West Tennessee's Economy: Agriculture, Manufacturing & Services

Regional Economic Profile (Memphis MSA + Rural Hinterland)

West Tennessee — the 21 counties between the Tennessee River and Mississippi River — combines agricultural richness, logistics/manufacturing hubs, and service centers.

Agriculture (Row Crops Dominant)

• Cotton — #1 in TN; 300k+ acres (Gibson, Haywood, Fayette).
• Soybeans & Corn — rotation crops, export via Mississippi.
• Wheat, Rice, Peanuts — niche but significant.
• Specialty: Tomatoes (Grainger), melons, sweet potatoes.
• Livestock: Beef cattle, poultry (Tyson, Pilgrim's), equine.

Manufacturing (Anchored by Memphis)

• Chemicals: Eastman (Kingsport — technically East TN but linked), Memphis refineries (Valero, Marathon).
• Pharma/MedTech: Abbott, Medtronic, Smith & Nephew (Memphis).
• Food Processing: Kellogg, Pillsbury, KraftHeinz, Delta Blues Rice.
• Paper/Packaging: International Paper (HQ Memphis), WestRock.
• Auto/Aero: Mitsubishi (electric motors), FedEx Express (world hub) drives aerospace logistics.
• Steel: Nucor (Hickman, AR — border).

Services (Memphis-Centric)

• Healthcare: St. Jude, Methodist, Baptist, Regional One — major employer & research.
• Education: U of Memphis, Rhodes, Christian Brothers, SWTNCC.
• Logistics/Transport: FedEx World Hub (largest cargo airport), 5 Class I railroads, I-40/I-55/I-69, river port.
• Finance/Insurance: First Horizon, Trustmark, regional banks.
• Tourism: Beale St, Graceland, Civil Rights Museum, Bass Pro Pyramid.
• Real Estate/Construction: Suburban growth (DeSoto Co. MS, Fayette/Tipton TN).

Challenges

• Poverty (Memphis ~25%), workforce skills gap, infrastructure aging, flood risk (Mississippi/Loosahatchie), brain drain.