Chattanooga, Tennessee, was founded in 1839 as a railroad town on the Tennessee River. The city’s name is derived from the Cherokee word “Chata-nu-ga,” meaning “rock coming to a point,” which refers to Lookout Mountain, a prominent landmark in the area.
Chattanooga played a significant role in the American Civil War as a major railroad hub and supply center for the Confederacy. The city was captured by Union forces in 1863 after a fierce battle known as the Battle of Chattanooga. After the war, Chattanooga experienced rapid growth and industrialization, becoming a major manufacturing center in the southeastern United States.
