Memphis

History

The community can trace its roots back to the 1880s, when it was planned as an 80-acre subdivision, adjacent to the city of Palmetto. Tennessee-born Robert Willis (1855-1933) originally owned the land, but eventually it was sold to I.E. Barwick (1854-1924) who subdivided it. The community's traditional borders roughly lie on the west side of 16th Avenue East and just on the west side of U.S. 41, and between 17th and 25th Streets East. An 1897 Manatee County directory mentions a handful of establishments, from a clothing store to a crate mill and a bakery then under construction. Over time, the area eventually became a predominantly African American community in the segregation era. The identity of the close-knit community was interrupted with the construction of U.S. 41 in the 1960s.

Geography

Memphis is located in northern Manatee County. It is bordered to the south and west by the city of Palmetto and to the northwest by Terra Ceia Bay, an arm of Tampa Bay. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , of which are land and , or 11.29%, are water. The main road through the community is US Route 41, also known as the Tamiami Trail, which leads south to Bradenton, the county seat, and north to Tampa. US Route 19 has its southern terminus at US 41 in Memphis. US 19 leads northwest via the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay to St. Petersburg, away.

Race & ethnicity