Nearly 40 years after his death, Elvis Presley’s legacy remains a major part of the community.

Without Presley, the quaint town of Tupelo would hardly hold a place on the map. Each year the city receives thousands of visitors who tour the Elvis Presley Birthplace. This influx of tourists contributes to economic success.

Some thanks is owed to Graceland, Presley’s mansion that covers 13.8 acres of land, in Memphis, Tennessee. It currently serves as a museum and is the second most visited private home in America, behind the White House. Because the distance between Memphis and Tupelo is only around 100 miles, many guests choose to make the trek from one town to the other so that they can see Presley’s birthplace along with his final residence.

According to recent reports, Graceland earns around $27 million annually, which is almost half of what the overall Elvis business brings in. On special events, like the 30th anniversary of the King’s death, there is a significant increase in the number of tourists; Tupelo had approximately 272,150 visitors in 2007 for the important remembrance of his death.

An Elvis-adoring couple from Europe was featured in the Jan. 9 edition of the Daily Journal. The King of Rock n’ Roll and his hometown draw the attention of people from around the world. Some people make special trips to Tupelo quite often, sometimes yearly, to “feed” their Elvis addictions.

The most recent reason for the increased number of travelers from across the globe was for Presley’s 80th birthday celebration. Because this was considered a milestone, the celebration did not disappoint. According to the local newspaper, several hundred fans were at the Birthplace and Museum in Tupelo for this event. A 200-pound birthday cake was made to replicate one of the cakes that Elvis received in the 1960s when he was alive and well.

Out-of-state residents are always asking Tupelo citizens what the Birthplace is like and how it feels to live in the town where such a significant star was born. Some places that are often referred to include: Lawhon Elementary School, the first school that Elvis attended as a child; Milam Elementary School, the last school he attended before moving to Memphis at age 13; the Lee County Library, where he received his very first library card; the Tupelo Fairgrounds, where he performed concerts; and most importantly, Tupelo Hardware, where his mother bought him his first guitar and the start of an unforgettable career.

The community wants to continue cherishing Presley’s impact by working on the Elvis Presley Birthplace Trail project, which includes the construction of an overlay and the widening of roadways and bridges.

Debbie Brangenburg, the executive director of the Tupelo Main Street Association, said the project will also replace 40-year-old sidewalks in downtown Tupelo.

Although the Presley legacy continues to age, Tupelo shows no signs of forgetting it.