As of 2014, 35% of all jobs in Memphis are concentrated in the manufacturing and transportation industries.

Main Sights And Attractions

Graceland

With more than 600,000 annual visitors, Graceland is the second most-visited private home in the U.S. after the White House.
With more than 600,000 annual visitors, Graceland is the second most-visited private home in the U.S. after the White House.

Opened to the public in 1982, Graceland was the home of the rock-n-roll star Elvis Presley and now serves as a museum. Located approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) miles from the city center and about 4 miles (6 km) from the state line with Mississippi, the mansion displays two of the legend’s private airplanes, his large collections of automobiles and motorcycles, as well as other memorabilia. Elvis and his parents were buried in the Meditation Garden which is right next to the mansion.

The front gate of the Graceland estate, shaped like a book of sheet music with green notes and the silhouette of Elvis, has become one of its most recognizable symbols. The 13.8 acre mansion was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2006 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006.

Experience the spirit of the blues!
Experience the spirit of the blues!

Memphis Walk Of Fame

Beale Street is a historic district that includes the public exhibit called the Memphis Walk of Fame – similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame but reserved for notable musicians, singers and composers from the city of Memphis. With a distance of about 1.8 miles (2.9 km), Beale Street has played, and still plays, a significant role in the history of the blues and the city’s history in general. The numerous blues clubs and restaurants attract plenty of tourists and locals with its street performers, live music bars and clubs, outdoor concerts and festivals.

Other notable attractions in Memphis, Tennessee include:

  • Brook’s Museum of Art: established in 1916, the Brooks Museum is the oldest and largest art museum in the state. Its extensive collection has more than 7,000 works of art spread over 29 galleries.
  • National Civil Rights Museum: the complex of museums and historic buildings is situated on the grounds of Lorraine Motel where the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. took place on April 4, 1968. It tells the history of the Civil Rights Movement from the 17th century up to present day.
  • Pink Palace Museum: a principal science and historical museum which houses the third largest planetarium in the country. The first self-service grocery story Piggly Wiggly (est. 1916) has been replicated as one of the museum’s most famous exhibits.
  • The first two pandas at the Memphis Zoo have become local celebrities. Le Le and Ya Ya were flown from China in 2003. Posing for the camera while enjoying its lunch is… Le Le.
    The first two pandas at the Memphis Zoo have become local celebrities. Le Le and Ya Ya were flown from China in 2003. Posing for the camera while enjoying its lunch is… Le Le.

    Children’s Museum of Memphis: the museum features over 30 permanent interactive and educational exhibits for children and their parents, including an airplane cockpit, an art studio, a mechanic’s garage and a 22-foot skyscraper maze among other fun activities.

  • Shelby Farms: with its 4,500 acres (1,800 ha), Shelby Farms is one of the biggest urban parks in the country and offers scenic nature trails among lakes, forests and wetlands. The huge park is home to a herd of 45 bison.
  • Memphis Zoo: opened in 1906 and located in Midtown Memphis, the Memphis Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the country, houses more than 3,500 animals from 500 different species and attracts approximately 1 million visitors a year.

Moving To Memphis, Tennessee

Professional Relocation Assistance

Do you want your move to the Blues city to go as smoothly as possible? Each transitional period introduces a degree of uncertainty and disorganization which can eventually lead to an elevated level of stress. And stress is bad for the health, you know. However, one of the things you can actually control during your impending cross country move is the important choice of the right movers for your specific relocation needs.

Make sure you check the online reputation of your Memphis Movers or Tennessee Movers by checking their performance ratings and reading customer reviews online. Request binding moving estimates from the shortlisted moving companies and then compare the received moving quotes in order to select the best offer for your state to state move. Also, our advanced moving cost estimator will help you set your relocation budget accordingly.

The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) offers a city bus service and operates a trolley system with 24 stations along 3 separate lines.
The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) offers a city bus service and operates a trolley system with 24 stations along 3 separate lines.

How To Reach Memphis

Memphis is a popular destination which can be easily reached by road, air and rail. The Mississippi River at Memphis is crossed by 4 rail and highway bridges (Frisco Bridge, Harahan Bridge, Memphis-Arkansas Bridge and Hernando de Soto Bridge).

  • By road: Interstate 40, Interstate 240 and Interstate 55 are the major freeways in the Memphis area. In addition, the city is serviced by 7 primary U.S. Highways – more than any other southeastern city.
  • By air: as far as passengers go, the Memphis International Airport handles only domestic flights, while the international ones are reserved only for cargo (the airport is the international cargo center of FedEx Express).
  • By rail: the only passenger railroad service is the Amtrak-operated daily train City of New Orleans.

Utilities

The Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) is the biggest three-service municipal utility provider in the U.S., supplying electricity, natural gas and water to all residents of Shelby County. You can get more information about your utilities or pay them here.

The Memphis Pyramid is 16 feet (5 m) taller than the Statue of Liberty.
The Memphis Pyramid is 16 feet (5 m) taller than the Statue of Liberty.

City Services

Interesting Facts About Memphis, TN

  • The city of Memphis was founded on May 2, 1819 and was named after Memphis – the ancient capital of Egypt on the Nile River.
  • The residents of Memphis, Tennessee, are known as “Memphians”.
  • Memphis has one team in the four major sports leagues in the country – the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
  • The Memphis Metropolitan Area is home to more than 30 golf courses, both public and private.
  • The blues legend B.B. King used to play on Beale Street when he was young.
  • The city of Memphis has its own pyramid. The Memphis Pyramid was constructed in 1991 as a sports and music venue. With a height of 321 feet (98 m), it is the sixth biggest pyramid in the world.
  • To be the Duckmaster at the Peabody Hotel is a great honor.
    To be the Duckmaster at the Peabody Hotel is a great honor.

    The Peabody Hotel, located in Downtown Memphis, is the site of a very unusual daily ritual. Every single day at 11 am, a team of 5 Mallard ducks of celebrity status (better known as The Peabody Ducks) is lead from their penthouse room on the roof to the lobby via an elevator. Then the hotel talismans continue their march along a red carpet to the lobby fountain where they entertain hotel guests until 5 pm until they are escorted back to their comfortable home on the top of the building. The tradition was started back in the 1930s when the hotel manager at that time returned from a hunting trip and let three live ducks swim in the fountain. The guests of the Peabody Hotel were thrilled at the sight and the rest is history.

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1 Comment

  1. Very useful guide. Would love to move there as my son has cancer and the healthcare is amazing here.

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