Signal Mountain, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Signal Mountain, Tennessee
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Signal Mountain Middle/High School
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Location of Signal Mountain in Hamilton County, Tennessee
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Hamilton |
| Incorporated | 1919 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.37 sq mi (21.69 km2) |
| • Land | 8.37 sq mi (21.68 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,703 ft (519 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,852 |
| • Density | 1,057.59/sq mi (408.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
37377
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| Area code(s) | 423 |
| FIPS code | 47-68540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1270254 |
Signal Mountain is a town in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. It's like a neighborhood of Chattanooga. The town sits on top of a place called Walden Ridge. People often use "Signal Mountain" to talk about the whole area of Walden Ridge near the town. In 2020, about 8,852 people lived here.
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Where is Signal Mountain?
Signal Mountain is in the southwestern part of Hamilton County. It's located at the southern end of Walden Ridge. From the southern edge of the town, you can look down at the Tennessee River, which is about 1,000 feet below!
The town of Chattanooga is to the south. To the northeast, you'll find the town of Walden. The community of Fairmount is to the north.
U.S. Route 127 is the main road that goes through Signal Mountain. This road goes south about 8 miles to downtown Chattanooga. If you go north, it travels over Walden Ridge for about 21 miles to Dunlap.
The town covers a total area of about 19.9 square kilometers, and it's all land.
A Look Back: Signal Mountain's History
Signal Mountain has a long and interesting history. Long before people built homes here, Native Americans used a spot called Signal Point. They would send fire and smoke signals across the Tennessee Valley from this high point.
Later, during the Civil War, the Union Army used Signal Point. It was a special place for sending messages. At the start of the war, only a few families lived on the mountain.
In the late 1800s, some health problems happened in Chattanooga. Because of this, several wealthy families moved to the mountain. They were looking for fresh air and clean water.
In the early 1900s, a man named Charles E. James bought a lot of land. He started to develop the mountain. In 1913, a streetcar track was finished. It was 12 miles long and connected Chattanooga to Signal Mountain. The streetcars aren't used anymore, but you can still see the old tracks in the historic part of town.
On April 4, 1919, Signal Mountain officially became a town. The town grew a lot in the 1970s. In 2013, Bloomberg Businessweek magazine even said Signal Mountain was one of the best places to raise a family!
Famous People from Signal Mountain
Many interesting people have connections to Signal Mountain:
- Susan Akin was crowned Miss America in 1986.
- Zane Birdwell is a recording engineer who has won a Grammy Award.
- Rachel Boston is an actress and producer.
- Charles H. Coolidge received the Medal of Honor, a very brave award. A park in Chattanooga is named after him.
- Emma Bell Miles was a writer, poet, and artist.
- Paul V. Nolan was a state legislator in Tennessee.
- Suzanne Fisher Staples is an author who wrote the award-winning book Shiva's Fire.
- Mary Q. Steele and William O. Steele were a married couple who wrote books for children. They each wrote books that won a Newbery Honor.
Who Lives in Signal Mountain?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 441 | — | |
| 1930 | 966 | 119.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,308 | 35.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,786 | 36.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,413 | 91.1% | |
| 1970 | 4,839 | 41.8% | |
| 1980 | 5,818 | 20.2% | |
| 1990 | 7,034 | 20.9% | |
| 2000 | 7,429 | 5.6% | |
| 2010 | 7,554 | 1.7% | |
| 2020 | 8,852 | 17.2% | |
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In 2020, there were 8,852 people living in Signal Mountain. There were 3,096 households and 2,419 families.
In 2010, there were 7,554 people. About 33.4% of households had children under 18 living there. Most households (65.3%) were married couples. The average household had 2.51 people.
About 25.6% of the people were under 18 years old. About 20.6% were 65 years or older.
Fun Things to Do in Signal Mountain
Signal Mountain has many cool outdoor places to visit:
- The Cumberland Trail is great for hiking.
- Mabbitt Springs is a natural spring.
- Signal Point is part of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. You can hike and backpack here.
- Other popular hiking spots include Rainbow Lake and Edward's Point.
For arts and entertainment, check out:
- The Signal Mountain Playhouse puts on two plays each year. They even have an outdoor musical in the summer!
- The MACC (Mountain Arts Community Center) offers classes in music, dance, and art. It's in an old elementary school building.
- The nearby town of Walden has a public playground and pavilion called the Pumpkin Patch.
- The Bachman Community Center hosts events, has a small library, and community garden plots.
- The New Mountain Opry has a weekly bluegrass music show every Friday night.
Schools in Signal Mountain
Signal Mountain has several schools for students:
- Elementary schools:
- Nolan Elementary
- Thrasher Elementary
- Signal Mountain Christian School
- Middle School: Signal Mountain Middle/High School
- High School: Signal Mountain Middle/High School
Images for kids
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Signal Mountain Middle/High School
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Location of Signal Mountain in Hamilton County, Tennessee
See also
In Spanish: Signal Mountain (Tennessee) para niños
