In the wake of the City of Germantown turning down a large-scale apartment complex, there were comments that it was motivated by the city’s lack of value in density and diversity. It led us to compare data points that are telling for us. It paints interesting profiles of cities in the region and allows you to draw your own conclusions.
Density Per Square Mile
2053.3 – Memphis
2049.2 – Bartlett
1945.0 – Germantown
1501.0 – Collierville
1189.5 – Southaven
912.4 – Olive Branch
790.8 – Covington
529.6 – Lakeland
499.5 – Arlington
321.7 – Millington
Percentage of Population that is African American
63.6% – Memphis
49.9% – Covington
29.4% – Olive Branch
27.0% – Millington
25.7% – Southaven
20.4% – Bartlett
15.1% – Arlington
12.9% – Collierville
9.0% – Lakeland
4.1% – Germantown
Language Other Than English Spoken At Home
10.1% – Collierville
9.8% – Germantown
9.4% – Memphis
8.2% – Millington
6.6% – Bartlett
5.9% – Southaven
4.8% – Arlington
4.7% – Olive Branch
Lakeland
3.2% – Covington
Poverty Rate
27.6% – Memphis
24.6% – Covington
23.7% – Millington
12.4% – Southaven
8.1% – Olive Branch
6.4% – Bartlett
5.4% – Collierville
4.4% – Germantown
3.8% – Lakeland
1.7% – Arlington
Percent of Population Over 65 Years of Age
19.2% – Germantown
16.1% – Covington
15.5% – Bartlett
14.8% – Millington
12.2% – Lakeland
11.8% – Southaven
11.5% – Olive Branch
11.3% – Collierville
Memphis
6.2% – Arlington
Persons Per Household
3.40 – Arlington
2.95 – Collierville
2.93 – Lakeland
2.84 – Bartlett
2.81 – Southaven
2.71 – Olive Branch
2.65 – Germantown
2.54 – Memphis
2.52 – Millington
2.48 – Covington
Population Growth – 2010-2017
11.8% – Olive Branch
10.3% – Collierville
Southaven
3.8% – Bartlett
1.6% – Lakeland
Arlington
0.8% – Germantown
0.1% – Memphis
-1.4% – Millington
-2.3% – Covington
Source: U.S. Census
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I totally support the Germantown city decision to keep large apartment complexes out. Germantown should do everything possible to preserve its unique, pristine character as a place to call home.
Too bad the project’s developers lost several million on the plan. It’s highly unlikely they are willing to try to build elsewhere in Memphis.
Germtown doesn’t have an urban identity, except for its symphony orchestra. I don’t see them as wanting industry or a college or anything but to be left alone with its horses as a bedroom suburb. They would not care what they are missing with no diversity.
That comment seems based more on a talking point and stereotypes than actual knowledge of Germantown. It had a smart growth plan while other cities were silent and other cities sprawled and worried more about cars than people. . It created a civic square, it has Old Germantown designation, it has a sign ordinance (which the rest of the county needs), and it has design standards. It recruited Union University campus and its industries are in a designated area in the southeast part of the city.
No city is perfect but generalizations are simplistic.