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Chattanooga's Growth: Population Soars, Tree Canopy Shrinks

4/13/2025

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Summary

Story summary

NASA's latest satellite images reveal Chattanooga, Tennessee's remarkable evolution from a modest manufacturing hub to a bustling metropolis over the past 23 years. With the population soaring from 350,000 in 2001 to 437,000 in 2024, the city's growth has come at a cost—urban sprawl has decimated 43% of its tree canopy, heightening the threat of flooding.

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Story summary

NASA's latest satellite images reveal Chattanooga, Tennessee's remarkable evolution from a modest manufacturing hub to a bustling metropolis over the past 23 years. With the population soaring from 350,000 in 2001 to 437,000 in 2024, the city's growth has come at a cost—urban sprawl has decimated 43% of its tree canopy, heightening the threat of flooding.