Chattanooga is a melting pot of people from around the world
- Mason Edwards!
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Chattanooga has always been a cultural crossroads — first as Ross's Landing, a bustling trading post on the border between the 19th-century U.S. and the Cherokee Nation, and now, as a city shaped by global influences in business, education and cuisine. International languages and flavors can be found across the city, from North Shore's markets to Southside's restaurants. People from around the world are drawn to Chattanooga's Scenic City charm, which features mountain views, riverfront trails and sprawling parks.
This region's many schools and universities, such as Baylor, McCallie, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Southern Adventist University, attract top scholastic talent from foreign lands, and many of their students add to Chattanooga's valued diversity.
"You don't have to look far to see how international our community really is," says Ryan Armstrong, director of admission and enrollment at Baylor School. "We have 67 international students enrolled from 15 different countries. It's not uncommon for many to be some of our strongest students, athletes and leaders."
The following series of profiles sails across seven regions of the world, all without ever leaving the city. You'll find inspiring stories of resilience, ambition and cultural fusion. From a former professional Israeli basketball player to a Czech trauma nurse, Chattanooga's global citizens answered the questions, "What brought you to Chattanooga?" and "What made you stay?" Learn about Haitian culture from a Tennessee Temple University graduate and the nail salon culture from a Vietnamese entrepreneur. Read about a Honduran woman's journey from the armed forces to the fashion industry, and learn how a German woman came to be in public office in the area.
Plus, you'll get to meet Shamrock, a representative from Antarctica and the Tennessee Aquarium's oldest macaroni penguin. These stories prove Chattanooga is more than a gateway to the outdoors — it's a gateway to new cultures.
The world is waiting, right here in your community:
From Antarctica to Tennessee: Shamrock the macaroni penguin’s journey to the aquarium in Chattanooga
Comments