Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee

Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee
City
Location in Hamilton County and state of Tennessee. Location in Hamilton County and state of Tennessee.
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Tennessee
County	Hamilton
Incorporated	1969
Area
• Total	23.8 sq mi (61.7 km2)
• Land	23.0 sq mi (59.7 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2.0 km2)
Elevation	699 ft (213 m)
Population (2012)
• Total	12,937
• Density	562.2/sq mi (213.0/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	37379, 37384
Area code(s)	423
FIPS code	47-69560
GNIS feature ID	1270798

Soddy-Daisy is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 11,530 at the 2000 census and 12,714 at the 2010 census. The city was formed in 1969 when the communities of Soddy (to the north) and Daisy (to the south), along with nearby developed areas along U.S. Highway 27, merged to form Soddy-Daisy. It is rapidly becoming a bedroom community of nearby Chattanooga and is part of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Statistical Area. Sequoyah Nuclear Generating Station is located in Soddy-Daisy.

History

Soddy-Daisy is an incorporated city, comprising the Tennessee cities Soddy and Daisy. It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.

There are two popular stories about how the city of Soddy got its name. The first is that the word "Soddy" is an anglicization of "Tsati," a shorter Cherokee form of the Cherokee word ᎠᏂ ᎫᏌᏘ Ᏹ (Ani-Kusati-yi), referring to the Muskogean Koasati people who lived there in the 18th century prior to Cherokee migration to the area after 1776. The second theory is that Soddy was named for William Sodder, who ran a trading post in the city. Others claim that Soddy's name is a reference to "Soddy Creek," which is believed to have originated from the word Cherokee word "Sauta," which is derived from "Echota." Soddy was a very small town until the Soddy Coal Company began mining in 1867.

Daisy is rumored to have taken its name from Daisy Parks, the daughter of Thomas Parks. Thomas Parks was Vice-President of the Tabler-Cleudup Coal & Coke Company, and founded the Daisy Coal Company in April 1881.

The two cities incorporated in April 1969 along a 9 mile stretch of U.S. 27.

Soddy-Daisy was home to Hamilton County's first courthouse and government seat, Poe's Tavern. Poe's Tavern, built in 1819, was the home of Soddy-Daisy resident, Hasten Poe.

In 1838 Poe's Tavern also served as a way station for 1,900 Cherokees that were on the Trail of Tears. Along with this Poe's tavern also served as a hospital for different Union and Confederate troops through out the Civil War.

Though the original Poe's Tavern was torn down in 1911, the City of Soddy Daisy is reconstructing a new Poe's Tavern only a block away from the original site that will be as accurate as possible.

Geography

Soddy-Daisy is located at (35.258538, -85.176996). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.8 square miles (62 km²), of which 23.0 square miles (60 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (3.32%) is water.

Demographics

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%
Est. 2014	13,190		3.7%
Sources:

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,530 people, 4,511 households, and 3,392 families residing in the city. The population density was 500.6 people per square mile (193.3/km²). There were 4,809 housing units at an average density of 208.8 per square mile (80.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% White, 0.60% African American, 0.24% American Indian, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 4,511 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 25.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,163, and the median income for a family was $41,394. Males had a median income of $32,073 versus $23,147 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,889. About 6.5% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The city commissioners are currently Gene Shipley, Patti Skates, Robert Couthran , Jim Adams, and Rick Nunley. The City Manager is currently Janice Cagle and the Finance Director and Recorder is currently Burt Johnson. The Public Works Director is currently Steve Grant.

The Fire Chief is currently Mike Guffey and the Police Chief is Phillip Hamrick.

The city judge is currently Marty Lasley.

Education

Soddy-Daisy has six schools:

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

In 2009, Soddy-Daisy became the home of Tennessee's first, and currently only, outdoor charter school, Ivy Academy.

Notable people

• Bryan Harvey, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
• Ralph McGill, journalist

Terry Bam Bam Gordy, (Pro-Wrestler) ~ Fabulous Freebirds

Media

• Soddy-Daisy has two local radio stations licensed to its community. Its AM station is all news/talk WSDT 1240.

External links

• City of Soddy-Daisy