The 9th District

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The ninth Congressional District of Tennessee is the state's most populous and fastest growing metropolis. The district has in recent years expanded beyond its core City of Memphis to incorporate sections of surrounding portions of Shelby County such as Raleigh, Hickory Hill, Forest Hill, Cordova, Germantown, and Collierville. These new areas are some of the fastest growing portions of the district.

What's more, the district's economic impact outshines its territorial expansion. Memphis, Tennessee, the nation's 18th largest city with a metro population of over 1 million, is the 4th largest inland port in the U.S., is the 3rd largest rail center in the U.S., is the world's hardwood lumber capitol, and remains the largest spot cotton-trading market in the world. As it stands, 3 Fortune 500 company headquarters (FedEx, AutoZone, and International Papers), 6 Forbes 500 company headquarters, and 2 Inc. 500 company headquarters all call Memphis their home. In 2000, 230 existing Memphis companies announced major expansion projects worth $1 billion.

Memphis has had the world's largest air cargo airport for the last 7 years. However, that has not hindered new plans for growth. The Memphis International Airport, currently undergoing a $400 million expansion, was promoted to major hub status in 2000 and is the nation's most on-time hub. It is one of the top ten fastest growing airports with 88 newly added flights (the largest increase in the history of Northwest Airlines). It's no wonder that in 2000, forty-one major companies announced plans to relocate to Memphis, creating more than 5,000 new jobs.

Such a strong economic promise coupled with the region's rich history is a winning combination. It is easy to understand why the area is quickly becoming a very popular place to visit and live. In 1995, Memphis' per capita income surpassed the national per capita income for the first time. In fact, when adjusted by the cost of living index, Memphis ranks ahead of our 2005 peer cities of Atlanta, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Birmingham, and Louisville. The Travel Industry Association ranked Memphis in the top twenty destinations for people traveling to see or participate in a sporting event.

Known as Memphis in May, the city honors the cultures of a different country each spring with a month long celebration through carnivals and festivals. The celebration is very extensive including the renowned annual Barbeque contest and music festival featuring world-class musicians. Also, each year the city hosts a Wonders Exhibit, often held at the downtown Cook Convention Center. Exhibits have included artifacts from the eras of King Tut, Catherine the Great, the Titanic, and most recently the Czars.

Memphis has a rich history from Native Americans in Chickasaw to Blues on Beale Street to the Pinch District. Recently Memphis has come to take advantage of its rich culture and long history. There has been a revitalization of downtown Memphis with the addition of new restaurants, a Gibson Guitar Factory, and the Smithsonian R&B and Soul Museum. Memphis also celebrates its own history of Rock-n-Roll through Graceland, Sun Studios, and of course, Beale Street. Memphis ranks 6th in the nation in the number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places, and has more historic listings per capita than any city in America.