Millington is an extremely small community that sits northeast of Memphis in Shelby County. Historically, it is a relatively young city in comparison to the surrounding area, as it was only founded in 1878 when the Millington family donated the land to a group of settlers to create a new town. As the town continued to grow, it became a part of the military history of the country. During World War I, it became a place where pilots would go to train. And although the Navy has moved its pilot training programs elsewhere, the military tradition continues in the town to this day.
The military is the largest portion of the industry located in the town. With over 8500 military and civilian employees. the Naval Support Activity Mid-South (NAVSUPPACT) naval station is one of the largest employers in the entire state of Tennessee. The city itself only has a population of 10,000 people, so it is quite easy to see that the Naval Base is a cornerstone of the town.
There are 30 tenant commands located at this station. A tenant command is unit of soldiers that are located on a base, but are a separate chain of command from the base's structure. Some of the bigger units include the Navy Personnel Command, which is the military equivalent of a human resources department, and the Navy Recruitment Command, which helps coordinate the recruitment offices around the southeastern portion of the country.
This all got started in the city because of the creation of Park Field, which was one of the first airports in the state. To this day, one of the major uses of this town's airport is that it is a backup landing area for the Memphis-based company FedEx.
The stadium also plays host to an annual festival known as Goat Days. This event takes place every September, and includes several southern style specialties like tractor pulls, home made ice cream, and a unique event known as the "Goat Chariot Race", where several goats are trained to run laps around the stadium. There is also a giant BBQ cooking championship and other festival events. 2016 will mark the 27th annual event.
Millington is also home to several different golf courses, mostly due to its low population but fairly large land area. One of them is the Glenn Eagle Golf Course, which is an 18 hole course located in the eastern portion of the city. It is an 18 hole course that is around 6900 yards from the back tees. Throughout the year, the course plays hosts to several tournaments and events, including several scrambles, a civilian vs military charity event, and a senior circuit. The course allows anyone 12 and over to play as long as they pay their yearly dues.
The other major course in the area is the Mirimichi Golf Course. It has been voted as the #1 public course in the entire state for 2016 by Golf Digest. In 2009, Justin Timberlake bought this course and held on to it until 2014, when businessman Fred Edmaiston bought it from him. The course itself is around 7400 yards, and features several high level holes. Although it is extremely challenging, the course is still designed for all levels of skill. The course is pay to play, with no membership required. The only thing they ask is that players make a reservation ahead of time. There are several events throughout the year and training is available for those who want to learn the game.
