COLLEGEDALE
Location: Right off Interstate 75's Exit 9, Collegedale is located in Hamilton County's southeast quadrant.
Size: About 10 square miles
Founded: 1968
Population: 10,729
Government: The town is governed by five commissioners, including the mayor. The commission appoints a city manager.
Attraction: Home to McKee Foods, producer of the famed Little Debbie snack cakes and one of Hamilton County's largest employers. The town is also home to Southern Adventist University.
Schools: A.W. Spalding Elementary, Ooltewah Elementary, Wolftever Creek Elementary, Collegedale Adventist Middle, Ooltewah Middle, Collegedale Academy
Fun fact: The top-selling Little Debbie products are Swiss Cake Rolls, Nutty Buddies and Oatmeal Creme Pies. In May 2010, McKee Foods celebrated its fifth decade of using the Little Debbie name by preparing a 75-pound Oatmeal Creme Pie.
Landmark: For a fun afternoon with the kids, stop by the Imagination Station and Pavilion playground at 4910 Swinyar Dr. Veterans Memorial Park, located along the Wolftever Creek Greenway, features flags, sculptures, plaques and other military material as a memorial to U.S. war veterans. Construction began in March for the Collegedale Commons, an 8-acre plot and future home of a farmer's market, community center and more.
Quote: "Collegedale to me is more than just a town, it's a way of life. We come together to help folks, we come together to plan a better city, we come together to build something great in The [Collegedale] Commons, a true regional community center." - David Barto, Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation director