Unincorporated areas (Memphis, Bartlett, Millington: chapel, houses, schools)

[nsa162]

What does it mean when an area is unincorporated? Specifically in the Memphis area? Does this mean you only pay county taxes but no city taxes for Memphis?

[TheBudsMom]

Yes, I believe it is just another way of saying county.

[Pearlbob]

Well, one of the main problems is that anything labeled "unincorporated" can be taken over and zoned by the city of ______ at any time. Namely, the city of Memphis. Just like a majority of Cordova. Then you would be paying taxes for whatever city zoned it, going to their schools, etc.

[nsa162]

Would Bartlett be incorporated?

[Pearlbob]

Well, Bartlett is its own city. It is the incorporated city of Bartlett. Bartlett, Gtown, Cville are all cities. Cordova is not, and is why it's been annexed by Memphis. Sort of like Raleigh a while back...it was a "suburb" of Memphis but unincorporated, and Memphis eventually took it over. Now it's good ol' regular Memphis But the area is still called "Raleigh" by locals.

But any city can annex land...I think it's currently happening a lot with Olive Branch maybe? Memphis is obviously the big city here, so it takes over most of what it can as the city expands out.

[mzloolue]

Originally Posted by Pearlbob

Well, one of the main problems is that anything labeled "unincorporated" can be taken over and zoned by the city of ______ at any time. Namely, the city of Memphis. Just like a majority of Cordova. Then you would be paying taxes for whatever city zoned it, going to their schools, etc.

Not exactly.

All of the county outside of the Memphis City limits is assigned to Shelby County Schools and this includes all the other incorporated cities, Bartlett, Millington, ect.

I live in north Shelby County.
There are unincorporated areas out here that are in the Millington Reserve, Bartlett Reserve, Arlington Reserve and Lakeland just annexed at least a part of their reserve. These reserve areas will eventually go into whichever incorporated area they are assigned to.

However, there is a buffer zone between these areas called the Rural Reserve.
This is where I live.
Perhaps someday we will go into an incorporated area, but perhaps not.
For me, Bartlett, Millington, Arlington, Atoka/Munford, Raleigh, and Lakeland are all about 15 minutes away.

This area has Memphis Light Gas and Water service, but some houses also have wells.
There are no sewers, so the houses must be on at least two acres.
The zoning is Agricultural.
Houses in this area range from modest to mansion.
There are a few shacks, some pre-Civil War homes, some 50s-60s brick ranch type homes, a few old farm houses, a few three bed/two bath type houses, various homes with more than three bedrooms and some full blown incredible mansions.
Some on large estate lots, but all on at least two acres.

If you want to keep a pony or you like to mow grass the Rural Reserve is the place to be!

Where I am the school assignment is Barret's Chapel Elementary, Arlington Middle and Bolton HS.

[strumpeace]

Re property taxes -- If you live in unincorporated Shelby County, you pay $4.09 per $100 of assessed value, as opposed to $4.04 for everyone else. (IIRC, this is to pay the cost of bringing government services to a remote area.)