Collierville

Collierville combines the best of small-town charm and suburban amenities with easy access to Memphis. In fact, this community of more than 45,000 residents still refers to itself as a town, holding on to its quaint charm that’s centered on the historic town square, the heart, and soul of Collierville.

Collierville was incorporated in 1850, but was slow to grow, in part because of the treacherous bumpy dirt roads leading to Memphis. But by 1860, the population had doubled to 500 thanks to the 1857 completion of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, which connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. The town’s location along the railroad also meant it played a role in the Civil War. Federal troops occupied the community, and two battles followed in 1863. Much of the town lay in destruction, and after the war, the rebuilt community centered on the town square that stands today.

Collierville grew as a dairy farming community in the early 20th century. Today, it’s home to a variety of companies including Carrier Corp., the FedEx World Tech Center, Helena Chemical, MCR Safety and Juice Plus. Carrier employs 1,500 people at its manufacturing plant, and the FedEx World Tech Center makes Collierville part of the technology hub found in Southeast Shelby County. FedEx World Headquarters is just a few miles west of Collierville along Winchester Road, and the Southwind area is home to a variety of corporate offices.

Part of Collierville’s appeal is that it allows residents to live and work in the same community, or take advantage of myriad job opportunities located nearby. Tennessee Highway 385 provides a 10-minute connection to Interstate 240, making it easy to route to any part of the greater Memphis region within minutes. The extension of Highway 385 to Collierville in the late 1990s enabled quick population growth in the town.

Collierville also is known for its quality education. Collierville Schools is an independent district that includes Collierville High School, two middle schools and five elementary schools, many of which have reputations as among the top-performing schools in Tennessee. Newsweek has honored Collierville High as one of the Best Public High Schools in America. It offers more than 50 extracurricular activities and 27 varsity and club sports. Incarnation Catholic School provides an education for children in pre-K through eighth grade and St. George’s Independent School provides opportunities for children through high school. The University of Memphis Collierville campus is located just off the historic town square along Poplar Avenue.

Collierville offers a variety of retail options, from the antiques shops and boutiques on the square to the more than 800,000 square feet of retail space at Carriage Crossing mall, not to mention a variety of national big-box retailers on the west side of the community. Collierville residents also enjoy a vast array of recreational opportunities, from the greenbelt trail system to multiple parks with playgrounds and ballfields, to a performing arts theater, to bike lanes.

Homes for Sale Collierville TN