Location & Infrastructure
The Future is Unlimited.
Lauderdale County is close to the big cities of Memphis and Jackson and home to charming communities such as Ripley, Halls, Henning and Gates. It is centrally located on Highway 51 and on the main line of the Illinois Central Railroad between Chicago and New Orleans.
The convenient road, rail and waterway access offers plentiful shipping routes for industry and agriculture. We are located on the banks of the Mississippi River with several airports nearby, including the Memphis International Airport, which is only six miles away.
By Land
Highway 51 passes through the city north to south, and many state roads run through Lauderdale County, including Highways 19, 87, 88, 209 and 371. The Illinois Central Railroad, also called the Main Line of Mid-America, stretches from New Orleans, up the eastern side of the Mississippi River, through Tennessee and to Chicago. The Illinois Central Railroad stretches from New Orleans, up the eastern side of the Mississippi River, through Tennessee, and to Chicago. From Chicago, the railroad expands west through Iowa and into North and South Dakota.
By Air
Lauderdale County has easy access to many transportation options. Arnold Field Airport, with its 4,700-foot asphalt runway, is 40 miles northeast near Halls and the Lauderdale County line. McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport in Jackson is the nearest commercial service airport. Memphis International Airport, the world's second largest freight airport, is only 69 miles away.
By Water
The Mississippi River is the closest navigable waterway, with commercial ports at Tiptonville, 60 miles away, and Memphis, 67 miles away. Port of Cates Landing in Tiptonville is accessible to barge traffic year-round with slack water access to the barge berthing area.
