Quick Facts About Memphis

• Memphis was named after the ancient capital of Egypt on the Nile River in North Africa.

• The city lies on the Chickasaw Bluffs, on the east bank of the Mississippi River.

• Memphis has a mild southern climate—with an average of 238 sunny days annually.

• Memphis is the most populous city in Tennessee.

• The city's southern boundary forms part of the Tennessee-Mississippi state line.

• Memphis is widely known for its extensive medical and educational facilities. The Memphis Medical Center, one of the largest in the nation, is located in the city, as is the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences.

• Several institutions of higher learning are in Memphis. The largest, by far, is the University of Memphis

• In addition to its many historical points of interest, Memphis has several parks and gardens and a zoo. The zoo main entrance way was dubbed as the "Avenue of the Animals" which displays a grand Egyptian motif modeled after the Avenue of Sphinxes in Egypt.