United States / Tennessee / Chattanooga Metro Area / Counties / Cities / Zip Codes

Review of Chattanooga, Tennessee


Gangs run the streets of Chattanooga: Beware!!
Star Rating - 3/12/2013
I moved to Chattanooga in 2002. Back then, Chattanooga had a gang problem but it has escalated dramatically in 11 years. Much of it has been attributed to hurricane Katrina, when a large number of those individuals moved here, many of them gang members. We saw an immediate rise in crime in our downtown area. We now have shootings every week, sometimes several times a week, sometimes several days in a row. We have drive-by shootings in which young children playing in their yards or even in their homes are shot. Or innocent people sitting on their porches are shot. We have had three police officers shot, two fatally. Forget about parking your car on the street. It won't last overnight. Not one night without getting broken into in the downtown area. I know. I live downtown. We have home invasions. I had to resort to getting a permit to carry a gun. Finally I decided enough. It's time to leave. My house just sold this week and I got a job out west. This is a beautiful part of the country and Chattanooga was a progressive town with many great features, but because the elected officials let the gangsters take control of the city many of its residents are fleeing. I fear Chattanooga will become what it was back in the 70's and 80's...a ghost town that rolled up the sidewalks at night because the crime then was terrible too. Only now it is worse. So beware to all of you who are considering coming here. The press covers up the truth about the level of crime here in Chattanooga. They fear tourists will stop coming if the truth gets out. But I am here to tell you the truth. If you have to come here for a job and you have no choice, get a house in Ooltewah, Hixson, or Collegedale. It's a commute in, but you and your family will be safe. Don't take any chance on living anywhere near this crime infested mess.
Kay | Chattanooga, TN
Reply to this Comment

2 Replies


I feel very safe living in Chattanooga. All forms of crime are down significantly over the past several years. The downtown and Northside and Southside neighborhoods have experienced a tremendous amount of investment, revitalization, new restaurants, breweries, retail shops, apartments, condos, houses, etc. It has truly been an amazing transformation over the past 5 years. The Chattanooga area has so much to offer with an abundance of outdoor activities available nearby combined with a vibrant arts and theater scene. Come visit ... you might just find that you want to stay!
Alan | Chattanooga, TN | Report Abuse

I hate that you seemed to have had such an awful time living here in Chattanooga. I have lived here since 2007 and my husband grew up here, left for 15 years until we returned. This may have been your experience but I have to say it is the exception and not the rule. Yes, there have been more gang issues but as my husband has told me, there have always been a gang presence not just recently. It seems that most of the country is having more gang problems, socioeconomics of this prolonged recession are most likely to blame; factors like unemployment, city and state budgets cutting police and social programs have contributed to these issues - not a city allowing gangsters to take over. A family deciding to move should consider what part of a city they should live in, this includes Chattanooga. There are some really cool up and coming neighborhoods, yes the crime rate is a little higher but in my experience that is true in any neighborhood that is up and coming in any city. So should a family with young children move to these neighborhoods-probably not? There are plenty of comfortable family oriented areas of Chattanooga to live. As for the comment about "I fear Chattanooga will become what it was back in the 70's and 80's...a ghost town that rolled up the sidewalks at night because the crime then was terrible too. Only now it is worse." my husband says you were not here and therefore should not be comparing our beautiful city to that dismal time in its history. So for anyone considering moving to Chattanooga please take this review as an exception, it certainly is not the rule. Do your research, make sure you move to an area that is comparable to what you expect and desire. Do we have crime? Of course but as with most things it should be kept in perspective.
TC | Chattanooga, TN | Report Abuse
MORE REVIEWS OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE