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Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
Soddy-Daisy City Hall
Soddy-Daisy City Hall
Location of Soddy-Daisy in Hamilton County, Tennessee
Location of Soddy-Daisy in Hamilton County, Tennessee
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Hamilton
Incorporated 1969
Area
 • Total 24.04 sq mi (62.26 km2)
 • Land 23.18 sq mi (60.02 km2)
 • Water 0.86 sq mi (2.24 km2)
Elevation
699 ft (213 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 13,070
 • Density 563.97/sq mi (217.75/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
37379, 37384
Area code(s) 423
FIPS code 47-69560
GNIS feature ID 1270798

Soddy-Daisy is a city located in Hamilton County, Tennessee, in the United States. In 2020, about 13,070 people lived there. The city was created in 1969 when two smaller communities, Soddy (in the north) and Daisy (in the south), joined together. These areas were located along U.S. Route 27.

Soddy-Daisy is becoming a "bedroom community" for nearby Chattanooga. This means many people who live in Soddy-Daisy travel to Chattanooga for work. The city is part of the larger Chattanooga metropolitan area. The Sequoyah Nuclear Generating Station, a power plant, is also located in Soddy-Daisy.

History of Soddy-Daisy

Soddy-Daisy is an official city that was formed by combining the older towns of Soddy and Daisy.

Poe's Tavern and Early History

Soddy-Daisy was once home to the very first courthouse and government center for Hamilton County. This important building was called Poe's Tavern. It was built in 1819 and belonged to a local resident named Hasten Poe.

In 1838, Poe's Tavern was a stop for about 1,900 Cherokee people. They were on the Trail of Tears, a sad journey where many Native Americans were forced to move from their homes. Later, during the American Civil War (1861-1865), Poe's Tavern was used as a hospital. Both Union and Confederate soldiers received care there. The original tavern was taken down in 1911. However, the city of Soddy-Daisy has built a copy of the building close to where the first one stood.

How Soddy Got Its Name

There are two main stories about how the town of Soddy got its name:

  • Some people believe "Soddy" comes from the Cherokee word Tsati. This word refers to the Koasati people, a Native American group who lived in the area before the Cherokee arrived.
  • Another idea is that Soddy was named after William Sodder. He ran a trading post in the town.
  • Some also think the name comes from Soddy Creek, which might have gotten its name from the Cherokee word Sauta.

Soddy was a very small town until the Soddy Coal Company started mining for coal there in 1867.

How Daisy Got Its Name

It is thought that the town of Daisy was named after Daisy Parks. She was the daughter of Thomas Parks, who was important in the coal industry. Thomas Parks started the Daisy Coal Company in 1881.

The two towns, Soddy and Daisy, officially became one city in April 1969. They joined along a 9-mile (14 km) stretch of U.S. Route 27.

Geography and Location

Soddy-Daisy is located in the northern part of Hamilton County. Its southwestern edge touches the city of Chattanooga. Other nearby communities include Middle Valley, Falling Water, Mowbray Mountain, and Flat Top Mountain.

The city covers about 23.5 square miles (60.7 square kilometers) of land. About 0.8 square miles (2.1 square kilometers) is water.

Natural Features

Soddy-Daisy sits at the bottom of the Cumberland Escarpment. This is the eastern side of Walden Ridge, which is part of the Cumberland Plateau. An arm of Chickamauga Lake is to the east. This part of the lake is formed by the lower section of Soddy Creek.

Transportation

U.S. Route 27 is the main highway in Soddy-Daisy. It connects the city to Chattanooga, which is about 16 miles (26 km) to the south. It also connects to Dayton, about 22 miles (35 km) to the northeast. State Route 111 crosses Walden Ridge and goes northwest to Dunlap, about 17 miles (27 km) away. This route meets US-27 in the northern part of Soddy-Daisy.

The area is also known for the Stone Fort bouldering area, a popular spot for rock climbing.

Population Information

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%
2020 13,070 2.8%
Sources:

Population in 2020

In 2020, the city of Soddy-Daisy had 13,070 people living there. There were 5,628 households and 3,378 families.

Soddy-Daisy racial composition
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 11,867 90.8%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 137 1.05%
Native American 27 0.21%
Asian 44 0.34%
Pacific Islander 3 0.02%
Other/Mixed 596 4.56%
Hispanic or Latino 396 3.03%

Education and Learning

Soddy-Daisy has several schools for students of different ages.

Schools in Soddy-Daisy

There are seven schools in the area:

  • Allen Elementary
  • Daisy Elementary
  • Soddy Elementary
  • Ivy Academy
  • Soddy-Daisy Middle
  • Soddy-Daisy High School
  • Sequoyah High School

Community Library

Soddy-Daisy has a community library that is run by local people. It opened in 2018. Residents, businesses, and groups helped to create it because there had not been a public library in Soddy-Daisy for many years.

Local Museum

The city also has a museum that opened in 2017. It is managed by the city's historical association. The museum is located in a former bank building that is 100 years old. It has exhibits that show and teach about the history of the Soddy-Daisy area. The historical association also holds an annual history fair at Soddy-Daisy High School every January.

Media and Notable People

Local Radio Station

Soddy-Daisy has one local radio station, WGOW-FM, that is licensed to broadcast from the community.

Famous People from Soddy-Daisy

Some well-known people have come from Soddy-Daisy:

  • Joe Chaney, a darts player
  • Ron Cox, a racing car driver
  • Terry Gordy, a professional wrestler
  • Bryan Harvey, a former baseball pitcher for Major League Baseball
  • Ralph McGill, a journalist

Images for kids

Error: no page names specified (help).Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Soddy-Daisy para niños

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