Memphis has the greatest density of any city in our region, but it only barely leads Bartlett and Germantown.
Meanwhile, it lags behind its peer cities in the number of people per square mile.
Memphis Region Cities
2,053.3 – Memphis
2,049.2 – Bartlett
1,945.0 – Germantown
1,501.0 – Collierville
1,215.5 – Shelby County (entire county)
1,187.5 – Southaven
790.8 – Covington
529.6 – Lakeland
499.5 – Arlington
321.7 – Millington
Tennessee Cities
2,053.3 – Memphis
1,815.6 – Knoxville
1,265.4 – Nashville
1,222.5 – Chattanooga
1,213.7 – Jackson
Peer Cities
5,157.5 – St. Louis
3,517.6 — Dallas
3,154.3 – Atlanta
2,653.2 – Austin
2,457.1 – Charlotte
2,053.3 – Memphis
1,836.6 – Louisville
1,453.0 – Birmingham
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
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Well Memphis certainly also has the highest crime rate density too!
That’s a pretty interesting metric. Memphis would probably not even be in the top 10 for a crime rate density ranking. Thanks for a great idea. We’ll try to create it soon.
Why is urban density important? To me it seems like just crowding more people in small areas. In a poor and crime ridden city like Memphis this cannot be s good thing.
I would say that the only true peer cities of Memphis today are Birmingham and Louisville. All of other ones listed here are much larger, more economically vibrant and really not comparable at all to the Memphis of 2017.
The benefits of this high-density development, according to the Urban Land Institute, are that:
• Density reduces automobile trips, encourages exercise through biking and walking and supports public transit.
• Density adds support for local retail and reduces the need for car-driven errands.
• Density fosters a sense of community the old-fashioned, it-takes-a-village way, because residents are more likely to get to know their neighbors and shop in the area.
• Density fosters greater safety, because it creates walking and biking that are a deterrent to crime.
• Density leaves more open space for parks, trails and other pedestrian-friendly options.
• Density provides greater opportunity for mixed-income housing affordable to households at more income levels.
We were doing density comparisons, not economic vibrancy. But perhaps, density has something to do with economic vibrancy and more efficient public services.
Higher densities also lower the per person costs of public infrastructure and mass transit. Would be interesting to hear thoughts on density’s influence on economic vibrancy.
SCM – Anyone who loves cities knows the benefits of densification but once again I read that a developer is looking to add single family homes downtown. Our most celebrated design and architecture firm recently aborted plans for South Main due to the suburban style apartments (and now homes) being stuffed into South Main. Sure they are cheap to build and maybe the suburbanites looking to live downtown don’t mind them but in the long run it’s a poor choice for Land Use to continue to allow suburban housing downtown.
Please note that Millhouse is proposing two different styles of new homes at the Highland Row development – one suburban looking w/ detached homes and a driveway in front or a more urban style w/ parking in the rear. They are allowing Land Use to determine which style they build.
Smart City is right design matters and we must stop sending the signal we are an not an overgrown town but an actual city.
Most of the newer residential housing in south Main area are pure crap. Ugly and very cheaply constructed stick frame construction. I guess they do actually fit well with the larger pieces of crap housing like that 15 floor condo that sat empty for years. Most of the newer housing in south Main areas of downtown look like they belong in DeSoto County or Tunica. Typical for Memphis.
there is housing on south main?
re: Anonymous1, I propose that Memphis is economically behind peers precisely because it lacks density and chose sprawl instead of infill. So many areas lack economic vibrancy and vacant lots reduce walkability. I could go on.
re: the last three comments, every time I go through South Bluffs/South Main area, I think, “where do residents buy anything? Wouldn’t they love to walk to a store or bar”? The success of Loflin Yard and the departure of archimania show that the single-use development style here are leaving economic opportunities behind. Will we have a downtown full of single-family homes?