A montage of lively communities, Memphis is no longer the laid-back port town it used to be. The downtown Memphis area is where the life of the city really is. Here one can find antique shops, restaurants, art galleries and coffee shops just a walk away. The downtown area is home to more than 23,000 residents - a number that is steadily growing with the building of houses, apartments and condos in the area. Downtown Memphis is home to Beale Street, the celebrated "Home of the Blues." Beale Street features a number of bars and cubs that cater to jazz, blues and rock and roll music. Then there is the Pinch District, which is home to cafes and bars that are frequented by local residents and tourists that are attending events at the nearby Pyramid.

Midtown Memphis has some of the citys most pristine neighborhoods. Tree-lined avenues are flanked by grand bungalows and apartments. Overton Park, located in the center of midtown, is one of the United States biggest urban parks. Some of the citys numerous attractions are the Memphis College of Art, Memphis Zoo and the Overton Park Shell. Several universities and colleges augment Midtown Memphis diverse atmosphere. The neighborhoods include Vollintine-Evergreen, Cooper-Young, Overton Square and Central Gardens.

Most of Memphis high-status housing areas, shopping and office centers are situated in East Memphis. The Memphis Botanic Garden, Audubon Park, Lichterman Nature Center and other public parks and gardens give a unique appeal to East Memphis. Chickasaw Gardens, for one, is full of elegant houses. The Pink Palace Museum and Planetarium lie adjacent to that neighborhood. Then there is Cordova, which is a rapidly growing community in the Metro area.

Shelby County, outside of the main city, boasts of a number of beautifully integrated cities and towns. These include Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville Germantown, Lakeland and Millington.

Neighboring areas that surround the city include Fayette County, Tennessee; Tipton County, Tennessee; Crittenden County, Arkansas; DeSoto County, Mississippi; Tunica County, Mississippi; Tate County, Mississippi; and Marshall County, Mississippi.