Story of Shelby County’s founding shows familiar themes 200 years later

By , Daily Memphian Published: November 25, 2019 4:05 AM CT

Shelby County was formed 200 years ago Nov. 24 by an act of the Tennessee Legislature. The county took in more territory than it does today. The official designation touched off controversies that saw the county seat moved out of Memphis four years later as the city struggled before beginning to grow.

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James Davis James Roper Robert Sigafoos John M. Keating shelby county bicentennial

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Bill Dries

Bill Dries

Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for more than 40 years.


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