Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Introduction to Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is is the fourth largest city in Tennessee with a population of approximately 155,000 people. Chattanooga is the seat of Hamilton County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Chattanooga metropolitan statistical area has an estimated population that is approaching 500,000 people.

Chattanooga is located in southeast Tennessee, on the border with Georgia. The Tennessee River flows through Chattanooga. Chattanooga is about half way between Atlanta, Georgia and Nashville, Tennessee. Atlanta is approximately two hours southeast, and Nashville is approximately two hours northwest.

Chattanooga was a past finalist for the National Civic League's coveted "All-America City Award". Outside Magazine named Chattanooga "A Top Ten Dream Town" in September of 2001. Expansion Management Magazine named Chattanooga one of the "Top Fifty Hottest Cities for Attracting Business" in January of 2000. Other notable awards received by Chattanooga include: Family Fun's "Top Ten Family-Friendly Cities", and "Most Cost-Effective" city in Foreign Direct Investment magazine's "US Cities and States of the Future 2005-06" awards. Chattanooga is home to one Fortune 500 company headquarters, UnumProvident.

Chattanooga experiences hot, humid summers, and cool, damp winters. July is the warmest month of the year, with an average daily temperature of almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit. January is the coldest month, with an average daily temperature of almost 49 degrees Fahrenheit. Chattanooga does experience temperatures below freezing and averages one day per winter with an inch or more of snow. Chattanooga receives an average of slightly over 54 inches of precipitation a year.

Chattanooga History

The first inhabitants of the Chattanooga area were Native American Indians. Chattanooga's first European visitors were from Spanish expeditions lead by Hernando DeSoto. Chattanooga was established as Ross's Landing in 1816 by John Ross, Chief of the Cherokee Indians. The city adopted the name Chattanooga in 1838. The name is of Native American origin. Some key dates in Chattanooga's history include:

• In 1819, Hamilton County was formed
• In 1908, the Chattanooga Choo Choo Terminal Station was built
• In 1863, during the American Civil War, the Campaign for Chattanooga was fought
• In 1941, the city was made famous by the first gold record big-band swing song "Chattanooga Choo Choo" by Glenn Miller
• In 1948, Chattanooga became the first major southern city to have African-American Police Officers

Chattanooga Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

Chattanooga is a center for arts, culture, and entertainment. Some of Chattanooga's more notable cultural attractions include:

• The Bluff View Art District
• The Boys Choir of Chattanooga
• The Chattanooga Ballet
• The Chattanooga Girls Choir
• The Chattanooga Regional History Museum
• The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera
• The Chattanooga Theatre Centre
• The Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park
• The Creative Discovery Museum
• Choral Arts of Chattanooga
• The Houston Museum of Decorative Arts
• The Hunter Museum of Art
• The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum
• Miller Plaza, the site of numerous performances and exhibits
• The Nightfall Concert Series
• Rock City Gardens
• The Tennessee Aquarium, the world's largest freshwater aquarium
• The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
• The Tivoli Theatre

Chattanooga also hosts Riverbend Festival every year. Riverbend Festival is a week-long music festival in the downtown area.

Chattanooga Sports and Leisure

Chattanooga has a few professional sports offerings, which include:

• Baseball - The Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Chattanooga Lookouts. The Lookouts are a Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
• Football - The National Indoor Football League (NIFL) Tennessee River Sharks.

Chattanooga is also home to the NCAA Division I-AA national football championship every year at Finley Stadium, on the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. A two hour drive northwest or southeast offers Chattanooga residents all of the sporting attractions of either Nashville, Tennessee, or Atlanta, Georgia.

Chattanooga "Must See" Attractions

Chattanooga has attractions too numerous to do justice in a simple list. Some of Chattanooga's more unique attractions include:

• The NCAA Division I-AA national football championship
• Rock City Gardens
• Riverbend Festival, a week-long music festival
• The Tennessee Aquarium, the world's largest freshwater aquarium

Chattanooga at Night

Chattanooga offers a rich and vibrant nightlife including a full spectrum of culinary offerings, and other entertainment options to satisfy just about anyone. The best source of information on dining, the latest events, happenings, night clubs, and performances can be found in the Chattanooga Times Free Press, or one of two free weekly newspapers, The Pulse, or Enigma.

High Points

Chattanooga strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Tennessee):

Category	Trophy
Public Transportation Use (vs. State)	Top 1%
Racial Diversity (vs. State)	Top 7%
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. State)	Top 11%
Affordability of Rents (vs. Peers)	Top 14%
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. State)	Top 14%
College Educated Adults (vs. State)	Top 15%
Short Commute Times (vs. Peers)	Top 17%
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. State)	Top 19%

Comparative Profile of Chattanooga, TN

Comparing Chattanooga to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Tennessee (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Senior Citizens
Age of the Population
Female Share of the Population
Well-Paid Single Women
Well-Paid Single Men
Racial Diversity
Children Under 5 Years Old
Male Share of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Portion of People Married
Average Household Size

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Short Commute Times
Public Transportation Use
Walking and Biking to Work
Working at Home

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Affordability of Rents
People Living Alone
Affordability of Property Taxes
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Housing Recently Built
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Violent Crime
Low Property Crime

Chattanooga Almanac

Chattanooga Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Chattanooga Public Libraries

More Information for Librarians

Chattanooga Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Political Contributions (2004)

Money donated by Chattanooga residents to parties and candidates for the 2004 elections.

by Political Party

by Presidential Candidate

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Chattanooga, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Chattanooga Hospitals

ERLANGER MEDICAL CENTER
(Government - Hospital District or Authority)
975 E 3RD ST
(423) 778-7000
Emergency Service: Yes

HEALTHSOUTH CHATTANOOGA REHAB HOSPITAL
(Government - State)
2412 MCCALLIE AVE
(423) 698-0221
Emergency Service: No

PARKRIDGE MEDICAL CENTER
(Proprietary)
2333 MCCALLIE AVE
(423) 493-1772
Emergency Service: Yes

MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, INC
(Voluntary non-profit - Church)
2525 DESALES AVE
(423) 495-2525
Emergency Service: Yes

Starbucks in Chattanooga

Wal-Mart in Chattanooga

Chattanooga High Schools (2004)

RED BANK HIGH SCHOOL
640 MORRISON SPRINGS RD
423-874-1900
Serves 1,270 students.

BRAINERD HIGH SCHOOL
1020 N MOORE RD
423-855-2615
A Title I school.
Serves 968 students.

EAST RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
4320 BENNETT RD
423-867-6200
Serves 888 students.

HOWARD ACADEMY OF ACADEMICS TECHNOLOGY
2500 SOUTH MARKET ST
423-209-5868
A Vocational School
A Title I school.
Serves 701 students.

CHATTANOOGA SCHOOL FOR ARTS AND SCIENCES
865 E 3RD ST
423-209-5812
Serves 659 students.

CHATTANOOGA HIGH CENTER FOR CREATIVE ARTS
1301 DALLAS RD
423-209-5929
Serves 535 students.

TYNER ACADEMY
6836 TYNER RD
423-855-2635
Serves 527 students.

TWENTYFIRST CENTURY ACADEMY
4201 CHERRYTON DR
423-493-0309
A magnet school.
A Title I school.
Serves 510 students.

LOOKOUT VALLEY MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL
350 LOOKOUT HIGH ST
423-825-7352
Serves 470 students.

CHATTANOOGA STATE MID COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
4501 AMNICOLA HW
423-497-4400
Serves 80 students.

WASHINGTON SCHOOL
7821 HANCOCK RD
423-893-3520
A Non-traditional School

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