Signal Mountain

History

Signal Mountain's history dates back years before settlement of the mountain itself. Centuries prior to the Civil War, Native Americans used a location on the mountain known as Signal Point to send fire and smoke signals across the Tennessee Valley. Later, the Union Army used Signal Point as a communications station during the Civil War. At the outbreak of the war, only a few families lived on the mountain. However, when various health epidemics struck Chattanooga in 1873 and 1878, several wealthy families relocated to the mountain where they could find clear air and pure water. In the early 20th century, Charles E. James purchased of land in the Signal Point area and developed the mountain. In 1913, construction was completed of of streetcar track, which linked Chattanooga to Signal Mountain. While the streetcars are no longer used, the tracks remain in the streets of Signal Mountain's historic district named after Velma. On April 4, 1919, the Tennessee Legislature passed the bill that chartered the Town of Signal Mountain. During the 1970s, the town experienced significant growth. In 2013 Signal Mountain made Bloomberg Businessweeks' list of the best places to raise a family.

Geography

Signal Mountain is located in southwestern Hamilton County at 35°8′N 85°21′W (35.1291, -85.3424), atop the south end of Walden Ridge. The southern edge of the town overlooks the Tennessee River below. The town is bordered to the south by the city of Chattanooga, to the northeast by the town of Walden, and to the north by the unincorporated community of Fairmount. U.S. Route 127 (Ridgeway Avenue) is the main road through the town, leading south off the mountain to downtown Chattanooga and north over Walden Ridge to Dunlap. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  22,067
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  18,747
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  18,474
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  16,358
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  15,797
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  15,707
• Northern Mockingbird

  Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  15,642
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  14,813

Largest nearby schools

• The Howard School
  High · Chattanooga · 1,485 students · 16.1:1 ratio
• Signal Mountain Middle/High School
  High · Signal Mountain · 1,368 students · 16.3:1 ratio
• Hixson High School
  High · Hixson · 935 students · 14.6:1 ratio
• Red Bank High School
  High · Chattanooga · 824 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• Normal Park Museum Magnet School
  Elementary · Chattanooga · 820 students · 15.5:1 ratio
• Chattanooga School For The Liberal Arts
  Other · Chattanooga · 792 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• Middle Valley Elementary
  Elementary · Hixson · 782 students · 16:1 ratio
• Nolan Elementary
  Elementary · Signal Mountain · 732 students · 17.4:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.58 — 2025-02-25
  8 km N of Menlo, Georgia
• M 2.58 — 2024-03-10
  14 km W of Graysville, Tennessee
• M 2.58 — 2024-02-29
  9 km NNW of Graysville, Tennessee
• M 2.5 — 2023-12-23
  7 km ENE of Stevenson, Alabama
• M 2.52 — 2023-06-21
  6 km SSE of Sewanee, Tennessee
• M 2.94 — 2022-01-21
  16 km NNE of Eton, Georgia