Chattanooga sits in southeastern Tennessee along the Tennessee River, where the Cumberland Plateau meets the Appalachian ridges in Hamilton County. The city extends from Red Bank and Hixson in the north through downtown and the Southside to East Ridge, with East Brainerd and Ooltewah marking the eastern suburbs near the Georgia state line. Once defined by its railroads and heavy manufacturing, Chattanooga has evolved into a tech and outdoor recreation hub, anchored by the Tennessee Aquarium, EPB's fiber network, and access to climbing, paddling, and hiking that draws both startups and adventure companies. The metro area includes Soddy-Daisy, Signal Mountain, and Lookout Mountain, which straddles the Tennessee-Georgia border.