Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
Soddy-Daisy is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 12,714 at the 2010 census[5] and estimated to be 13,619 in 2019.[6] The city was formed in 1969 when the communities of Soddy (to the north) and Daisy (to the south), along with nearby developed areas along U.S. Highway 27, merged to form Soddy-Daisy. It is becoming a bedroom community of nearby Chattanooga and is part of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area. Sequoyah Nuclear Generating Station is located in Soddy-Daisy.
Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee | |
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Soddy-Daisy City Hall | |
Location of Soddy-Daisy in Hamilton County, Tennessee | |
Coordinates: 35°15′31″N 85°10′37″W | |
Country | United States |
State | Tennessee |
County | Hamilton |
Incorporated | 1969 |
Area | |
• Total | 24.01 sq mi (62.19 km2) |
• Land | 23.15 sq mi (59.95 km2) |
• Water | 0.86 sq mi (2.24 km2) |
Elevation | 699 ft (213 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 12,714 |
• Estimate (2019)[2] | 13,619 |
• Density | 588.37/sq mi (227.17/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP codes | 37379, 37384 |
Area code(s) | 423 |
FIPS code | 47-69560[3] |
GNIS feature ID | 1270798[4] |
Website | www |
History
Soddy-Daisy is an incorporated city, comprising the Tennessee cities Soddy and Daisy. It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.[7]
Soddy-Daisy was home to Hamilton County's first courthouse and government seat, Poe's Tavern.[8] The tavern, built in 1819, was the home of Soddy-Daisy resident Hasten Poe. In 1838, the tavern served as a way station for 1,900 Cherokees who were on the Trail of Tears. During the Civil War, Poe's Tavern served as a hospital for both Union and Confederate troops.[9] Though the original Poe's Tavern was torn down in 1911, the city of Soddy Daisy has reconstructed a replica of the building a block away from the original site.[10]
There are two popular stories about how the city of Soddy got its name. The first is that the word "Soddy" is an anglicization of Tsati, a shorter form of the Cherokee word ᎠᏂ ᎫᏌᏘ Ᏹ (Ani-Kusati-yi), referring to the Muskogean Koasati people who lived there in the 18th century prior to Cherokee migration to the area after 1776. The second theory is that Soddy was named for William Sodder, who ran a trading post in the city. Others claim that Soddy's name is a reference to Soddy Creek, which is believed to have originated from the Cherokee word Sauta, which is derived from Echota. Soddy was a very small town until the Soddy Coal Company began mining in 1867.
Daisy is rumored to have taken its name from Daisy Parks, the daughter of Thomas Parks.[11] Thomas Parks was Vice-President of the Tabler-Cleudup Coal & Coke Company, and founded the Daisy Coal Company in April 1881.[12]
The two cities incorporated in April 1969 along a 9-mile (14 km) stretch of U.S. 27.[13]
Geography
Soddy-Daisy is located in north-central Hamilton County at 35°15′31″N 85°10′37″W (35.258538, -85.176996).[14] Its southwestern end is bordered by the city of Chattanooga. Unincorporated communities that border Soddy-Daisy are Middle Valley to the south, Falling Water to the southwest, Mowbray Mountain to the west and Flat Top Mountain to the northwest. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.4 square miles (60.7 km2), of which 22.6 square miles (58.6 km2) are land and 0.81 square miles (2.1 km2), or 3.51%, are water.
The city is situated at the base of the Cumberland Escarpment, the east face of Walden Ridge, which is part of the Cumberland Plateau. An inlet of Chickamauga Lake (consisting of the lower part of Soddy Creek) lies to the east. U.S. Route 27 is the city's main highway, connecting it with Chattanooga 16 miles (26 km) to the south and Dayton 22 miles (35 km) to the northeast. State Route 111, which crosses Walden Ridge and leads 17 miles (27 km) northwest to Dunlap, intersects US-27 in the northern part of the city.
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1970 | 7,569 | — | |
1980 | 8,388 | 10.8% | |
1990 | 8,240 | −1.8% | |
2000 | 11,530 | 39.9% | |
2010 | 12,714 | 10.3% | |
Est. 2019 | 13,619 | [2] | 7.1% |
Sources:[15][16] |
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 11,530 people, 4,511 households, and 3,392 families residing in the city. The population density was 500.6 people per square mile (193.3/km²). There were 4,809 housing units at an average density of 208.8 per square mile (80.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% White, 0.60% African American, 0.24% American Indian, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 4,511 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,163, and the median income for a family was $41,394. Males had a median income of $32,073 versus $23,147 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,889. About 6.5% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The city commissioners are currently Gene Shipley, Max Lowe, Robert Couthran, Jim Adams, and Rick Nunley. The City Manager is currently Janice Cagle and the Finance Director and Recorder is currently Burt Johnson. The Public Works Director is currently Steve Grant.
The Fire Chief is currently Mike Guffey and the Police Chief is Marty Bowman.
The city judge is currently Marty Lasley.
Education
Soddy-Daisy has six schools:
- Allen Elementary
- Daisy Elementary
- Soddy Elementary
- Ivy Academy
- Soddy-Daisy Middle
- Sequoyah High School
- Soddy-Daisy High School
Media
- Soddy-Daisy has one local radio station licensed to its community, WGOW-FM.
Notable people
- Joe Chaney, darts player
- Bryan Harvey, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
- Ralph McGill, journalist
- Stefanie Wittler, Miss Tennessee 2009
References
- "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Soddy-Daisy city, Tennessee". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- Parker, Quentin (2010). Welcome to Horneytown, North Carolina, Population: 15: An insider's guide to 201 of the world's weirdest and wildest places. Adams Media. pp. xii.
- http://community.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/mar/23/soddy-daisy-commits-50000-historic-poes-tavern-pro/
- Cooper, Clint (June 25, 2011). "Poe's Tavern re-creation to anchor new 2-acre park in Soddy-Daisy". Timesfreepress.com. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
- http://soddy-daisy.org/?s=poe%27s
- "Profile for Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee". ePodunk. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- http://www.hctgs.org/communities/soddy_daisy.htm
- http://soddy-daisy.org/about
- "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- "Census of Population and Housing: Decennial Censuses". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
- "Incorporated Places and Minor Civil Divisions Datasets: Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 11, 2013. Retrieved December 11, 2013.