If you’re looking for a vibrant city close to Memphis, you should check out Collierville, Tennessee. Ranked one of Movoto’s Best Places to Live in Tennessee, Collierville is a big small town on the verge, with a nice mix of old and new, small and big, that residents have come to adore.
With low crime rate, great schools, low cost of living and escalating home values, more and more people are discovering this great suburb in the Memphis Metro Area. Here are some of the highlights.
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Collierville was recently named America’s Best Main Street by Parade Magazine. There’s a lot to see and do in this part of the city, including the Historic Town Square, which features antebellum architecture, boutiques, specialty shops, antique stores, and an old-fashioned gas station. Every Thursday night in June and July from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. there is live music on the bandstand, as well as food vendors on site. The annual Fair on the Square happens here, too, on the first weekend of May each year. The family event includes unique arts and crafts, live music and dancers, games, rock climbing, face painting, a mechanical bull, and a petting zoo.
The Depot is another great spot in this area. Collierville had three train depots, the first of which was built in 1852. The depot that stands downtown today was given to Collierville in 1976 by the Southern Railroad. It now houses the office of Main Street Collierville, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the downtown historic district. Near the Depot sits a steam engine originally built in 1912, an executive railcar built in 1915, and a caboose. The engine was retired in 1952 after pulling troop trains during World War II, among other duties. This display is great for the little ones or anyone who wants to see a piece of history.
Speaking of history, Confederate Park is believed to have been built shortly after the town’s incorporation in 1870. The sidewalks in the park form a Confederate flag, and there is a bandstand for social functions.
The downtown Silver Caboose Restaurant and Soda Fountain was originally constructed in 1890. In 1920, it became the Biggs and Dudney Grocery Store. Today, you can slip back into the past with a soda or milkshake straight from the antique soda fountain.
If you’re looking for some big-name stores, you can head to The Shops at Carriage Crossing, an open-air, pedestrian-friendly shopping center with over 70 retailers. And if you want even more arts and entertainment, the vibrant city of Memphis is just a short drive away.
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Collierville recently voted to establish a separate school district from Shelby County, and as of 2014, Collierville Schools now serves the city. The school system was rated a 9 out of 10 at GreatSchools. 90 percent of Collierville High School students graduate high school, and 98 percent of them go on to college.
The city is building a new high school, and the current one will become another middle school. Both should be ready for the 2018-1029 school year. And the town recently got a boost in higher education when classes at the University of Memphis Collierville Center began in 2015.
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Collierville is very attractive for big business. The location is excellent, over half of the town’s residents have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher, and Tennessee is a Right-to-Work State. The new Collierville campus of the University of Memphis, plus nearby Rhodes College, the University of Mississippi and LeMoyne-Owen College are a great pipeline of talent for companies. Not to mention the 584,900 workers in the Memphis Metro Area.
Large businesses including Helena Chemical, Carrier Corporation, MCR Safety and NSA JuicePLUS call Collierville home. The FedEx World Tech Center is also in town, and the city just landed the new corporate world headquarters for Orgill.
The Collierville Greenbelt System provides residents with a great method of alternative transportation. The system offers 18.38 miles of trails, paved walkways, and connectors to parks, schools, and commercial areas.
The newest section of the trail is located at W.C. Johnson Park, which features natural areas, wetlands, three lakes, and an outdoor classroom. There is also a water spray park, a playground, a nine-field baseball/softball complex, two synthetic turf fields, and more. This section of the Greenbelt winds through the Wolf River bottom and makes a 3.1 mile loop around the park.
The system also connects to Estanaula Park, which includes a fishing lake, playground, and two tennis courts, and H.W. Cox Park, with four baseball fields, five multipurpose fields, a batting cage, six lighted tennis courts, two playgrounds, and picnic facilities. H.W. Cox is also home to Harrell Performing Arts Theatre and Collierville Community Center.
Other places the Greenbelt hits include Halle Park, Oakmont Park, Ashton Woods Park, and the brand new Hinton Park, which offers an innovative playground, outdoor musical instruments, a Disc golf course, a lake, and a performance lawn.
The Collierville Park System contains 20 parks with around 750 acres of parkland and 362 acres of natural areas. It also includes 30 athletic fields, 15 play structures, two spray parks, and 10 tennis courts.
Collierville has a population of over 47,000. It’s a medium-sized city, but it has a small-town vibe. It’s the perfect spot for people who want a white-collar, suburban setting just a short drive away from the largest city in Tennessee. There are plenty of job opportunities in the city itself and in the Memphis Metro Area, and a variety of amenities to keep you busy. The city has a lot to offer people from all walks of life, from singles just starting their careers to families raising children and retirees. If you’re looking for a tight-knit community with the convenience of a big city, Collierville could be the place for you.
