Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Tennessee

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

1. Tennessee Marker

Inscription. 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.

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. It

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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.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: North Carolina (here, next to this marker); Great Britain (here, next to this marker); France (here, next to this marker); Confederate States of America (here, next to this marker); Spain (a few steps from this marker); Head of Passes/Pilottown, Louisiana (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Venice Louisiana/Fort Jackson, Louisiana/Fort St. Phillip (about 700 feet away); Ostrica Lock/Buras, Louisiana/Empire

Tennessee Flag image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

2. Tennessee Flag

France, Spain, North Carolina, Tennessee, US, Confederate States, Great Britain Flags

Lock/Nairn, Louisiana (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Memphis Tennessee along the Mississippi River Banks image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

3. Memphis Tennessee along the Mississippi River Banks

Mud Island, Railway, Interstate Major Highways image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

4. Mud Island, Railway, Interstate Major Highways

Fed X Air Transportation Hub in Memphis image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, May 18, 2010

5. Fed X Air Transportation Hub in Memphis

Bridge connecting Tennessee to Arkansas via Mississippi River image. Click for full size.

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 701 times since then and 9 times this year. Last updated on May 3, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. 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.