Millington is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee. It is part of the Memphis metropolitan area. According to the 2020 census, Millington had a population of 10,582. The Tennessee State Legislature gave Millington the name "Flag City Tennessee." The Naval Support Activity Mid-South is located at the old Memphis Naval Air Station. In 1993, the station changed its purpose from a training base to an administrative one. There is also a small airport for private planes. Its runway is the third longest in Tennessee.

Geography

Millington is located at 35°20′12″N 89°54′8″W  /  35.33667°N 89.90222°W  /  35.33667; -89.90222 (35.336566, -89.902132).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.6 square miles (40 km²), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²), or 0.13%, is water.

The city is located in the Memphis Metropolitan Area, about 9 miles (14 km) north of Memphis. The Memphis metropolitan area has a population of approximately 1.2 million people. Millington is near the Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, Fort Pillow State Park, and the Mississippi River.

History

The book Millington, the First Hundred Years by Faye Ellis Osteen, compiled from many stories that are not proven to be true or false and based on accounts from individuals and stories passed down by local families, was published by the Millington Centennial Committee. It describes the history of Millington from its beginning to today. In 1878, Mr. and Mrs. George Millington gave a large piece of land to a group of settlers to start a town. Mr. Millington asked that the town be named after him. In 1888, the First Baptist Church was founded. It has more than 5,000 members, and its building is one of the largest in Millington. In 1890, the first industry arrived in the town. Since then, job growth has occurred in an irregular and scattered way. Millington was officially recognized as a city by the State of Tennessee in 1903. In 1917, the U.S. military began its first presence in Millington. Park Field was created as a place to train pilots. After World War I ended in 1918, military pilot training stopped. It was not until 1942, when World War II began, that the military returned its interest in Millington. In 1928, Millington Telephone was started. This business brought modern communication to Millington and nearby areas. At the start of World War II, the U.S. Navy built the current airport as a training center for Navy pilots. For many decades, more than 15,000 military personnel were stationed in Millington. The Navy brought long-term prosperity to the community. In 1993, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission ordered the relocation of NAS Memphis, which began reducing the size of the Millington Navy facility. Flight training was moved out of Millington, but all Navy personnel roles were moved to the community. Today, the military and related private businesses provide a $335 million annual economic benefit to the region. In 1986, USA Stadium was built by Mr. W. S. "Babe" Howard. This sports facility brought recognition to Millington. International baseball games were held there. The Stadium remains an economic benefit for the community. In 1993, the Millington Regional Jetport opened as a general aviation airport. It is now the backup airport for Federal Express (FedEx).

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, Millington had a population of 10,582. The median age was 39.5 years. Twenty-one point two percent of residents were under the age of 18, and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 88.5 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 88.2 males aged 18 and over.

Ninety point six percent of residents lived in urban areas, while 9.4% lived in rural areas.

There were 4,352 households in Millington. Twenty-nine point four percent of these households had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.7% were married-couple households, 21.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 4,704 housing units, of which 7.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3%, and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%.

As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,176, with 3,814 households and 2,699 families residing in the city. The population density was 321.7 inhabitants per square mile (124.2/km²). There were 4,408 housing units at an average housing density of 258.2 per square mile (99.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.2% White, 25.6% African American, 0.6% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, and 2.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.9% of the population.

The average household size was 2.5 persons.

Age breakdowns were as follows: 6.8% under the age of 5, 24.2% under the age of 18, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. Fifty-one point nine percent of the population was female.

The median income for a household in the city was $43,779. The per capita income for the city was $22,696. About 13% of the population were below the poverty line.

Naval Support Activity Mid-South

Millington is home to the Naval Support Activity Mid-South (NAVSUPPACT) naval station, one of the largest single employers in Tennessee. It has more than 7,500 employees, including military, civilian, and contractor workers, on 1,950 acres (7.9 km²). The naval base hosts several tenant organizations, including the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS). Previously called Naval Air Station (NAS) Memphis, the base was a major training center for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, covering over 3,800 acres (15 km²). In 1993, a report from the Base Realignment and Closure Commission led to major changes in the base’s mission. In 1995, the base was renamed Naval Support Activity Memphis. The airfield, now known as Millington Regional Jetport, was transferred to the city of Millington. In 1998, the name was changed to Naval Support Activity Mid-South to better reflect its current mission and the Navy’s regionalization strategy. Many military retirees who live in and around Millington contribute to the local economy by using base facilities.

This site was first established in November 1917 as Park Field, an Army Signal Corps Aviation School that trained pilots for the Allied Forces during World War I. By February 1918, flight operations were active, but they stopped in November 1918 after the Armistice was signed. Two days after the Armistice, training ended.

At that time, the airfield began operating airmail routes across Tennessee and nearby states. In March 1920, the government officially purchased Park Field. However, the airfield declined over time and became mainly a storage area for aircraft and parts.

Interestingly, the Stock Market Crash of 1929 helped revive Park Field. During the 1930s, the field served as a camp for unemployed workers. In 1937, the Resettlement Administration took over the land and created model farms to show how land could be managed effectively. Park Field remained under this agency until World War II began.

Just as World War I led to the creation of Park Field in 1917, the U.S. declaration of war on December 8, 1941, brought naval aviation to the Memphis area. In February 1942, the Navy Shore Station Development Board approved plans to build a reserve aviation base on the former Park Field site.

The Naval Training Station and Naval Reserve Aviation Base were commissioned in 1942. On January 1, 1943, the name was changed to Naval Air Station Memphis. The main role of Naval Air Station Memphis was to provide aviation maintenance and pilot training. During this time, more than 20,000 students were trained each year. After World War II, pilot training for Student Naval Aviators ended, but NAS Memphis continued as the Naval Air Technical Training Center Memphis (NATTC Memphis), offering technical training in aviation operations, maintenance, and support. Training at NATTC Memphis continued until 1993, when the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended moving these schools to NAS Pensacola, Florida, to use spaces being vacated by the closing Naval Aviation Depot Pensacola. At the same time, the commission recommended moving the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS) from Virginia to Millington.

• The Flag City Freedom Celebration brings more than 30,000 visitors to the city’s July 4 USA Stadium each year.
• The Air Show, sponsored by the Mid-South Airshow Foundation from 1999 to 2007, was held every two years and featured the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels.

Local government

Millington is chartered by the State of Tennessee under a City Manager form of government. The city has a mayor and seven aldermen, each of whom serves a four-year term. The current mayor is Larry Dagen, and the aldermen are Bethany Huffman, Al Bell, Chris Ford, John Perales, Thomas McGhee, Don Lowry, and Gavin Smith. The current City Manager is Frankie Dakin. The current Public Safety Director is Gary Graves.

Education

The city has schools run by Millington Municipal Schools and Shelby County Schools. Millington Primary School, Millington Intermediate School, and Millington Central Middle High School are part of the Millington Municipal School District. Lucy Elementary, Woodstock Middle School, and E.E. Jeter School are part of the Shelby County Schools. Before the local school district was created, Millington was mostly part of the Shelby County Board of Education.

Culture

USA Stadium was the home of USA Baseball from 1986 to 1996. After that time, the stadium hosted many events, including 171 International Games, 18 Service Academy Spring Classics, eight Gulf South Conference Baseball Championships, 17 USA Classic National High School Tournaments, 16 NJCAA Division I World Series, 11 USA Teams, four TSSAA High School State Championships, and events from 18 foreign countries: Argentina, Aruba, Canada, China, Cuba, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Peru, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, USSR (Russia), and Venezuela.

The Millington Family YMCA is known for its 25-yard, eight-lane indoor pool and outdoor water park.

The Baker Community Center is located at 7942 Church Street. It was built in 1960 and includes a curtained stage, large auditorium, five meeting rooms, and a fully equipped kitchen.

Millington has several golf courses, including Glen Eagle Golf Course, Edmund Orgill Park Golf Course, and Mirimichi Golf Course, which is owned by Justin Timberlake.

Parks in Millington include Oak Park, Miles Park, Lions Park, and Aycock Park. Oak Park is located at 7930 Church Street and covers an area of 0.32 miles (0.51 km). Miles Park is located at 4724 Biloxi Street and covers an area of 0.45 miles (0.72 km). Lions Park is located on Hickory Meadow Road and covers an area of 0.86 miles (1.38 km). Aycock Park is located at 7330 Renda Street and covers 22 acres (89,000 m²).

Goat Days is an annual event in Millington. This September event takes place at USA Stadium. It includes local activities such as tractor pulls, ice cream making, and a goat chariot race. The event was founded by William S. "Babe" Howard, the first president of the Millington Chamber of Commerce. There is no recorded date for when Goat Days began, but the event is supported by the community and managed by volunteers.

The Millington Star is the local newspaper. It was founded in 1951 and is published once a week. It has a circulation of about 20,000 and is owned by West 10 Media, LLC. The newspaper’s office is located on Easley Street.

Transportation

The completion of Veterans Parkway has created a major road with multiple lanes that connects US Highway 51 to Interstate 269, which was previously known as Tennessee Highway 385. The Canadian National Railroad helps many factories and businesses in the area.

The city is served by Millington Regional Jetport, which has the third largest runway in Tennessee. The airport has a fire and rescue team that works all the time, an instrument landing system, a control tower that operates continuously, and a system that automatically checks weather conditions.

Disasters

On December 25, 1987, Millington had a flood with a strength of 4.1. The flood lasted until December 29. It caused three deaths and forced more than 6,000 people to leave their homes, which led to the building of the current levee system.

On May 1 and 2, 2010, a similar flood occurred. It caused many residents in the Shady Oaks Mobile Home Community and other areas of Millington to leave their homes. Across the city, about 1,500 people were evacuated after a nearby levee broke, creating the largest flood ever recorded in the area. One hundred forty-six of those evacuated lived at the Millington Navy Base. Shelters for displaced people were set up at the Baker Community Center and the United Methodist church. No injuries or deaths were reported. The National Weather Service in Memphis measured 10.00 inches (254 mm) of rain over the two-day period in Millington.