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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.

Founded 1859 | Population 40,000 | Peak 40,000 (2024) | County Lee County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Tupelo, Mississippi

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1935 Elvis Born: Elvis Aaron Presley was born in a two-room shotgun house in Tupelo on January 8, 1935.

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1936 First TVA City: Tupelo became the first city to purchase electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority, a model for rural electrification.

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1936 Devastating 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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1956 Elvis Returns: Elvis performed at the Mississippi-Alabama Fair and Dairy Show, his triumphant hometown return after becoming a national sensation.

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1957 Civil Rights: Tupelo's schools were among the first in Mississippi to begin desegregation discussions.

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2014 EF3 Tornado: An EF3 tornado struck Tupelo causing significant damage but no fatalities, thanks to improved warning systems.

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Latest News in Tupelo

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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.

Famous People from Tupelo, Mississippi

EP

Elvis Presley

Singer · Born Jan 8, 1935 · Died Aug 16, 1977 (age 42)

D

Diplo

Disc Jockey, Singer · Born Nov 10, 1978 · Age 47

AG

Allie Grant

Actor, Television Actor · Born Feb 14, 1994 · Age 32

PW

Paula White

Writer, Spiritual Director · Born Apr 20, 1966 · Age 59

EF

Etta Zuber Falconer

University Teacher · Born Nov 21, 1933 · Died Sep 19, 2002 (age 68)

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