Chamber History
The Chamber > History
1838
The Chamber was founded by Memphis businessmen Nathaniel Anderson and Louis Trezevant in a time when it might have been difficult for some to imagine that the city would one day become a destination for international business and travel. But Memphis’ strategic location on a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River ensured its future as a commercial center.
1842
The Memphis & LaGrange Railroad is completed, and the federal government establishes a facility for the design and construction of U.S. naval vessels near the site of present-day Mud Island.
1848
The first telegraph signal is sent from Memphis, giving the city direct communications with the National and International Chambers of Commerce.
1850
The Memphis and Charleston Railroad is completed; the Mississippi River landing is shored with cobblestones.
1860
The Chamber of Commerce was established in Memphis.
1861
The Chamber of Commerce produces it first annual report.
1865
The Chamber is rejuvenated following the Civil War under the presidency of Col. W.M. Farrington. The first Chamber meetings were conducted at the Southern Express building on North Court Street.
1873
The Chamber of Commerce moves to the Cotton Exchange.
1878
The Cotton Exchange takes over the Chamber duties because of the Yellow fever epidemic.
1883
The Merchants Exchange is established.
1890
Many new industries relocate to Memphis during the decade, including the Virginia and Carolina Chemical Co.
1900
The Business Men’s club was established when the Cotton Exchange and the Merchants Association saw a need for a single business organization called the Business Men’s Club.
The Business Men’s Club office relocates to 53 Madison Avenue.
The U.S. Census announces that Memphis has a population of over 100,000.
The Business Men’s Club conducts a parade for the city.
1909
The Business Men’s club assists with the relocation of the School of Pharmacy of the University of Tennessee.
1911
The Business Men’s club assists with the relocation of the Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry to Memphis.
1913
The Business Men’s Club became a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States.
The Chamber endorses the development of the Park Field Airport on the north side of the city, adding aviation to Memphis’s river and rail transportation systems.
1916
The Business Men’s Club was renamed The Business Men’s Club Chamber of Commerce.
1917
The Business Men’s Club Chamber of Commerce was renamed the Memphis Chamber of Commerce.
1918
The United States goes to war, and the Chamber leads bond drives and increases industrial output.
1921
The Chamber launched its first effort to recruit businesses to the city by adopting the Wonder City of the South motto. Memphis area businessmen lead whistle-stop goodwill tours in Western Tennessee, Eastern Arkansas, and Mississippi.
1925
The Memphis Chamber of Commerce assists with relocating Southwestern College from Clarksville, TN to Memphis.
The Memphis Chamber of Commerce secures the move West Tennessee State Teachers’ College at Normal, TN (University of Memphis) to Memphis.
1930
Humko Company is founded and begins producing edible oil products at its Memphis plant.
1933
Continental Can Company moves operations to Memphis.
Whistle-stop goodwill tours eventually led to the relocation of the Continental Can Company as well as the opening a few years later of Memphis operations for giants such as Armour and Co. and Firestone.
1934
The Memphis Chamber of Commerce moved to the Hotel Peabody.
1935
The Memphis Chamber of Commerce produces the first Memphis Buyers’ Guide.
1937
Firestone opens a major manufacturing plant that provides 1,000 new jobs.
1941
The first full-page ads selling Memphis to the nation run in the New York Times.
The war years bring Veteran’s Hospital at Park and Getwell, the Defense Depot on Airways Boulevard and the Air Force Depot on Jackson Avenue. Announcements are made for industrial expansions at Plough, Inc., Kimberly Clark, and Quaker Oats Company.
1948
International Harvester opens a $20 million plant in Frayser.
1949
Forty-one new industries and 47 new distribution companies move to the city.
The Memphis-Arkansas Bridge is opened to traffic.
1950
Dupont announces plans to build a $7.5 million plant on Highway 51.
The first Holiday Inn in the world is opened on Summer Avenue.
1953
The Memphis and Shelby County Port Commission authorizes the construction of a river rail terminal on Presidents Island.
1959
The Chamber throws a party to celebrate the arrival of the city’s 500,000th resident.
1963
The city’s first international trade missions were under way, and five years later, The Chamber launched a $4 million Greater Memphis Program to expand its activities across the full spectrum of community life.
1968
The Chamber hires the first African American, Clifford Stockton to serve in a senior management position.
1973
Federal Express officially begins operations on April 17 with the launch of 14 small aircraft from Memphis International Airport. The Chamber receives the National Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America for its IMPACT program that eases the way for court-ordered school busing.
1974
The Chamber created The Downtown Council, and launched a long-range program to revitalize downtown Memphis and the riverfront.
1975
The Memphis Area Chamber became the first Chamber in Tennessee to receive full accreditation from the United States Chamber of Commerce.
1979
The Memphis Area Chamber relocates to 555 Beale Street.
AutoZone, a Memphis-based auto parts chain, opens its first store in Forrest City, Ark. on July 4.
1982
The Chamber launched what has become an award winning international campaign to spread the message about Memphis’ strong infrastructure. Adopting the America’s Distribution Center tag line, The Chamber led other local organizations in the drive to tell Memphis’ story to the world.
1985
The campaign was beginning to show undeniable, tangible results. Between 1985 and 1994, per capita income rose by 75% and retail sales grew by 70%. Since 1985, more than 125,000 new jobs have been created. Hometown companies have been joined by Brother Industries, Sharp Manufacturing, International Paper, Ingram Micro, The Disney Co., Gibson Guitar and many others.
1986
The Chamber and the mayors of Memphis and Shelby County form a partnership to retain and expand St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Recruiting drives bring new businesses to Memphis including Litton Microwave, MCA and International Paper.
1988
The Memphis Area Chamber celebrates its 150th anniversary.
1990
Williams-Sonoma breaks ground with a 307,000 square foot expansion.
1991
Ducks Unlimited breaks ground near Agricenter International to mark the move of its $6 million national headquarters from Chicago to Memphis.
1992
Daisytek is one of several organizations to locate distribution facilities in Memphis and capitalize on Federal Express’s Memphis hub.
1993
Thomas & Betts announces plans to move its corporate headquarters to Memphis.
1994
Anixter Inc. breaks ground on 23,000 square foot distribution center in Southpark during a year in which over six million feet of industrial space is absorbed.
1995
The Chamber’s campaign to market Memphis took on a new dimension with the successful launch of the first non-stop flight from Memphis to Amsterdam via Northwest/KLM. The international marketing slogan Memphis: New Gateway to the World was coined to help spread the news across the United States and Europe.
Birmingham Steel announces a $170-million steel mill in the Pidgeon Industrial Area.
Ingram Micro, the world’s largest distributor of computer products, breaks ground in Shelby County as a phenomenal rate of industrial space absorption continues throughout the year.
1996
The Chamber coordinates the private-sector fundraising efforts of a comprehensive 10-year plan to improve key metro Memphis areas – Memphis 2005: The Economic Development Strategy. The plan focuses on areas such as business recruitment and retention, workforce skills development, physical infrastructure and public safety.
Memphis MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) shows the largest one-year increase in economic development in a twelve-year period with $714.4 million in investments and the creation of 5,466 jobs.
1997
More than $1 billion is invested in Memphis and Shelby County as 27 major companies expand and 22 major companies locate businesses in the metro area.
Memphis International Airport once again ranks as the World’s Largest Cargo Airport.
Federal Express invests $500 million in the Memphis metro area to expand and upgrade its operations.
Per capita income in the Memphis MSA rises above the national average for the first time ever.
The Memphis Technology Council is launched.
1998
Memphis is named “The 1998 Great American Place” by Forbes American Heritage magazine. Once again, more than $1 billion is invested in Memphis and Shelby County as 46 major companies expand and 17 major companies locate businesses in the metro area.
Seventeen-thousand net new jobs are created. A 3% increase in non-agricultural employment over 1997. The unemployment rate is 3.8% -- the lowest in 25 years.
1999
Inc. Magazine ranks Memphis 7th Best City in America for starting and growing a business.
Over $1 billion is invested in Memphis and Shelby County as 63 major companies expand and 23 major companies locate businesses in the metro area. Together, these projects generate over 9,798 new jobs and absorb over 10.1 million square feet of office and industrial space.
2000
Inc. Magazine ranks Memphis in the top 10 best cities in America to start and grow a company. For the fifth consecutive year, more than $1 billion is invested in Memphis and Shelby County as 272 major projects create 12,309 new jobs and occupy more than 14.7 million square feet of industrial and office space. The Memphis Chamber breaks an all-time Total Resource Development Campaign record with $816,736.
2001
The Memphis Grizzlies make their Memphis Pyramid debut in the fall of 2001.
Memphis remains strong, despite a weak national economy - existing companies invest $1.7 million with 30 relocations to the community and 157 expansions. About 6,280 new jobs are created and more than 9.5 million square feet of office and industrial space is absorbed.
The Memphis Chamber breaks an all-time Total Resource Development Campaign, raising more $1 million.
2002
The 164-year-old Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce changes its name to the Memphis Regional Chamber and its new economic development strategy: “Think Memphis – A Partnership for Prosperity.”
2005
John Moore is named as Chief Operating Officer of the Memphis Regional Chamber.
International Paper relocates its corporate headquarters to Memphis
2006
Memphis is named as America’s Aerotropolis.
2007
Greater Memphis Chamber assists with the relocation of Nucor Steel and Service Master to Memphis.
The Memphis Fast Forward five-year $63 million economic development plan begins.
2008
Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines Inc. merge.
2009
The University of Memphis Men’s Basketball team became the first NCAA Division I team in history to enter the tournament with 30 or more wins four straight years.