Chattanooga is a mid-sized city located in southeast Tennessee along the Tennessee River. As of 2023, Chattanooga has an estimated population of 182,799 according to Wikipedia, making it Tennessee’s fourth-largest city behind Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville.
Population and Demographics
In addition to its total population of around 183,000 residents, Chattanooga has a population density of 1,044 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the city is approximately 56% White, 34% Black or African American, 2% Asian, and 6% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Chattanooga’s population grew rapidly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries after a period of decline in the 1970s and 1980s when many manufacturing facilities shut down or relocated. Between 1990 and 2015, Chattanooga’s population grew by nearly 30%. This growth has been fueled by revitalization of the city’s downtown, including major private and public investment projects.
Economy and Major Employers
Historically, Chattanooga’s economy relied heavily on manufacturing and rail transport. In recent decades, the city has put significant effort into diversifying its economy and attracting new industries and employers.
Today, some of Chattanooga’s major employers include:
- BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee – around 5,500 employees
- EPB (Electric Power Board) – around 900 employees
- McKee Foods Corporation – over 3,500 employees
- Unum – around 3,000 employees
- Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) – around 2,800 employees
- Amazon – around 1,500 employees
- PwC – around 1,000 employees
In addition to corporate business, Chattanooga also has a growing healthcare and education economy. The city’s largest hospitals are run by Erlanger Health System. Major colleges and universities include the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Chattanooga State Community College.
Tourism and hospitality are also important industries, driven by attractions like the Tennessee Aquarium, Lookout Mountain, the Hunter Museum of American Art, and Chattanooga Choo Choo historic train station.
To learn more about Chattanooga’s business and economy, check out the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce website.
Landmarks and Attractions
Some of Chattanooga’s notable landmarks and attractions include:
- Coolidge Park – a large public park along the Tennessee River with open green space, fountains, and walking bridges.
- Walnut Street Bridge – a historic pedestrian bridge spanning the Tennessee River.
- Rock City – a unique rock formation and gardens located on Lookout Mountain.
- Tennessee Aquarium – one of the largest freshwater aquariums in the world.
- Hunter Museum of American Art – an art museum displaying works from the 19th to 21st centuries.
- Chattanooga Choo Choo – a historic train station now serving as a hotel complex.
- Lookout Mountain – a mountain with impressive cliff views overlooking Chattanooga.
Outdoor recreation like hiking, biking, fishing, and water sports is also popular given Chattanooga’s natural surroundings and location along the Tennessee River.
Sports
Despite being a smaller city, Chattanooga has a rich sports tradition and is home to several professional and college teams. Some of the most popular include:
- Chattanooga FC – an amateur soccer team with a passionate local following.
- Chattanooga Lookouts – a Minor League Baseball team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds.
- Chattanooga Mocs – the athletic teams representing the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
- Chattanooga Red Wolves SC – a professional soccer team in the USL League One.
College football and basketball are especially popular in Chattanooga. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team competes in the Division I FCS Southern Conference. Basketball is also widely followed, with many locals supporting the University of Tennessee Volunteers and other regional college teams.
City Government
Chattanooga has a strong mayor-council form of government. The current mayor is Tim Kelly, an independent who took office in 2021. The city council consists of nine members representing the city’s nine districts.
Some of the city’s government departments and services include:
- Chattanooga Police Department
- Chattanooga Fire Department
- Parks and Recreation Department
- Public Works Department
- Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department
- Chattanooga Public Library
- Department of Youth and Family Development
To learn more about Chattanooga’s government and services, check out the city’s website or the City of Chattanooga Facebook page.