Hamm, Chattanooga’s first sister city, is an industrial city in the province of North Rhine-Westphalia, originally producing coal. The Lippe River flows through the city and becomes a part of an intricate canal system used throughout the area to transport much of the raw materials and manufactured products. Hamm is also an important railway city with a downtown section surrounded by five communities. Dr. Robert Collins and his family lived in Chattanooga and were transferred to Hamm in the 1970’s to work in the DuPont plant. It was his friendship with the Mayor of Hamm which led to the Sister City affiliation in 1975.

Each year there is a six-week student exchange between the two cities, and adults continue to visit each other’s city. Hamm visitors come to Chattanooga in the even-numbered years, and Chattanoogans visit Hamm in the alternate years.

More information about Hamm is available here.