Midtown Memphis is one of the most culturally rich portions of the entire city. It is home to several Memphis landmarks and is a major part of the art scene. Most of the housing is vintage, with several of the streets being home to several historic houses. There are also several colleges in the area, including Memphis College of Art and Christian Brothers University.
With a square mileage of 9.9 miles, Midtown is one of the largest neighborhoods in the entire city. It has a massive population of around 48,000 people. This makes it extremely diverse, with the population being around 52% white, 46% African American, with the remainder being Hispanic, Asian and other ethnicities. The median household income is $40,940, which is significantly higher than the rest of Memphis as a whole, which sits at $36,722. The average age of the residents is 36.5 for males and 39.2 for females, making it slightly above the average for the rest of the city. A fairly large portion of the population has gone to at least 1 year of college or more at 55.7%. This makes it one of the most educated parts of Memphis. This is reflected in the jobs as well, with the majority of the residents in leadership positions in both blue and white collar jobs.
Because of the size of the area, the culture is very diverse. One of the common threads, however, is the area's devotion to the arts. One of the biggest festivals of the year, called the Cooper-Young Arts Festival, takes place in this neighborhood and draws over 100,000 per year. It was started in 1977 to celebrate the arts with a large flea market, music stage and craft booths. The event has grown every year and now has several famous bands headlining the concert. Midtown is also home of several play houses, art centers and music studios. This has made it one of the premiere places in the south for artist of several different audio and visual mediums. Midtown is not just one large neighborhood, but a connection of several different neighborhoods, each with its own distinct look and charm. Victorian Village, for example, is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, and as its name implies, full of Victorian style mansions. Meanwhile, Binghampton started out as a neighborhood of blue collar train workers that eventually transformed into a popular place for young people to rent older homes. No matter where you go in Midtown, there will be a niche waiting for you.
Due to its location, Midtown has a lot of stops on the public transportation grid, making it a great place to live even if you don't have a vehicle. There are several different trolley and bus routes that run all throughout the area. There are also several shopping and retail districts, making it easy to get the things you need in day to day life. It has also become increasingly easier for pedestrians and bikers alike, with the expansion of several roads and the addition of bike only lanes in some parts of the neighborhood. This gives midtown the feel of a small town neighborhood, while still being a fairly large place with all the amenities of a major city.
This area is steeped in the arts. One of the major attractions is the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Founded in 1916, it is located in Overton Park and is the largest art museum in the entire state. Several different collections from every period is contained in its halls, including the Baroque, Italian Renaissance and the 20th century impressionist.
