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Tupelo, Mississippi

A small Mississippi city with an outsized place in American culture, Tupelo is the birthplace of Elvis Presley and was the first city to receive electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority. It survived one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history and has grown into northeast Mississippi's commercial hub.
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Founded 1859 | Population 40,000 | Peak 40,000 (2024) | County Lee County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Tupelo, Mississippi

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1935Elvis Born: Elvis Aaron Presley was born in a two-room shotgun house in Tupelo on January 8, 1935.
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1936First TVA City: Tupelo became the first city to purchase electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority, a model for rural electrification.
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1936Devastating Tornado: An F5 tornado killed 216 people in Tupelo, making it one of the deadliest tornadoes in American history. A young Elvis Presley survived.
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1956Elvis Returns: Elvis performed at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, his triumphant hometown return after becoming a national sensation.
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1957Civil Rights: Tupelo's schools were among the first in Mississippi to begin desegregation discussions.
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2014EF3 Tornado: An EF3 tornado struck Tupelo causing significant damage but no fatalities, thanks to improved warning systems.
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Complete Historical Timeline

1935 Culture
Elvis Born
1936 Government
First TVA City
1936 Disaster
Devastating Tornado
1956 Culture
Elvis Returns
1957 Politics
Civil Rights
2014 Disaster
EF3 Tornado

Did You Know?

1
The 1936 Tupelo tornado killed 216 people — a one-year-old Elvis Presley survived in his family's damaged home.
2
Tupelo was the first city in America to buy TVA electricity, becoming a model for rural electrification nationwide.
3
Elvis Presley's two-room birthplace cost his father $180 to build and is now a museum visited by thousands annually.
4
The Natchez Trace Parkway, a 444-mile scenic drive following ancient Native American trails, passes through Tupelo.
5
Tupelo is the seat of Lee County, named for Robert E. Lee, and has become NE Mississippi's largest city and medical hub.
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