Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Tennessee
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
1. Tennessee Marker
Inscription.
Tennessee. . Although eastern Tennessee was settled in the 1770's, Western Tennessee was still wilderness when the state was admitted to the Union in 1796. Fort Pickering, a trading post of the Fourth Chickasaw Bluff was located near present day Memphis. At the time, it was the only American settlement on this part of the Mississippi River. In 1794, John Overton, an attorney, had bought from the heirs of John Rice, a 5,000-acre tract on the bluff for $500. Returning to Nashville, Overton sold half of this property to his roommate Andrew Jackson, who in 1818, acting as U.S. Commissioner, negotiated a treaty with the Chickasaw tribe to purchase their claim to these lands. This treaty, called the Jackson Purchase, opened the region for settlement. In 1819, Andrew Jackson, John Overton, and James Winchester founded the town of Memphis, on the bluff, and within 40 years, it grew to become the commercial focus of the Lower Mississippi Valley's Central region. , Tennessee was a Pro-Union state until the beginning of the Civil War, and was the last state to secede from the Union in 1861. It was a major battleground during the war, and became the first Confederate state to rejoin the Union at the war's end. , Memphis, which is Tennessee's largest city, is the regional center of a three state area, which includes western Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and eastern Arkansas. It is a cotton, lumber, manufacturing, and distribution center; as well as a major U.S. highway, rail, river, and air transportation hub.
Although eastern Tennessee was settled in the 1770's, Western Tennessee was still wilderness when the state was admitted to the Union in 1796. Fort Pickering, a trading post of the Fourth Chickasaw Bluff was located near present day Memphis. At the time, it was the only American settlement on this part of the Mississippi River. In 1794, John Overton, an attorney, had bought from the heirs of John Rice, a 5,000-acre tract on the bluff for $500. Returning to Nashville, Overton sold half of this property to his roommate Andrew Jackson, who in 1818, acting as U.S. Commissioner, negotiated a treaty with the Chickasaw tribe to purchase their claim to these lands. This treaty, called the Jackson Purchase, opened the region for settlement. In 1819, Andrew Jackson, John Overton, and James Winchester founded the town of Memphis, on the bluff, and within 40 years, it grew to become the commercial focus of the Lower Mississippi Valley's Central region.
Tennessee was a Pro-Union state until the beginning of the Civil War, and was the last state to secede from the Union in 1861. It was a major battleground during the war, and became the first Confederate state to rejoin the Union at the war's end.
Memphis, which is Tennessee's largest city, is the regional center of a three state area, which includes western Tennessee, northern
Click or scan to see this page online
Mississippi, and eastern Arkansas. It is a cotton, lumber, manufacturing, and distribution center; as well as a major U.S. highway, rail, river, and air transportation hub.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #07 Andrew Jackson series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1796.
Location. 35° 8.656′ N, 90° 3.562′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. Marker is on North Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 125 North Front Street, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.
France, Spain, North Carolina, Tennessee, US, Confederate States, Great Britain Flags
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
3. Memphis Tennessee along the Mississippi River Banks
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
4. Mud Island, Railway, Interstate Major Highways
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
5. Fed X Air Transportation Hub in Memphis
Photographed By Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010
6. Bridge connecting Tennessee to Arkansas via Mississippi River
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on March 20, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 576 times since then and 15 times this year. Last updated on May 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 20, 2012, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.