#1Famous people · Chattanooga
56 famous people were born in Chattanooga, more of them musicians than in most towns
Most widely known is Bessie Smith, the American blues singer, with articles in 57 languages. Behind the leader come Ralphie May and Arthur Golden. Among the 234 towns in Tennessee with anyone listed, none has more. The largest group, 31, was born between 1920 and 1969.
Born here
56
notable people
Best known
Bessie Smith
in 57 Wikipedia languages
First
1866
Tom Ford
Youngest
2006
Ace Bailey
Most common field
Sports
18 people
Also called it home
1
notable residents
What stands out about Chattanooga’s famous people
A town of musicians11 of the 56 people born here are musicians, 3.6× the usual share.Known worldwideBessie Smith has an article in 57 languages, more than anyone else from here.Still making namesBirths since 1950 number 30, the most recent in 2006.56 notable peopleChattanooga lists 56 notable people, more than most towns.
★ What stands out · Known for
What Chattanooga is known for
Chattanooga has 3.6× the usual share of musicians.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
The best known
Born in Chattanooga
Languages with an article: 57 for Bessie Smith, 53 for Ralphie May, 33 for Arthur Golden.
#1
#2AG#3
Through the years
When Chattanooga’s famous people were born
The busiest decade was the 1950s, with 8 births.
SportsMusicFilm, TV & StageWriting & ArtsScience & MedicinePolitics & LawFaith
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Chattanooga
53 more, 18 of them athletes.
Yusef Lateef
1920–2013American jazz multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator and spokesman for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
MusicWikipedia ↗
Ishmael Reed
born 1938American poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, playwright, editor and publisher
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Chattanooga home
One more notable person made the town home: Olivia Reeves.
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from Chattanooga?
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Of the towns around it, Rossville has the most on record: 5.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Chattanooga and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (26)
- Bessie Smith: Carl Van Vechten, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Ralphie May: Alex Archambault, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rachel Boston: Genevieve, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Roscoe Tanner: Pasarell, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tamara E. Jernigan: NASA/JSC, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Yusef Lateef: Tom Beetz, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lori Petty: Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- John Piper: Micah Chiang, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kane Brown: California National Guard, Senior Airman Crystal Housman, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bill Brock: U.S. Senate Historical Office, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Reggie White: Barbara Kinney, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Betty Lou Gerson: CBS Radio, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack McInerney: Nick Klein, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rhyne Howard: Gamecock Central, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hayley Carter: si.robi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Isaiah Rashad: The Come Up Show, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ray Gordy: Ryan556 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Dennis Haskins: daleki, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Valaida Snow: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Coleman Barks: George Quasha, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Manker Abshire: US State Department, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Olivia Reeves: Chattanooga Football Club, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lauren Alaina: Cpl. Antonino Mazzamuto, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Frank Walker Caldwell: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- McClendon Curtis: Tennessee Titans, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Henry Coolidge: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons