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Are you thinking of moving or relocating to Chattanooga, Tennessee? Would you like to know what the quality of life is like living in Chattanooga?
Bonnie reports in this review:
| Weather | | How much crime? | | What are the neighborhoods like? | | What are the people like? | | Chattanooga gets four distinct, yet warm seasons, including a long, hot summer. Snow is very rare here, but winter gets cold enough for a heavy coat. Expect a classically long, humid, sunny southern summer. In the woodsy, mountain neighborhoods surrounding downtown, plenty of shade and breezes mitigates the heat. | | A friend was once held up at knifepoint in Downtown Chattanooga, during daylight hours, leaving an outdoor concert. I also heard about friends getting bikes stolen, with locks cut, and occasionally there are home break-ins. There are consistent news reports of gang and drug crime in the poor areas. | | Downtown Chattanooga has added a lot of modern loft and condo housing over the past decade and offers the fun of an urban feel and convenience to the river front, nightlife and U.T.C. Downtown refers to the area south of the Tennessee River, down to about East Main Street and extending east to the area known as Orchard Knob.
Lookout Mountain, the residential neighborhood overlooking the city of Chattanooga, is one of the most wonderful places I can imagine to live and raise a family. This are is home to natural-wonder tourist attractions including Rock City, Ruby Falls and the fun Incline Railway that runs straight up the mountain side. This is a very safe and affluent area with beautiful homes.
Some areas of Chattanooga can be quite dangerous and there is a fair amount of gun, drug and gang related crime. Avoid the area near 23rd Street and the East Lake Courts housing projects. | | Chattanooga is a diverse city of white and black college students, old timers, young families that range from very poor to quite well-off, and a crowd of young, single professionals, bohemian types and many people in the service industry.
One notable and maybe surprising element in Chattanooga is a sort of hippie crowd ranging from college kids to old, bearded tie-dye wearers. Jam bands are always popular in the local music scene and you will find several head shops and many places selling beaded jewelry.
I found Chattanooga natives to be uncommonly warm and friendly. People here make it a point to welcome strangers and make friends. There is nothing like a southern welcome, in a southern drawl to make a newcomer feel wanted. | | Downtown Area | | Restaurants | | Schools | | Single life | | There is some great shopping in this city. Try Market Street for a few upscale clothing chain shops catering to professional women. Frazier Avenue, on the North Shore is the place to go for smaller, eccentric, locally owned shops with personality. And Warehouse Row, built in a renovated 18th century brick factory building is a great destination for bargains and atmosphere. | | Boathouse Rotisserie and Grill is a great standby for fresh seafood, from raw oysters to local favorite, catfish, along with a wide menu. One of my old favorites is the family-owned Pickle Barrel restaurant on Market Street. This is a longtime local favorite that's friendly and cozy and offers great bar food.
| | U.T.C. (University of Chattanooga), is a solid public university with a great business program and a good psychology department. Some high schools in the Hamilton County district are ranked as some of the country's best by U.S. News and World Reports. | | Chattanooga is a pretty good place to single. There is a lot of nightlife, plenty of bars with live music. And if that's not your thing, it's easy to meet people of all ages at social events that revolve around conservation, church groups, film clubs at the university, or just in your neighborhood, because everyone is so friendly. | | Noise | | town comparison vs. | | Best hospital | | Tourist attractions | | There is a major highway (I-75) that runs through the city, but most residential areas aren't right up against it. The most noise I noticed when living in Chattanooga came from rowdy college students after football games and on big party weekend. No real major problems unless you are near some new construction. | | Nothing else in the area really compares to Chattanooga. Suburbs like Signal Mountain and Soddy-Daisy can be good places for families, but they don't really offer any culture. In fact, their best selling point is proximity to Chattanooga. | | Erlanger Hospital, a teaching hospital part of the University of Chattanooga's Erlanger Health System, is the best hospital in the region. It is recognized as one of the best hospitals in the country and a level 1 trauma center. | | All around Chattanooga, you will see signs and billborads urging you to "See Rock City," and you really should. The views are incredible, there are events and educational programs for kids, and during the holidays, the caves are lit up with whimsical lights and decorations, giving the place a magical, romantic feel. About half an hour outside of Chattanooga is the Ocoee River. The river is gorgeous for day trips, camping and picnics, and it's a national destination for whitewater rafting, kayaking, and more laid back tubing.
On Sundays spring through fall, visit the Chattanooga Market. This excellent farmers' is the largest producer-only market in the region and has gotten national press. There is local, organic produce, and many unique, freshly made treats from vegan and raw foods, to infamous "cheesecake pops."
Chattanooga is also a great festival town. In June, the outdoor Riverbend Festival feature big name rock and country music. Now, the long-running Bessie Smith Strut, joins Riverbend with its trademark soul, jazz and R&B, all along Martin Luther King Boulevard. | | General comments | | | | | | | | Chattanooga is a fun little city with good intentions. This town loves music. Old-time country, rock music, jazz and folksier jam bands all find enthusiastic crowds, festivals and venues. Commercial real estate here is relatively inexpensive, and that means new, independent businesses pop up all the time. Offbeat locals put a very personal touch into their cafes, boutiques and restaurants. The long running festivals, combined with the newer efforts to make revitalized areas take off means there is always something to look forward to here, and residents show a lot of enthusiasm for traditions and new endeavors. | | | | | | |
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