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Shelby County, Tennessee

Historic newspapers, landmarks, and county history layers for genealogists and local historians.

—newspaper titles
—digitized titles
212historic places
—earliest paper
1819formed
929,744pop. 2020
100cemeteries
2CW battlefields

At a glance

Summary

The National Register of Historic Places includes 212 listed properties in the county, first listed in 1966; 4 are also National Historic Landmarks. Most listings are in or near Memphis, Collierville, Germantown.

Summary generated automatically from the source data on this page.

Newspapers

Library of Congress

Newspaper directory data for Tennessee is not yet loaded on this site. Browse Shelby titles at the Library of Congress.

National Register of Historic Places

NPS NRHP

113 of 212 listings mapped; some locations are restricted by NPS to protect sensitive sites.

212 listed properties
PropertyCityTypeListed
Adams Avenue Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1980
Allen, Walter Granville, House (Additional Documentation)CordovaBuilding1990
American Snuff Company Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2018
Anderson-Coward HouseMemphisBuilding1986
AnnesdaleMemphisBuilding1980
Annesdale Park Historic District (Additional Documentation)MemphisDistrict1978
Annesdale-Snowden Historic District (Additional Documentation)MemphisDistrict1979
Anshei Sphard-Beth El Emeth SynagogueMemphisBuilding2020
Arlington Historic DistrictArlingtonDistrict1982
Ashlar HallMemphisBuilding1983
Audubon Park Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2022
Austin, John Alexander, HouseMemphisBuilding1984
Bank of Commerce and Trust Company BuildingMemphisBuilding1980
Barksdale Mounted Police StationMemphisBuilding2019
Barretville Bank and Trust Company BuildingMillingtonBuilding2019
Barton, Pauline Cheek, HouseMemphisBuilding1995
Beale Street Historic District NHLMemphisDistrict1966
Beale Street Historic District (Boundary Increase)MemphisSite1993
Bennett, Gladys "MaDear", HouseMemphisBuilding2020
Boyce-Gregg HouseMemphisBuilding1979
Bradford-Maydwell HouseMemphisBuilding1979
Brister, John Willard, LibraryMemphisBuilding1980
Brooks, Wilks, HouseMemphisBuilding1980
Calvary Episcopal Church and Parish HouseMemphisBuilding1982
Campbell, Joseph A., HouseColliervilleBuilding1991
Capleville Methodist ChurchCaplevilleBuilding1979
Capt. Harris HouseMemphisBuilding1979
Carrier, Robert M., HouseMemphisBuilding1980
Central Gardens Historic District (Additional Documentation)MemphisDistrict1982
Central Gardens Historic District (Boundary Increase)MemphisDistrict2023
Central High SchoolMemphisBuilding1982
Charles, Davis, HouseColliervilleBuilding2017
Cherokee ArmsMemphisBuilding2024
Chickasaw Heritage ParkMemphisSite1997
Chucalissa Indian Village NHLMemphisSite1973
Clancy, Cornelius Lawrence, HouseMemphisBuilding1983
Clayborn TempleMemphisBuilding1979
Clayborn TempleMemphisBuilding2017
Collierville Historic DistrictColliervilleDistrict1990
Collins Chapel CME Church and SiteMemphisBuilding1991
Columbian Mutual TowerMemphisBuilding1978
Cooper-Young Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1989
Cordova SchoolMemphisBuilding1995
Cotton Row Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1979
Court Square Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1982
Crawford, West J., HouseMemphisBuilding2024
Crisscross LodgeColliervilleBuilding1989
Crump, E. H., HouseMemphisBuilding1979
Darnell, Rowland J., HouseMemphisBuilding1979
Davies ManorMemphisDistrict1975
Delmar-Lema Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1998
Dermon BuildingMemphisBuilding1984
Dixie Greyhound Bus Lines ComplexMemphisBuilding2003
Dudney, Jack, HouseColliervilleBuilding1991
East Buntyn Historic District (Additional Documentation)MemphisDistrict1995
Elam HomesteadMemphisBuilding1980
Ellis, William C., and Sons Ironworks and Machine ShopMemphisBuilding1983
Elmwood CemeteryMemphisSite2002
Elmwood Cemetery Office and Entrance BridgeMemphisBuilding1978
Evergreen Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1985
Fairview Junior High SchoolMemphisBuilding1990
First Baptist ChurchMemphisBuilding2005
First Baptist Church (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding1971
First Colored Baptist ChurchMemphisBuilding2000
First Congregational Church and Parish HouseMemphisBuilding1980
First National Bank Operations CenterMemphisBuilding2024
First Presbyterian ChurchMemphisBuilding2005
Fleming, John M., Home PlaceColliervilleDistrict1990
Forrest Park Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2009
Fountain Court Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1998
Fowlkes-Boyle House (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding1974
Galloway-Speedway Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2004
Gaston Park Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1989
Gayoso-Peabody Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1980
Gayoso-Peabody Historic District (Boundary Increase, Boundary Decrease)MemphisDistrict2006
Germantown Baptist Church (Additional Documentation)GermantownBuilding1975
Germantown RedoubtGermantownSite1991
Glenview Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1999
GoodwinslowRaleighBuilding1979
Goodwyn Street Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1990
Gotten, Nicholas, HouseBartlettBuilding2002
Grace Episcopal ChurchMemphisBuilding2005
Graceland NHLMemphisDistrict1991
Green Meadows-Poplar Glen Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2003
Greenlaw Addition Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1984
GreenlevelColliervilleBuilding1987
Greenstone ApartmentsMemphisBuilding1980
GreenwoodMemphisBuilding1979
Griggs Business and Practical Arts CollegeMemphisBuilding2023
Hanley, Daniel, HouseMemphisBuilding2021
Hein Park Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1988
High Point Terrace Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2002
Hotel ClaridgeMemphisBuilding1982
Houston, J. W., HouseColliervilleBuilding1991
Humes, L.C., High SchoolMemphisBuilding2004
Hunt-Phelan HouseMemphisBuilding1971
Idlewild Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1999
Idlewild Presbyterian ChurchMemphisBuilding2009
Knickerbocker Apartments, TheMemphisBuilding2007
Lauderdale Courts Public Housing ProjectMemphisDistrict1996
LeMoyne College Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2005
Lee and Fontaine Houses of the James Lee Memorial (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding1971
Lee, James, HouseMemphisBuilding1978
Lee, Lt. George W., House (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding1994
Lenox SchoolMemphisBuilding1981
Love, George Collins, HouseMemphisBuilding1979
Lowenstein HouseMemphisBuilding1979
Lowenstein, Abraham, HouseMemphisBuilding1984
Lowenstein, B., & Brothers BuildingMemphisBuilding1983
Madison-Monroe Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1983
Magevney House (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding1973
Martin Memorial Temple CME ChurchMemphisBuilding2002
Mason Temple, Church of God in ChristMemphisBuilding1992
MaxweltonMemphisBuilding1980
McFadden, John H., HouseBartlettBuilding1994
McFerrin, John B., HouseColliervilleBuilding1991
Medical Arts Building and GarageMemphisBuilding1984
Melrose SchoolMemphisBuilding2001
Memphis Bank and Trust BuildingMemphisBuilding2013
Memphis Federation Of Musicians Local 71 BuildingMemphisBuilding2017
Memphis LandingMemphisSite2011
Memphis Merchants ExchangeMemphisBuilding1979
Memphis National CemeteryMemphisSite1996
Memphis Overland CompanyMemphisBuilding2021
Memphis Parkway SystemMemphisDistrict1989
Memphis Pink Palace MuseumMemphisBuilding1980
Memphis Queen II Floating VesselMemphisStructure2006
Memphis Trust BuildingMemphisBuilding1980
Mid-South ColiseumMemphisStructure2000
Missouri Portland Cement TerminalMemphisBuilding2021
Moore, William R., Dry Goods BuildingMemphisBuilding1982
Mosby-Bennett HouseMemphisBuilding1980
Mt. AiryCordovaBuilding2002
National Cotton Council BuildingMemphisBuilding2012
National Trust Life Insurance Company BuildingMemphisBuilding2018
Newburger, Joseph, HouseMemphisBuilding1982
Normal Station Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2005
Oaklawn GardenGermantownDistrict2018
Omicron Sigma Chapter House of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, IncorporatedMemphisBuilding2023
One Hundred North Main Building (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding2015
Orpheum TheatreMemphisBuilding1977
Overton Park Court ApartmentsMemphisBuilding2021
Overton Park Historic District (Additional Documentation)MemphisDistrict1979
Overton Parkway Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1999
Paisley HallMemphisBuilding1980
Parkview Hotel ApartmentsMemphisBuilding2022
Patton-Bejach HouseMemphisBuilding1979
Peabody Elementary SchoolMemphisBuilding1982
Peabody HotelMemphisBuilding1977
Persons, Ell, Lynching SiteMemphisSite2024
Picardy Place Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2014
Pinch-North Main Commercial DistrictMemphisDistrict1979
Pinch-North Main Commercial District (Boundary Increase)MemphisBuilding1990
Porter, Dr. D. T., Building (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding1977
Porter-Leath HomeMemphisBuilding1979
Presley, Elvis, HouseMemphisBuilding2006
Rayner, Eli, House (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding1977
Rock of Ages Christian Methodist Episcopal ChurchMemphisBuilding2017
Rosemark Historic DistrictRosemarkDistrict2013
Roulhac, Dr. Christopher M., HouseMemphisBuilding2004
Rozelle Elementary SchoolMemphisBuilding1982
Scimitar BuildingMemphisBuilding1983
Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park CemeteryMemphisSite1991
Sears, Roebuck and Company Catalog Distribution Center and Retail StoreMemphisBuilding2013
Second Congregational ChurchMemphisBuilding1982
Shadowlawn Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1995
Shrine BuildingMemphisBuilding1979
South Bluffs Warehouse Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1987
South Main Street Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1982
South Main Street Historic District (Boundary Increase)MemphisDistrict2013
South Main Street Historic District (Boundary Increase)MemphisBuilding1997
South Main Street Historic District (Boundary Increase)MemphisBuilding1999
South Parkway-Heiskell Farm Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1983
Southern Railway Industrial Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2007
Southwestern at Memphis Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1978
Southwestern at Memphis Sorority Row Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2006
Speedway Terrace Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1999
Squire's RestBarretvilleBuilding2007
St. Mary's Cathedral, Chapel, and Diocesan HouseMemphisBuilding1979
St. Mary's Catholic Church (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding1974
St. Paul Avenue Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1998
St. Thomas Catholic Church and ConventMemphisBuilding2005
Steele Hall (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding1979
Sterick BuildingMemphisBuilding1978
Sterick North Garage and HotelMemphisBuilding2018
Stonewall Place Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1982
Strathmore Place Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1998
Stratton, Leslie M., YMCAMemphisBuilding1983
Sun Record Company, Memphis Recording Service NHLMemphisBuilding2003
Tennessee BreweryMemphisBuilding1980
Tennessee Club-Overall Goodbar BuildingMemphisBuilding1982
Tennessee Trust BuildingMemphisBuilding1982
Third Additon to Jackson Terrace Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2001
Thomas, John W., HouseColliervilleBuilding1991
Toof BuildingMemphisBuilding1982
Toof, John S., HouseMemphisBuilding1982
Tri State Iron WorksMemphisBuilding1997
Tri-State Bank (Additional Documentation)MemphisBuilding1971
U.S. Marine HospitalMemphisBuilding2019
U.S. Marine Hospital Executive Building and Laundry-KitchenMemphisBuilding1980
U.S. Post Office-Front Street StationMemphisBuilding1980
Universal Life Insurance CompanyMemphisBuilding2007
Victorian Village DistrictMemphisDistrict1972
Vollintine Evergreen Avalon Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1997
Vollintine Evergreen Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1996
Vollintine Evergreen North Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict1997
Vollintine Hills Historic DistrictMemphisDistrict2007
Wells School (Additional Documentation)EadsBuilding1995
Wildwood Farms (Additional Documentation)GermantownDistrict2017
Withers, Ernest C., HouseMemphisBuilding2022
Wooten Fallout ShelterMemphisBuilding2019
Zion CemeteryMemphisSite1990

Source: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Property links open NRHP nomination files at the National Archives.

County formation

Newberry AHCB

Shelby was formed in 1819 (1819-11-24) from Hardin.

SHELBY created from HARDIN.

Source: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

Population by decade

Census

Shelby County population from 1820 to 2020 (Census historical series).

930k465k3641820184018801920196020002020
182018401860188019001920194019501960198020002020
36414,72148,09278,430153,557223,216358,250482,393627,019777,113897,472929,744

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau historical county population (Forstall 1790–1990) and public-domain / CC0 county population series through 2020.

Cemeteries & historical places

USGS GNIS

100 cemeteries and 13 historical populated places (ghost towns / former settlements) recorded in USGS GNIS for this county.

Cemeteries — 80 of 100 listed
NameLatLon
Abington Cemetery35.04615-89.67706
Baron Hirsch Cemetery35.1037-90.00731
Barton Cemetery35.2348-89.94897
Baxter Cemetery35.16147-89.68508
Belmount Cemetery35.3173-89.95119
Bethany Cemetery35.11375-89.69449
Bethel Cemetery35.37425-89.72674
Bethlehem Cemetery35.00731-89.88453
Bethuel Cemetery35.37186-89.84726
Big Creek Cemetery35.31397-89.88536
Brooks Cemetery35.1898-89.6573
Brown Cemetery34.99509-89.97314
Calvary Cemetery35.10314-90.02536
Chambers Chapel Cemetery35.21286-89.69924
Egypt Cemetery35.24816-89.92581
Elmwood Cemetery35.12203-90.02926
Embury United Methodist Church Cemetery35.33563-89.99481
Fisherville Cemetery35.15842-89.66619
Forest Hill Cemetery35.09792-90.02315
Forest Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park East35.19147-89.83341
Galilee Memorial Gardens35.21647-89.78647
Germantown Cemetery35.08544-89.81381
Gildfield Cemetery35.30491-89.78563
Goldsby Cemetery35.29786-89.90703
Gratitude Church Cemetery35.33434-89.71429
Grays Creek Cemetery35.21203-89.68202
Hayes Cemetery35.28302-89.68776
Hollywood Cemetery35.09092-90.02286
Island Forty Cemetery35.28814-90.11398
Jerusalem Church Cemetery35.02009-90.12314
Kerrville Presbyterian Cemetery35.38013-89.85546
Land Cemetery35.25036-89.70063
Little John Cemetery35.29846-89.97284
Log Union Cemetery35.24453-89.7273
Ludicia Cemetery35.36286-89.68146
Macedonia United Methodist Church Cemetery35.38276-89.67785
Magnolia Cemetery35.03397-89.66091
Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery35.10981-89.87564
Memory Hill Gardens and Mausoleums Cemetery35.22869-89.78841
Memphis Memory Gardens Cemetery35.18008-89.84647
Memphis National Cemetery35.17309-89.93703
Memphis National Cemetery35.17342-89.93703
Moore Cemetery35.16008-89.64369
Morning Grove Cemetery35.19619-89.74813
Morning Sun Cemetery35.19842-89.74147
Mount Carmel Cemetery35.08842-90.02009
Mount Moriah Cemetery35.05026-89.8515
Mount Olive Cemetery35.12542-89.65693
Mount Pisgah Cemetery35.04925-90.09564
Mount Sinai African Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery35.30885-89.72092
Mount Vernon United Methodist Church Cemetery35.28397-90.0387
New Hope Cemetery35.12729-89.76902
New Park Cemetery35.02675-90.06675
New Park Memorial Gardens35.04259-90.12231
New Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church Cemetery35.31258-89.74535
New Zion Cemetery35.06647-90.09064
Noah Chapel Cemetery35.29957-89.83588
Noblin Cemetery35.37403-89.95986
Northridge Woodhaven Cemetery35.31132-89.9433
Number Nine Hall Cemetery35.01675-89.95508
Oak Forest Memorial Gardens35.00453-89.97897
Oak Springs Baptist Church Cemetery35.34813-89.72027
Oakville Cemetery35.0687-89.94008
Pisgah Cemetery35.15978-89.70908
Pleasant Chapel Missionary Church Cemetery35.26473-90.05006
Pleasant Ridge Methodist Church Cemetery35.29796-89.81332
Pleasant Union Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery35.37971-89.7387
Pleasant View Cemetery35.25564-89.77341
Point Cemetery35.23369-89.99314
Potters Field (historical)35.20425-90.00592
Priddy Cemetery35.19571-89.66538
Raleigh Cemetery35.20258-89.91897
Reid Cemetery35.18147-89.6698
Remberts Cemetery35.3233-89.9403
Robinson Cemetery35.35563-89.72674
Rosemark Cemetery35.37828-89.7389
Saint James Cemetery35.03936-89.68217
Saint James Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery35.3572-89.81962
Saint Mark Cemetery35.0351-89.65859
Saint Matthews Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery35.32028-90.00527
Historical populated places — 13 of 13
NameLatLon
Bleak35.00593-89.79536
Blue Goose34.99537-90.21898
Booth35.08065-89.80203
Bray35.04648-89.70536
Cedar Grove35.19037-89.89064
Center Point35.1112-89.65758
Clay35.14759-89.81786
Irene35.00593-89.75953
Jester35.36092-90.02703
Pea Point35.26064-89.73453
Pearley35.29286-89.84675
Rocky Point35.12842-89.74536
State Line34.99593-89.86675

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System (public domain). Cemeteries from the 2021 NationalFile archive; historical places from GNIS HistoricalFeatures topical extract.

Civil War battlefields nearby

ABPP

American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) Civil War study areas near this county.

BattlefieldStudy acresDist.Site ID
Memphis2,16015.6 kmTN031
Collierville2,11824.1 kmTN022

Source: NPS American Battlefield Protection Program Civil War Study Areas (public ArcGIS feature service).

Historical markers

HMdb link

Marker text and photos from the Historical Marker Database (HMdb) are not embedded here. HMdb allows non-commercial reuse with attribution, but commercial/compensated use needs written permission; this is a commercial site, so we only link out.

Search HMdb for Shelby County, Tennessee

Terms: hmdb.org/copyright.asp. Linking is encouraged by HMdb.