Notes on Chattanooga Population Data
these posts are pretty much a place for me to record my notes/research relating to urban development, St. Elmo/Chattanooga Housing, etc.
from the chrpa
Chattanooga has experienced a 10% decrease in population from 1980-2000.
Between 1991-2001 Chattanooga experienced some out-migration to counties surrounding Hamilton (in particular North Georgia). There's some concerns that if this increases it may economically impair Chattanooga/Hamilton County if businesses start locating/relocating/developing there.
St. Elmo experienced a 1% decrease in population between 1990 and 2000, and is estimated to experience another 1% population decrease by the end of 2005. (actually numbers are 2856 in 1990, 2676 in 2000, and 2594 in 2005).
My "theory" is that recent zoning changes (from R2/R3 to R1) will encourage this trend (as it stops multi-family housing options such as duplexes and apartments). Though I need to do some digging to back that up with actual statistical trends for neighborhoods in general. Though I'm fairly certain it is going to be the case in St. Elmo, as there isn't any actual room for the neighborhood to expand and there is only a few empty lots for new home building.
My guess is that St. Elmo's population will continue to decline but will be offset somewhat by current abandoned homes being bought and renovated and with some new home builds. At the point when there aren't any more of those homes the population will flatline unless zoning changes to allow for denser housing options (such as apartment complexes/condominiums).
St. Elmo | By Josiah Roe | 8:25 PM
Comments
Chattanooga has a lot going for it. I also think that being near the state line has done a great deal of harm in the past 10 years. North Georgia is getting bigger all the way down to Dalton. People like the idea of living there and working in Chattanooga. This will challenge Hamilton County in terms of taxation and producing a revenue stream that will support all the needs this community has. Chattanooga is not an expensive city to live in compared to the Nashville area. What Chattanooga provides is a cosmopolitan environment with hometown charm nestled in the mountains. I am proud to live in Hamiton County.
Posted by: Tony Burgess at July 3, 2005 11:34 PM
Perhaps some of the decrease in population is due to a change in the family/household size in St. Elmo. I makes sense that as revitalization of St. Elmo creeps south toward the border, the lower class families (typically w/ more members per household than higher classes) are pushed out.
Posted by: Timmy at July 4, 2005 2:27 AM
I think what Timmy is trying to imply that all the new families in St. Elmo (cov. grads) need to start having litters of children to help increase the avg. household size / general population. Yes, in fact, I think there should be a mandatory 4 child rule in St. Elmo that ensures at least 4 children per household.
Posted by: Kyle Posey at July 5, 2005 8:59 AM
