For people who live in rural places that surround the city, the name “Chattanooga” refers to what is actually several different communities. Legal and political boundaries aside, following is a list of the different communities that collectively make up what most of us think of as Chattanooga.
The City Proper
The North Shore, is, as you might imagine, situated on the north side of the Tennessee River. It was one of the first residential neighborhoods in downtown Chattanooga to be revitalized. There are townhomes, single family homes, and even some apartments in the area, and several very active neighborhood associations.
The Southside is undergoing significant change, as buildings are rehabilitated, torn down, or newly built, businesses move in, and tourists begin to arrive. There is an undefinable energy on the Southside, making it a fun 
place to be. There are condos, single family homes, apartments, duplexes, and newly built homes scattered across this area.
Central Chattanooga was, for many years, an area to avoid. That is not the case anymore. People who live downtown enjoy convenience and, often, luxury. It is definitely one of the hot spots in the area for people who crave an urban setting.
To the North
Red Bank is a comfortable community, offering the perks of suburbia but the convenience of being 5-10 minutes from downtown. There are places in Red Bank that feel rural, plus traditional neighborhoods, planned communities, apartments, and pretty much any other type of living quarters you might want – although, there aren’t any beach-front villas.
Signal Mountain offers a tight-knit community, gorgeous views – even if you don’t live on the bluff – but, your commute involves driving up and down a mountain. For the 7,000 or so residents on the mountain, the commute is worth it.
Hixson is a stretches across the valley and encompasses everything from Northgate Mall to the wooded and lovely area surrounding the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy. Like Red Bank, Hixson offers the perks of easy parking and sizeable yards, but the convenience of being within minutes of downtown.
Riverview is north of the river, and has sweet, little shops, gorgeous old houses, and a nice community feeling. Riverview blends with the neighborhoods of the North Shore but is just a little too far to be counted as “downtown.”
Middle Valley is the place to be if you love the water because it is so near the lake. This community has a more rural feel than either Red Bank or Hixson, but most residents there would still tell someone from another state they are “from Chattanooga.”
Soddy Daisy has a similar feeling to Middle Valley in that it has lakes, woods, a rural feeling but is certainly within a commutable distance to downtown Chattanooga.
To the South
St. Elmo is a historic neighborhood that is close enough to downtown to feel like the city, but far enough away for expansive yards filled with shade trees. Residents of St. Elmo enjoy a walkable community and a nice shopping district.
Lookout Valley nestles at the base of Lookout Mountain and has a more rural feeling that St. Elmo, but like Red Bank and Hixson across the river, is close enough to downtown for an easy commute. This is a gorgeous area, with a strong community feeling.
Lookout Mountain straddles the Tennessee/Georgia state line, but most people who live there have ties to Chattanooga. This community has a long and storied history, and strong sense of identity. It is also a stunningly beautiful area.
To the East
East Lake is another area of Chattanooga that is decidedly urban, and undergoing some revitalization and renewal. It is situated between the Southside and East Ridge, and has lots of sizeable, single family homes and cozy neighborhoods.
East Ridge could almost be described as being on the corner of I-24 and I-75, if interstates had corners. The community is bordered by two interstates and the Tennessee/Georgia state line. It was once considered a rural area, and there are still some scenic fields and barns. But, there is also convenient shopping, several beautiful and recently constructed subdivisions, and other modern, urban amenities.
Brainerd is a small, old community with lots of restaurants, shopping, and beautiful neighborhoods. You can feel and see the history of the community in the buildings and gorgeous old trees. It sits just between downtown and is separated from East Brainerd by I-75.
East Brainerd has a rural flavor, and has much to recommend it. It’s possible to own a significant amount of property in this area, but still commute to downtown Chattanooga easily. There is plenty of shopping nearby, yet wooded areas and fields too.
Ooltewah is between Chattanooga and Cleveland and is growing. Like East Brainerd, there are still farms scattered throughout this community, but it is increasingly suburban if feel. The commute to Chattanooga is easy, and there is a nice sense of community spirit.
Harrison is separated from Hixson by the gorgeous Harrison Bay, but it feels much more rural. With wooded trails and plenty of waterways, Harrison is an outdoor-lover’s dream. Yet, for all the forested feeling, downtown Chattanooga is easily accessible from Harrison.
To the West
There is not much to say about the communities on the western side of Chattanooga because there aren’t too many of them. There are some very small communities that have names, but not governments or borders or anything at all official. The Prentice Cooper State Forest and Wildlife Management Area, and the Raccoon Mountain Reservation both lie to the west of the city. Traveling west from Chattanooga, it doesn’t take long at all to reach some very rural areas!
Besides those mentioned on this list, Chattanooga has many smaller communities and neighborhoods. Many of them are have active associations, and all of them contribute to the diverse and vibrant character of the area.
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