Germantown is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 37,348 at the 2000 census.Germantown is a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee. Bordering Memphis to the east, Germantown's economy is dominated by the retail and commercial service sectors. There is no heavy industry in Germantown. In the city center is the "Old Germantown" neighborhood, anchored by a railroad depot (a 1948 reproduction of the 1868 original) and railroad tracks that recall the community's earliest days of development as an outpost along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.Germantown, and areas around it, are dotted with larger horse farms, and smaller barns housing just a few horses. The City hosts many horse shows and competitions annually, most notably the Germantown Charity Horse Show in June. Other major annual events include the Germantown Festival, an arts and crafts fair, in early September.Germantown is known for having some of the most restrictive sign ordinances in the country as well as excellent police and fire services.On November 27, 1994 a strong F3 tornado tore through eastern portions of Germantown resulting in three fatalities in one home where several families had gathered for a reunion.