Germantown is a friendly city located in Shelby County, Tennessee, in the United States. In 2020, about 41,333 people lived here. It's a special place because it won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2019 for being excellent in how it runs things!

Germantown is a suburb of Memphis, located just east of it. The city was started in 1841 by people who mostly came from Germany. Today, Germantown still celebrates its history and German culture with many fun festivals throughout the year.

In the heart of the city, you'll find the "Old Germantown" neighborhood. This area has a railroad depot (a newer version of the original 1868 building) and train tracks. These remind everyone of the city's early days when it grew around the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.

Germantown is famous for its many horse shows and competitions. The biggest one is the Germantown Charity Horse Show in June. Another popular event is the Germantown Festival, an arts and crafts fair held every September.

This city is known for being very safe. It has the lowest crime rate for any city its size in Tennessee. The police and fire departments respond to emergencies very quickly. The city's parks and recreation department is also nationally recognized for its great work. Germantown has been named a "Tree City USA" for many years because it takes good care of its trees. Also, very few people in Germantown live below the poverty line, showing it's a thriving community.

Exploring Germantown's Location

Germantown is found at 35°5′20″N 89°47′38″W / 35.08889°N 89.79389°W / 35.08889; -89.79389. It is part of the larger Memphis metropolitan area.

The city covers about 17.6 square miles. Only a tiny part of this area, about 0.04 square miles, is water.

A Look Back: Germantown's History

Germantown was first settled on a high ridge between the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek. This spot was about 16 miles east of the Mississippi River.

Early Settlers and New Names

The first people arrived in Germantown around 1825. Between 1825 and 1830, a woman named Miss Frances Wright started a special community called Nashoba Plantation. She wanted to educate formerly enslaved people and teach them useful skills. By 1830, more settlers came, and the first store opened.

In 1833, the community was known as Pea Ridge. Then, in 1834, a surveyor named N. T. German planned out the town lots. The name was changed to Germantown in 1836. This new name also fit well because many German families were moving there.

Growth and Challenges

The town officially became a city in 1841. The Memphis-Charleston Railroad was built through Germantown in 1852. However, the city faced tough times during the American Civil War (1861–1865). Later, yellow fever outbreaks caused the population to shrink to just a few hundred people.

Germantown slowly recovered. Churches that were destroyed were rebuilt, and new schools were constructed. The population began to grow again around the early 1900s. For a short time during World War I, the city's name was changed to Neshoba. This was a Chickasaw word meaning 'wolf'. This change happened because many people in the United States felt anti-German at that time.

Modern Growth and Community Spirit

Throughout the 20th century, Germantown grew stronger thanks to its active citizens. People got involved in churches, garden clubs, and other community groups. Organizations like the Poplar Pike Improvement Association and the Germantown Civic Club helped the city develop physically and socially.

After World War II, the population jumped from about 400 people to over 40,000. Over many years, city leaders and citizens worked together to manage this growth. They created rules for development, kept the city looking nice, and made smart plans for the future.

Historic Places to Visit

"Old Germantown" is the historic heart of the city. It's located around the railroad depot in downtown Germantown Road. This spot was chosen by early settlers because it was high ground and central. The depot you see today was rebuilt in 1948, replacing the original one from 1868. Now, the depot is home to the Germantown Train Museum. You can find signs around "Old Germantown" that tell you about its historical sites and parks.

Fort Germantown

Fort Germantown is on Honey Tree Drive, just off Poplar Pike. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. During the Civil War, 250 Union Soldiers built a fort here to protect the Memphis and Charleston railroad. Today, you can see replicas of Howitzer cannons that mark where the fort once stood.

The John Gray House

The John Gray House is located in Municipal Park. It was built before 1851 and is one of the oldest brick homes in Shelby County. This house was originally in Eads, Tennessee. It was moved to Germantown in 1989 to save it from being torn down.

Learning in Germantown: Schools and Education

Germantown has two school districts: Shelby County Schools and Germantown Municipal School District.

Public Schools

Elementary Schools: Farmington Elementary, Forest Hill Elementary, Dogwood Elementary, Riverdale Elementary K-8 (GMSD), and Germantown Elementary (SCS).
Middle Schools: Houston Middle School, Riverdale Elementary K-8 (GMSD), and Germantown Middle School (SCS).
High Schools:
- Houston High School: In 2015, The Washington Post named Houston High School one of America's Most Challenging High Schools.
- Germantown High School (SCS): This school is an International Baccalaureate School and a Blue Ribbon School. It's one of the largest high schools in Tennessee. It has been recognized as a "Reward School" in Tennessee for its growth and achievement for the past five years.

Jason Manuel, who used to be the principal of Houston Middle School, is now the Superintendent of Germantown Municipal Schools. The School Board has five members who are elected by the community.

Even though Germantown Elementary, Middle, and High Schools are within the city limits, they are part of the Shelby County Schools district. They serve many students from Germantown and nearby areas.

Private Schools

Daybreak Specialized School
Evangelical Christian School
Farmington Presbyterian
Madonna Learning Center
Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Catholic School (preschool – 8th grade)
St. George's Independent School
The Bodine School
The Phoenix School for Creative Learning
Union University – Germantown

People of Germantown: Demographics

The population of Germantown has grown a lot over the years:

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	245	—
1870	197	—
1880	223	13.2%
1890	268	20.2%
1900	270	0.7%
1910	247	−8.5%
1920	263	6.5%
1930	322	22.4%
1940	402	24.8%
1950	408	1.5%
1960	1,104	170.6%
1970	3,474	214.7%
1980	21,467	517.9%
1990	32,893	53.2%
2000	37,348	13.5%
2010	38,844	4.0%
2020	41,333	6.4%
Sources:

2020 Census Information

In 2020, Germantown had 41,333 people living in 14,696 households. There were 11,682 families.

Germantown Racial Composition
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	34,033	82.34%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	1,671	4.04%
Native American	64	0.15%
Asian	2,855	6.91%
Pacific Islander	5	0.01%
Other/Mixed	1,463	3.54%
Hispanic or Latino	1,242	3.0%

2010 Census Information

In 2010, there were 38,844 people and 14,910 households in Germantown. About 32.2% of households had children under 18. Most households (69.5%) were married couples living together.

The median age in the city was 45.7 years. About 26.2% of the population was under 20 years old. The average income for a household in 2010 was $112,979. For families, it was $127,216. Only about 2.9% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Fun and Facilities: Amenities in Germantown

Germantown has many great places for its residents to enjoy.

Parks and Green Spaces

The city has 27 parks, meaning there's a park within walking distance of almost every home! There are over 700 acres of parkland in total. More than 11.4 miles of greenway trails connect parks and neighborhoods, perfect for walking or biking.

Community Buildings

The Community Library was built in 1996. The Regional History and Genealogy Center opened in 2007, helping people research their family history.
The Germantown Performing Arts Centre (GPAC) is an amazing 800-seat theater. It hosts top artists from all over the world.
The Germantown Athletic Club is a huge indoor sports complex. It opened in 1989 and was made even bigger in 2003 with two outdoor pools.
The Great Hall & Conference Center is a large space for events. It's used for meetings, weddings, and parties.

Local Eateries

The Commissary is a famous Memphis-style barbecue restaurant. You can find it in the "Old Germantown" area.

Places of Worship: Churches

Germantown is home to many different churches:

Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Germantown
Faith Presbyterian Church (EPC)
Farmington Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
Forest Hill Baptist Church
Forest Hill Church of Christ
Germantown Baptist Church
Germantown Church of Christ
Germantown Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
Germantown United Methodist Church
Grace Evangelical Church
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church
Riveroaks Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA)
St. George's Episcopal Church

Famous Faces: Notable People from Germantown

Many well-known people have lived or currently live in Germantown:

Kennedy Baker, artistic gymnast
Chris Bell, co-founder of the band Big Star
Bobby Bland, singer-songwriter
Matt Cain, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
Mickey Callaway, professional baseball player and coach
John Daly, professional golfer
Kallen Esperian, opera singer
Marc Gasol, NBA player for the Memphis Grizzlies (his parents still live here)
David Gossett, professional golfer
Hamed Haddadi, NBA player
Austin Hollins, professional basketball player
Lionel Hollins, professional basketball player and coach
Olivia Holt, actress
Tim Howard, US National Soccer Team goalkeeper
Paul Maholm, Atlanta Braves pitcher
Bob Melvin, manager of the San Francisco Giants
Don Nix, musician and songwriter
Cindy Parlow Cone, US Women's National Soccer Team member and Olympic gold medalist
Chris Parnell, former cast member of Saturday Night Live
Missi Pyle, actress
Elliot Perry, professional basketball player
Loren Roberts, professional golfer
Todd Starnes, conservative columnist and radio host
Melanie Smith, U.S. Equestrian Team member and Olympic gold medalist
Ben Spies, former World Super Bike champion
Michael Stern, conductor
Kevin Swindell, NASCAR driver
Sammy Swindell, Hall of Fame sprint car driver
Joe Theismann, former NFL quarterback
Julien Baker, indie rock singer
Phil Irwin, former Major League Baseball pitcher
Tony Williams, former NFL defensive tackle

City Services and Statistics

Germantown provides excellent services to its residents.

Fire Protection

Number of Fire Stations: 4
Number of Firefighters: 71 regular, 25 volunteer
Insurance Service Office Rating: Class I (excellent)

Police Protection

Number of Police Officers: 108 regular, 30 reserve

Recreation and Culture

Number of Parks: 27
Total Park Area: 748 acres
Number of Libraries: 2
Library Books: 143,520 volumes

Water System

Number of Homes Served: 13,479
Miles of Water Main: 208
Well Capacity: 25 million gallons per day
Average Daily Water Use: 7.5 million gallons per day

Sewer System

Number of Homes Served: 13,270
Miles of Sewer Main: 211
Sewer treatment is handled by the City of Memphis.

Global Connections: City Partnerships

Germantown has a special partnership with a city in Germany:

Königs Wusterhausen

Germantown, Tennessee facts for kids

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