Memphis, Tennessee

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Memphis, Tennessee}}

The city's central geographic location has aided its business development. On the Mississippi River and intersected by five major freight railroads and two [[Interstate highways|Interstate Highways]], I-40 and I-55, Memphis is well positioned for commerce in the transportation and shipping industry. Its access by water was key to its initial development, with steamboats plying the Mississippi river. Railroad construction strengthened its connection to other markets to the east and west.

Since the second half of the 20th century, highways and interstates have played major roles as transportation corridors. A third interstate, [[Interstate 69 in Tennessee|I-69]], is under construction, and a fourth, [[Interstate 22|I-22]], has recently been designated from the former High Priority Corridor X. River barges are unloaded onto trucks and trains. The city is home to [[Memphis International Airport]], the world's [[World's busiest airports by cargo traffic|busiest cargo airport]], surpassing [[Hong Kong International Airport]] in 2021. Memphis serves as a primary hub for [[FedEx Express]] shipping.

{{As of|2014}}, Memphis was the home of three Fortune 500 companies: [[FedEx]] (no. 63), [[International Paper]] (no. 107), and [[AutoZone]] (no. 306).<ref>{{cite web|author=Hussung, Tricia |year=2014 |title=All About Tennessee's Fortune 500 Companies |url=http://online.king.edu/news/all-about-tennessees-fortune-500-companies/ |access-date=March 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160319164012/http://online.king.edu/news/all-about-tennessees-fortune-500-companies/ |archive-date=March 19, 2016}}</ref>

Other major corporations based in Memphis include [[Allenberg Cotton]], [[American Residential Services]] (also known as ARS/Rescue Rooter); [[Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz]]; [[Cargill Cotton]], [[City Gear]], [[First Horizon National Corporation]], [[Fred's]], [[GTx Incorporated|GTx]], [[Lenny's Sub Shop]], [[Mid-America Apartments]], [[Perkins Restaurant and Bakery]], [[ServiceMaster]], [[True Temper Sports]], [[Varsity Brands]], and [[Verso Paper]]. Corporations with major operations based in Memphis include [[Gibson guitars]] (based in Nashville), and [[Smith & Nephew]].

The [[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis]] also has a [[Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Memphis Branch|branch in Memphis]].

The entertainment and film industries have discovered Memphis in recent years. Several major motion pictures, most of which were recruited and assisted by the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmmemphis.org/ |title=Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission |website=Filmmemphis.org |access-date=November 15, 2016}}</ref>  have been filmed in Memphis, including ''[[Making the Grade (1984 film)|Making the Grade]]'' (1984), ''[[Elvis and Me]]'' (1988), ''[[Great Balls of Fire! (film)|Great Balls of Fire!]]'' (1988), ''[[Heart of Dixie (film)|Heart of Dixie]]'' (1989), ''[[Mystery Train (film)|Mystery Train]]'' (1989), ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'' (1991), ''[[Trespass (1992 film)|Trespass]]'' (1992), ''[[The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag]]'' (1992), ''[[The Firm (1993 film)|The Firm]]'' (1993), ''[[The Delta (film)|The Delta]]'' (1996), ''[[The People Vs. Larry Flynt]]'' (1996), ''[[The Rainmaker (1997 film)|The Rainmaker]]'' (1997), ''[[Cast Away]]'' (2000), ''[[21 Grams]]'' (2002), ''[[A Painted House]]'' (2002), ''[[Hustle & Flow]]'' (2005), ''[[Forty Shades of Blue]]'' (2005), ''[[Walk the Line]]'' (2005), ''[[Black Snake Moan (film)|Black Snake Moan]]'' (2007), ''[[Nothing but the Truth (2008 American film)|Nothing But the Truth]]'' (2008), ''[[Soul Men]]'' (2008), and ''[[The Grace Card]]'' (2011). ''[[The Blind Side (film)|The Blind Side]]'' (2009) was set in Memphis but filmed in [[Atlanta]]. The 1992 television movie ''Memphis'', starring Memphis native [[Cybill Shepherd]], who also served as executive producer and writer, was also filmed in Memphis.