Germantown, Tennessee

Germantown was founded by settlers in 1825. By 1833, the community was known as Pea Ridge (the ridge can be followed by Poplar Pike). In the 18th Century it was known as the West Tennessee Chickasaw Trail. The trail connected the Mississippi River bluff with the Chickasaw and Choctaw settlements in Mississippi and Alabama. The name was changed to Germantown in 1836.

Located in southeast Shelby County Germantown is one of six suburban municipalities adjacent to Memphis and approximately 17 miles from downtown Memphis. It is one of Tennessee’s most attractive and vibrant residential communities. Its residents are proud of their city where thoughtful planning has created an excellent environment in which to live, work and play.

Germantown offers award-winning schools, acres of parkland, a comprehensive fitness and recreation complex, an extensive sports program and an 800 seat Performing Arts Centre.

Places of Interest

• Wolf River Nature Area

  The Wolf River Nature Area offers picnic areas, meadows, aquatic plant and animal displays, butterfly gardens, and more. It can be accessed from the Chic-Fil-A parking lot on Germantown Road and from two access points on Wolf River Blvd.

• Fort Germantown

  At Fort Germantown, cannon replicas mark the spot where Union troops built a fort guarding the Memphis and Charleston Railroad during the Civil War. The fort is located on Honey Tree Drive, off of Poplar Pike.
  

The City hosts many horse shows and competitions annually, the most popular being the Germantown Charity Horse Show which attracts a large number of tourists. The first show was held in 1947 when the drive and dedication of a small group of WWII friends saw their dream fulfilled.

Germantown has two dozen parks, sports complexes and other green spaces, covering more than 700 acres of recreational land. They provide athletic fields and courts, picnic areas, biking/walking trails and playgrounds.

There is no heavy industry in Germantown. Its economy is dominated by the retail and commercial service sectors. Elite shopping centers like Saddle Creek and Forest Hill Shopping Center have many specialty stores and upscale restaurants. In the city center is the “Old Germantown” neighborhood where a 1948 reproduction of the 1868 original railroad depot stands. The Memphis and Charleston Railroad tracks remind us of the community’s earliest days of development as an outpost.

The City of Germantown delivers superior public services, which rely on citizen involvement to build a high quality of life shared by people of all ages and backgrounds.