Census Data for Chattanooga
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Chattanooga a population of 182,828 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Chattanooga a population of 167,674 people.
The city of Chattanooga is located in Hamilton County. The 2010 Census gave Hamilton County; a population of 336,463 people. This means that Chattanooga had 49.83% of the county's total population, making it Hamilton's most populous community.
At the same time, Tennessee had a population of 6,346,105 people, meaning that Chattanooga had 2.64% of the total population of Tennessee - making it the state's 4th most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Chattanooga has a total area of 144.5 square miles [374.4 km²]. Of this total, 137.2 square miles [355.2 km²] is land, with the balance (5.12%) being water (7.39 square miles [19.2 km²]).
Hamilton County has a land area of 542 square miles [1,404.9 km²]. At 137.2 square miles [355.2 km²], Chattanooga has 25.28% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Chattanooga, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Chattanooga reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Chattanooga might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 35° 3' 59" (or 35.07°)
- Lon: -85° 14' 49" (or -85.25°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Chattanooga had 79,607 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 167,674 people, this averages 2.11 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Chattanooga had a land area of 137.2 square miles [355.2 km²]. This translates to 550 Housing Units per square mile [212.6 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Chattanooga had 72,108 Housing Units, a population of 155,554 people and a land area of 135.2 square miles [350.2 km²]. This gives a density of 2.16 people per Housing Unit and 503 Housing Units per square mile [194.5 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Chattanooga and you need to be careful when comparing values between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Hamilton County ...
Chattanooga is primarily located in Hamilton County<4> and is the County Seat for Hamilton County. A portion of Chattanooga extends into Marion County.
The county had a population of 336,463 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 167,674 people, Chattanooga represented 49.83% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Chattanooga has a population density of 1,159 people per square mile [447.9 people/km²], Hamilton County averages 620 people per square mile [239.5 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Hamilton County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Chattanooga, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Chattanooga. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Chattanooga or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Chattanooga, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Chattanooga.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 35.066463° (or 35°3'59" N)
- Lon: -85.247065° (or -85°14'49" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 35.045473° (or 35°2'43" N)
- Lon: -85.267255° (or -85°16'2" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 9,740 feet to the northeast<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#2404035) to Chattanooga. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Chattanooga. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 35.066129° (or 35°3'58" N)
- Lon: -85.246754° (or -85°14'48" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 153.1 feet to the northwest<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Chattanooga. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Chattanooga.
Miscellaneous Information for Chattanooga ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Hamilton County or the city of Chattanooga:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 47 (Tennessee)
- County Code: 065 (Hamilton County)
- Place Code: 14000 (Chattanooga)
- State & County Code: 47/065 (Tennessee / Hamilton County)
- State & Place Code: 47/14000 (Tennessee / Chattanooga)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Chattanooga is located in Census Region #3 (the South Region) and Division #6 (the East South-Central Division).
- The US Postal Service ZIP Code ...
- While some people have used a ZIP code to identify a community, the purpose of the ZIP code was to make mail delivery more efficient by grouping addresses together. Although the ZIP Code doesn't specifically identify a city like Chattanooga, it does identify addresses that are in (or near) Chattanooga. It's important to remember that the boundaries of a ZIP Code can be changed, re-assigned or overlapped with other ZIP Codes.
- The ZIP code for Chattanooga:37402<7>
- Census ZCTA Codes ...
- The US Census Bureau created statistical entities that they call ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) and these ZCTAs are frequently confused with the ZIP codes that come from the US Postal Service (USPS).
- ZCTAs were first created for the 2000 Census and at that time, they were based upon the USPS ZIP codes. While largely covering the same areas, the boundaries of a ZCTA do not necessarily match the boundaries of a postal ZIP code with the same number. For example, while a postal ZIP code can cross a county or state line, a Census ZCTA can not. They should be treated as separate entities with no correlation between them.
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Chattanooga.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Chattanooga: www.chattanooga.gov/
The official website for Hamilton County: www.hamiltontn.gov/
The official website for State of Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of Tennessee's counties, including Hamilton, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 321 degrees and a distance of 9,740 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 37 degrees and a distance of 153.1 feet. |
| <7> | When looking for a ZIP Code, whether Chattanooga or elsewhere, it's always best to check the website of the United States Postal Service (USPS). |