Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. It is the main city of the county. The city sits along the Tennessee River and is close to Georgia.

As of the 2020 census, Chattanooga is Tennessee's fourth-most populous city. It had a population of 181,099.

During the American Civil War, Chattanooga was important because many railroads met there. After the war, these railroads helped the city grow. Today, jobs in making cars, advanced products, food and drinks, healthcare, insurance, tourism, and many company offices support the city's economy.

Chattanooga is known as the "Scenic City" for its beautiful mountains and valleys. Other nicknames are "River City" and "Gig City" because it once had very fast internet. A famous song from 1941 called "Chattanooga Choo Choo" by Glenn Miller made the city famous. Chattanooga is also home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Chattanooga State Community College.

History

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Early history

The first people in the Chattanooga area were Native Americans. Places from very old times show that people lived there from around 10,000 BCE through many years. The Chickamauga Mound is one of the oldest pieces of art still there in Chattanooga.

The name "Chattanooga" comes from a word meaning 'rock'. The city grew fast after it became a place where rivers and trains met.

Civil War

Main article: Chattanooga in the American Civil War

During the American Civil War, Chattanooga was very important. It had many tools and roads that helped both sides. Big fights happened there, and it was a key place that helped change the war.

1867 flood

A very big flood happened in Chattanooga in 1867 before special water control systems were built. The water went very high and covered the whole city.

20th century

Chattanooga grew when the United States entered the First World War. Later, it became known for music and was one of the first cities in Tennessee to finish its highway system.

The city faced hard times with pollution, job losses, and racial problems. But in the 1980s, leaders started plans to bring new life to the city.

Civil Rights Movement

In 1960, students started peaceful protests for equal rights. The city agreed to change some rules after talks. Later, leaders worked to make sure everyone was treated fairly.

21st century

Chattanooga started giving people very fast Internet in 2010. In 2012, it made its own special letters for writing.

The city continues to grow and change.

Geography

Chattanooga is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, in the United States. It lies along the Tennessee River and touches the state of Georgia to the south.

The city covers a total area of 150.080 square miles, with 142.352 square miles of land and 7.728 square miles of water. The Tennessee River and surrounding mountains shape the area. The river is held back by the Chickamauga Dam north of downtown. The city rests between the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians and Walden's Ridge, with Missionary Ridge running through it. Downtown sits at an elevation of about 676 feet.

Downtown Chattanooga has many places to see, such as the Tennessee Aquarium, the Creative Discovery Museum, and the historic Walnut Street Bridge. Four bridges cross the Tennessee River, linking different parts of the city. The area has many parks and murals.

Chattanooga experiences all four seasons, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. The city sometimes sees snow and can be affected by severe weather.

Demographics

Chattanooga, Tennessee, has many homes and people. In 2024, there were about 82,182 homes, and each home had about 2.25 people. The city’s population was about 191,496 in 2024, with people from many different backgrounds.

2024 estimate

In 2024, Chattanooga had 191,496 people living in 82,182 homes. The city had many different groups of people.

2020 census

In 2020, about 181,099 people lived in Chattanooga. Most people lived in urban areas.

2010 census

In 2010, about 167,674 people lived in Chattanooga. The population had many different groups of people.

Religion

Many people in Chattanooga follow Christianity. The largest group is the Southern Baptist Convention, followed by the United Methodist Church. Other groups include non-denominational churches and the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee). Some people also follow Islam.

Economy

Chattanooga has a strong economy with many different jobs in making things and services.

Some well-known companies in Chattanooga include Access America Transport, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, CBL & Associates, The Chattanooga Bakery, Sanofi, the first Coca-Cola bottling plant, Coker Tire, U.S. Xpress, Covenant Logistics, Double Cola, CraftWorks Restaurants & Breweries, Luken Communications, Miller & Martin, the National Model Railroad Association, PepsiCo, Reliance Partners, Republic Parking System, Tricycle Inc., and Unum. Big offices of companies like Cigna, AT&T, T-Mobile USA, and UBS are also in the city. McKee Foods Corporation, which makes the famous Little Debbie snack cakes, is based nearby in Collegedale, Tennessee.

Many companies make things or have places to get their products in Chattanooga, such as Amazon.com, BASF, DuPont, Invista, Komatsu, PepsiCo, Rock-Tenn, Plantronics, Domtar, Norfolk Southern, Ferrara Candy Company, Alco Chemical, Colonial Pipeline, and Buzzi Unicem. The William Wrigley Jr. Company has a big factory in Chattanooga where they make Altoids breath mints.

In 2008, Volkswagen chose Chattanooga to build its first car factory in the United States in many years. The factory opened in 2011 and makes cars like the Passat and the Atlas. In 2019, Volkswagen announced they would start making electric cars there too.

Chattanooga has many shops, including two big shopping places: Hamilton Place Mall in East Brainerd and Northgate Mall in Hixson. Tourism has grown a lot and helped bring in money.

Because of good internet services, more new companies are starting in Chattanooga. There are groups that help new businesses. Places where people can work together are also popular.

Most of Chattanooga and the area around it get their electricity from a city-run group called the Electric Power Board (EPB). EPB also gives fast internet, TV, and phone service. Big companies like TVA also help provide electricity.

Natural gas and water come from private companies. EPB has very fast internet, being the first in the United States to offer speeds up to ten gigabit per second. This has helped bring new businesses to the area.

Banking

There are 27 banks operating in the Chattanooga area. Among the larger banks are First Horizon Bank, Truist Financial, and Regions Financial Corporation, but the area also has offices from UBS, Chase, and Bank of America.

Culture and tourism

Attractions

Chattanooga has many fun places to visit, such as the Tennessee Aquarium, where you can see amazing fish and sea creatures. There are also exciting caves to explore, like the caverns, and beautiful spots along the Tennessee River. In the downtown area, you can stay at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, which used to be a train station. There’s also the Creative Discovery Museum, where kids can learn about science, art, and music through hands-on activities. You can watch movies in an IMAX 3D Theatre and visit the Hunter Museum of American Art to see wonderful artworks.

Across the river is the North Shore district, with charming shops and restaurants. You can also visit parks like Coolidge Park and Renaissance Park. The Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park is a great place for animal lovers. It started small in 1937 with just two monkeys and has grown over the years.

Other popular spots include Ruby Falls, where you can see a big waterfall inside a cave, and the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, a fun ride up the mountain. You can also visit Raccoon Mountain Caverns and enjoy outdoor activities like rafting on the Ocoee River.

Museums

Chattanooga is home to many interesting museums. The International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum tells the story of tow trucks. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum lets you see and ride old trains. Other museums include the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center and the Creative Discovery Museum. In late 2025 or early 2026, a new museum called The Motion Museum will open, showing all things about transportation.

Performing arts

Chattanooga has many places to enjoy music and theater. The historic Tivoli Theatre is home to the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, which combines symphony and opera performances. The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium is another popular venue for shows.

National Park City

In April 2025, Chattanooga became the first National Park City in the United States. This means the city loves being outdoors, taking care of nature, and celebrating different cultures through art and history.

Literary events

Chattanooga holds many writing events, like the Conference on Southern Literature and the Festival of Writers.

Festivals and events

Chattanooga has many fun festivals. The Moon River Festival is a music event held every September. There are also events like GoFest!, Heritage Festival, and the Chattanooga Dulcimer Festival. The city also hosts the Chattanooga Film Festival every year.

Sports

Chattanooga has many sports to enjoy. You can watch soccer, college teams, and baseball games. The city hosts big events like the Ironman Triathlon and a rowing race called the Head of the Hooch.

Organized sports

College sports

Chattanooga had an important college football game from 1997 to 2009. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has teams for football, basketball, and soccer.

Semi-Pro and Minor League Baseball

The Chattanooga Lookouts are a baseball team that play at AT&T Field.

Chattanooga also has semi-pro football teams like the Tennessee Crush and the Chattanooga Steam.

Professional soccer

The city has two soccer teams. Chattanooga FC is very successful. Another team, the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, is building a new stadium.

Rugby

Chattanooga has rugby teams for men, women, and high school students. They play at Montague Park.

Outdoor sports

Rowing

The Head of the Hooch rowing race happens every November on the Tennessee River. Teams from all over come to race.

Cycling

Chattanooga held big cycling events in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The city has a bicycle club to help people ride bikes safely.

Running

Chattanooga is great for running. It has events like the StumpJump 50k and the Erlanger Half Marathon and Marathon.

Triathlons

The Ironman Triathlon comes to Chattanooga for five years. The city will also host the Ironman 70.3 race. These races test athletes in swimming, cycling, and running.

Media and communications

See also: List of newspapers in Tennessee, List of radio stations in Tennessee, and List of television stations in Tennessee

The city of Chattanooga has many local, regional, and national media outlets that reach about one million people in four states: Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina.

Newspapers

The Chattanooga Times Free Press is the main daily newspaper, published every morning. It started in 1999 when two old papers, the Times and the News-Free Press, merged. Today, the Times Free Press shows both liberal and conservative opinions.

The Chattanooga Pulse is a free weekly paper about arts, music, film, and culture. It started in 2003.

Enigma is a free monthly magazine about pop culture and entertainment. It began as a weekly paper in 1995.

The Chattanooga News Chronicle is a weekly newspaper for the African-American community.

Online media

The Chattanoogan is an online news site about Chattanooga, North Georgia, and Southeast Tennessee. It started in 1999 and is the oldest online newspaper in the city.

Nooga.com became a local news website in 2011. It later changed its name to NOOGAtoday and now shares news through emails and social media.

Radio

Chattanooga has many AM and FM radio stations, including news, music, and talk shows.

AM

• WDYN 980 AM – Southern Gospel / WDYN Radio, operated by Tennessee Temple University (licensed to Rossville, GA)
• WFLI 1070 AM – Top 40 from the '60s & '70s (licensed to Chattanooga-Lookout Mountain, TN)
• WGOW 1150 AM – News Talk / NewsRadio 1150 (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• WNOO 1260 AM – Urban gospel and Motown (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• WXCT 1370 AM – AAA / ALT 98.7 (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• WLMR 1450 AM – Christian Talk (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• WJOC 1490 AM – Southern Gospel (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)

FM

• WUTC 88.1 FM – NPR/Mixed music / Music 88. Operated by UTC. First station in Chattanooga to broadcast in HD Radio. (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• W203AZ 88.5 FM – Religious / CSN International (Licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• WMBW 88.9 FM – Christian / Moody Radio For The Heart of the Southeast. Owned and operated by Moody Bible Institute. (Licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• WYBK 89.7 FM – Christian. Operated by Bible Broadcasting Network. (Licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• W211BG 90.1 FM – Religious (Licensed to Walden, TN)
• WSMC-FM 90.5 FM – Classical/NPR/PRI Operated by Southern Adventist University. (licensed to Collegedale, TN)
• WJBP 91.5 FM – Christian / Family Life Radio (licensed to Red Bank, TN)
• WAWL – College Alternative / The Wawl (web only / formerly broadcasting on 91.5) Chattanooga State Community College (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• WDEF-FM 92.3 FM – Adult Contemporary / Sunny 92.3 (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• W224AZ (WALV-HD3) 92.7 FM Christian / LF Radio (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• WSAA 93.1 FM – Christian Rock / Air 1 (licensed to Benton, TN)
• WMPZ 93.5 FM – Urban Adult Contemporary / Groove 93 (licensed to Harrison, TN)
• WJTT 94.3 FM – Urban contemporary / Power 94 (licensed to Red Bank, TN)
• WAAK-LP 94.7 FM – Variety (low power station licensed to Boynton/Ringgold, GA)
• WALV-FM 95.3 FM – Christian/The Joy FM (licensed to Ooltewah, TN)
• W241AF 96.1 FM / W262DQ 100.3 FM – Conservative Talk / The Big One (licensed to Rossville, GA & Hixson, TN) (simulcast of WFLI-AM)
• WDOD 96.5 FM – Top-40 / Hits 96 (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• WUUQ 97.3 FM / W257AZ 99.3 FM – Classic Country / Q Country 97.3/99.3 (licensed to South Pittsburg, TN and Lookout Mountain, TN)
• W249BR (WUSY-HD2) 97.7 FM – Urban Contemporary / Real 97.7 (licensed to Lookout Mountain, TN)
• WLND 98.1 FM – Hot AC / 98.1 The Lake (licensed to Signal Mountain, TN)
• WOOP-LP 99.9 FM – Classic country, old-time gospel, bluegrass, and mountain music. Operated by the Traditional Music Resource Center (licensed to Cleveland, TN)
• WUSY 100.7 FM – Contemporary Country / US101 (licensed to Cleveland, TN)
• WJSQ 101.7 FM – Contemporary and Classic country / 101.7 WLAR (licensed to Athens, TN)
• WOCE 101.9 FM – Spanish (licensed to Ringgold, GA)
• WGOW 102.3 FM – Talk Radio 102.3 (licensed to Soddy-Daisy, TN)
• WBDX 102.7 FM – Contemporary Christian (licensed to Trenton, GA)
• WJLJ 103.1 FM – Contemporary Christian (simulcast with WBDX 102.7) (licensed to Etowah, TN)
• WRXR 103.7 FM – Active Rock / Classic Rock (licensed to Walden, TN)
• WUIE 105.1 FM – American Family Radio (licensed to Lakeside, TN)
• WRXR-FM 105.5 FM – Contemporary Hit / Pop (licensed to Rossville, GA)
• WSKZ 106.5 FM – Classic Rock / KZ106 (licensed to Chattanooga, TN)
• W295BI (WALV HD-2) 106.9 FM Christian/ Joy Worship (licensed to Ooltewah, TN)
• WOGT 107.9 FM – Country / New Country 107.9 (licensed to East Ridge, TN)

Television

Chattanooga's television stations include:

• WRCB channel 3, NBC affiliate (DT 13 / cable 4)
• WOOT-LD channel 6, Independent/Heartland (formerly UPN)
• WTVC channel 9, ABC/Fox affiliate (DT 9 / cable 10)
• WDEF channel 12, CBS affiliate (DT 8 / cable 13)
• WNGH channel 18, GPB member station (DT 4 / cable 12)
• WELF channel 23, TBN affiliate (DT 28 / cable 9)
• W26BE channel 26, 3ABN affiliate (cable 295)
• WYHB channel 39, Independent/DefyTV (DT 25)
• WTCI channel 45, PBS member station (DT 35 / cable 5)
• WFLI-TV channel 53, The CW/MyNetworkTV affiliate (Formerly UPN and The WB) (DT 23 / cable 6)
• WDSI channel 61, True Crime Network affiliate (DT 14 / cable 11)

Law and government

The mayor of Chattanooga is Tim Kelly. He was elected in April 2021. The city uses a special system called a "strong mayor" system. This system began in 1991 to make sure everyone was fairly represented.

Chattanooga’s leaders are chosen by people living in different parts of the city, called districts. There are nine leaders, known as the City Council, who help make decisions for the city. The city also has representatives in the state government and in the United States government.

Education

Most schools in Chattanooga are paid for by the government. The schools here are managed by the Hamilton County Schools. The Howard School was the first public school, opening in 1865. There are also special schools for students who need extra help, like the Siskin Children's Institute.

Chattanooga has many colleges and universities. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is part of the University of Tennessee System. Chattanooga State Community College is a two-year college. There are also smaller schools like Covenant College and Southern Adventist University nearby.

The Chattanooga Public Library opened in 1905 and moved to its current location in 1976.

Health care

See also: List of hospitals in Tennessee

Chattanooga has three main hospital systems: Erlanger Health System, Parkridge Hospital System, and CHI Memorial Hospital System.

Erlanger Health System began in 1889 and is one of the bigger public healthcare systems in the United States. Erlanger Hospital works with the University of Tennessee to help teach medical students. It is the main hospital for serious injuries for people in southeastern Tennessee, north Georgia, northeastern Alabama, and western North Carolina. Parkridge Hospital is east of downtown and has several medical centers nearby. Memorial Hospital is downtown and is part of a healthcare group based in Denver.

Transportation

Chattanooga is a busy city for travelers. It has many roads, highways, and bridges to help people move around. Major highways like Interstate 75 connect Chattanooga to cities such as Knoxville and Atlanta. Other highways, including Interstate 24 and Interstate 59, link the city to places like Nashville and Birmingham.

The city has many ways for people to get around. There is a public bus system called the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA), which includes special buses with free wireless Internet. Chattanooga also has a bike-sharing program with many bikes at different stations around the city.

Chattanooga is an important place for trains, with many freight trains passing through. There are also places where people can learn about trains, like the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.

The city has several bridges over the Tennessee River, including the Walnut Street Bridge, which is a popular walking spot. The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport offers flights to many places across the country with airlines like Delta Air Lines.

In popular culture

Chattanooga has been featured in many books, documentaries, films, and TV shows. Filmmakers like this place, especially because of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. Books set here include Four and Twenty Blackbirds by Cherie Priest. Many documentaries focus on the railroad or Civil War history. Films such as October Sky, Water for Elephants, and Leatherheads have used Chattanooga as a location. The city's famous song "Chattanooga Choo Choo" has been used in movies too.

The city has hosted many entertainment events, like wrestling shows, concerts, and sports tournaments at McKenzie Arena. TV shows such as Antiques Roadshow, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and Restaurant: Impossible have featured Chattanooga. The city has appeared in shows like The Andy Griffith Show and The Middle. Music videos, including ones for Usher and Tim McGraw, have also been filmed there.

Sister cities

Chattanooga has special connections with cities around the world, called sister cities. These include Hamm, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, Wuxi in China, Givatayim in Israel, Nizhny Tagil in Russia, Gangneung in South Korea, another city in Germany called Wolfsburg, Tōno in Japan, and Accra in Ghana.

In a special park called Coolidge Park's Peace Grove, trees from each of these cities were planted to show friendship. These trees include types like linden, Chinese elm, Mediterranean cedar, white birch, ginkgo, English elm, European hornbeam, oak, and cherry tree.

Friendship cities

Chattanooga also has friendly relations with Swindon in the United Kingdom, Ascoli Piceno in Italy, and Manfredonia in Italy.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Chattanooga, Tennessee

Chattanooga has been home to many famous people. Some of them have done important work in music, sports, and public service. The city is still a place where inspiring stories begin.