Population

2010: 646,889, #20 in U.S., #1 in Tennessee

1950: 396,000, #26 in U.S.

2010 Metropolitan Area: 1,316,100, #41 in U.S.

1950 Metropolitan Area: 482,393, #40 in U.S.

Setting

Memphis was founded in 1819 on the eastern bluffs of the Mississippi River. Memphis is a major port city, and Tom Lee Park is along the riverfront in the downtown area.

Buildings

Tallest building: 100 N. Main Building, 430 feet (1965)

List of tallest buildings

The Pyramid Arena is a 20,000-seat arena that opened in 1991. It has been called the sixth largest pyramid in the world. It was converted into a Bass Pro Shops store in 2015.

Stores

Memphis has no downtown department stores. Main Street Mall is a nine-block pedestrian mall that opened in 1976. Peabody Place (2001) has shops and restaurants.

Trains

Amtrak’s City of New Orleans goes north to Chicago and south to New Orleans from Memphis Central Station (1914).

The MATA Trolley (1993), run by the Memphis Area Transit Authority,  has heritage streetcars on three lines, running about 6 miles. The Memphis Suspension Railway (1982) is a short monorail, operating only in the summer, that connects downtown with parks, entertainment, and a museum on Mud Island (actually a peninsula).