46. Memphis, TN

Located on the Mississippi River, the city of Memphis is the second largest city in the southeastern United States. It's perhaps most famous—and most visited—for Graceland, the former home of Rock 'n' Roll legend Elvis Presley. But the city won't be getting a Beale-street-style gold star on the SustainLane walk of fame this time around, coming in 46th of the 50 cities in our survey. With clean air and water, affordable housing, and a decent recycling rate, Memphians have a great foundation on which to build a movement so that the city may endure well into the future. In recent years, city officials have been talking about expanding the number of city greenways and have even proposed a 22-mile-long corridor of trails and nature areas along the Wolf River. As city officials consider Memphis' future, they might also look to the University of Memphis for leadership. In fall of 2008, U of M is hosting a campus-wide Sustainability Technologies Awareness Day, showcasing eco-friendly initiatives developed by the university and its community partners.

(Photo by Kneiphof)