Ooltewah, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ooltewah, Tennessee
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 Ooltewah, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
Ooltewah, Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Hamilton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.62 sq mi (1.60 km2) |
| • Land | 0.62 sq mi (1.60 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 761 ft (232 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 684 |
| • Density | 1,106.80/sq mi (427.21/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
37363
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| Area code(s) | 423 |
| FIPS code | 47-55900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1296442 |
Ooltewah (pronounced OO-tuh-wah) is a small community in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. It's located near the city of Chattanooga. In 2020, about 684 people lived there. Ooltewah is completely surrounded by the city of Collegedale.
Contents
History of Ooltewah
Ooltewah used to be the main town, or county seat, of James County. This county no longer exists. It faced money problems in 1919 and became part of Hamilton County. The old James County Courthouse in downtown Ooltewah is a very important building. It is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
During the American Civil War, a man named Alfred Cate lived in Ooltewah. He was a Southern Unionist, meaning he supported the Union even though he lived in the South. He was a leader in a plan to burn bridges in East Tennessee. On November 8, 1861, Cate and his group destroyed three railroad bridges near Chattanooga. They hoped this would help the Union army invade East Tennessee.
Later, on November 24, 1863, Union soldiers from the 4th Michigan Cavalry came to Ooltewah. They captured seventeen Confederate soldiers and destroyed a train with four wagons. The next day, these soldiers destroyed the Ooltewah railroad bridge. They also burned a large amount of flour and captured a Confederate officer. After that, they moved on to Cleveland.
Geography of Ooltewah
Ooltewah is located at 35°4′1″N 85°4′53″W / 35.06694°N 85.08139°W.
The United States Census Bureau says that Ooltewah covers an area of about 0.9 square miles (1.6 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Meaning of the Name Ooltewah
The name Ooltewah might come from the word "ultiwa." This word is similar to "italwa" in the Muscogee language, which means "principal ground."
Another idea is that the name comes from Creek (Muscogee) words "uwv-tawa," meaning "water town." Some local people believe the name means "Owls Nest" or "Owls Roost" (from the Creek words "Opv-tawa").
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 684 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of 2020, there were 684 people living in Ooltewah. There were 337 households and 195 families.
In 2010, the population was 687 people. The community had 313 households. Most people were White, with smaller groups of Asian, African American, and other races. About 2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Ooltewah in 2010 was 36 years old. About 25% of the population was under 18 years old.
Schools in Ooltewah
The Ooltewah area has several schools. These include:
- Ooltewah High School
- East Hamilton Middle/High School
- Ooltewah Middle School
- Hunter Middle School
- Ooltewah Elementary School
- Snow Hill Elementary School
- Wolftever Creek Elementary School
- Wallace A. Smith Elementary School
East Hamilton Middle/High School was created because Ooltewah High School had many students. These schools compete in different divisions in the TSSAA sports league.
Notable People from Ooltewah
Some well-known people have connections to Ooltewah:
- Mike Carter: A politician who served in the Tennessee state legislature.
- Luther Roy: A professional baseball pitcher who was born in Ooltewah.
- Sammy Seamster: An NFL football player who was born in Ooltewah.
- Jacques Smith: An NFL football player who grew up in Ooltewah.
Images for kids
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The historic James County Courthouse in Ooltewah.
