Justifications for Tupelo, Mississippi as a Control City on I-22 Tupelo, with a population of 35,827, is currently the State’s 7th largest city and the 2nd largest city in the State north of the I-20 corridor. Tupelo is the largest city on the US 78/I-22 corridor between Birmingham & Memphis and is already being used as a control city on US 78 (which runs concurrently with I-22). Tupelo is the hub of several nationally significant highways and routes including US 45, US 78, US 278/SR 6 & the Natchez Trace Parkway Tupelo is being used as a control city on the Natchez Trace Parkway. From the earliest Indian settlement, the Tupelo area was linked to the outside world via the now-historic Natchez Trace. Traveled by Native Americans over 8,000 years ago, the Trace was established by the Chickasaw Indians as a route of commerce with the Natchez Indians to the south. The Trace was also traveled by the British in the 18th century and increased in importance as settlers poured into the frontier. Tupelo is the headquarters of this 444 mile long National Park that stretches from Natchez to Nashville. In Tupelo, guests can explore the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center and discover the parkway’s history and inhabitants. Tupelo has a $46 million tourism and hospitality industry and offers over 1,900 hotel rooms and over 150 restaurants. Tupelo is world renowned as the birthplace and childhood home of Elvis Presley which draws 100,000 annual visitors to the historical home and the adjacent museum and memorial chapel. In 1736, at the height of the French and Indian War, a bloody battle erupted near Tupelo between the British-armed Chickasaws and the combined invading forces of the French and the Choctaw Indians. Known as the Battle of Ackia, the engagement left the area in firm British control and contributed to the Crown’s eventual domination of North America. The Civil War also left its mark upon the Tupelo area. The Battle of Tupelo, in mid-1864, pitted Union troops against Confederate cavalry bent on controlling railroad traffic supplying the Union campaign against Atlanta. Tupelo is a regional manufacturing, retail and distribution center. Tupelo’s population swells by 300% each day as people travel to the City to work, shop, & play. The Tupelo area is home to 17 of the Fortune 500 companies. Tupelo has been named an All-America City by the National Civic League in 1967, 1989, 1999 & 2011. Tupelo was incorporated as a city in 1870 and was given its name after the native Tupelo gum tree. TENNESSEE TUPELO AS A REGIONAL CENTER REGIONAL ZONES: 60, 98, 121 Mi A R K A N S A S N A L A B A M A LOUISIANA Examples of Signs with Tupelo as the Control City on Route US 78 MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION .