Frayser, Memphis

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Frayser, Memphis
Frayser Memphis TN 02 Welcome to Frayser (cropped).jpg
"Welcome to Frayser" sign on U.S. Route 51.
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Frayser, Memphis
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Frayser, Memphis
Coordinates: 35°13′03″N90°00′12″W / 35.21750°N 90.00333°W / 35.21750; -90.00333
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Shelby
Area
  Total
53.7 km2 (20.73 sq mi)
Elevation
95 m (313 ft)
Population
  Total
45,000
ZIP Code
38127
Area code 901

Frayser is a neighborhood on the north side of Memphis, Tennessee, United States. It is named after Memphis physician Dr. J Frayser, who owned a summer home near the railroad. [1] Frayser's boundaries are the Wolf River to the south, the Mississippi River to the west, the Loosahatchie River to the north, and ICRR tracks to the east. [1] The population of Frayser is approximately 45,000. [2]

Contents

History

The area was settled in the 1820s, when Italian settlers purchased farmland in northwestern Shelby County. [1]

In 1942, International Harvester constructed a manufacturing plant west of Benjestown Road. This plant along with others, such as Firestone, south of Frayser helped spark housing demand in the community. [1]

Annexation

The Memphis City Commission passed an ordinance authorizing the annexation of most of Frayser on April 30, 1957. [3] The annexation formally went into effect on January 1, 1958. [4] In the mid-1960s, the northern and western boundaries of the area were also absorbed by Memphis. [5]

In March 1983, Firestone closed their tire factory in North Memphis and International Harvester closed their plant in 1985. [6]

Education

Most of the public schools in Frayser are served by Memphis-Shelby County Schools system. Elementary schools include, Hawkins Mill, Delano, Georgian Hills, and Lucie E Campbell Elementary Schools. Middle schools include Grandview Heights, Westside and Georgian Hills Middle Schools. Frayser is also home to two public high schools, Trezevant High School and Martin Luther King Jr. College Preparatory High School

Private education

With the state changes in the education process, the Achievement School District was created and a number of school agencies sprouted in the Frayser Community including charter schools and a Montessori school. In February 2012 the Achievement School District announced that it planned to take over management of Corning Elementary School, Frayser Elementary School, and Westside Middle school in Frayser. [7]

Frayser is also home to the Memphis Business Academy (MBA) middle and high school. MBA opened Memphis STEM Academy in August 2016. [8]

Higher education

Frayser was home to Southwest Tennessee Community College's Gill Campus, which was located in the northeastern quadrant of the neighborhood. About 350 students were enrolled there at its peak in 2013. The building was sold to Libertas School of Memphis in 2024. [9]

Parks and recreation

Public parks in Frayser are serviced by the Memphis Parks Commission. [10]

Public parks

North Frayser Community Center North Frayser Community Center Memphis TN 2013-06-02 002.jpg
North Frayser Community Center

Source: [11]

Transportation

Frayser is served by four MATA bus routes, numbered 11, 32, 40, and 42. [12] Central and northeast Frayser are also served by Ready! demand-responsive service, which is operated by MATA. [13]

Interstate I-40 runs through the southern reaches of Frayser. US 51/SR 3 bisects the western quadrants of the neighborhood. Frayser entirely encapsulates SR 300, which connects US 51 to I-40 exit 2A. Frayser also serves as the southern terminus of SR 388. [14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Frayser Futures: A Comprehensive Plan for Growth and Development for The Frayser Community Association and Frayser Community Development Corporation" (PDF). The University of Memphis. 2003. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  2. "History". Frayser Community Development Corporation. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  3. Allen, Richard T. (May 1, 1957). "Step No. 1 Taken To Annex Frayser". The Commercial Appeal . p. 21. ProQuest   2653917312 . Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  4. "Residents hopeful that Frayser will rebound". The Commercial Appeal . December 6, 2003. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  5. "Document Center Annexation Ordinances". ShelbyCountyTn.Gov. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  6. Greaney, Devin (August 30, 2017). "Ghost signs show Memphis commerce of days long gone". High Ground. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  7. "3 Low-Performing Frayser Schools Being Taken Over Archived 2016-06-10 at the Wayback Machine ." () Associated Press at LocalMemphis.com. February 27, 2012. Retrieved on June 3, 2013.
  8. Lantrip, Patrick (August 30, 2017). "Daily Digest". Memphis Daily News. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  9. Testino, Laura (July 14, 2024). "Southwest sold its Frayser campus. Here's what a new location could offer". Daily Memphian. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  10. "Frayser A Turning Point: Comprehensive Planning Studio Fall 2006 Graduate Program in City and Regional Planning University of Memphis" (PDF). September 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  11. "Find a Park – Memphis Parks". memphisparks.com. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  12. "MATA November 2021 System Map" (PDF). matatransit.com. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  13. Souchek, Jalyn (November 9, 2021). "Curb-to-curb public transit service Ready! expands to Northaven, Frayser, and Cordova". ABC 24 . Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  14. "City and Vicinity Map: Memphis, Tenn. NW" (PDF). TDOT. Tennessee Department of Transportation. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2021.

35°13′03″N90°00′12″W / 35.21750°N 90.00333°W / 35.21750; -90.00333