Posted December 28, 2007

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee -- Chattanooga is one of the Top 10 Healthy Places in the Southeast for longevity and enjoying a productive retirement lifestyle, according to Retirement Lifestyles, a 10-year-old magazine that highlights locations, communities and lifestyles for prospective retirees across the U.S.

Chattanooga was the only city in Tennessee to make the Top 10 list or the honorable mentions in the magazine’s December 2007/January 2008 edition.

The editors said they considered quality healthcare, climate, safety, ecosystems, recreation and other criteria in making what they acknowledged was an “unscientific” and “subjective” poll.

“Using these criteria as a general foundation, combined with a small degree of research, plus comments from anti-aging professionals, we took a subjective poll of some of the healthiest places to live in the Southeast,” the editors said. 

“The Chamber and community partners are collaborating to position Chattanooga as an ideal retirement community,” said Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President for Marketing and Communications J.Ed. Marston. 

“We have created a relocation video, and we’ve launched ChooseChattanooga.com, a website targeting seniors and retirees. During the past year the Chamber alone provided relocation information to more than 9,500 people considering a move to Chattanooga.”

Marston said the Retirement Lifestyles article affirms Chattanooga’s appeal to active retirees and will boost the campaign to attract them to the city. “Chattanooga’s scenic beauty, outdoors activities, cultural offerings, moderately-priced housing and excellent healthcare are among the reasons retirees are drawn to this community,” he said.

Other cities in the magazine’s Top 10 Healthy Places are Asheville, NC; Brunswick, GA; Virginia Beach/Norfolk/Newport News, VA; Cape Coral/Fort Myers, FL; Charleston, SC; Greenville, SC; Ocala, FL; Roanoke, VA; and Wilmington, NC.

Chattanooga was named one of the Top 11 Southern Retirement Towns in the February/March 2007 issue of Retirement Lifestyles. “Our editorial staff was impressed by the moderate cost of living, great year-around climate, great outdoor recreational opportunities, strong healthcare, resurgent riverfront and downtown festivals,” said Retirement Lifestyles Publisher Dan Owens. “Our team definitely felt that Chattanooga has a lot to offer relocating retirees from other states.”

Retirement Lifestyles magazine focuses on communities and retiree lifestyles in 11 southern states: Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. 

To read the story about Healthy Places, download the Retirement Lifestyles’ December 2007 / January 2008 issue.