Lookout Mountain, Tenn.

Location: Atop Lookout Mountain, just west of downtown Chattanooga

Population: 1,826

Geographic area: Lookout Mountain is a nearly 100-mile-long extenuation of the Cumberland Plateau, south of the Tennessee River.

Date founded: 1890

Landmarks: Ruby Falls, one of the nation's deepest caves and largest underground waterfalls accessible to the public, as well as the Incline, the world's steepest passenger railway.

Government: Mayor Carol Mutter heads a town commission form of government with commissioners Joe Hailey, Walker Jones, Ernie Minges and Don Stinnett.

Schools: Lookout Mountain Elementary School is the only public Hamilton County school in the town.

Median household income: $123,409

Most famous residents: Adolph S. Ochs, whose first newspaper was the Chattanooga Times, went on to buy the then-failing New York Times, which he carried to great influence and prosperity. Jack Lupton succeeded his father, Cartter Lupton, as the owner of the world's largest Coca-Cola bottling company. Jack Lupton left a large legacy in Chattanooga as co-founder of the Tennessee Aquarium.

Best-kept secret: Natural Bridge Park, part of the town's earliest history, has rock formations and trails. The area once was the site of a hotel and a nationally recognized spiritualistic campground.

Fun fact: According to the late Chattanooga and Tennessee historian Zella Armstrong, the Creek Indian name for Lookout Mountain was Chat-a-nu-ga, meaning rock coming to a point at the end of the mountain.

"It's a very safe community. It's a warm and inviting community. It's really a family oriented community. You're very close to things that are happening, but there's a little separation. On Lookout Mountain, it's easy to get to the action but you're not like constantly in the action. -- Dwight Montague, town consultant and 60-year resident

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