Germantown, Tennessee
You can still see the village Germantown once was in its
rolling horse pastures and narrow, tree-lined streets. As late as 1950, the city had only
400 residents. But today, it has grown into the tenth largest city in Tennessee with a
population of 37,000. Located just east of the Memphis city limits, Germantown offers a
quite respite from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Germantown has successfully managed the challenges of its
growth through efficient city government and carefully monitored development. Only four
percent of the city is zoned commercial. Germantown is well known for its tough signage
codes and zoning ordinances that ban industry, allowing residents to enjoy living in a
city with no billboards, tall buildings or neon signs.
One of the city's strong points is its parks system, with 12
neighborhood parks. The city likes to point out that there is a park located within
one-half mile of every residence. The Germantown Performing Arts Centre and the Civic
Centre are new additions to the city.
The Germantown Charity Horse Show is the city's oldest and
best known event. At one time, horses outnumbered people in Germantown and a love for
horses is still a community tradition. The show, which is one of the largest all-breed
shows in the U.S., draws 10,000 spectators annually. Another special event is the Federal
Express St. Jude Classic, a PGA tournament held each year at Southwind.
