New Census Definitions for 2023

[UTgrad09]

Tennessee Census Statistical Areas

Primary Statistical Areas:

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro, TN CSA - 2,315,938
-Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MSA - 2,072,283
--Davidson, TN - 708,144
--Rutherford, TN - 360,619
--Williamson, TN - 260,815
--Sumner, TN - 203,858
--Wilson, TN - 158,555
--Maury, TN - 108,159
--Robertson, TN - 75,470
--Dickson, TN - 55,761
--Cheatham, TN - 41,830
--Macon, TN - 26,229
--Hickman, TN - 25,455
--Smith, TN - 20,489
--Cannon, TN - 14,788
--Trousdale, TN - 12,111
-Tullahoma-Manchester, TN msa - 66,470
--Coffee, TN - 59,728
--Moore, TN - 6,742
-Shelbyville, TN msa - 51,950
--Bedford, TN - 51,950
-Lawrenceburg, TN msa - 45,415
--Lawrence, TN - 45,415
-Winchester, TN msa - 43,942
--Franklin, TN - 43,942
-Lewisburg, TN msa - 35,878
--Marshall, TN - 35,878

Memphis-Clarksdale-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA - 1,382,503
-Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA - 1,339,855
--Shelby, TN - 916,371
--DeSoto, MS - 191,723
--Tipton, TN - 61,656
--Crittenden, AR - 47,061
--Fayette, TN - 43,630
--Marshall, MS - 34,110
--Tate, MS - 28,296
--Tunica, MS - 9,458
--Benton, MS - 7,550
-Forrest City, AR msa - 22,451
--St. Francis, AR - 22,451
-Clarksdale, MS msa - 20,197
--Coahoma, MS - 20,197
Tennessee pt - 1,021,657
Mississippi pt - 291,334
Arkansas pt - 69,512

Knoxville-Morristown-Sevierville, TN CSA - 1,189,808
-Knoxville, TN MSA - 932,245
--Knox, TN - 494,574
--Blount, TN - 139,958
--Anderson, TN - 78,913
--Loudon, TN - 58,181
--Roane, TN - 55,082
--Campbell, TN - 39,584
--Grainger, TN - 24,277
--Morgan, TN - 21,224
--Union, TN - 20,452
-Morristown, TN MSA - 121,895
--Hamblen, TN - 65,168
--Jefferson, TN - 56,727
-Sevierville, TN msa - 98,789
--Sevier, TN - 98,789
-Newport, TN msa - 36,879
--Cocke, TN - 36,879

Chattanooga-Cleveland-Dalton, TN-GA-AL CSA - 979,136
-Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA - 574,507
--Hamilton, TN - 374,682
--Walker, GA - 68,915
--Catoosa, GA - 68,826
--Marion, TN - 29,094
--Sequatchie, TN - 16,909
--Dade, GA - 16,081
-Dalton, GA MSA - 143,604
--Whitfield, GA - 103,132
--Murray, GA - 40,472
-Cleveland, TN MSA - 128,479
--Bradley, TN - 110,616
--Polk, TN - 17,863
-Athens, TN msa - 54,719
--McMinn, TN - 54,719
-Scottsboro, AL msa - 52,891
--Jackson, AL - 52,891
-Summerville, GA msa - 24,936
--Chattooga, GA - 24,936
Tennessee pt - 603,883
Georgia pt - 322,362
Alabama pt - 52,891

Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, AL-TN  CSA - 879,315
-Huntsville, AL MSA - 514,465
--Madison, AL - 403,565
--Limestone, AL - 110,900
-Decatur, AL MSA - 157,425
--Morgan, AL - 124,211
--Lawrence, AL - 33,214
-Albertville, AL msa - 99,423
--Marshall, AL - 99,423
-Fort Payne, AL msa - 71,998
--DeKalb, AL - 71,998
-Fayetteville, TN msa - 36,004
--Lincoln, TN - 36,004
Alabama pt - 843,311
Tennessee pt - 36,004

Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA CSA - 592,933
-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA - 311,272
--Sullivan, TN - 160,820
--Hawkins, TN - 58,043
--Washington, VA - 53,958
--Scott, VA - 21,476
--Bristol city, VA - 16,975
-Johnson City, TN MSA - 210,256
--Washington, TN - 136,172
--Carter, TN - 56,410
--Unicoi, TN - 17,674
-Greeneville, TN msa - 71,405
--Greene, TN - 71,405
Tennessee pt - 500,524
Virginia pt - 92,409

Clarksville, TN-KY MSA - 336,605
-Montgomery, TN - 235,201
-Christian, KY - 73,037
-Trigg, KY - 14,332
-Stewart, TN - 14,035
Tennessee pt - 249,236
Kentucky pt -   87,369          

Jackson, TN MSA - 181,579
-Madison, TN - 99,245
-Gibson, TN - 50,837
-Chester, TN - 17,609
-Crockett, TN - 13,888

Cookeville, TN msa - 145,479
-Putnam, TN - 82,382
-White, TN - 28,064
-Overton, TN - 23,044
-Jackson, TN - 11,989

Crossville, TN msa - 63,522
-Cumberland, TN - 63,522

Union City-Martin, TN CSA - 63,457
-Martin, TN msa - 33,063
--Weakley, TN - 33,063
-Union City, TN msa - 30,394
--Obion, TN - 30,394

McMinnville, TN msa - 42,026
-Warren, TN - 42,026

Dyersburg, TN msa - 36,410
-Dyer, TN - 36,410

Paris, TN msa - 32,379
-Henry, TN - 32,379

Bowling Green-Glasgow-Franklin, KY CSA - 260,855
-Bowling Green, KY MSA - 185,682
--Warren, KY - 139,843
--Allen, KY - 21,275
--Butler, KY - 12,295
--Edmonson, KY - 12,269
-Glasgow, KY msa - 55,224
--Barren, KY - 44,854
--Metcalfe, KY - 10,370
-Franklin, KY msa - 19,949
--Simpson, KY - 19,949

 

Metropolitan Statistical Areas:

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MSA - 2,072,283
-Davidson, TN - 708,144
-Rutherford, TN - 360,619
-Williamson, TN - 260,815
-Sumner, TN - 203,858
-Wilson, TN - 158,555
-Maury, TN - 108,159
-Robertson, TN - 75,470
-Dickson, TN - 55,761
-Cheatham, TN - 41,830
-Macon, TN - 26,229
-Hickman, TN - 25,455
-Smith, TN - 20,489
-Cannon, TN - 14,788
-Trousdale, TN - 12,111

Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA - 1,339,855
-Shelby, TN - 916,371
-DeSoto, MS - 191,723
-Tipton, TN - 61,656
-Crittenden, AR - 47,061
-Fayette, TN - 43,630
-Marshall, MS - 34,110
-Tate, MS - 28,296
-Tunica, MS - 9,458
-Benton, MS - 7,550

Knoxville, TN MSA - 932,245
-Knox, TN - 494,574
-Blount, TN - 139,958
-Anderson, TN - 78,913
-Loudon, TN - 58,181
-Roane, TN - 55,082
-Campbell, TN - 39,584
-Grainger, TN - 24,277
-Morgan, TN - 21,224
-Union, TN - 20,452

Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA - 574,507
-Hamilton, TN - 374,682
-Walker, GA - 68,915
-Catoosa, GA - 68,826
-Marion, TN - 29,094
-Sequatchie, TN - 16,909
-Dade, GA - 16,081

Clarksville, TN-KY MSA - 336,605
-Montgomery, TN - 235,201
-Christian, KY - 73,037
-Trigg, KY - 14,332
-Stewart, TN - 14,035

Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA MSA - 311,272
-Sullivan, TN - 160,820
-Hawkins, TN - 58,043
-Washington, VA - 53,958
-Scott, VA - 21,476
-Bristol city, VA - 16,975

Johnson City, TN MSA - 210,256
-Washington, TN - 136,172
-Carter, TN - 56,410
-Unicoi, TN - 17,674

Jackson, TN MSA - 181,579
-Madison, TN - 99,245
-Gibson, TN - 50,837
-Chester, TN - 17,609
-Crockett, TN - 13,888

Cleveland, TN MSA - 128,479
-Bradley, TN - 110,616
-Polk, TN - 17,863

Morristown, TN MSA - 121,895
-Hamblen, TN - 65,168
-Jefferson, TN - 56,727

 

Micropolitan Statistical Areas

Cookeville, TN msa - 145,479
-Putnam, TN - 82,382
-White, TN - 28,064
-Overton, TN - 23,044
-Jackson, TN - 11,989

Sevierville, TN msa - 98,789
-Sevier, TN - 98,789

Greeneville, TN msa - 71,405
-Greene, TN - 71,405

Tullahoma-Manchester, TN msa - 66,470
-Coffee, TN - 59,728
-Moore, TN - 6,742

Crossville, TN msa - 63,522
-Cumberland, TN - 63,522

Shelbyville, TN msa - 51,950
-Bedford, TN - 51,950

Lawrenceburg, TN msa - 45,415
-Lawrence, TN - 45,415

Winchester, TN msa - 43,942
-Franklin, TN - 43,942

McMinnville, TN msa - 42,026
-Warren, TN - 42,026

Dyersburg, TN msa - 36,410
-Dyer, TN - 36,410

Fayetteville, TN msa - 36,004
-Lincoln, TN - 36,004

Lewisburg, TN msa - 35,878
-Marshall, TN - 35,878

Martin, TN msa - 33,063
-Weakley, TN - 33,063

Paris, TN msa - 32,379
-Henry, TN - 32,379

Union City, TN msa - 30,394
-Obion, TN - 30,394

[BnaBreaker]

Thanks for putting that together @UTgrad09!  I wonder why Cookeville is still considered a Micropolitan Area while Cleveland and Morristown are considered Metropolitan Areas, even though they're both smaller than Cookeville in terms of both population and land area?

[NissanvilleTitans]

I don't know why Cleveland isn't in Chattanooga's MSA. 

I did like looking at the county numbers. Madison county is so close to 100,000 and so is Sevier county. They'll definitely be over that mark when the next census rolls around. I think Putnam county might cross it by then as well. Robertson might? make it too.

[MLBrumby]

SMH…. So confused on the Davidson Co. numbers. Assuming they are for 2022 above, but figures in the wiki give Nashville (consolidated) at 715, 884 in 2022. Meanwhile the county population is given as 703,953 (which I believe is what the USCB gives for 2021), a ‘loss’ of 12k from 2020, but also suggesting that Nashville (consolidated) ‘grew’ back those 12k people over the next year but not counted in the county figures given above (708,144). so all over the board!

Could the mayors office just assign one of their bloated staff to keeping track of permits, changes of address, DLs, housing starts, apartment occupancy, school enrollment, etc. even if only semiannually… to have some idea how many more ppl need municipal services?  And coordinate that with the Chamber so they’re not surprised each 10 years. Clueless!
 

I would need to be shown how any county not in NY, CA, IL and maybe 1-2 other large urban county  ‘lost’ 12k people in 1 year. That would wreck the local economy far beyond what the pandemic did. I mean our oldest 2 children (adults and graduated from college at the time) moved back to our house for second half of 2020, but then subsequently returned to their apartments in their respective cities. Weee those folks not accounted for in the 2021 estimates. And what was the methodology used by those municipalities? And that. Rings us back to Nashville/DavCo inadequate tracking of growth. [stepping down from soapbox now]. 

[Flatrock]

11 hours ago, UTgrad09 said:

Tennessee Census Statistical Areas

Primary Statistical Areas:

Yes, thank you for putting this together and sharing! Still curious as to why Clarksville isn't in Nashville's CSA or MSA whilst other population centers considerably farther away - are. 

[UrbanWes03]

One comment on the Knoxville MSA is that Sevier county isn’t included because many of its residents work in the county due to tourism, etc., but it is touching Knox County. That’s why it is only included in the CSA. I’m always frustrated at that especially considering there are counties included in the MSA that don’t even touch Knox County, and having Sevier in the MSA would bump us to over a million. I usually always clump it in anyways though just because it’s so close haha.

It is baffling to think that Knoxville’s CSA is only less than the CSA of Memphis by ~190,000 people 

[smeagolsfree]

13 minutes ago, UrbanWes03 said:

One comment on the Knoxville MSA is that Sevier county isn’t included because many of its residents work in the county due to tourism, etc., but it is touching Knox County. That’s why it is only included in the CSA. I’m always frustrated at that especially considering there are counties included in the MSA that don’t even touch Knox County, and having Sevier in the MSA would bump us to over a million. I usually always clump it in anyways though just because it’s so close haha.

It is baffling to think that Knoxville’s CSA is only less than the CSA of Memphis by ~190,000 people 

Not to mention that the Memphis MSA is shrinking, and Knoxville's is growing! There is a lot of talk on how much the Blue Oval facility will benefit Memphis, but I just do not think that will be as much of the case as will be the case for Jackson. The cost of living will be a lot cheaper east and around the plant itself. It will be more like a Spring Hill situation when Saturn was built. Blue Oval will benefit the local community where it is built even though it is about halfway between Memphis and Jackson. A lot of West TN is not gaining population.

[Nothingspectacular]

Yes, Jackson will benefit more than Memphis from Ford Blue Oval as   Memphis is too far away from plant. The big winners are the surrounding rural areas especially Jackson, TN whose airport could benefit.  West Tennessee and Memphis badly need  investment and growth. The auto manufacturing supply companies already in Middle Tennessee are expanding to also serve the Ford facility in West TN, especially for battery manufacturing.

Edited July 25, 2023 by Nothingspectacular

[UTgrad09]

I spent so much time putting this together that I didn't get to really make any notes...

1) Newcomers

Fayetteville (Lincoln County) and Winchester (Franklin County) are now micropolitan areas. Fayetteville is completely new (I didn't realize it hit the threshold of 10,000 in an urbanized area) and Winchester is the product of a split with the Tullahoma (now Tullahoma-Manchester) micropolitan area. Fayetteville is assigned to Huntsville's CSA, which isn't at all surprising considering it's a straight shot down US 231/431, and it's even in Huntsville's TV market. Fayetteville/Lincoln County is the first area or even county in Tennessee to be counted by a census area whose principal city lies in another state. As far as Winchester goes, I'm not as surprised about it splitting off from Tullahoma as I am it splitting off from Tullahoma yet STILL managing to be absorbed into Nashville's orbit. Perhaps the Nissan powertrain plant in Decherd has something to do with that?

 

2) Happy trails

Brownsville (Haywood County) and Dayton (Rhea County) are no longer micropolitan areas. Brownsville has been in decline for some time, and I think it just can't meet the population threshold anymore. But it will be interesting to see if Blue Oval City can help Brownsville rebound. It's also on the Memphis side of the county, so it wouldn't surprise me if Haywood County eventually ends up in the Memphis metro/CSA rather than Jackson, despite Brownsville being a lot closer to Jackson. I have no idea about Dayton and why it lost its status, but that did have the effect of dropping Chattanooga's CSA just below 1 million (along with the loss of Calhoun, GA).

 

3) Added/subtracted counties to metros/micros:

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MSA
+Hickman, TN

Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA
+Benton, MS

Knoxville, TN MSA
+Grainger, TN

Morristown, TN MSA
-Grainger, TN

Cookeville, TN msa
+White, TN

Tullahoma-Manchester, TN msa
-Franklin, TN

 

4) Added/subtracted metros/micros to CSAs:

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro,TN CSA
+Tullahoma-Manchester, TN csa
+Winchester, TN csa

Memphis, TN-MS-AR CSA
+Clarksdale, MS msa

Chattanooga-Cleveland-Dalton, TN-GA-AL CSA
-Calhoun,GA msa
-Dayton,TN msa

Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville, AL-TN CSA
+Fayetteville, TN msa

Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA CSA
+Greeneville, TN msa

Jackson, TN CSA*
-Brownsville, TN msa

*because of this, Jackson, TN no longer has a CSA

 

5) Future discussion/prognostication

What about Clarksville?

Everyone that follows these statistics has been asking when Clarksville will be added to Nashville's CSA (if not MSA) for the last 20 years. I'll admit, I'm more than a little surprised that Nashville added Tullahoma AND a now separate Winchester before Clarksville. I'm curious to see how close Clarksville is to the 15% threshold. I think the biggest obstacle to adding Clarksville has always been the fact that Ft. Campbell is on the wrong side of town -- officially in Kentucky, even though the facilities are split. It should also be noted that a lot of the development in Clarksville is happening on the north sides of town, closer to Kentucky. There is no doubt that there is an increased amount of interaction between the Clarksville and Nashville areas in the last 20 years, but it seems that it will take something more to push things over the edge. Regional transit would help push things along, as well as more development in the Sango area of Montgomery County, and places like Pleasant View and Ashland City, which could serve as suburbs to both places.

And Cookeville?

First of all, I don't see Cookeville being added to the Nashville CSA anytime soon (if ever). But I am interested in seeing if Cookeville's sphere of influence will start to spread. It just added White County (Sparta). I could see it potentially adding DeKalb at some point, or joining with Crossville or McMinnville to form a CSA of its own. I think it's in a strategic spot to potentially be a small boomtown. It's 80 miles/75 minutes to Nashville, 100 miles/90 minutes to Knoxville, and 100 miles/100 minutes from Chattanooga. It has a state tech university and a regional medical center. If they ever manage to turn TN-111 into a freeway from Soddy-Daisy to Cookeville -- and potentially from Cookeville north, into Kentucky (maybe around Glasgow, then to I-65), it could really turn Cookeville into a pretty decent hub.

And finally Bowling Green.

You all may have noticed that I included Bowling Green's CSA on this list, despite there not being any Tennessee counties associated with it. This is because Bowling Green added the newly formed Franklin, KY msa. I found this intriguing because there is a significant amount of interaction between Franklin, KY and it's Robertson and Sumner County neighbors (especially Portland). Not to mention the gambling and horse tracks located right on the border, or the interstate widening project that goes all the way to the Kentucky state line. I don't really think Bowling Green would be added to the Nashville CSA at any point soon, but Franklin and Simpson County intrigue me because the last time I looked at the numbers, it had an almost equal amount of workers going south as going north.  It wouldn't shock me if Simpson County ended up flipping and being added to the Nashville CSA rather than adding Bowling Green's CSA in its entirety. Then again, you never know...the Southern Kentucky counties (aside from Bowling Green) are in our TV market.

 

 

I may add  more to this over time.

Edited July 25, 2023 by UTgrad09
formatting

[jmtunafish]

11 hours ago, UTgrad09 said:

And Cookeville?

First of all, I don't see Cookeville being added to the Nashville CSA anytime soon (if ever). But I am interested in seeing if Cookeville's sphere of influence will start to spread. It just added White County (Sparta). I could see it potentially adding DeKalb at some point, or joining with Crossville or McMinnville to form a CSA of its own. I think it's in a strategic spot to potentially be a small boomtown. It's 80 miles/75 minutes to Nashville, 100 miles/90 minutes to Knoxville, and 100 miles/100 minutes from Chattanooga. It has a state tech university and a regional medical center. If they ever manage to turn TN-111 into a freeway from Soddy-Daisy to Cookeville -- and potentially from Cookeville north, into Kentucky (maybe around Glasgow, then to I-65), it could really turn Cookeville into a pretty decent hub.

As always, I very much agree with everything you said.  Thank you for taking the time to do all this research and analysis.  I hadn't thought about the Nissan connection in Decherd as to why there's a stronger connection between Franklin County and the Nashville MSA (Smyrna) than there is to neighboring Chattanooga.  I mean the Franklin County line is literally 41 miles from downtown Chattanooga.

As far as Cookeville goes, I think it's safe to say that it has already become a boomtown.  Not in the crazy Nashville/Austin suburban-growth-at-all-costs kind of boomtown, but certainly compared to its peers in the region.  For the last five years the Cookeville micropolitan area has been among the 15 highest-gaining in the country and one of the 5 fastest growing among those micropolitan areas that are not part of a larger city's CSA.  Now that White County has been added it'll probably move up in the rankings as White County is seeing a small surge in residential development just outside of Cookeville.

I've driven between Cookeville and Chattanooga several times this summer.  It is such a pleasant drive, infinitely easier on the nerves than I-40 in either direction.  Of the 90 miles between Cookeville and downtown Chattanooga, only 11 of those are not on a 4-lane divided highway (between Cagle and Dunlap) and even then, most of those 11 miles are also four lanes, just not divided.  Oh, and the section through Spencer which is a 5-lane road for no reason other than a speed trap to fund the Van Buren County sheriff's department.  The section between Cookeville and Sparta is already interstate grade with 70mph speed limit, and the section between downtown Chattanooga and Dunlap is also interstate grade.  I've heard speculation that eventually (like in the next 30 years) it could become a continuation of Interstate 59.  It's easily one of the more beautiful drives in Tennessee.  Heading north out of Soddy-Daisy, the descent into the Sequatchie Valley is just breathtaking.

The reason Cookeville wasn't elevated to a metropolitan area is aggravating.  The 2020 census count was done at the height of the covid mess, and college towns were hit particularly hard.  College classes went virtual, and thousands of students went home and finished the school year away from campus.  The threshold to be a metropolitan area is a contiguous urbanized area of 50k.  In 2000 Cookeville's urbanized population was 34k.  In 2010 it was 44k.  There was every expectation that it would comfortably surpass 50k in 2020.  But instead, with thousands of TTU students back home, the official count was just over 49k.  The Census Bureau cooperated with colleges all over the country as much as they could by including those who had been living in the dorms prior to the covid evacuations, but when 80 percent of the students don't live in dorms, the numbers were doomed from the beginning.  A buddy of mine at Oklahoma State said the same thing happened to Stillwater which clocked in at 48k instead of the 55k or so that they were expecting pre-covid.  Civic leaders in Cookeville (and Stillwater) are petitioning the Census Bureau I guess for a recount of some sort.  In addition to a bit of prestige with being a "metro" area instead of a "micro" area (which most people have never heard of) there are additional federal funds for things like transportation and housing projects that come with metropolitan status.

Then again, some of the old timers around here hate the rapid growth that has been taking place lately and are in no hurry to see Cookeville lose its small college town charm.  Being made a metropolitan area, to them, is proof that Cookeville has gotten too big for its britches.

Anyway, I agree that it's doubtful that Cookeville would ever be in the Nashville CSA.  I could see a Cookeville-Crossville CSA at some point.  McMinnville probably has too many commuters to Rutherford and Coffee counties to ever be in a Cookeville-centered CSA.  But who knows.  Today's trends may not be tomorrow's trends.  I mean, 50 years ago I don't think anyone would've suspected that Memphis would no longer be Tennessee's premier city and that even Knoxville would be on the verge of overtaking the Memphis area in population.

 

Edited July 25, 2023 by jmtunafish

[UrbanWes03]

I’m honestly surprised Monroe county hasn’t been absorbed into the Knoxville metro area yet. Vonore is basically the lower portion of Loudon County’s Tellico Village and Madisonville is less than 15min from Vonore. And Sweetwater is less than 25 min from Loudon. I can see Madisonville and Sweetwater being pulled more toward Athens and that being a reason the whole county hasn’t being assigned to the metro, but I would say as Loudon and Blount counties both expand towards Monroe, it’ll be absorbed eventually. I must say, it will be interesting to see if the Sevier county area will ever become a part of the Knoxville or Morristown metro as they continue to grow towards each other, or if it’ll stay it’s own. I feel like the latter especially now that it will have its own Target haha. TBH Sevier county has a lot of things Knoxville doesn’t even have…

[UTgrad09]

6 hours ago, UrbanWes03 said:

I’m honestly surprised Monroe county hasn’t been absorbed into the Knoxville metro area yet. Vonore is basically the lower portion of Loudon County’s Tellico Village and Madisonville is less than 15min from Vonore. And Sweetwater is less than 25 min from Loudon. I can see Madisonville and Sweetwater being pulled more toward Athens and that being a reason the whole county hasn’t being assigned to the metro, but I would say as Loudon and Blount counties both expand towards Monroe, it’ll be absorbed eventually. I must say, it will be interesting to see if the Sevier county area will ever become a part of the Knoxville or Morristown metro as they continue to grow towards each other, or if it’ll stay it’s own. I feel like the latter especially now that it will have its own Target haha. TBH Sevier county has a lot of things Knoxville doesn’t even have…

Without looking at the numbers, I would bet Monroe County would qualify to be in Knoxville's CSA if Sweetwater or Madisonville qualified as a micropolitan area. Monroe County is, by far, the most populated county not associated with any metro or micro area.

 

As far as what @jmtunafish said about Cookeville barely missing Metro status -- yes, it's a real shame with the covid timing. Hopefully they aren't stuck until the next Census.

[The Guardian of Memphis]

"I mean, 50 years ago I don't think anyone would've suspected that Memphis would no longer be Tennessee's premier city and that even Knoxville would be on the verge of overtaking the Memphis area in population."

Who knows what can happen in the next 50 years? 

"Not to mention that the Memphis MSA is shrinking, and Knoxville's is growing! There is a lot of talk on how much the Blue Oval facility will benefit Memphis, but I just do not think that will be as much of the case as will be the case for Jackson. The cost of living will be a lot cheaper east and around the plant itself. It will be more like a Spring Hill situation when Saturn was built. Blue Oval will benefit the local community where it is built even though it is about halfway between Memphis and Jackson. "

Come on Smeagol, cut us some slack every once and awhile! LOL. Where's the love, dude? As I've stated before, Nashville and the region benefitted greatly from the two plants as explained in the video below.  Hopefully the same will be felt for Memphis or close by. The video below explains what can happen for West Tennessee.  There is still hope for this region even though most have given up on it. 

"Yes, Jackson will benefit more than Memphis from Ford Blue Oval as   Memphis is too far away from plant. The big winners are the surrounding rural areas especially Jackson, TN whose airport could benefit.  West Tennessee and Memphis badly need  investment and growth."

We've seen capital investment in Memphis. Tourism is a big economy in both Nashville and Memphis. Both do very well. There will continue to be investment because of, thankfully, the impact FedEx has on the region.  As you can see below, looks like the distances between Jackson and Memphis are almost identical. One of the suburbs of Memphis, Arlington, TN, is only 15 min. away. Millington, TN, also a suburb, but farther, has seen interest as well.

 

 

Edited August 6, 2023 by The Guardian of Memphis

[smeagolsfree]

I was not trying to undercut Memphis...Sorry! Just stating the facts that Memphis has got a long road to hoe. It is more like Spring Hill was the big winner from GM. It has grown and grown and is still growing. It has not helped Nashville very much at all other than to take the wind out of the office growth downtown and out into the burbs of Williamson County. It put Spring Hill on the map! The traffic south on I-65 is a nightmare especially on Saturdays when I travel between Huntsville & Nashville. It will help turn Arlington into a boom town, or another little city will grow up right around the plant.

[UrbanWes03]

I’m excited to see what will happen in the future for Memphis. I’ve seen images of the new Hyatt Centric, Grand Hyatt, and the Caption hotel that is utilizing old buildings below it, and all the projects look extremely well done architecturally! You are also the only city in TN that still has running trolley lines. And you are getting a BRT line and have Amtrak. Not to mention you have IKEA. To me, it’s a matter of when Memphis will have its time, not if. I think blue oval will help, and the city has a lot of historical buildings and good bones, which is great too. 

[rolly]

Memphis desperately needs its tallest building to not be a condemned/vacant building like 100 North Main (which ain't bad looking).

Hopefully a nice residential can beat the 430' height / 37 floors of this 1965-built tower. It'd be great if the intense buildup in Nashville would bleed over into a few projects for the neighboring cities. 

 

[Auntie Yock]

^I certainly hope they can renovate/restore the tower to residential. That would be terrible if it ended up being demolished. 

[jmtunafish]

This elegant lady is the one that I hope will be put back into use.  Once the tallest building in the South, the Sterick Building opened in 1930 in downtown Memphis but has been empty since 1986.  It has new owners who have big plans, but it will cost a fortune, and Memphis has seen similar plans for other downtown towers (like the Union Planters building above) fizzle and die.  I hope this plan sticks.

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by jmtunafish

[Auntie Yock]

^If they don't restore the Sterick, I wish they could dismantle it and reassemble it in downtown Nashville!