Ooltewah, Tennessee

Ooltewah, Tennessee
CDP

Location of Ooltewah, Tennessee
Coordinates: 35°4′1″N 85°4′53″W / 35.06694°N 85.08139°W / 35.06694; -85.08139Coordinates: 35°4′1″N 85°4′53″W / 35.06694°N 85.08139°W / 35.06694; -85.08139
Country United States
State Tennessee
County Hamilton
Area
 • Total 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2)
 • Land 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 761 ft (232 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 687[1]
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 37363
Area code(s) 423
FIPS code 47-55900[1]
GNIS feature ID 1296442[2]

Ooltewah is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 687 at the 2010 census.[3] Ooltewah is an enclave in the city of Collegedale.

Ooltewah is a wealthier suburb of Chattanooga. The median household income is among one of the highest in Hamilton County. It has been ranked as one of the best places to live in Tennessee.

History

Ooltewah was once the county seat of James County, a former Tennessee county that went bankrupt in 1919 and was subsequently incorporated into Hamilton County. The former James County Courthouse located in the square in downtown Ooltewah is the community's major landmark.[4] It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Alfred Cate (1822–1871), a resident of Ooltewah, was a prominent Southern Unionist and leader in the East Tennessee bridge-burning conspiracy. Cate and his men destroyed three Chattanooga-area railroad bridges on the night of November 8, 1861, in hopes of paving the way for a Union invasion of East Tennessee.[5]

On November 24, 1863, the 4th Michigan Cavalry entered Ooltewah and captured seventeen Confederates, including two officers, and destroyed a train of four wagons. On the next day, the 4th Michigan Cavalry destroyed the Ooltewah railroad bridge, burned 4,000 pounds of flour, and captured a Confederate Lieutenant Colonel before moving on to Cleveland before nightfall.

Geography

Ooltewah is located at 35°4′1″N 85°4′53″W / 35.06694°N 85.08139°W / 35.06694; -85.08139 (35.066834, -85.081421).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2), all land.

Name

The word, Ooltewah is possibly derived from ultiwa, a Cherokee cognate of the Muscogee word italwa, meaning "principal ground" [7] Alternatively, it is perhaps derived from the Creek (Muscogee) words[8] uwv-tawa (OO-U-TA-WA) "water town." Locals attribute the name as translated "Owls Nest" or "Owls Roost" (CREEK - Opv[9]-tawa OH-POO-TA-WA).

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 687 people, 313 households, and 194 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 741.5 people per square mile (286.4/km²). There were 2,290 housing units at an average density of 298.9/sq mi (115.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.49% White, 11.93% Asian, 0.46% Native American, 0.84% African-American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.13% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.94% of the population.

There were 2,153 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.6% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the Ooltewah CDP was $92,243, and the median income for a family was $105,439. Males had a median income of $82,423 versus $61,036 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $51,034. About 2.6% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.0% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Ooltewah is considered a Republican stronghold. At the 2010 census, 4/5 residents identified as Republican.

Education

The Ooltewah zip code is the site of 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, and Wallace A. Smith Elementary School.

East Hamilton Middle/High School split from Ooltewah High School due to a large student body. East Hamilton Middle/High School competes in Division 4A of the TSSAA, while Ooltewah competes in Division 5A of the TSSAA.

Ooltewah High School is considered an athletic powerhouse. The football, volleyball, and dance teams are ranked among the best in the state. Notable alumni of Ooltewah High School include Maci Bookout of the MTV show "Teen Mom," linebacker Jacques Smith of the Atlanta Falcons, and cornerback Sammy Seamster of the Buffalo Bills.

The Ooltewah High School Marching Band performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City in 2007 and 2013.[10]

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 3 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  4. ↑ About Ooltewah and Chattanooga Area, St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church website, accessed March 7, 2010
  5. ↑ Oliver Perry Temple, Mary Boyce Temple (ed.), "Alfred M. Cate," Notable Men of Tennessee (Cosmopolitan Press, 1912), pp. 85-88.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. ↑ A Dictionary of Creek/Muskogee, by Jack B. Martin and Margaret McKane Mauldin
  8. ↑ http://www.native-languages.org/muskogee_words.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.native-languages.org/creek_animals.htm
  10. ↑ John Rouser, Ooltewah Band in NYC for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Chattanooga Times Free Press, November 21, 2007
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