Chattanooga, Tennessee

Introduction to Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is is the fourth largest city in Tennessee, it is the seat of Hamilton County.

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 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.