Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Memphis, Tennessee
State Tennessee
City Memphis
County1 Shelby
City Population (2005)2 642,251 11.1% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 17 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 17 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Large
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Nashville
State Population (2005)2 5,810,590
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Dr. Willie Harenton
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.cityofmemphis.org/framework.aspx?page=557
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 901-576-6007
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, October 11, 2007
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  No
State Governor Name Phil Bredesen
State/Governor Website http://www.state.tn.us/
State/Governor Contact Information 615-741-2001
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.32    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 17.9%    
     Disability Status 16.2% 44  
     Emphysema 1.12% 21  
     Cardiovascular Disease 23.02% 21  
     Diabetes 4.84% 23  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.52% 51  
     Adult Asthma 9.16% 55  
     Adult Obesity 22.6%   43
     People Without Health Insurance 14.0%   25
     Age: Children under 5 years 8.1% 53  
     Age: 65 years and over 10.2% 26  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 33.0% 56  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 19.5% 26  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 58.1% 11  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 10.7% 57  
     Individuals Below Poverty 24.6% 62  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 30.1% 54  
     Free or Reduced Lunch (Not Available) (Not Available)  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 6.1% 5  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 3.7    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 44.7 (of 51) 67  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 88,259,970 pounds   38
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 533,470,981 pounds 51
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 360,967,426 pounds 50
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,233,164,271 pounds 49
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 934,320,516 pounds 42
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 65.7 grams 35
Number of Superfund Sites in County 3 sites 48  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.106 tons per person 31
Recycling Rate (1997) 40.0% 6
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 11,357,218 tons 41
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.9 tons/person 47
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 4,798,402 tons 6
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 42.2% 4
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 0.0% 36
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 71.8% 40
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 5.5% 15
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score) 2.6    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 333,600 tons   36
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 154,500 tons   39
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 64,262,300 tons   35
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 2,660.0 pounds   39
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 8.2 days 39  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 1.7 PM2.5 31  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 14.0 PM2.5 40  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 5.3 days 34  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 0.7 PM2.5 20  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 13.5 PM2.5 40  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 3 ppm 16  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) 0.01 ug/m3 2  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.020 ppm 38  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 27 ug/m3 31  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.006 ppm 38  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 7 days 15  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    1.8***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Lower Mississippi- Memphis; Horn Lake-Nonconnah ---  
# of Units in Watershed 42 units 35  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 27 units 35  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 20 units 34  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 74.1% 35  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 35.7% 48  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 52.10 inches 5  
Water Area Total, square miles 926 square miles 46  
Water Area Inland, square miles 926 square miles 39  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 0 square miles 35  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Memphis ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 48 years 48  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 107 days 36  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Memphis ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 48 years 50  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 5.1 inches 44  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 10,100,000,000 gallons/day 27  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 1,920,000,000 gallons/day 14  
Ground water, gallons/day 435,000,000 gallons/day 52  
Surface water, gallons/day 9,640,000,000 gallons/day 24  
Irrigation, gallons/day 24,000,000 gallons/day 62  
Public Supply, gallons/day 831,000,000 gallons/day 34  
Industrial, gallons/day 868,000,000 gallons/day 13  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 8,300,000,000 gallons/day 21  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 233,000,000 gallons/day 58  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Memphis Light, Gas and Water ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 661,426 people 26  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1998-2002 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 10 contaminants 13  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 10  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 4 contaminants 10  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 6 contaminants 34  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 2 contaminants 21  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 3 contaminants 9  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 10 contaminants 13  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 10  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 69 contaminants 52  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 60 contaminants 51  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 9 contaminants 50  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    3.2***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 2,327.4 people per square mile 52  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 972.2 housing units per square mile 54  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 23.0 minutes 34  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 21.3 minutes 30  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 15.7% 17  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 3.0% 46  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 2.0% 62  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 1.7% 66  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 97.4 15  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 82.5 MV registrations   21
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 46.6%   31
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 47.9 MV registrations   28
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.14 MV registrations   20
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 88,518 miles   31
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.488%   36
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 23.1%   22
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.02 miles   24
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 18.46 miles   24
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $1,661,000,000   27
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $18,765 per mile   20
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 35.0%   8
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 18.0 hours per person 19  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $295 per person 19  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $294,000,000 18  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 10 gallons per person 15  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $32,399 58  
Median Household Income (2000) $32,285 57  
Per capita income (2004) $20,036 49  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $17,838 56  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 21.5% 63  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 20.6% 52  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 24.6% 62  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 5.7% 51  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 30.1% 54  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 34,667 people 56  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 7.2% 58  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 10.7% 57  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 5.4% 51  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 8.6% 51  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 24.5% 41  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 19.6% 38  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) No Minimum Wage Law ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EDUCATION
 
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 114,345 kids (2.0% of total pop.) 19  
Largest School District Enrollment 113,730 kids (2.0% of total pop.) 13  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 41.9% 58  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 80.5% 47  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 23.1% 57  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 33% 56  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Middle of the Road   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade B   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Average   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 252,901 units 18  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 43.6% 40  
Cost of Living: Housing 85.9 35  
Cost of Living: Utilities 84.2 11  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 92.4 1  
Cost of Living: Overall 90.3 28  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 57.04%   41
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 44.40%   46
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 53.10%   29
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 24.7%   45
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 9,853.7 incidents per 100,000 people 68  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 1,552.9 incidents per 100,000 people 65  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 8,300.8 incidents per 100,000 people 66  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 10,071.5 incidents per 100,000 people 67  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score) 4.0    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 0.7 parks per square mile 32  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 19.3 park acres per city square mile 36  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 16.1 acres 18  
Parkland as % of City Area 5.9% 36  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident $42 per resident 5  
Total City Tree Canopy % 10.1% 29  
Total City Urbanized Area % 59.6% 40  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users No ---  
Disability Advisory Committees No ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks Yes ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 3.1    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.52% 51
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 9.16% 55
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.00% 19
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.12% 21
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 23.02% 21
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 4.84% 23  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 22.6% 43
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 10.5% 43
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 10.0% 16
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 9.4% 48
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 214.0 45
Cost of Living: Health 88.0 6  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 13.5% 20
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 14.0% 25
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 3.7% 38
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.5% 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 1 farm 65
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 2 markets 61
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 0 restaurants 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 0 grocery stores 54
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 2 other sources 36
Cost of Living: Food 95.8 13
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 91.9% 64
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 42.3% 38
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    3.6***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) No ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 1 program   13
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 0 kW   41
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 0 kW   40
Completed Climate Action Plans Completed State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems No   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol None   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes without ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes5 No Commercial Energy Codes   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) Yes ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 13.9%   11
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 43 years 48
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 59% 23
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 8.8 mph 33
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 10 mph 24
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 7.5 mph 40
Heating Degree Days 3,082 days 17
Cooling Degree Days 2,118 days 51
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 59 years 3
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 81% 33
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 58% 31
Elevation, feet 256 feet 27
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 642,251 17 (of 72 in EDN study) 11.1% of state population
City Population (2000) 650,100 18 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 5,810,590 17 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region South ---  
EPA Region 4 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 279.0 square miles 16 0.7% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 41,219 square miles 34  
Watershed Name Lower Mississippi- Memphis; Horn Lake-Nonconnah ---  
Elevation, feet 256 ft. (77.9 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 39.9°F (4.4°C) 32
Average Daily Temperature - July 82.5°F (28.1°C) 58  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 33.4 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 73.7% 43  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 10.2% 44  
Under 5 years of age 50,751 kids (8.1% of total pop.) 16  
One Race-White % (2005) 31.3% 65  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 68.7% 8  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 4.1% 58  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 6.1% 68  
Largest School District Name Memphis City ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network