Millington is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. It is part of the larger Memphis metropolitan area. In 2020, about 10,582 people lived there. Millington is known as "Flag City Tennessee," a special title given by the state.

The city is also home to the Naval Support Activity Mid-South, a large naval base. It used to be a training base but changed to an administrative center in 1993. Millington also has a public airport with one of the longest runways in Tennessee.

Where is Millington Located?
A Look Back at Millington's History
- The Military's Role
- Other Important Developments
Population Changes Over Time
Naval Support Activity Mid-South
- Annual Events at the Base
Schools in Millington
Fun Things to Do in Millington
Getting Around Millington
Major Floods in Millington
Famous People from Millington
See also

Where is Millington Located?

Millington is located at 35°20′12″N 89°54′8″W / 35.33667°N 89.90222°W / 35.33667; -89.90222. It covers about 15.6 square miles (40.4 square kilometers) of land. Only a very small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 square kilometers), is water.

The city is about 9 miles (14 km) north of Memphis. The Memphis area has about 1.2 million people. Millington is also close to fun places like Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Fort Pillow State Park, and the famous Mississippi River.

A Look Back at Millington's History

The history of Millington began in 1878. A couple named Mr. and Mrs. George Millington gave a large piece of land to settlers. They asked that the new town be named after Mr. Millington.

In 1888, the First Baptist Church was started. It is now one of the largest buildings in the city. Millington officially became a chartered city in 1903.

The Military's Role

The U.S. military first came to Millington in 1917. They set up Park Field to train pilots for World War I. After the war ended in 1918, the training stopped.

The military returned in 1942 during World War II. The US Navy built the current airport as a training center for Navy pilots. For many years, over 15,000 military members were stationed in Millington. This brought a lot of growth and money to the community.

In 1993, the naval base changed. Flight training moved away, but all U.S. Navy personnel (people who work for the Navy) functions moved to Millington. Today, the military and related businesses bring a lot of money to the area each year.

Other Important Developments

1928: Millington Telephone was started, bringing modern communication to the area.
1986: USA Stadium was built. This stadium hosted many international baseball games and brought fame to Millington. It is still an important place for sports events.
1993: The Millington Regional Jetport opened. This airport is now a backup airport for FedEx, a major shipping company.

Population Changes Over Time

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1910	554	—
1920	657	18.6%
1930	662	0.8%
1940	730	10.3%
1950	4,696	543.3%
1960	6,059	29.0%
1970	21,177	249.5%
1980	20,236	−4.4%
1990	17,866	−11.7%
2000	10,433	−41.6%
2010	10,176	−2.5%
2020	10,582	4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, Millington had 10,582 residents. There were 4,136 households and 2,716 families living in the city. The population includes people from many different backgrounds.

Naval Support Activity Mid-South

Aerial view of the Naval Air Station Memphis in the mid-1940s

Millington is home to the Naval Support Activity Mid-South (NAVSUPPACT). It is one of the biggest employers in Tennessee. More than 7,500 military, civilian, and contract workers are employed there. The base covers about 1,950 acres (7.9 square kilometers).

This naval base is home to many important Navy groups, like the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS). This group handles all the human resources for the U.S. Navy.

The site was first called Park Field in 1917. It was an Army aviation school that trained pilots for World War I. After the war, it was used for early airmail routes.

In 1942, during World War II, the Navy took over the site. It became the Naval Air Station Memphis. Its main job was to train Navy pilots and maintain aircraft. After World War II, pilot training stopped. However, the base continued to train Navy and Marine Corps aviation specialists.

In 1993, many training schools moved from Millington to Florida. At the same time, the BUPERS group moved to Millington. The airfield became the Millington Regional Jetport and was given to the city. In 1998, the base was renamed Naval Support Activity Mid-South to show its new role.

Plane at Midsouth Air Show, NSA Mid-South in 2007

Annual Events at the Base

Flag City Freedom Celebration: This event happens on July 4th at USA Stadium. It attracts over 30,000 visitors to the city.
Air Show: From 1999 to 2007, an air show was held every two years. It featured amazing performances by groups like the U.S. Blue Angels.

Schools in Millington

Millington has its own school district called Millington Municipal Schools. It includes:

Millington Primary School
Millington Intermediate School
Millington Central Middle High School

Some schools in the area are part of Shelby County Schools. These include Lucy Elementary, Woodstock Middle School, and E.E Jeter School.

Fun Things to Do in Millington

Sports

USA Stadium was the main home for USA Baseball from 1986 to 1996. Since then, it has hosted many other events. These include 171 international games and many college and high school tournaments. Teams from 18 different countries have played here.

Recreation

Millington Family YMCA

The Millington Family YMCA is a great place for activities. It has an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor water park.

Baker Community Center

The Baker Community Center is a community building with a stage, a large hall, meeting rooms, and a kitchen. It was built in 1960.

Millington also has several golf courses:

Glen Eagle Golf Course
Edmund Orgill Park Golf Course
Mirimichi Golf Course (once owned by famous musician Justin Timberlake)

There are also several parks for outdoor fun:

Oak Park
Miles Park
Lions Park
Aycock Park

Local Festivals

Goat Days is a popular yearly event in Millington. It happens in September at the USA Stadium grounds. The festival features fun local activities like tractor pulls, ice cream making, and even a goat chariot race! Many volunteers help make this community event happen.

Local News

The Millington Star is the local newspaper. It started in 1951 and is published once a week. It helps keep the community informed about local news and events.

Getting Around Millington

Veterans Parkway is a major road that connects US Highway 51 to Interstate 269. The Canadian National Railroad also serves many businesses in the area.

The city is served by the Millington Regional Jetport. This airport has the third-longest runway in Tennessee. It has its own fire and rescue team, a control tower, and systems to help planes land safely.

Major Floods in Millington

Raleigh Millington Road flooding 2010

Millington has experienced major floods. On December 25, 1987, a flood lasted for several days. It caused three deaths and forced over 6,000 people to leave their homes. This led to the building of the current levee system to protect the city.

Another big flood happened on May 1 and 2, 2010. About 1,500 people had to leave their homes when a nearby levee broke. Many residents from the Millington Navy Base also had to evacuate. Luckily, no one was hurt or died in this flood. The area received about 10 inches (254 mm) of rain during those two days.

Famous People from Millington

Nick Chastain, actor
Tony Dumas, basketball player
Roger Fanning, poet
Sylvester Gray, basketball player
Beverly Oden, volleyball player
Phyllis Tickle, author
Justin Timberlake, actor and musician
David Wilkerson, evangelist
George Odum, football player
Adam Christian Johnson, known as "The Lectern Guy"

Millington, Tennessee facts for kids

Contents