Collegedale, Tennessee

Collegedale was founded as the site of Southern Adventist University (then Southern Junior College) in 1916. It was incorporated under a city manager government in 1968. J. M. Ackerman was the first city manager, and Fred Fuller served as the city's first mayor.

Collegedale is located in southeastern Hamilton County at 35°3′6″N 85°2′49″W (35.051578, -85.047004),[9] in the valley of Wolftever Creek. Just west of the city center, the creek cuts through White Oak Mountain, forming Collegedale Gap. Tennessee State Route 317 passes through the city center and Collegedale Gap, leading southeast 10 miles (16 km) to State Route 60 and northwest 4 miles (6 km) to Interstate 75 in the northeast outskirts of Chattanooga. Downtown Chattanooga is 19 miles (31 km) west of Collegedale. Tennessee State Route 321 runs through the western part of Collegedale, leading north to U.S. Routes 11 and 64 just north of Ooltewah and south 5 miles (8 km) to the Georgia state line.

As of the 2010 census, the city had a total area of 9.9 square miles (25.6 km²), all of it recorded as land.[5]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 6,514 people, 2,049 households, and 1,528 families residing in the city. The population density was 781.6 people per square mile (301.9/km²). There were 2,199 housing units at an average density of 263.9 per square mile (101.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.55% White, 4.37% African American, 0.01% Native American, 0.01% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.87% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.74% of the population.

There were 2,049 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out, with 19.8% under the age of 18, 25.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,270, and the median income for a family was $52,337. Males had a median income of $37,819 versus $28,345 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,604. About 5.3% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under the age of 18 and 4.0% of those 65 and older.

Collegedale has a large Seventh-day Adventist community and in 2005 was described as an "enclave" for the religion by Charles Reagan Wilson and Mark Silk.[12]

McKee Foods is headquartered in Collegedale. Originally launched in Chattanooga in 1934, the company moved to a facility on the campus of Southern Adventist University in 1956. McKee Foods is the producer of Little Debbie and Sunbelt snack foods.[13]

In August 2011, the city took over control of the Collegedale Public Library, which was previously operated under the Hamilton County library system. Library membership is available on a paid subscription basis, free to residents of Collegedale.[14]

Six parks are managed by the Parks & Recreation Department of Collegedale:

• East Hamilton County Park has a high school baseball field and three youth fields.
• Wolftever Creek Greenway is a greenway which spans throughout the city and continues to be expanded upon by the city.
• Collegedale Dog Park provides dog-owners with a dog park for unleashed dog socialization.
• Imagination Station & Pavilion is a playground and rental space located behind City Hall with a train theme.
• The Nature Nook is an amphitheatre built by the East Hamilton County Kiwanis Club for the city.
• Veterans Memorial Park is located along the Wolftever Creek Greenway and features plaques, sculptures and flags as a memorial to United States war veterans.[15]

The town has youth and adult softball leagues.[16] It also has four pickleball courts adjacent to the Imagination Station and City Hall.

Collegedale was incorporated in 1968. It operates under a City Manager-Commission form of government. Five commissioners are elected by popular vote and they are responsible for choosing a city manager, who then proceeds to implement the commissions policies.[17]

On August 5, 2013, Collegedale became the first city in Tennessee to extend health benefits to same-sex couples.[18]

Southern Adventist University, a private Christian university, is located in Collegedale.[19] It has an affiliated K-5 school, A.W. Spalding Elementary, 6-8 school, Collegedale Adventist Middle School, and 9-12 school, Collegedale Academy.

Wolftever Creek Elementary School and Ooltewah Middle School are the two public schools inside of city limits. Both schools belong to the Hamilton County Schools system.

• City of Collegedale official website