Hamilton County

History

For thousands of years, indigenous cultures occupied this region, especially along the rivers and creeks. The area was long occupied by the historic Cherokee Nation. In the early 19th century, it was being led by John Ross. The city that is now known as Chattanooga developed at Ross's Landing, a busy trading post recognized as the center of the Cherokee Nation. Over a series of treaties with the United States between 1819 and 1835, the Cherokee had been mostly moved out of the area.

If any Cherokee wished to stay in the area, the head of the family would have to leave the tribe and become an American citizen. Once a citizen, they would be entitled to 640 acres (260 ha) of land. At the time of death, the person's heirs would be entitled to the land. Of the 107 reservations reported to Congress in 1819, only 39 were listed as fee simple. The other 68 reservations were allowed to continue as long as the family stayed on the land. Once the family moved, the land could be sold. This provision made it easier to remove the Cherokee from the area. The 1835 Treaty of New Echota provided the U.S. government a legal basis for the forced removal of the Cherokee, opening their former lands for settlement. Some Cherokee leaders had agreed to this, in the belief that removal was inevitable and they could negotiate decent conditions for their people. The majority of the Cherokee opposed removal.

Hamilton County was formed on October 25, 1819, from portions of Rhea County and Cherokee land that was ceded to the U.S. It was named after Alexander Hamilton, an officer in the American Revolutionary War, member of the Continental Congress, the first U.S. secretary of treasury, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

At the time of the 1820 census, the county counted 821 residents, including 16 blacks, 39 slaves, and about 100 Cherokee living on six reservations. The original legislature ruled that John Gamble, William Lauderdale, and Robert Patterson, the three men who were responsible for founding the county, would conduct all county business in the county seat. The original county seat was in the home of Hasten Poe, who owned a popular tavern located near those three men's farms. In 1822 the County Court was moved to the farm of Ashael Rawlings in Dallas, Tennessee; he was the newly appointed county clerk. After the county seat was moved to Harrison, the Dallas settlement declined. The county seat was finally moved to Chattanooga in 1870.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 542 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 33 square miles (85 km2) (5.8%) is water. Hamilton County is one of the few counties in the United States to border 10 other counties.

The county is in the Eastern Time Zone, but the three Tennessee counties that border it on the west (Bledsoe, Marion, and Sequatchie) observe Central Time.

Natural areas of interest

Raccoon Mountain Caverns is a show cave located 8 miles northwest of downtown Chattanooga. It was originally explored in 1929 by Leo Lambert who developed trails and installed lights and opened the cave to the public on June 28, 1931. The cave was opened under the name Tennessee Caverns. The operators of the cave claim that its explored length is over 5.5 miles (8.9 km).

The Crystal Caverns Cave Spider, Nesticus furtivus, is only known from this one cave. Cave guides will occasionally spot one of these rare spiders and point it out to tourists.

Ruby Falls Cave is a show cave located on the side of Lookout Mountain south of downtown Chattanooga. It was discovered by accident on December 28, 1928, when it was intersected by an elevator shaft that was being drilled to develop Lookout Mountain Cave as a commercial cave. Ruby Falls Cave was intersected at a depth of 260 feet from the surface and Lookout Mountain Cave was reached later at a depth of 420 feet below the surface. The entire project was the work of cave developer Leo Lambert. He named the new cave's waterfall after his wife Ruby. The lower cave, Lookout Mountain Cave, opened to the public on December 30, 1929. Ruby Falls opened to the public on June 16, 1930. Ruby Falls Cave, with its spectacular waterfall proved the more popular of the two caves and it is the only cave open to the public at the present time.

Areas such as Lookout Mountain including the famous Point Park, and Sunset Rock. Point Park is a national military park that is a tribute to the battle of Lookout mountain that took place during the American Civil War. Lookout Mountain was the area in which the last battle of the Cherokee Indians took place. It also as battlegrounds during the American Civil War and served as a base for General Ulysses S. Grant troops during the American Civil War. There are many other important areas to note on Lookout Mountain.

National protected area

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (part)

State protected areas

Booker T. Washington State Park

Chickamauga Wildlife Management Area (part)

Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park (part)

Falling Water Falls State Natural Area

Harrison Bay State Park

North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Park (part)

Major highways

I-24

I-75

I-124

US 11

US 27

US 41

US 64

US 72

US 74

US 76

US 127

SR 2

SR 8

SR 17

SR 27

SR 58

SR 60

SR 111

SR 153

SR 312

SR 317

SR 318

SR 319

SR 320

SR 321

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 366,207 people, 148,758 households, and 91,469 families residing in the county. The median age was 39.3 years; 21.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.3 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 69.6% White, 17.6% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.4% from some other race, and 6.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.4% of the population.

87.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 12.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 148,758 households in the county, of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 45.5% were married-couple households, 18.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 162,268 housing units, of which 8.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 63.2% were owner-occupied and 36.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.9%.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 336,463 people, 136,682 households, and 88,149 families residing in the county. The population density was 620.78 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 74.75% White, 20.21% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.86% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 4.46% of the population.

Out of all of the households, 25.49% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 46.34% were married couples living together, 13.86% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.29% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.51% were non-families. 29.35% of households were made up of individuals, and 10.34% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39, and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.58% under the age of 18, 63.73% ages 18 to 64, and 14.69% aged 65 and older. The media age was 39.3 years. 51.88% of the population were females, and 48.12% were males.

The median household income in the county was $46,544, and the median family income was $60,184. Males had a median income of $45,835 versus $34,342 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,052. About 12.1% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under the age of 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 and over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 307,896 people, 124,444 households, and 83,750 families residing in the county. The population density was 568 inhabitants per square mile (219/km2). There were 134,692 housing units at an average density of 248 units per square mile (96/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.32% White, 20.14% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 124,444 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.20% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 24.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,930, and the median income for a family was $48,037. Males had a median income of $35,413 versus $24,505 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,593. About 9.20% of families and 12.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.80% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Countywide elected officials

Source:

Hamilton County is represented in the Tennessee General Assembly by mainly Republicans. In the Tennessee Senate, the county is entirely represented by 2 Republican senators. In the Tennessee House of Representatives, 5 districts include portions of Hamilton County, with 4 Republicans and 1 Democrat serving as state representatives.

Executive branch

The citizens of Hamilton County elect the mayor every four years. The current mayor is Weston Wamp, who has served since September 2022. The fourth mayor of Hamilton County, Mayor Wamp is the youngest person to ever hold the office.

The mayor serves as the head of the county's executive branch and as the county's chief fiscal officer. The mayor oversees the budget preparation process and administers the budget and financial reports and oversees the day-to-day operations of county government, including implementation of all laws and policies. The mayor also gives the county commission recommendations and keeps them up to date about the county's financial condition.

Dalton Roberts (1978-1994)

Claude Ramsey (1994-2011)

Jim Coppinger (2011-2022)

The current chief of staff is Claire McVay.

The chief of staff is appointed by the mayor and is responsible for overseeing and coordinating all areas of county general government, and coordinating specific initiatives. The chief of staff also serves as a point of contact for the county commission and other elected officials. The office's main purpose is to assist the county mayor carry out his initiatives in an efficient and effective manner.

The assessor of property is elected to find and list the value of all property in Hamilton County. Property is reappraised every four years. The current assessor of property is Marty Haynes.

The county clerk is elected to issue vehicle tags, marriage and business licenses, and other documents. The current county clerk is William (Bill) Knowles.

The register of deeds is elected to record deeds and other legal documents, including powers of attorney, mortgages, marriages, and military discharges. The register's office also collects and accounts for all fees and taxes. The current register of deeds is Marc Gravitt.

County judicial system

All court clerks are elected by the citizens of Hamilton County.

The district attorney serves to prosecute all individuals who violate the criminal law in Hamilton County, which is made up of the 11th Judicial District of Tennessee. The office also prosecutes all felony, state misdemeanor, and juvenile delinquency cases brought before the Hamilton County Juvenile Court. It represents crime victims in victim compensation hearings and maintains and supervises the Victim Witness Assistance Program.

The current district attorney is Coty Wamp, having been elected to an 8-year term in 2022. Previously serving as the general counsel for the Hamilton County sheriff's office, Wamp is the first female to ever hold the office.

The Chancery Court hears cases involving civil matters, including domestic relations, worker's compensation, estates, trusts, contracts, review of administrative action of governmental agencies and boards, collection of delinquent taxes, guardianships, and conservatorships, dissolution of partnerships and corporations, enforcement of liens, boundary lines, breach of contract, fraud, election contests, and other matters of a civil nature. The current chancellors are Pamela Fleenor and Jeffrey Atherton.

The clerk and master handles fees and paperwork associated with the court and sometimes serves as a chancellor.

The circuit court hears both criminal and civil cases, including adoption and divorce matters, contract disputes, name changes, as well as hearing appeals from lower courts. The current circuit court judges are J.B. Bennett, Michael Dumitru, Marie Williams, and Kyle Hedrick.

The circuit court clerk handles the paperwork and fees associated with this court. The current circuit court clerk is Larry Henry.

The criminal court handles both felony and misdemeanor cases. Cases are brought to the criminal court after a grand jury issues an indictment, or after an appeal is granted from a lower court. Trials in this court are typically have juries, however, a judge may hear a case without a jury. The current criminal court judges are Barry Steelman, Tom Greenholtz, and Don Poole.

Politics

Politically, Hamilton County is conservative. Along with the rest of East Tennessee, it has been supportive of the Republican party since the Civil War, even as the rest of the Solid South voted staunchly Democratic. However, unlike most counties in East Tennessee, Hamilton County is a strong two party county, with the Democratic candidate usually receiving at least 40% of the popular vote in presidential elections, and the city of Chattanooga tending to lean Democratic. In 2004, Republican George Bush defeated Democrat John Kerry 57% to 41%. The last Democrat to win the county was Harry S. Truman in 1948, although George Wallace did win a plurality in 1968.

In 2008, Republican John McCain defeated Democrat Barack Obama by a slightly smaller margin of 55% to 43%. In 2012, Republican Mitt Romney defeated incumbent Obama by a margin of 56% to 42%. Four years later in 2016, in businessman Donald Trump's sweep of Appalachia, Hamilton County furnished the GOP with a mildly increased margin of 55.3% to 38.8% for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In 2020, Joe Biden received the highest percentage of the popular vote of any Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976. In 2024, the county backed Trump with 55.7% of the vote to 42.7% for Vice President Kamala Harris.

Recent local elections

2018 Hamilton County, Tennessee mayoral election

2022 Hamilton County, Tennessee mayoral election

Mayoral elections in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Education

Colleges and universities

Chattanooga State Community College – website

Southern Adventist University – website

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga – website

Richmont Graduate University – website

Public schools

Public schools in Hamilton County are operated by Hamilton County Schools.

Communities

Towns

Lookout Mountain

Signal Mountain

Walden