West Tennessee Overview

Economic Profile

West Tennessee features a large distribution and warehousing industry.

Memphis is home to Federal Express, whose services lend themselves to perishable, Internet-based, and other time-sensitive deliveries. United Parcel Service and other major intermodal distribution centers are also here. Together they provide the backbone to a diversified manufacturing, food processing, and biomedical base.

The area outside Memphis is oriented toward manufacturing. The plastics, automotive supplier, and food processing sectors also have a strong presence.

Counties

Benton County

Carroll County

Chester County

Crockett County

Decatur County

Dyer County

Fayette County

Gibson County

Hardeman County

Hardin County

Haywood County

Henderson County

Henry County

Lake County

Lauderdale County

Madison County

McNairy County

Obion County

Shelby County

Tipton County

Weakley County

Transportation

Major air: Memphis International Airport, McKellar Sipes Regional in Jackson.

Major highways: Interstates 40, 55

Rail: Union Pacific/Southern Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Illinois Central/Canadian National, CSX Transportation, Kansas City Southern, Norfolk Southern Corp.

Water: Mississippi and Tennessee rivers

Power Distributors

Benton County Electric System

Bolivar Electric Department

Brownsville Utility Department

Carroll County Electric Department

Covington Electric Systems

Dyersburg Electric System

Gibson Electric Membership Corporation

Humboldt Utilities

Jackson Energy Authority

Lexington Electric System

Memphis Light, Gas and Water

Milan Public Utilities

Newbern Light, Gas & Water

Paris Board of Public Utilities

Pickwick Electric Cooperative

Ripley Power & Light Company

Somerville Light, Gas & Water Department

Southwest Tennessee EMC

Trenton Light & Water Department

Union City Electric System

Weakley County Municipal Electric System

Education

Higher Education - Public

University of Memphis - Memphis, Jackson

University of Tennessee - Martin, Selmer

Jackson State Community College - Jackson, Lexington, Savannah

Dyersburg State Community College - Dyersburg, Covington, Trenton

Southwest Community College - Memphis

Tennessee Technology Centers - Covington, Crump, Jackson, McKenzie, Newbern, Paris, Ripley, and Whiteville

Higher Education-Independent

Bethel College - McKenzie

Christian Brothers College - Memphis

Freed-Hardeman University - Henderson

Lambuth University - Jackson

Lane College - Jackson

LeMoyne Owen College - Memphis

Rhodes College - Memphis

Union University - Jackson