Christmas Tree Recycling

The holiday season is officially over, Memphians. If you need to recycle your Christmas tree, we've got you covered.

 

Knox Shelton

The ability for children to learn at a young age is critical to their continued development throughout the rest of their lives. That’s why Literacy Mid-South and executive director Knox Shelton want to bring more reading material to children throughout Memphis than ever before.

Honesty. Excellence. Responsiveness. Safety.

These Memphis values are at the core of every Memphis city council decision made, every initiative launched, every action taken.

The values exist so that our city, residents, employees and partners can thrive. We make sure government in Memphis lives up to our well-earned reputation as a community of choice for those who won’t settle for less than a high quality of life, exemplary education, bountiful employment opportunities and world-class recreation.

And they’re not just words—they’re part of our city’s DNA.

Memphis is home to an array of government agencies that provide critical services to those who live in, work in and visit our city. The City of Memphis is proudly part of Shelby County.

Here’s a look at the major government services available to you in the City of Memphis:

Mayor’s Office

Serving Memphis since 2016, Jim Strickland is living up to his pledge to apply “new eyes to solve old problems.” As the chief executive of the government of Memphis, Mayor Strickland partners with the Memphis City Council to lead our great city. Mayor Strickland keeps in touch with his constituents through blogging and Twitter, and his open-door policy keeps transparency and effective communication as top priorities.

Get to know Mayor Jim Strickland

Memphis City Council

Thirteen men and women are working together to make our city great. The Memphis City Council works alongside Mayor Strickland to set budgets, pass ordinances, approve mayoral appointees, and make city laws. Their meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of each month are televised and open to the public, so you can always keep abreast of what’s going on around town.

Get to know our Memphis City Council

Memphis Fire Department

The Memphis Fire Department is focused on three things: teamwork with an unwavering commitment to excellence, compassion, and immediate community protection. Fire stations are located throughout the city, so help is never far away.

Learn more about the Memphis Fire Department.

Memphis Police Department

Our Memphis Police Department is made up of more than 2,000 officers and 400 civilian employees dedicated to keeping our city safe. Their goal is to create and maintain an overall environment for public safety and the Memphis PD continues to make great progress in this area while developing strong partnerships within the community.

Learn more about the Memphis Police Department.

Housing & Community Development

Cities thrive when neighborhoods thrive, and neighborhoods thrive when everyone does their part to keep them looking good and functioning well. The Housing & Community Development department makes sure that neighborhoods throughout our city are full of energy and vitality by providing down payment assistance to people who want to make Memphis their home.

Learn more about Housing & Community Development.

Memphis Area Transit Authority

Access to safe, reliable transportation is a hallmark of a great city. Memphis Area Transit Authority and its 515 employees offer an array of public transit options, including our famous trolleys, buses, and paratransit services for people living with disabilities.

Learn more about the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

City of Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods

Our numbers are impressive: 162 parks, 83 playgrounds, 25 summer day camps, 24 community centers, five senior centers, 17 aquatic facilities, eight golf courses, 34 soccer/football fields, 113 ball diamonds and 182 indoor and outdoor basketball hoops.

And that’s only the beginning.

The Memphis Division of Parks and Neighborhoods works hard to make sure people in Memphis always have access to free or low-cost activities.

Learn more about the Division of Parks and Neighborhoods.

Office of Sustainability

The Office of Sustainability focuses on energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling, sustainable economic development, food systems and green building practices. It coordinates farmer’s markets, secures grants for green initiatives and helps local residents and businesses operate in more sustainable ways.

Learn more about the Office of Sustainability.

Memphis Public Libraries

Knowledge is power, and there is plenty to be had in the racks of Memphis Public Libraries. Located throughout the city, each library features a myriad of books, multimedia resources, events and activities.

And the best part: All that knowledge is free when you have a library card.

Learn more about Memphis Public Libraries.

Memphis Public Works

When it comes to day-to-day living, no division of the Memphis city government is more important than Public Works.

The 1,300 Public Works employees are responsible for sewers, street maintenance, trash collection, recycling, street lights and beyond. If you live in Memphis, work in Memphis or visit Memphis, you have no doubt benefited from the good people at Public Works.

Learn more about Memphis Public Works.

Planning & Development

The Division of Planning & Development plays an important role in ensuring that Memphis continues to thrive. It’s focused on growth—in business districts, neighborhoods and economic opportunities.

If you’re a business owner or simply someone who cares about smart growth and expansion, you’ll want to pay attention to what this arm of the Memphis city government is up to. After all, it’s instrumental in shaping our city’s future.

Learn more about the Division of Planning & Development.

Memphis Online Services

In today’s world, all the information you need to successfully make the most of Memphis government services is available online. Through Memphis Online Services, you can pay property taxes, get information about traffic ordinances and citations, access an online support center and check the status of a service request.

Memphis Online truly is your one-stop-shop for all things local government in the city of Memphis.

Learn more about Memphis Online. 

Of course, this is only a very small sample of what the local Memphis government does. You can learn more about services for residents, businesses and visitors on the City of Memphis official website.

Our unstoppable city has everything you need to build the life you want. Come and see for yourself.

Shelby County

Shelby County was established in 1819 and was named for Governor Isaac Shelby (1750 – 1826) of Kentucky. It is located in the State of Tennessee within the continental United States. It is the state’s largest county both in terms of population and geographic area. Its county seat is the City of Memphis. Shelby County is also part of the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area, which comprises eight counties in three states: Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

Shelby County is home to seven municipalities including ArlingtonBartlettColliervilleGermantownLakelandMemphis and Millington. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris took office in 2018 as the County’s 6th Mayor in history and now leads this culturally rich and diverse community that we proudly call home.

You may also be interested in: Moving to Memphis Tennessee 

Government

 

Top 10 Memphis Moments You Can Use to Complete the 2020 Census

By, Carlissa Shaw But seriously, stop playing and complete your 2020 US Census. Over the last several months, I have heard several people say that they are not filling out the 2020 Census because “they do not want the government in their business.” Reality check, the moment the government […]

 

5 Reasons the 2020 Census is Crucial!

The United States Census is one of the most important ways you can help define, affect, and participate in the future of our country. 2020 may be the first opportunity for many millennials and younger generations to participate in this historical survey, but many may not understand the purpose […]

 

5 Reasons Your Young Ass Needs to Vote This August

By Carlissa Shaw Now, this is a story all about how  we can twist turn Memphis upside down. And I’d like to take a minute Just sit right there, I’ll tell you the top 5 reasons to vote and why you should care! ONE: Democracy only works if you show up to the game: “We […]

 

Buying a new home? Here’s how to calculate your property tax!

When talking to first-time home buyers, one of the constants I’ve come across has been the overall shock many feel at the amount of property tax they end up paying. There are always underlying expenses with most purchases, and home buying is no different. If you have already purchased a […]

 

Literacy Mid-South Promoting Lifelong Learning here in Memphis

Tony Allen unwittingly captured the spirit of Memphis with his now famous quote: “It’s all heart. Grit and Grind”. It’s true – Memphis is all heart and we Memphians grind harder than most just to make it. This is evident even when it comes to literacy. In Memphis, 1 in 7 adults do not read […]

 

Here’s a list of Memphis libraries

The Memphis education system has long been the backbone of our city, inspiring generations of Memphis creatives and Memphis entrepreneurs, and our robust public library system is one of the most important links in the chain. If you’re looking for a library near you, here’s what you need to […]

 

The Memphis trolley: The new way to get around downtown!

If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to get around Memphis, this is your lucky day. After a long absence, the trolleys are back! Here’s your guide to our new favorite method of exploring Downtown Memphis. Welcoming back the trolley The Memphis Area Transit Authority trolley […]

 

Memphis named the most generous city in the US!

Memphis named the most generous city in the US! As citizens of Memphis, we like to think our community is always growing and creating change. Otherwise, why would we live here? Embracing and elevating Memphis is the job of every single person that lives here, and one of the best ways to do that […]

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The Women of Unapologetic

By Katie Kelly When you walk into the main control room of Outerspace, Unapologetic’s studio, you’ll see a sign on the ceiling that in comparison to the rest of the studio, is relatively non-descript. In uppercase plain black text with a few chosen words in color, it reads: “IN THIS PLACE OUR […]

 

Give Back to Memphis – 5 Organizations you can Support Today

The Holiday season in its deepest essence is about giving. For many in our community who are less fortunate, finding a safe place to stay away from the cold and the elements is incredibly difficult and oftentimes dangerous. Although there are federally provided shelters and resources to help […]

 

Supporting Black-Owned Businesses in Memphis This Valentine’s Day

Though February has quite a few holidays, one important commemoration is Black History Month. Since Memphis is a city full of Black-business owners, we wanted to highlight how you could support them, especially while you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with your loved one. Here are some places […]

 

5 Questions with McKenzii Webster

By Jayne Ellen White The music industry has traditionally lacked female creative minds. In fact, women represent percentages in the single digits in most sectors of the music industry, and seeing more examples of women thriving in the space in Memphis is a testament to our growing music culture […]

The Women of Unapologetic
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With Listen Out Loud Music Fest, J. Whitlow Hopes to Put Memphis R&B Back in the Limelight
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