Listed as a “neighborhood to watch” by Forbes in 2021, Southside Chattanooga, or the Southside Historic District, is a rapidly-developing neighborhood of Chattanooga with a unique character, healthy ecosystem of restaurants and attractions, and a lively nightlife. The community has a distinctly historic character, as you may have guessed, and is largely known for the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel, a hotel built out of a 1858-constructed train station, and a famous 1940s song of the same name. With a plethora of historic architecture, modern attractions and restaurants, and a bustling nightlife, Southside is a wonderful place to live!
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Where is Southside?
It probably won’t surprise you very much that Southside is on the southern end of Chattanooga’s urban area. It is bordered by West 20th Street to the south, East 11th Street to the north, and Route 27 to the west, which connects directly to I-24. The distance from Southside to the center of Chattanooga is only 1 mile. Southside is located primarily within the zip code of 37408.
Southside has quick access to the I-24 via Route 27. The northern border of the neighborhood marks a set of suburbs which surround the illustrious University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. With quick access to many of Chattanooga’s primary transportation routes, getting around in Southside is very easy. As a bonus, the neighborhood is very urban, so walking or using public transportation is also viable!
Map of Southside, Chattanooga
Southside, Chattanooga, TN History & Overview
The history of Chattanooga Southside is closely tied to the history of Chattanooga itself, being part of the city center and thus some of the oldest European habitation in the area. Inhabited since the Upper Paleolithic, this bend of the Tennessee river was home to the Yuchi tribe, before changing hands to the Cherokee tribe, until they were removed by the U.S. government in the 1830s. By 1850, owing to its riverside position, the city was booming.
As Chattanooga grew, the city needed a station for America’s quickly-improving train network. Thus, the Chattanooga Terminal Station was built, right in the southern part of the city. Acting as a vital node connecting the northern and southern American states after the Civil War, the station was famously visited by presidents Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Teddy Roosevelt.
Coinciding with a slump of Chattanooga’s growth in the ‘70s, the Terminal Station was decommissioned, and sold to businesspeople who would renovate the building into the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel, named after a ‘40s hit song. As Chattanooga began to grow again in the 2000s with a revitalized tech industry, Southside became a quickly growing neighborhood, with its walkability and charm attracting many people.
The population of the Southside neighborhood is around 2,000, and are generally well-educated and affluent, with around 57.3% of the population having a bachelor’s degree or higher. The average age of the population is 33.4, and ethnically speaking is somewhat diverse, with Whites making up 68% of the population, with Blacks making up a smaller contingent of the population at around 26%.The median household income for Southside is $63,869.
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What’s It Like Living in Southside?
Southside is a neighborhood defined by its history, culture, hip community, and interesting attractions. With a location right in the center of Chattanooga, you’ll have access to all the best attractions and all the most hip spots to eat, taking full advantage of Chattanooga’s increasing population of young tech industry workers. You’ll love living in Southside!
What to Eat, Do, and Shop in Southside, Chattanooga, TN
The heart of Chattanooga’s growth and culture, it should be no surprise that there’s plenty of fantastic things to do and five-star restaurants in Southside! With such a central location, everything worth seeing in Chattanooga will be nearby!
If you’re on the lookout for great places to shop, there are few better places to look for healthy food than the Chattanooga Market, located right in the middle of the neighborhood. If you’re in the market for beautiful antiques and other decorative items to spice up the domicile, Vinterest Antiques is another excellent place to shop at in Southside Chattanooga.
Looking for fun things to do in Southside? Without a doubt, Southside’s premiere attraction is the Finley Stadium. Home of the Chattanooga Mocs, the field hosts football, soccer, lacrosse, and other sports, all while having thousands of seats for lots of spectators. If you’re a skater, you’ll be glad to know that the Chattanooga Skate Park is right across from the stadium. Finally, we would be remiss not to mention the Chattanooga Choo-Choo, which, while a hotel may not seem to be the most logical place to visit for a resident, has plenty of excellent things to do inside, including a restaurant co-owned by Norman Reedus.
Want to eat out at a great restaurant while living in Southside? The Chattanooga Choo-Choo has many things to do and places to eat inside, including the fantastic STIR, serving high-quality seafood dishes alongside local cuisine. Meanwhile, if you’d like a burger, there’s nowhere better to get one than the lively Southside Social!
- Chattanooga Market, 1801 Reggie White Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37408, United States, (423) 648-2496
- Vinterest Antiques, 2121 Chestnut St, Chattanooga, TN 37408, United States, (423) 498-4825
- Finley Stadium, 1826 Carter St, Chattanooga, TN 37408, United States, (423) 266-4041
- Chattanooga Skate Park, 1801 Reggie White Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37408, United States, (423) 757-2076
- Chattanooga Choo-Choo, 92 Choo Choo Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37408, United States, (423) 266-5000
- STIR, 1444 Market St, Chattanooga, TN 37402, United States, (423) 531-7847
- Southside Social, 1818 Chestnut St, Chattanooga, TN 37408, United States, (423) 708-3280
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Southside, Chattanooga, TN Schools
Southside is served by the Hamilton County School District, which provides education services to the entire city, meaning you’ll have plenty of choice. With nearly 100 schools to provide education to your children, options are many, and exceptional! The most notable options within Southside include the Nolan Elementary School, Signal Mountain Middle/High School, and the East Hamilton High School.
When it comes to a four year degree education, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is only a mile or so north, with very easy access by car and public transportation.
Is Southside, Chattanooga, TN Safe?
It’s no secret that Chattanooga has a crime problem. The crime rate of Chattanooga is more than double the national average, at 14,213 incidents per 100,000 people, and poor scores in both violent and property crime. As for Southside, it is located in Chattanooga’s downtown, which is one of the problem areas when it comes to crime. However, don’t despair! Not only is Chattanooga a rapidly developing city that is improving every day in reducing crime, but Southside itself is gradually becoming safer as time goes on, according to this crime map.
Southside, Chattanooga, TN Real Estate
Despite the fact that Southside is among the safest and most affluent of Chattanooga’s neighborhoods, you’ll be surprised at just how affordable living in this neighborhood is. The historic buildings, cozy community, and wonderful parks can all be yours at a reasonable price. According to Redfin, the average home price in Southside is $368,000, the price very slightly increasing over the years. The median days on the market for real estate is a fairly fast 9 days, while the number of homes sold annually is 38.
For renting in Southside, apartments in the area have a typical monthly rent of $1,328 for 942 sq. ft., according to Rentcafe.
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If you’re interested in looking at listings for Southside’s homes, take a look at some Southside, Chattanooga, TN real estate options here.
Want to start living in Southside, the wonderful and fun Chattanooga neighborhood? All Out Moving is ready to help make your moving journey quick and easy. That’s why you should give All Out Moving at 423-716-3025! Our top-rated and trustworthy Southside moving team has the experience and drive to make sure your relocation doesn’t make you break a sweat! Call now or fill out our online form for a free quote.
