Why Live in Germantown, TN?
Located just minutes away from East Memphis, Downtown Memphis, and other Mid-South suburbs lies the thriving community of Germantown. From award-winning schools to a community that values health and wellness, there’s plenty to love about Germantown. Here are our top 5 reasons to consider Germantown your next home.
READ MORE: Moving to the MidSouth - A Neighborhood Guide
1. Germantown has a wealth of amenities.
Germantown is known for its high-end shopping as well as its local fine dining options. Germantown residents and visitors enjoy a variety of high-end retailers at the Shops of Saddle Creek, including:
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Anthropologie
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Apple
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Athleta
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Free People
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J. Crew
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Kendra Scott
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Madewell
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Michael Kors
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Pandora
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Paper Source
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Vera Bradley
2. Germantown is home to many of Memphis’s top healthcare facilities and providers.
In addition to serving as the location for many of Memphis’s top healthcare providers and specialty clinics, Germantown residents enjoy a wealth of opportunities to stay healthy. Through community programs which offer free fitness classes to a variety of facilities and parks, Germantown is the ideal location for anyone concerned with staying fit and healthy at any age.
Health and Wellness in Germantown
In addition to dentists, orthodontists, pediatricians, family practitioners, optometrists, and other healthcare providers, Germantown is also hope to many of Memphis’s award-winning healthcare facilities and clinics, including:
Fitness in Germantown
In addition to a wealth of healthcare providers, Germantown also offers a variety of fitness centers and gyms, including:
3. Germantown boasts pristine parks and gorgeous neighborhoods.
One of Germantown’s most family-friendly amenities is its network of beautiful parks and array of athletic facilities. In fact, there are so many parks located within the community of Germantown that no home within the Germantown city limits is more than 1 mile away from a local park.
Germantown Parks
The 29 parks, athletic facilities, and green spaces overseen by Germantown Parks and Recreation covers more than 750 acres of the community, and on any given day, you’ll find families and individuals walking, biking, hiking, and more. Germantown’s extensive bike trail system also offers amateur cyclists and cycling enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. Many of Germantown’s parks also include picnic tables, tennis courts, clean and well-maintained restrooms, playgrounds, and lakes for fishing.
Germantown Athletics
With sports complexes and athletic programs offering classes and competitive leagues for adults and kids, there’s not an athletic event you won’t find in Germantown. From cricket and horseback riding to soccer and softball, there’s something for everyone.
Germantown Farm Park
In addition to parks and athletic facilities, The Bobby Lanier Farm Park in Germantown offers a unique experience for residents and guests like no other in Memphis. From community gardening opportunities to events and programs intended to raise awareness of healthy eating like free cooking classes and demonstrations to a farmers market and outdoor festivities in the spring, summer, and fall, there’s always something going on at The Farm Park.
4. Germantown has several award-winning education options for families.
With both award-winning public and private schools as well as special education centers for the hearing-impaired and children and adults with disabilities, Germantown offers a school to fit your family’s needs.
Public Schools in Germantown
Germantown’s own municipal school district governs their local award-winning schools, all of whom are continually recognized for outstanding academic and athletic achievements. The numerous public schools overseen by the Germantown Municipal School District include:
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Dogwood Elementary School
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Farmington Elementary School
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Forest Hill Elementary School (Opening Fall 2019)
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Houston High School
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Houston Middle School
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Riverdale Elementary School
Just a few of the recent achievements and acknowledgments of GMSD staff and students include:
Other public schools in the Germantown area are operated by the Shelby County School District. These include:
Private Schools in Germantown
Special Education Centers in Germantown
5. Germantown is a thriving part of the Memphis metro area with a wealth of history.
From shopping centers to beautiful homes to a wealth of businesses and award-winning schools, Germantown has much to offer residents and visitors. In addition to being one of the most sought-after locations in Memphis for families and professionals, Germantown is also known for its local history.
The History of Germantown, TN
The very first settlers of what is today known as Germantown, Tennessee first arrived in the 1820s. Originally known as Pea Ridge, the community enjoyed close proximity to the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek. As a large number of German families moved into the area, especially after the Memphis-Charleston Railroad arrived in the early 1850s, the community’s name was changed to Germantown.
Frances Wright’s Nashoba Plantation
While it’s known today for its picturesque neighborhoods and abundance of community amenities, Germantown was at one time known as the home of one of the most famous plantations in the United States. Nashoba Plantation was a unique plantation designed to function as a utopian community for emancipated slaves who could earn wages in return for their work.
Frances Wright and Women’s Rights
While Nashoba Plantation was never able to become self-sufficient, and the idea of utopian plantations never gained traction in the United States, founder and owner Frances Wright did go on to promote the importance of women’s rights, including the right to birth control and education, for women in the 1850s. At the time, her revolutionary ideas were not always popular with the public, but despite her efforts to improve life for women and slaves in the United States, Miss Frances Wright is today known as one of the most revolutionary characters of her time and one of the first female voices of the abolitionist and women’s rights movements.
Germantown in the Civil War
During the Civil War, Germantown played hosts to hundreds of thousands of Union and Confederate troops over the course of the war. Germantown’s train depot served as a vital point of access for troops in need of ammunition, food, and supplies. Today, replicas of Civil War cannons can be seen at Fort Germantown, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Germantown in the 1900s
In the 20th century, the population of Germantown grew substantially. Thanks to its proximity to Memphis and abundance of parks and green areas, Germantown has long been known a sought-after community for professionals, families, and retirees alike. In addition to an abundance of churches, civic groups, and community amenities, Germantown has also enjoyed a rich equestrian history and is today host to the Germantown Charity Horse Show.
Ready to move to Germantown, TN?
Ready to make your move to Germantown? We’d love to help you find your dream home! There are an abundance of homes for sale in Germantown, TN. Let us help you find the one that’s perfect for you!