MEMPHIS, a town in the state of Tennessee, Shelby county, North America, pleasantly situated on the Mississippi, just below its confluence with the Wolf River, 420 miles below St. Louis, and 209 miles W.S.W. of Nashville. The town is built on a bold promontory, 30 feet above the river; while below, a bed of sandstone running into the river forms a convenient landing-place. The town has a large esplanade in front, and many very handsome buildings, of which the chief are,—six or seven churches, an academy, a medical college, two banks, &c. Memphis is a place of great trade and growing importance; while shipbuilding and manufactures of iron, cotton, and ropes, are also carried on. Pop. (1850) 8841; (1853) about 12,000.