Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee

Soddy-Daisy is an incorporated city, comprising the Tennessee cities Soddy and Daisy. It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.[7]

Soddy-Daisy was home to Hamilton County's first courthouse and government seat, Poe's Tavern.[8] The tavern, built in 1819, was the home of Soddy-Daisy resident Hasten Poe. In 1838, the tavern served as a way station for 1,900 Cherokees who were on the Trail of Tears. During the Civil War, Poe's Tavern served as a hospital for both Union and Confederate troops.[9] Though the original Poe's Tavern was torn down in 1911, the city of Soddy Daisy has reconstructed a replica of the building a block away from the original site.[10]

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 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 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.[11] Thomas Parks was Vice-President of the Tabler-Cleudup Coal & Coke Company, and founded the Daisy Coal Company in April 1881.[12]

The two cities incorporated in April 1969 along a 9-mile (14 km) stretch of U.S. 27.[13]

Soddy-Daisy is located in north-central Hamilton County at 35°15′31″N 85°10′37″W (35.258538, -85.176996).[14] Its southwestern end is bordered by the city of Chattanooga. Unincorporated communities that border Soddy-Daisy are Middle Valley to the south, Falling Water to the southwest, Mowbray Mountain to the west and Flat Top Mountain to the northwest. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.4 square miles (60.7 km²), of which 22.6 square miles (58.6 km²) are land and 0.81 square miles (2.1 km²), or 3.51%, are water.

The city is situated at the base of the Cumberland Escarpment, the east face of Walden Ridge, which is part of the Cumberland Plateau. An inlet of Chickamauga Lake (consisting of the lower part of Soddy Creek) lies to the east. U.S. Route 27 is the city's main highway, connecting it with Chattanooga 16 miles (26 km) to the south and Dayton 22 miles (35 km) to the northeast. State Route 111, which crosses Walden Ridge and leads 17 miles (27 km) northwest to Dunlap, intersects US-27 in the northern part of the city.

As of the census[3] 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.

Soddy-Daisy's City Commission currently consists of Rick Nunley, City Mayor; Robert Cothran, Vice Mayor; other city commissioners are Gene Shipley, Jim Coleman, and Steve Everett.

The Interim City Manager is currently Burt Johnson, who is also the Finance Director and Recorder. The Public Works Director is currently Steve Grant.

The Fire Chief is currently Mike Guffey and the Interim Police Chief is currently Mike Sneed.

The City Judge is currently Marty Lasley, the City Attorney is currently Sam Elliot, and the City Court Clerk is currently Lena Curtis.

• Soddy-Daisy has one local radio station licensed to its community, WGOW-FM.

• Joe Chaney, darts player
• Bryan Harvey, former Major League Baseball relief pitcher
• Ralph McGill, journalist
• Stefanie Wittler, Miss Tennessee 2009

• City of Soddy-Daisy official website