Memphis Tennessee History

Hernando de Soto is credited with discovering the Memphis area in 1541. Over one hundred years later, La Salle built Fort Prudhomme. In 1739, the French arrived and built Fort Assumption. Following the French and Indian War, England took control of the bluffs and for a time the English, French, Spanish, and Native American Chickasaws alternated between fighting and trading among themselves. Although the land that would become Memphis was assigned to the Chickasaw tribe by treaty, white settlers took control and the tribe gradually relinquished their claims. The city of Memphis, founded in 1819, was four blocks wide and had a population of about 50 people.

Memphis grew rapidly and became the cotton capital of the world. Unfortunately, the prosperous economy was operated by plantation owners with slave labor. During the Civil War both the Union and Confederacy recognized the value of Memphis’ geographic location. Initially Memphis was a military supply depot for the Confederacy and later became Union headquarters for General Grant. After the war, Memphis, many former slaves returned to Memphis to live as free citizens and life was good for a time. Dark days followed the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel on April 4, 1968, but Memphis again persevered and is now recognized as a role model for outstanding African American civic leadership. Today, Memphis is the world’s busiest cargo airport in terms of tonnage. Memphis is home of FedEx cargo airline, still leads the world cotton market and is a manufacturing center for textiles. And, Memphis is often named to best metro areas for business lists and is a five time winner of the nation’s cleanest city awards.