Weather Data Source: 7 day weather forecast Memphis

Government

Memphis County, Tennessee

Memphis is managed by a mayor and a 13-member City Council, which was created in 1819 and incorporated in 1826. Memphis is the most populous city in Tennessee and the 25th most populous city in the United States, with a land area of 324 square miles, making it one of the largest in the country.

Mayors are chosen for four-year periods with a two-term restriction. Jim Strickland, the current mayor, was elected in 2015. The mayor has the single contracting authority for the city and offers leadership and operational guidance to all divisions within the city government.

Members of the City Council are likewise elected to four-year terms with a two-term restriction. Seven members of the City Council are elected from single-member districts, and six members are elected from two super districts, each covering half of the city. At City Hall, council members meet 24 times a year, usually on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The public is welcome to attend these meetings. The Council appoints a chair and vice chair, forms committees, exercises legislative authority, approves budgets, and sets the property tax rate.

The city also includes a judicial branch, with voters electing judges and the City Court Clerk to four-year terms. 

The City is governed by a mayor-council form of administration, which took effect on January 1, 1968, and replaced a commission type of government that had existed since 1909.

 

Contact Information

Mayor Jim Strickland: mayor@memphistn.gov, 901-636-6000
City Council: 901-636-6786, find council member contacts here
Memphis Police (non-emergency): 901-545-COPS
Memphis Fire (non-emergency): 901-636-FIRE (3473)

General Information

City Court Clerk
City Council
Division of Housing & Community Development
Public Works
Boards and Commissions
Police Department
Engineering Division 
Animal Services

Protesters rallying in Downtown Memphis for environmental justice

Protesters Demand Environmental Justice in Memphis

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News Summary Over 100 protesters rallied in Downtown Memphis, demanding accountability from Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer facility regarding environmental concerns. Organized by Tigers Against Pollution, the demonstration highlighted risks to...

Screenshot of the Too Good To Go app with food items and the Memphis skyline.

Memphis Launches Too Good To Go App to Combat Food Waste

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News Summary Memphis is set to enhance its food sustainability initiatives with the launch of the Too Good To Go app on March 5. This mobile platform aims to combat...

Police vehicles with flashing lights at the scene of a police chase in Memphis

Police Chase from Mississippi Ends in Memphis Arrest

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News Summary A police chase originating in Mississippi concluded in Memphis with the arrest of Davarius Johnson after he evaded law enforcement in a damaged vehicle. The pursuit lasted 16...

City council members discussing public transportation funding

Memphis City Council Places Restrictions on MATA Funding

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News Summary The Memphis City Council has voted to restrict the $30 million funding for the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) for the coming fiscal year. Initially, only $15 million...

Map highlighting confusion regarding Memphis parkway names.

Memphis Residents Face Confusion Over Parkway Naming

June 17, 2025

News Summary Residents of Memphis are expressing frustration over the city’s confusing parkway naming conventions, as highlighted by a local resident’s inquiry. The complex names, such as North Parkway and...

Residents of Memphis at community meeting discussing environmental concerns

Memphis Residents Raise Environmental Concerns Over xAI Expansion

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News Summary A community meeting at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church brought together over 250 Memphis residents to voice their environmental concerns regarding xAI’s industrial expansion. Attendees, led by State Representative...

A courtroom setting depicting legal discussions and justice.

Tennessee Supreme Court Ruling Leaves Pervis Payne’s Parole Status Uncertain

June 17, 2025

News Summary The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled on the sentencing of Pervis Payne, convicted in 1988 for double murder. The ruling has raised questions about his eligibility for parole,...

Students engaged in learning activities in a modern school setting

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Approves $1.95 Billion Budget

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News Summary The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board has unanimously approved a $1.95 billion budget for the upcoming school year, focusing on improving student outcomes and community trust. This budget allocates...

Courtroom with legal documents and gavel

Memphis Judge Recuses Himself from Police Officers’ Sentencing

June 14, 2025

News Summary Judge Mark Norris has recused himself from sentencing former Memphis Police officers Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean, convicted in the Tyre Nichols case. The case will be reassigned...

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