Soddy-Daisy is kind of an unusual name for a city, isn't it? The Tennessee city actually got its name from the incorporation of two cities, not surprisingly named Soddy and Daisy. How those cities got their names is some matter of debate, though. Soddy is rumored to come from the Cherokee word tsati, although some people think it may also have been named for early trader William Sodder. Daisy seems to come from the Daisy Coal Company that once had operations here.
Today this uniquely named city is a fast growing town about 20 miles north of Chattanooga. Sodd -- as the locals call it, which refers to the whole town -- still holds on to its small town values, no matter how much it is growing. Yes, the downside of this kind of small town life is that everyone knows all your business, but it also means that neighbors look out for one another. It's a true community, and they will always roll out the welcome mat for another newcomer.
Moving to Soddy-Daisy
If you want to move to Soddy-Daisy, we can't blame you! The rental properties here are surrounded by lush green hills and trees and peaceful lakes and rivers. But the growing popularity of the area means that housing is not always easy to find. With a slightly lower than average percentage of homes rented and a much lower percentage of vacancies, it can require some extra leg work and waiting to find a place. You definitely don't want to wait until two weeks before your lease is up. Start your search as early as possible.
When you find the right place to live, whether you are looking for one bedroom apartments or 2 bedroom apartments for rent, make sure you come prepared to look like the best potential tenant you can be. If you can convince landlords that you'll be a dream tenant, you will have better odds of beating out the competition for that perfect rental!
Before you even fill out an application, make sure you come prepared with a good job, decent credit history, prior rental references who will vouch for you and a bunch of cash on hand for those expensive start-up costs. Most landlords ask for first and sometimes also last month's rent, in addition to a security deposit that can vary based on the individual landlord and your particular credit. If you have pets and are lucky enough to find a pet-friendly apartment, make sure you are prepared because you will probably have to pay additional deposits for that privilege, too.
Neighborhoods
Soddy Daisy is split almost precisely in half by U.S. Highway 27 -- in fact, the city follows the highway for about nine miles. Many of the city's houses and apartments border Chickamauga Lake, which provides peace, quiet, and the opportunity for outdoor recreation. Wherever you go in Soddy-Daisy, you're sure to encounter some small-town Southern hospitality.
Life in Soddy-Daisy
Like most cities in the south, public transportation options are almost non-existent in Soddy-Daisy. So that means that you definitely need to be prepared to drive everywhere you go. But the good news is that commute times are short here, with most people commuting only 15 to 30 minutes each way to work.
Soddy is a beautiful city with pleasant weather for most of the year, and the people who live here love to take advantage of the great outdoors. Not surprisingly, the city planners wanted to make sure that the people here had lots of places to go to enjoy all the natural beauty around them, and they created an excellent and well maintained parks system.
Veterans Park has a walking path, pavilion, gazebo and two lighted ball fields with concessions, and has memorials to honor our veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars as well as World Wars I and II. Scramble Alley Park has wooden climbing structures for kids and a brand new pavilion. For water lovers, Holly Park offers a double wide boat launch that allows two boats to launch at the same time.
Dayton Pike is the main drag in town and you will find almost everything you need there. Delia's Taqueria offers delicious and authentic Mexican food. The Flavors of Italy Caf and Restaurant doesn't just have your usual Italian fare, but also has amazing desserts and great coffee to go with it.
Soddy appreciates their history, too. The original Moe's Tavern was rumored to be used as both a way station during the Trail of Tears and as a hospital for wounded soldiers on both sides of the Civil War. It was torn down in 1911, but the city decided to rebuild it near the original site, with the intention of making it resemble the original building, too.
People in Soddy-Daisy are more than a little bit country, and they are proud of that fact. But wouldn't you be if you were surrounded by beautiful lakes where you could spend lazy summer days on Jet-Skis or rafts? Take your charcoal grill and have a cookout after a long day enjoying Lake Chickamauga.
Life is slower and simpler in Soddy-Daisy. It's worth your time to check it out, because it might be the right place for you to find an apartment. Just allow lots of time to get a place once you decide you want to stay.
