Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee

Infrastructure

Government

Since 1966, Memphis has been governed by the "weak mayor" form of mayor-council government. The new city charter provided for the election of a mayor and thirteen 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.

Related Topics:
1966 - Mayor-council government - 1995

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The current mayor of the city of Memphis is Dr. W. W. Herenton, a formidable and controversial local political figure. Dr. Herenton is currently serving his fourth consecutive term as Mayor. He was elected for the first time in 1991, when he became Memphis' first black mayor. Prior to his election, Dr. Herenton served for 12 years as the superintendent of Memphis City Schools.

Related Topics:
Mayor - W. W. Herenton - 1991 - Black - Memphis City Schools

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In recent years, there has been discussion of the potential of a merger of county and city government of Shelby County and City of Memphis into a metropolitan government, similar to that in Nashville.

Related Topics:
Metropolitan government - Nashville

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Memphis politics are very racially polarized. Most whites have supported the Republican Party since the 1960s, while most blacks have remained loyal to the Democratic Party. A major influence in Memphis' black politics is the Ford family of funeral directors, whose political prominence dates to the Crump era. The best-known member of this family is Harold Ford, Sr., who represented most of Memphis in the U.S. House from 1975 to 1997. His brother, John, was a state senator for 30 years and is currently at the center of the Tennessee Waltz scandal.

Related Topics:
Republican Party - Democratic Party - Harold Ford, Sr. - U.S. House - 1975 - 1997 - John - State senator - Tennessee Waltz

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Most of Memphis is located in the majority-black 9th District, currently represented by Democrat Harold Ford, Jr., the current Democratic frontrunner for the Senate seat of Bill Frist. Much of eastern Memphis is in the 7th District, represented by Republican Marsha Blackburn.

Related Topics:
Harold Ford, Jr. - Senate - Bill Frist - Marsha Blackburn

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Schools

The city is served by Memphis City Schools. Several colleges and universities are also located in the city, including the University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State University), Rhodes College, Le Moyne-Owen College, and Christian Brothers University. Some smaller specialty colleges are also located in Memphis, including Harding University Graduate School of Religion, Memphis College of Art, and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. The major community college is Southwest Tennessee Community College.

Related Topics:
Memphis City Schools - University of Memphis - Rhodes College - Le Moyne-Owen College - Christian Brothers University - Harding University Graduate School of Religion - Memphis College of Art - Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary - Southwest Tennessee Community College

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Memphis is also home to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a world class medical research facility. 1996 Nobel Laureate Peter Doherty conducts research at this facility. There are also several other major medical centers in the city, including the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Southern College of Optometry, and Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences.

Related Topics:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - 1996 - Peter Doherty - University of Tennessee Health Science Center - Southern College of Optometry - Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences

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Transportation

Interstate highways I-40, its spur highway I-240 and I-55 are the main freeways in the Memphis area. The interstates of I-40 and I-55 (along with rail lines) cross the Mississippi at Memphis into the state of Arkansas. The future interstates of I-22 and I-69 are also planned to converge into the Memphis area.

Related Topics:
I-40 - I-240 - I-55 - Arkansas - I-22 - I-69

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Public transportation in the Memphis area is provided by the Memphis Area Transit Authority, which provides the area with buses and a downtown trolley system that is also in the process of expanding into a regional system.

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Bridges

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Name

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Nickname

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Length (in feet)

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Date Opened

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Frisco12 May, 1892

Related Topics:
Frisco - 1892

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Harahan14 July, 1916

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Memphis & Arkansas"Old Bridge"17 December, 1949

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Hernando De Soto"New Bridge"; "M Bridge"2 August, 1973

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