Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Memphis Quick Facts
Did you know:
  • Over 1 million people
  • More than 45 languages spoken
  • More than 500,000 still need to know Christ personally
  • More than 900 Catholic, Orthodox & Protestant churches in the Memphis area
  • To reach the national average of 1 church for 909 people, we need 1200 new churches
  • To reach an average of 1 church per 500 people, we would need 2200 new churches
  • Memphis is the third largest rail center in the U.S.
  • Memphis is the 4th largest inland port in the U.S.
  • Memphis is home to the world's largest air cargo airport since the Airports Council International started measuring in 1991 with the Memphis Int'l Airport handling 3.5 million metric tons in 2004.
  • From Memphis, 45 of the 48 continental United States, as well as several cities in Mexico and Canada, can be reached in two days. 
  • Memphis International Airport is the world's 21st busiest airport for takeoffs and landings according to the ACI.
In Memphis, Tennessee, where a lazy river rolls by and a slower-paced lifestyle is coveted, the speed of technology has seamlessly intertwined. Memphis has more than 30,000 telecommunication workers. It is home to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Hartwell Center for BioInformatics & Biotechnology – one of the top 500 supercomputers in the world. FedEx’s World Technology Center is located in Memphis, along with its world headquarters.  

 

 
 Brief History of Memphis

In 1819 Memphis was "founded" by General Andrew Jackson, General James Winchester and Judge John Overton.  At the time Memphis was only four blocks wide and had a population of about fifty people.

Because of Memphis' location and transportation systems, the Union and Confederacy both valued the location of the City.  Memphis was a military supply depot for the Confederacy before the South was defeated at Shiloh.  Soon after the river battle of June , 1862, Memphis became Union headquarters for Army General Ulysses S. Grant. 

In 1878 a yellow fever epidemic nearly destroyed the city.  Citizens of Memphis left in large numbers.  Of those who remained almost 80% were infected with yellow fever and one-fourth died.  This caused the State of Tennessee to repeal the city's charger in 1879.  Along with unknown slaves and Tennessee leaders, fever victims are buried at historic Elmwood Cemetery and Martyrs Park.  The fever was eradicated in the 1880s by a new sewage system (the first of its kind anywhere) and the discovery of an artesian water supply.  Memphis remains famous for its pure water to this day.