Memphis

History

The first European Americans to settle in the area of Memphis were members of the Wells family from Albany, New York; Anthony Wells resided here from 1834 and James Wells from 1835. The fledgling community was originally called "Wells Settlement" after them. The name "Memphis" was chosen and applied in 1848 when a US post office was established. The village was named for its location on a bluff overlooking the Belle River, which settlers likened to the position of the ancient Egyptian Memphis, "the City on the Nile". Memphis was incorporated as a village on April 4, 1865. It did not attain the status of a city until 1953. The area was originally developed for agriculture, as most settlers were farmers. As lumbering became a major industry in Michigan, log rafts were floated down the Belle River into the St. Clair River and south to Detroit. Some lumber was processed in Memphis and Marine City, where there was a major shipbuilding industry. Much was shipped to developing midwestern cities such as Chicago or to the east.

Geography

Memphis is in the northeast corner of Macomb County and in western St. Clair County, evenly divided between the two. Highway M-19 is Memphis' Main Street, leading north to Emmett and south the same distance to Richmond. Mount Clemens, the Macomb county seat, is to the south, while Port Huron, the St. Clair county seat, is to the east. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Memphis has a total area of , of which are land and , or 2.52%, are water. The Belle River passes through the northern and eastern sides of the city, flowing southeast to join the St. Clair River at Marine City.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Orville C Krause Elementary School
  Elementary · ARMADA · 752 students · 15:1 ratio
• Armada High School
  High · ARMADA · 585 students · 18.9:1 ratio
• Richmond Middle School
  Middle · RICHMOND · 562 students · 19.4:1 ratio
• Richmond Community High School
  High · RICHMOND · 530 students · 20.4:1 ratio
• Will L Lee School
  Elementary · RICHMOND · 474 students · 13.5:1 ratio
• Memphis JuniorSenior High School
  High · MEMPHIS · 409 students · 17.8:1 ratio
• Armada Middle School
  Middle · ARMADA · 382 students · 20.1:1 ratio
• Armada Continuing Education Center
  High · Armada · 10 students · 10:1 ratio