Memphis, Missouri
Memphis is a city of 1,782 people in Scotland County, Missouri, founded in May 15, 1843.
Why visit Memphis
Townapedia lists 7 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 4 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Memphis Community Theatre and Downing House.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 14°F.
Weather in Memphis
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Memphis
Memphis is a city in and the county seat of Scotland County, on the northern border of Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,731. U.S. Highway 136 passes near Memphis, which is east of Lancaster and west of Kahoka.
From the Wikipedia article Memphis, Missouri (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks7
Downing House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic house in Missouri, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
Restaurants and cafes4
History
Although the Missouri General Assembly organized Scotland County on January 29, 1841, the town of Memphis was not developed until more than two years later. County commissioners met at Sand Hill on May 15, 1843, to select the county seat. They chose a spot near the county's geographical center and, after some debate, named it Memphis, after Memphis, Egypt. The name had been previously used by a U.S. Post Office that operated near the North Fabius River a short distance away.
Early settler Samuel Cecil donated about 50 acres of land to the county for the new town. After being laid out in town lots, the original plat of Memphis was filed in county court on October 11, 1843. A few homes had already been developed in the area, the first being a log cabin constructed in 1835 by Burton Tompkins.
Scotland County's first courthouse, a two-story brick structure, was completed in June 1845 at a cost of $1,500. A decade later the county court declared the building unsafe. A second, larger courthouse was constructed in the middle of the town square in 1856 at a cost of $19,500. That building served the county well until the turn of the 20th century, but its small size made it outdated; it measured 40 by 70 feet. It was condemned in May 1905 and razed in early 1907. The current Scotland County courthouse was constructed between October 1907 and July 1908 at a cost of $50,000.
From the History section of Memphis, Missouri on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay2
Churches and places of worship7
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries3
Healthcare2
Map of Memphis
34 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32°F | 14°F | 1.5 in | 6.6 in |
| Feb | 38°F | 18°F | 1.5 in | 6.8 in |
| Mar | 50°F | 29°F | 2.1 in | 1.2 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 39°F | 3.6 in | 0.4 in |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 5.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 4.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 65°F | 42°F | 3.0 in | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 50°F | 29°F | 2.2 in | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 38°F | 20°F | 1.6 in | 3.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Memphis (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Scotland County has had 17 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-09-21: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-07-09: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2015-08-07: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-07-18: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kirksville Regional Airport (IRK) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 32 miles away.
- Bloomfield 24 mi northwest, about 38 min by car
- Kahoka 24 mi east, about 38 min by car
- Kirksville 28 mi southwest, about 45 min by car
- La Plata 35 mi southwest, about 56 min by car
- Fairfield 39 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Ottumwa 41 mi north, about 1 h by car
- Keokuk 41 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Centerville 41 mi northwest, about 1 h by car
- Canton 41 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Fort Madison 45 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- MemphisMoWestSideSquare, Sector001, CC BY-SA 3.0
- DOWNING HOUSE, JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.