Millington TN: A Vibrant Memphis Suburb

About 9 miles north of the bright lights of Memphis sits Millington TN, a small town with lots to offer. The US military has been present in the town throughout much of its history, and major attractions, city festivals, and a historic stadium make this a suburb of note. If you’re looking for a beautiful spot close to Memphis, Millington may be the town for you.

What Are Millington TN's Demographics?

In 2014, there were 10,377 people living in the 15.6 square miles that make up Millington. The median resident age is 36.5 years and median household income is $47,977. The average commute time for city residents is 24 minutes, with 59.8 percent of the population traveling less than 30 minutes to get to work. 61 percent of the population is White, and 27.3 percent is African-American. 

88.3 percent of the population has a high school degree or higher, while 17.2 percent have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The high school graduation rate is 81 percent. 42 percent of the population both live and work in this city, quite unusual for a suburb, and 94.2 percent work in Shelby County.

What Is The Culture in Millington TN?

This city is rich in culture, with tons to see and do, especially for a small town. Millington offers residents and visitors several events throughout the year, including the Flag City Freedom Celebration on July 4th. The city partners with the Naval Support Academy Mid-South to celebrate Independence Day at Navy Lake with live music, children’s activities, and a spectacular fireworks show. The annual event reportedly attracts around 30,000 people, including over 5,000 military families.

Another annual Millington event is the International Goat Days Festival, held at the USA Stadium. This yearly event features goat shows, goat chariot races, lumberjack shows, a BBQ contest, an antique tractor show, tractor pull, fishing rodeo, arts and crafts, horseshoe tournament, hayrides, and more. The festival was founded by the first president of the Millington Chamber of Commerce and is run by volunteers from the community. It takes place every year in September.

If you’re looking for some good old-fashioned country music to tap your feet to, you can head to the Strand Music Hall. It was originally a movie theater, built in 1939. And if you need to scratch that theater itch, Millington's community theater Playhouse 51 has you covered.

Want more? Memphis is just a 20 minute drive away, with plenty of music, art, and theater to keep you entertained over many lifetimes.

What Is The Quality of Life for Residents of Millington, TN?

The weather in Millington is relatively mild, with an average of around 40 degrees in winter and about 80 degrees in the summer. Throughout most of the year, residents can enjoy numerous outdoor activities in and around the city.

• Millington offers four golf courses within a seven mile radius, featuring something for every type of golfer. One of these, the Mirimichi Golf Course was once owned by Justin Timberlake.
• The city is also home to Jameson Park, Miles, Park, Lions Park, and Aycock Park.
• The Millington Farmers’ Market takes place every Saturday from May through October, offering local produce and other products, as well as gardening seminars, arts and crafts for kids, and live music.
• The Jones Orchard is another great outdoor spot in Millington, best known for its delicious peaches. The orchard has 110 acres devoted to 25 varieties of peaches, and you can pick your own if you visit. The Jones Orchard also features fall fun events, including haunted attractions, a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and hayrides.
• Around 12 miles away is the gorgeous Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, a 13,476-acre park bordering the Mississippi River.
• The Old Millington Vineyard and Winery is another great spot, which offers outdoor concerts with live music on Sunday afternoons in the spring and fall. 
• You can also find year-round fishing and boating, deep swamp canoe tours, and wildflower walking tours in and around Millington.

As far as travel goes, the recently completed Veterans Parkway has made life much better for road warriors. It’s a major multi-lane road linking US Highway 51 to Interstate 269. And Millington Regional Jetport is a public airport with the third largest runway in the State of Tennessee. 

What is Millington TN Best Known For?

Millington is probably best known for the Memphis International Raceway, which is actually located in Millington, not Memphis. It contains a drag strip, a road course, and a paved oval. The MIR, as it’s known, has hosted the NASCAR Camping World Race, the NASCAR Nationwide Race, and several NHRA events. It currently hosts the IHRA, ADRL, and ARCA series. The Mid-South region of the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) also uses the road course for events, and Rusty Wallace, a retired NASCAR driver, opened up his Rusty Wallace Driving Experience at the facility in 2013.

Millington’s other big claim to fame is the USA Stadium, which hosted the USA Olympic Baseball team from 1986-1996. It has hosted many other events throughout its lifetime, including 171 International Games, 17 USA Classic National High School Tournaments, 16 NJCAA Division II World Series, and professional rodeos.

The US military presence is another big draw for Millington TN visitors and residents. In World War I, Park Field was used as a pilot training facility, one of 32 Air Service training camps established during this time. Now the Naval Support Activity Mid-South naval station, it is one of the largest single employers in the state of Tennessee. There are approximately 6,000 military, civilian, and contractor employees at this site. Today, the military and its contractors contribute $335 million to the economy in the region.

Searching for a great place to buy in the Mid-South? Millington TN is the place to go if you’re looking for a patriotic, fun community just a short drive away from Memphis. With rich history and culture, a great location, and tons of outdoor beauty, this suburb is a hidden gem in West Tennessee.