Today, Germantown is known as a ‘great place to live’ with handsome residential neighborhoods, highly regarded schools, fine shopping, and a full range of support service providers. Germantown is more than a suburb, but less than a city. However, slightly more than half a century ago, Germantown seemed very distant, even from the eastern suburbs of Memphis. The remoteness, perhaps, was to some degree cultivated by the landowners who enjoyed raising show horses and cultivating small farms away from the hustle and bustle of Memphis. About that time, the Germantown Charity Horse Show was founded, and it reflected the aura of genteel country life that is, indeed, the basis for the municipality today. What was once a tiny crossroads, intersected by a train track, is now a bustling, diverse community with broad-based appeal.

With the population growth and housing expansion that began in the Memphis area in the 1950’s and 1960’s, perhaps the residential development of Germantown was to be expected. Those who loved the quiet, Germantown quality of life, however, managed the development process carefully. To this day, real estate development has been artfully managed and the result is a wide variety of neighborhood types surrounding a central core of commercial, business, and healthcare services. A ‘smart growth’ plan is the current program in effect to enable Germantown to meet the growing needs of its population while maintaining the historic character.

Whether moving from large metropolitan areas or from smaller cities, newcomers find a rich offering of housing options here. While single family homes are the norm, there are also condominiums and townhouses. Homes in Germantown come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. From comfortable one and two-story homes to grand manor houses, there are a variety of price points to satisfy the needs of most buyers. But Germantown is more than an assemblage of residential neighborhoods; it is a community noted for abundant public parks, community recreation and entertainment facilities, and desirable public and private schools. Additionally, the carefully planned roads accommodate the rush of daily traffic patterns in harmony with the peaceful lives of those who live in Germantown. Not surprisingly, the significance of horses in the Germantown’s history is still evident with the decorative horse statues, created by local artists that are located throughout the community.