Economy of Memphis, Tennessee

Located on the Mississippi River, the metropolitan area of Memphis is one of the largest in the Southeastern United States, ranking 42nd in the United States according to the 2010 census.[1] The city has historically been one of the largest shipping hubs in the Mid-South, dating back to the Civil War, when the port was one of the largest on the Mississippi River and served as a shipping hub for the Confederacy.[2]

As transportation methods developed, Memphis has continued to hold significance as a transportation hub. Now the city is home to the second largest cargo airport in the world, Memphis International Airport,[3] and the world's busiest domestic airport with 3.9 million metric tonnes. Memphis International Airport and Memphis have had huge significance in the railroad industry. The city has the 3rd largest rail center in the U.S. behind Chicago and St. Louis.[4] It is also one of only four U.S. cities with five Class 1 railroads.

Because Memphis has been such an important city for transportation and shipping, it is attractive to businesses, especially those producing goods shipped nationwide. Three Fortune 500 companies, FedEx, AutoZone and International Paper Co. call Memphis home. These significant businesses have brought a large manufacturing industry. Of the 607,900 jobs in Memphis in July 2014, 209,900 are in the manufacturing and transportation industries, around 34.5 percent.[5]

Over the years, the city has become less dependent on its manufacturing and transportation sectors and has diversified its economy especially in services. The Gross Domestic Product of the private sector good-producing industries have grown from $8,309 million to $11,459 million from 2003 to 2013.[6] Over that same time period, the private sector service industries grew from $39,354 million to $48,641 million.[6]

## Companies

[edit]

### Publicly traded firms headquartered in Memphis

[edit]

* FedEx (NYSE: FDX), world's largest airfreight firm and 45th-ranked company on the Fortune 500 (2021).[7]
* International Paper (NYSE: IP), manufactures paper products and the 141st-ranked company on the Fortune 500 (2021).[8]
* AutoZone Incorporated (NYSE: AZO), operates over 6,900 auto parts stores in the United States and Mexico and the 248th-ranked company on the Fortune 500 (2021).[9]
* First Horizon National Corporation (NYSE: FHN), operates First Tennessee and First Horizon bank, the 686th-ranked company on the Fortune 500 (2021).[10]
* Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE: SLVM), paper product manufacturer that was spun off from international Paper in 2021, the 727th-ranked company on the Fortune 500 (2023).[11]
* Mueller Industries (NYSE: MLI), fabricates metal tubes and fittings and the 861st-ranked company on the Fortune 500 (2021).[12]
* Terminix (NYSE: TMX), one of the world's largest pest control companies and the 923rd-ranked company on the Fortune 500 (2021).[13]
* Mid-America Apartments (NYSE: MAA), real estate investment trust owning apartment communities.
* Frontdoor, Inc. (Nasdaq: FTDR), technology-based home repair and maintenance services.

### Private firms headquartered in Memphis

[edit]

* Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, law firm
* Barnhart Crane and Rigging, specialty heavy lifting and heavy transport[14]
* Belz Enterprises, develops, owns and manages real estate throughout the United States and Puerto Rico[15]
* Guardsmark, security and investigation firm[16]
* Katt Worldwide Logistics, a transportation firm[17]
* Lenny's Sub Shop, restaurant chain
* Malco Theatres, an operator of movie theatres
* Ozark Motor Lines, a transportation company[18]
* Varsity Brands, manufactures uniforms and runs camps
* American Residential Services, also known as ARS/Rescue Rooter[19]
* City Gear, a clothing store selling streetwear clothing.

### Major divisions or operations

[edit]

* Allenburg Cotton, part of Louis Dreyfus, trades and brokers cotton, along with shipping, ginning, and warehousing.
* Cargill Cotton Archived 2009-09-17 at the Wayback Machine, part of Cargill Incorporated, trades and brokers cotton, along with shipping, ginning, and warehousing.
* Carrier plant for central air conditioning, located in Collierville. Carrier is part of United Technologies.[20]
* Evergreen Packaging, packaging company owned by Reynolds Group Holdings
* Information Technology world headquarters and data center for Hilton Hotels is located on Crossover Lane.[21]
* Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. investment banking firm, subsidiary of Raymond James Financial, Inc., Headquartered in the eponymous tower at Jefferson and Front streets in downtown Memphis.
* Nike, 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m2) footwear distribution center and other distribution facilities.[22]
* Nucor Steel Memphis Inc. manufactures special bar quality carbon steel in a plant on Paul R. Lowry Road.[23]
* Orthopaedic Reconstruction and Trauma division world headquarters of Smith & Nephew is located on Brooks Road.[24]
* Spinal and Biologics division headquarters of Medtronic is located in Memphis.[25]
* Williams-Sonoma, Inc., primary global distribution facilities.
* Y&S Candies plant, which makes Twizzlers and Bubble Yum chewing gum, is located on Kansas Street.[26] Y&S is part of The Hershey Company.

### Nonprofits

[edit]

* Ducks Unlimited
* Methodist Healthcare, operates seven hospitals, multiple home health agencies and outpatient clinics[27]
* St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, pediatric treatment and research facility.[28]

### Former major companies

[edit]

* Union Planters Bank (1869–2004), financial institution and multi-state bank holding company (founded in 1869, acquired by Regions in 2004)
* National Bank of Commerce (1873–2005), regional bank holding company (founded in 1873, acquired by SunTrust in 2005)
* Schering-Plough Corporation became defunct in (1908–2009). It is now a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Abe Plough founded Plough, Incorporated in Memphis in 1908. In 1971, the Schering Corporation merged with Plough, Inc.
* Piggly Wiggly (1916–1939), national supermarket chain with 2,660 locations in 1932 (founded in 1916, relocated to Jacksonville in 1939)
* The Ford Motor Company built cars in Memphis from 1913 until 1958/59.[29]
* Firestone Tire and Rubber Company operated a tire plant in North Memphis from 1936 to 1982. The plant made 100 million tires.[30]
* The International Harvester Company manufacturing plant opened in 1947 and closed in 1985. The plant made cotton harvesting equipment and Farm Tillage equipment. It once had 1,000 employees.[31][32]
* Wright Medical Group (1950–2016), a global medical device manufacturer (founded in 1950, relocated to Amsterdam in 2016)
* Holiday Inn (1952–1985), worldwide chain of hotels and formerly motels (founded in 1952, relocated to Atlanta in 1985)
* Fred's (1953–2019), discount convenience store chain with 557 locations in 2019 (relocated to Memphis from Coldwater, MS in 1953, declared bankruptcy in 2019).
* Perkins & Marie Callender's LLC (1958–2019), owners of the Perkins and Marie Callender's restaurant chains (declared bankruptcy in 2019 and purchased by Atlanta-based Huddle House, Inc.)
* GTx Incorporated (1997–2019), pharmaceutical company (founded in 1997, merged with Oncternal Therapeutics in 2019)
* EdR (2004–2018), founded as the Education Realty Trust, a real estate investment trust owning 43 off-campus student housing properties across the United States in 2012. (founded in 2004, acquired by Greystar in 2018).
* Verso Corporation (2006–2017), global paper products manufacturer (split from International Paper in 2006, declared bankruptcy in 2016 and relocated to Miamisburg, OH in 2017)
* ServiceMaster (2007–2020), commercial cleaning services company (relocated to Memphis from Chicago in 2007, split with Terminix in 2020 and relocated to Atlanta).
* Chicago Bridge & Iron Company and General Electric built large nuclear reactor pressure vessels and other large structures in Memphis.[33][34][35]

## Government entities

[edit]

* Internal Revenue Service, two service centers: Accounts Management Center and Compliance Service Center.[36]
* Memphis Light, Gas and Water ("MLG&W") is also one of the largest municipal utilities in the United States.
* Naval Support Activity Mid-South (Millington)[37]
* Regional Medical Center at Memphis (The Med), an acute-care teaching hospital operated by Shelby County.[38]

## Entertainment industry

[edit]

The entertainment and film industry has also developed in recent years in the city. Major motion pictures filmed in Memphis include Making the Grade (1984), U2: Rattle & Hum, (1988) Mystery Train (1989), Great Balls of Fire! (1989), Trespass (1991), The Firm (1993), A Family Thing (1996), The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), The Rainmaker (1997), Cast Away (2000), The Queens of Comedy (2001), 21 Grams (2003), Hustle & Flow (2005), Walk the Line (2005), Forty Shades of Blue (2005), Black Snake Moan (2007), Nothing But the Truth (2008), and The Blind Side (2009).

## Further reading

[edit]

* Finger, Michael. Big Empties: Memphis landmarks that have stood vacant for years, waiting for someone to bring them back to life. The Memphis Flyer, December 4, 1997.
* Rushing, Wanda. Memphis and the Paradox of Place: Globalization in the American South. Archived 2014-05-02 at the Wayback Machine Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2009.
* Rushing, Wanda. Memphis: Cotton Fields, Cargo Planes, & Biotechnology. Southern Spaces, August 28, 2009.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Large Metro Areas 2010 Census". Retrieved 2019-08-08.
2. ^ "Museum of the City". Museum of the City. Archived from the original on 2014-10-07. Retrieved 2014-09-27.
3. ^ Ohayon and White, Martine and Ryan. "ACI releases World Airport Traffic Report". No. 9/17/2014. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
4. ^ "Memphis Bragging Rights". Greater Memphis Chamber. Archived from the original on 2014-06-11. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
5. ^ "Memphis, TN-MS-AR Economy at a Glance". Bls.gov. 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
6. ^ a b "Regional Data GDP & Personal Income". bea.gov. Archived from the original on 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
7. ^ "FedEx | 2021 Fortune 500". Fortune. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
8. ^ "International Paper | 2021 Fortune 500". Fortune. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
9. ^ "AutoZone | 2021 Fortune 500". Fortune. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
10. ^ "First Horizon | 2021 Fortune 500". Fortune. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
11. ^ "Sylvamo | 2023 Fortune 500". Fortune. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
12. ^ "Mueller Industries | 2021 Fortune 500". Fortune. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
13. ^ "Terminix Global Holdings | 2021 Fortune 500". Fortune. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
14. ^ Rigging, Barnhart Crane &. "Contact Us : Barnhart Crane & Rigging". Barnhartcrane.com. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
15. ^ "Belz.com". Belz.com. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
16. ^ "Guardsmark 2007 revenues increase - Memphis Business Journal". memphis.bizjournals.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
17. ^ "Katt Worldwide Logistics". Archived from the original on 2008-09-20. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
18. ^ "Ozark History". Ozark.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
19. ^ "American Residential Services LLC: Private Company Information - Bloomberg". Investing.businessweek.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
20. ^ "Carrier Reinvents Air Conditioning; Environmental Leap in Energy Efficiency". Archived from the original on 2006-03-17. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
21. ^ Einat Paz-Frankel Hilton investing $14 million in Web Memphis Business Journal, November 23, 2007(Accessed November 6, 2009)
22. ^ "Nike News - The official news website for NIKE, Inc". Nikebiz.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
23. ^ "★ Nucor Corporation - Locations - Nucor Divisions - U.S. ★". Nucor.com. Archived from the original on 7 February 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
24. ^ "Smith & Nephew | Corporate Contacts". Archived from the original on 2009-11-26. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
25. ^ Medtronic. "Physician and Healthcare Payer Information - Medtronic". wwwp.medtronic.com. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
26. ^ "Social Responsibility - the Hershey Company". Archived from the original on 2009-11-24. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
27. ^ "Methodist le Bonheur Healthcare - About Us". Archived from the original on 2009-10-29. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
28. ^ "About Us - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital". Stjude.org. Retrieved 2017-06-24.
29. ^ [1] Do you have a timeline of Ford Motor Company Assembly Plants?
30. ^ [2] Firestone Fallout | Memphis Daily News | August 2018
31. ^ [3] International Harvester Company said it would close its Memphis factory | New York Times | September 25, 1984, Section D, Page 3
32. ^ [4] Union selling old UAW union hall in Frayser, 30-plus years after Harvester plant closing | Memphis Commercial Appeal | May 30, 2017
33. ^ [5] Cbi Nuclear Co A Joint Venture | 2700 Channel Ave, Memphis, TN 38113
34. ^ [6] The Chicago Bridge and Iron Company | February 4, 1972, Page 44
35. ^ [7] Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. NV history, profile and corporate video
36. ^ "Seasonal Office Memphis". Archived from the original on 2009-12-03. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
37. ^ Pike, John. "Naval Support Activity (NAVSUPPACT) Mid-South". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
38. ^ "Home page". Archived from the original on 2009-11-20. Retrieved 2009-11-07.

* v
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City of Memphis and Memphis metropolitan area (counties in TN, MS and AR)

Topics|

* History
* Timeline
* Geography
* Government
* Economy
* Education
* Culture
* Tourism
* Sports
* Transportation
* Memphians

*   *   *   *   *   *   *

Districts|

* Downtown
* Midtown
* North Memphis
* South Memphis
* East Memphis

Neighborhoods|

* Belle Meade
* Berclair
* Binghampton
* Boxtown
* Capleville
* Central Gardens
* Chickasaw Gardens
* Cooper-Young
* Cordova
* Douglass
* Evergreen
* Frayser
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* South Main
* Scutterfeld
* Southwind
* Uptown
* Victorian Village
* Vollintine Hills
* Westwood
* Whitehaven
* Wolfchase

Metro area
landmarks

| Tennessee|

* A. Schwab's
* Art Museum of the University of Memphis
* Bartlett Museum
* Beale Street
* Bellevue Baptist Church
* Belz Museum
* Botanic Garden
* Brooks Museum
* Burkle Estate
* Central Station
* Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
* Chickasaw Bluff
* Children's Museum
* Chucalissa Museum
* Cotton Museum
* Davies Manor
* Dixon Gallery and Gardens
* Downtown Trolleys
* Elmwood Cemetery
* Fire Museum
* Fort Assumption
* Fort Wright
* Graceland
* Hernando de Soto Bridge
* Libertyland
* Lichterman Nature Center
* Lincoln American Tower
* Magevney House
* Mallory–Neely House
* Mason Temple
* Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park
* Memorial Park Cemetery
* Cotton Exchange
* Memphis International Airport
* National Cemetery
* Parkway System
* Railroad & Trolley Museum
* Memphis Zoo
* Mississippi River
* Mississippi River Park
* Mud Island Monorail
* National Civil Rights Museum
* National Ornamental Metal Museum
* Oaklawn Garden
* Orpheum Theatre
* Overton Park
* Peabody Hotel
* Pink Palace
* The Pyramid
* Rhodes College
* Rock N' Soul Museum
* St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
* St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral
* Shelby Farms
* Stax Museum
* Sun Studio
* South Main Arts District
* Temple Israel
* Tennessee Brewery
* Tipton County Museum
* T. O. Fuller State Park
* Tom Lee Park
* Union Station
* University of Memphis
* Victorian Village
* Wolf River

|

Mississippi|

* Arkabutla Lake
* BankPlus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove
* DeSoto County Museum
* 1st Jackpot Casino
* Gold Strike Tunica
* Holly Springs National Forest
* Landers Center
* Horseshoe Casino
* Mississippi River
* Resorts Casino
* Sam's Town Gambling Hall
* Southaven Towne Center
* Tunica Resorts
* Snowden Grove Park
* Tanger Outlets Southaven
* Tunica Roadhouse Casino
* Wall Doxey State Park

Arkansas|

* Horseshoe Lake
* Mississippi River
* Southland Park Gaming and Racing
* Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge

Metro area
suburbs

| Tennessee|

* Arlington
* Atoka
* Bartlett
* Collierville
* Covington
* Germantown
* Lakeland
* Millington
* Munford
* Northaven
* Oakland
* Piperton
* Somerville
* Shelby Forest

|

Mississippi|

* Byhalia
* Hernando
* Holly Springs
* Horn Lake
* Olive Branch
* Senatobia
* Southaven
* Tunica
* Tunica Resorts (Robinsonville)
* Walls

Arkansas|

* Earle
* Marion
* West Memphis

Metro area
counties

| Tennessee|

* Shelby
* Fayette
* Tipton

|

Mississippi|

* DeSoto
* Marshall
* Tate
* Tunica

Arkansas|

* Crittenden

See also: Memphis, Tennessee sports venues

* v
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Economy of the United States by jurisdiction

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Federal District|

* District of Columbia

Territories|

* American Samoa
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Indian Reservations|

* Black Feet Nation
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Cities or counties|

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