Great area nw georgia, chattanooga, tn!!! (Knoxville, Red Bank: hardwood floors, homeowners insurance, crime) - Tennessee (TN) - City-Data Forum

romeo kilo · 03-12-2009, 11:46 AM

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If you are moving, and you are considering the Northwest Georgia area or the Chattanooga, Tn area, I would like to give you my input:
* I am a 53 year old married white male (High School education with approximately 2 years of college but no degree).
*I moved to Ringgold, Ga (Catoosa County) (Right off of Interstate 75... 90 miles north of Atlanta and 20 miles southeast of downtown Chattanooga,Tn) in Jan 2006 after living in the Tampa Bay, Florida area for 18 years. Here is what I have learned about the Chattanooga area in the past 3 years:
* The vast majority of the people here are locals...conservative and friendly with decent values and are family oriented.
* I have not personally dealt with any Race Issues in the area. I am white and both Catoosa (where I live) and Walker Counties in Ga are 95% white.
*Chattanooga, with a population of 175,000 is a little more diverse, about 60%W and 35%B.
*Hamilton County, Tn (Chattanooga) with a population of 330,000 is 75%W and 20% B
*The Chattanooga MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) has a population of a little over 500,000.
*Though Chattanooga has about 1-1.5 murders per month and its share of crime, we just dont see it.
*I have walked downtown Chattanooga on many occasions at night to go to the IMAX theatre, the Large and Beautiful Aquarium, or to the semi-pro baseball stadium ...all very near the Tennessee Riverfront. We have never once felt threatened!!
*New Homes on the Georgia side are selling now and since I moved here for about $100 per sq ft. We purchased a 3/2 1600 sq ft home on 1acre (in a small subdivision) with hardwood floors, gas fireplace, large rear deck with mountain view, 2 car garage, and stainless steel appliances in 2006 for $155,000.
*The property tax for last year was just over $1,000 (Property Tax on the Tennessee side is definitely Higher!)
*The homeowners insurance last year, including dwelling and possessions was a ridiculous $350 (Very Ridiculous if you are from Florida!!)
*My wife easily got a job at TMobile as a Customer Service Rep at about $25,000 annually when we first arrived.
*She now works for US Express (large trucking co headquartered in Chattanooga) and made approximately $35,000 last year.
*Volkswagen is building a new Automobile Assembly plant here..they have already started hiring white collar workers.
*Dalton State, University of Tenn @ Chattanooga, NW Ga Tech, Temple Univ are a few of the higher education schools in the area.
*Traffic jams are not a problem here. I have never been in anything compared to Atlanta, Tampa, DC traffic. To me, the traffic here is a breeze.
*The weather is Moderate...In the 2nd or 3rd week in Nov it starts to cool off and stays cool until about now, March. But, without the snow (1 inch last year) and ice found farther north. It is definitely a 4 season area.
*Shopping for the ladies: Hamilton Place Mall area...you name the store, and it is there. It's not only the mall, but lots of other stores (lowes, Home depot, Best Buy, WalMart, Steakhouses, Pasta, Seafood, its all there!!)around the mall that make this a HUGE shopping, dining, and retail area. Downtown Warehouse Row for Coach and other high end retailers.
*The list of things to do is incredible. Hiking, Kayaking, Rock climbing, Fishing, Hunting, Boating, Hang Gliding, Cave Exploration, IMAX theatre, Kids Museum of Science, Hunter Art Museum, Tennessee River and a beautiful riverside park..great for the kids, Riverwalk, Best Aquarium I have ever seen, Semi Pro Baseball Stadium, College Basketball and football, Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain, Incline Railway, Beautiful Rock City Gardens, Civil War Battlefields, I can never remember everything. All good, wholesome, clean , family entertainment. Great for the young and the old!
*I cannot speak regarding the local schools since my kids did not attend any schools in this area.
*Although there are jobs, the downward economy is affecting this area like many others across the nation. The VW Plant is a definite huge infusion of money into the area.
*The small Airport is easily accessible
*Atlanta, Knoxville, Nashville, Huntsville, Al, Birmingham are all 1-1.5 hrs away.
*In summary, I am a nomad, former US Air Force, and have lived in MS,AL,FL, GA, IL, DE, VA, and 2 years in Turkey. I don't know that I will ever leave this area . The people are nice, friendly, supportive, ...the scenery is beautiful. The things to do and see are endless. The traffic is fine, the crime I dont even notice, and the cost of living is below the national average.

[+] Rate this post positively

Dee74 · 03-12-2009, 04:15 PM

Thanks for the nice post, good overview of the area. We have a place in the chatt area but only can get up from Tampa Bay 2-4 times a year. Wish it were more often.

dasmarian · 03-12-2009, 07:40 PM

I think that you mean well in your post but it reads a bit off color to me. I dunno why, but I think there are some points there you might have made differently.

On the other hand, you did a nice job of stereotyping yourself.

romeo kilo · 03-13-2009, 03:59 PM

Das,
I dont understand your comment, all that I did was state FACTS regarding the area in which I live and FACTS about myself.

A lot of my post content is Demographic Information straight from the City of Chattanooga website and the City-Data website.

Any opinions expressed are based totally on my experience with the people , places, and things in this area.

I dont see how describing the FACTS regarding one's self and the area in which they live could be described as Off Color or Stereotypical.

You are welcome to expound on your comments.

Thanks for reading.

dasmarian · 03-13-2009, 09:25 PM

Like I said, I think you are well intentioned and I realize, and realized when I read your post, that you meant no offense. I'd rather not start an argument or appear mean here so I'd prefer to just drop it.

romeo kilo · 03-13-2009, 10:01 PM

If I somehow offended anyone with my stats or opinion about this area, I do apologize. Like I have said in my previous post, I love this whole area. ..from Ringgold to Rossville to Chattanooga to Red Bank to Dayton. This whole area is full of great people and if you are from here, your response helps to prove my point. Best of Luck to you... and I am thankful to live here with and amongst some of the nicest people I have ever encountered...and I have lived in a lot of places. Peace to you and have a Blessed Day.

Katsmeeyow · 03-24-2009, 03:24 PM

That really is a beautiful area! I tried and tried to move there, but alas my hubby's job would not cooperate! However we are moving to N. AL so I am looking forward to that too! It is refreshing to see someone so excited by the place they live!

Grizzlybear34 · 03-25-2009, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsmeeyow

That really is a beautiful area! I tried and tried to move there, but alas my hubby's job would not cooperate! However we are moving to N. AL so I am looking forward to that too! It is refreshing to see someone so excited by the place they live!

Hey kat - Where in N Alabama did you all decide on? How far from the Chattanooga area??

Take care,
Grizz

Katsmeeyow · 03-25-2009, 10:29 PM

I'm DM'ing you!

jkmewright · 03-26-2009, 06:09 AM

North AL? Well well well. That's still close enough