Tupelo Fast Facts
Learn more about the city where anything is possible.
Located just 90 minutes from Memphis, TN, Tupelo is easily accessible via Interstate 22, US Highway 45, and the Natchez Trace Parkway. Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP) offers daily flights on Contour Airlines to and from Nashville International Airport (BNA) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
Did You Know?
Tupelo, Mississippi, is the birthplace of Elvis Presley and one of America's most celebrated small cities. It is consistently ranked among the best places to live and do business in the Southeast. Tupelo punches well above its weight for a city of roughly 38,000 people. Here are some more fun facts about the area:
- Tupelo was chartered on July 20, 1860. The city celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2020.
- Elvis Aaron Presley was born in Tupelo on January 8, 1935.
- EDM superstar Diplo (Thomas Wesley Pentz) also calls Tupelo his hometown and was born here on November 10, 1978.
- The fourth deadliest tornado in US history hit Tupelo on April 5, 1936, killing more than 200 and injuring thousands.
- Headquartered in Tupelo, the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway is one of the top ten most visited national parks in the country.
- Tupelo is the original homeland of the Chickasaw Nation, the unconquerable tribe.
- Tupelo was the first city in the nation to receive power from the Tennessee Valley Authority. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt officially "flipped the switch" at Robins Field in 1934.
- The final battles of the Civil War in Mississippi were fought in and around Tupelo, including the Battles of Brice's Crossroads and Tupelo/Harrisburg.
- Tupelo is one of only 12 cities in the country to be named an All-America City by the National Civic League five times.
- Downtown Tupelo is designated a "Great American Main Street" by Main Street America.
- Toyota Corolla, the all-time best-selling car, is made at Toyota's eighth North American automotive assembly plant just outside of Tupelo.
- Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo is the largest zoo in Mississippi by area. Spanning 210 acres just outside the city, the park is home to a herd of 300 American buffalo, plus zebras, giraffes, and more.
- Tupelo has live music nearly every night, with scheduled performances and open mics throughout the city center.
- The annual Tupelo Elvis Festival draws approximately 10,000 visitors each summer for an Elvis Tribute Artist Competition, gospel concerts, and a 5K run.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tupelo, Mississippi, famous for?
Tupelo is best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, but it's also famous as the headquarters of the 444-mile-long Natchez Trace Parkway, one of the most visited national parks in the country. It's also a national center for furniture manufacturing and a five-time All-America City.
What are the top things to do in Tupelo?
Top attractions include the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum, the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center, Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo (Mississippi's largest zoo), Tupelo's live music venues, and nearby Tombigbee and Trace State Parks for hiking, fishing, and camping.
Does Tupelo have an airport?
Yes. Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP) offers daily flights via Contour Airlines connecting to Nashville International Airport (BNA) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), with onward connections available nationwide.
What is the Natchez Trace Parkway, and does it go through Tupelo?
The Natchez Trace Parkway is a 444-mile National Park Service scenic road running from Natchez, MS, to Nashville, TN. Tupelo sits near the parkway's midpoint and serves as its official headquarters and visitor center.
What are the top industries in Tupelo?
Tupelo is the economic hub of northeast Mississippi. The city is recognized as one of the top furniture manufacturing and retail centers in the United States, anchored by the Tupelo Furniture Market, one of the largest wholesale furniture trade events in the country, and drawing tens of thousands of industry buyers each year.
What is it like to live in Tupelo?
Tupelo regularly earns recognition as one of the best small cities in the South for quality of life. Its five All-America City designations from the National Civic League reflect a community that actively invests in education, public health, and civic infrastructure. The city offers affordable housing, a low cost of living relative to national averages, strong access to healthcare (NMMC is the largest rural hospital in the U.S.), a growing restaurant and arts scene, and proximity to outdoor recreation via the Natchez Trace Parkway and nearby state parks.