Living in the City of Atlanta

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It's important to know upfront that the region known as "Metro Atlanta" is more than just the City of Atlanta proper. The Metro is actually a very large area that includes 109 other cities, towns and communities. Metro Atlanta officially encompasses 28 counties, with 15 additional counties in the Metro orbit. Metro Atlanta is an area so huge that it is geographically larger than the state of Massachusetts.
The City of Atlanta proper is the 'ground-point-zero' of the larger Metro region. The gleaming City of Atlanta is in its early youth, as city lifespans go. Today, it is the hub city for the Southeast U.S.A. region, especially in transportation, the most palpable memory of early Atlanta.

In the 1830s, the State Legislature voted to establish the Western and Atlantic Railroad, in order to open the great Georgia port of Savannah to the Midwest markets. The intersection where the new railroad crossed the existing Georgia Railroad became a settlement named "Terminus" in 1837. Thus, today's Capitol City was born.
In 1838, the 30 residents of Terminus renamed their town "Thrashersville", for the owner of the town's general store, John Thrasher. By 1842, the general store and six other buildings were renamed "Marthasville". When 1847 came, the little settlement was growing such that the chief engineer of the Georgia railroad suggested a more farsighted name "Atlantica-Pacifica". The name was proposed to commemorate the lofty westward aspirations of Georgia railways. Atlantica-Pacifica was shortened to "Atlanta when the settlement incorporated as a town in 1847. Terminus-Thrashersville-Marthasville-Atlanta, Voila!
In 1847 when the City of Atlanta was incorporated, consider the age of other leading American cities: Boston was 217 years old, Philadelphia was 162, Savannah was 134 and Los Angeles was 66 years of age. But my how the youngster of a town has burgeoned. The population grew from 30 residents in 1837 to 443,775 in the U.S. Census estimates of 2012. Of course, "Atlanta" is now a great Metro, spilling out to 42 other counties, boasting 5,457,831 people, and the nation's ninth largest metro region.

The City of Atlanta has grown, and well beyond that of a railroad junction. And yes, transportation is still a major strand in Atlanta's identity. It is still a major rail junction and home of major classification yards for railroads. The city is also laced with advanced and intricate interstate highways, making it the major trucking hub of the southeast. And for air travel, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest.

After the scars of Civil War, Reconstruction and the struggle for Civil Rights, the most current view regards Atlanta as the Capitol City of the New South. Modern Atlanta is an engine of vitality, with the pistons of commerce driving a huge economy, culture, academics, the arts and professional sports- all humming along in progress.
The 1996 Summer Olympics became Atlanta's debut in 1996 as a world city. The Centennial Olympic Park stands as a tribute to the world taking stock of Atlanta as a center of competition and peace. The World Cities Study Group named Atlanta an "Alpha World City". Its annual gross domestic product of $270 billion ranks as 15th among world cities, and sixth in the U.S.A.
The City of Atlanta ranks as the third-largest home of Fortune 500 Companies headquarters, including The Coca-Cola Company, Home Depot, AT&T Mobility, Turner Broadcasting, Delta Airlines, Chick-fil-A, Arbys, SunTrust Banks and UPS. 1,000 other corporations call Atlanta its home. It is a center for government, as well as services, finance and information technology.
The millennium ushered in Atlanta's cultural prominence. Longstanding local artistic offerings, such as the High Museum of Art, doubled in size and created partnerships with The Louvre in Paris, The Smithsonian Institution and New York City's Museum of Modern Art. The Alliance Theatre won a Tony, launching it into the position as one of the leading performing arts venues in America. The Fox Theatre downtown is one of the highest grossing venues in the world. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet and Atlanta Opera are recognized as culturally premier institutions, standing in diverse, but interesting contrast to Atlanta's bustling Hip Hop and Rap recording scenes.

Over 35,000,000 annual visitors make the City of Atlanta a powerful tourist destination, coming to see sites such as the Georgia Aquarium and Atlanta History Center. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site includes the birthplace and tomb for the civil rights legend. Many take in professional sports with the NFL Atlanta Falcons Football Team, the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Hawks in NBA basketball. And with Georgia Tech's 55,000 seat Bobby Dodd Stadium sitting smack dab in the middle of Midtown, it is fair to say that Atlanta is a sports crazy town.
The City of Atlanta is composed of 242 officially defined neighborhoods, although the city can be understood by brief descriptions of the larger districts, many with famous place names, like Buckhead. Below is a cameo of the City of Atlanta's districts and well-known neighborhoods:

ANSLEY PARK- Started in 1904, Ansley Park is located north of downtown Atlanta and west of Piedmont Park, between Piedmont Avenue and Peachtree Street. The neighborhood encompasses approximately 275 acres and includes single-family residences, apartments, and a church.

Ansley Park features a curvilinear arrangement of streets, numerous parks, and a wide range of eclectic and period architectural styles. One immediately notices that streets in the district are landscaped on either side like parkways, with carefully aligned curbs, smooth lawns, shrubs and trees bordering the streets through the historic neighborhood. This approach to streetscape design blends with the landscaping of adjoining lots... all to create the appearance of a vast public park. The principal parks of the district are Winn Park and McClatchy Park, both winding their ways through major parts of the suburb - so that no residential lot is more than a 10-minute walk away. The Ansley Park golf course is situated along the banks of Clear Creek within the neighborhood.
Today, the houses in the district are private residences and are not open to the public, but there is more information and a virtual tour available through the Ansley Park Civic Association. Guided walking tours are also offered by The Atlanta Preservation Center.

HISTORIC BROOKHAVEN- The Brookhaven Historic District is the oldest planned golf course and country club residential community in Georgia. It consists of three separately platted subdivisions with similar street patterns, houses and landscape features that merge together to create one homogeneous residential neighborhood in northeast Atlanta. At the core of the community is a historic golf course featuring a lake, wooded areas, and the Capital City Clubhouse.
Today, this unique area is sometimes referred to as West Brookhaven. It is an enclave of large, elegant Tudor, Colonial, Georgian and English cottage homes in a lush landscape of broad, winding streets, densely wooded hollows and gently rolling hills with the Capital City Country Club as its heart.

BUCKHEAD- Famous Buckhead is the city's uptown district. Of course, the name must be explained. Originally, the area was called "Irbyville", after the owner of an 1830's general store on the location. Legend has it that he killed a large buck deer and hung the head in a prominent location.
In the early 2oth century, wealthy individuals built lavish mansions in Buckhead, and Buckhead Village was established. The late 1950's opening of Lenox Square, a major shopping center, catapulted Buckhead into commercial prominence. The area is dotted with clubs for nightlife, excellent cuisine, and is considered the heart of fashion in the City of Atlanta.

CHASTAIN PARK- Chastain Park is a community that consists of 19 residential neighborhoods and a business district, all of which revolves around the 268-acre Chastain Memorial Park at its core. The actual park itself is the largest in Atlanta, with playgrounds, jogging paths, tennis courts, golf course, swimming, an amphitheater and even a horse park.

CUMBERLAND- is one of the major business districts for the City of Atlanta. Over 103,000 residents live in this "edge city" northwest of downtown. Another 120,000+ people commute each day to work here. While there are no official boundaries, Cumberland Boulevard encircles most of the area. Cumberland has a skyline of office towers and superb shopping including the Cumberland Mall and Cobb Galleria Centre.

DOWNTOWN- Roughly 4 square miles in size, downtown is the City of Atlanta's largest financial district and is filled with striking architecture. Over 12,500 hotel rooms are available to serve the enormous influx of business visitors each day.
Here rises the tallest building outside of New York City and Chicago, the 1,023 ft. tall Bank of America Plaza building. Downtown contains the centers of government for Atlanta, Fulton County and the State of Georgia, as well sporting venues and Centennial Olympic Park, site of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Many of the City of Atlanta's most prestigious business addresses are downtown, such as the world headquarters of Coca-Cola and the Georgia World Congress Center, one of the largest convention facilities in the world.

DRUID HILLS- is a planned neighborhood established in the late 19th century. A little over 14,000 people live in Druid Hills today. The community contains many fine Victorian-style mansions, as well as Emory University and the important and world-renowned Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its commercial area, Emory Village, was revitalized in 2011.

EAST ATLANTA- This section of the City of Atlanta grew from the "streetcar" neighborhoods of the 1890-1930s. These residential neighborhoods were enclaves for the upper middle class of Atlantans, reached by streetcar from distant work sites. Today, the "gentrification" movement is resulting in restored homes and fledgling businesses.
East Atlanta contains two noteworthy place names: Inman Park and Virginia-Highland. Inman Park is Atlanta's first planned residential neighborhood and includes wonderfully kept Queen Anne and Italianate homes. As a garden-suburb, Inman Park pays great attention to street layout and parks.
Virginia-Highlandswas established in 1922, and is distinguished by it's craftsman-style bungalows. It has become a destination for its eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and bars, as well as its annual "Summerfest" Festival. It is easy to contend that confidently hip Virginia-Highlands is Atlanta's most sought-after address. Think of Los Angeles' Melrose Avenue, or New York City's SoHo, and you can understand this neighborhood.

GRANT PARK-Grant Park refers to the oldest city park in Atlanta, as well as the Victorian neighborhood surrounding it. Grant Park encompasses 131.5 acres of land. Founded in 1882, the Park became a

destination for thousands seeking a quiet respite or a cold swim in Lake Abana. Gentlemen rowed their ladies across the lake, couples strolled the many paths and trails in a thick forest, while others enjoyed carriage rides, sculpture gardens, rose gardens, natural springs, picnics in the gazebo and the native flora. Five separate streetcar lines brought city dwellers to the park. Grant Park was the pride of a bustling new city of the New South.

In 2000, the neighborhood became Atlanta's largest Historic District, bringing additional zoning protections. Grant Park today is a mixture of the old and new residents, with people of all levels of education, age and racial backgrounds living in the same neighborhood.

Grant Park is home to Zoo Atlanta, the Atlanta Cyclorama, and welcomes more than two million visitors yearly.
INMAN PARK- This neighborhood has the distinction of being Atlanta's first planned residential community. Developed in 1889 by visionary builder Joel Hurt, Inman Park greatly influenced the planning, design and growth of other Atlanta Suburbs well into the 20th century.

Located merely 2 miles from downtown Atlanta, the neighborhood is a montage of beautifully crafted Victorian homes, built in the late 19th century style. The streets are picturesque frameworks, proudly displaying examples of Queen Anne architecture, Colonial Revival, and Shingle Style homes and bungalows.

KIRKWOOD- Just 4 miles to the east of Downtown Atlanta is historic Kirkwood. This neighborhood began as an early streetcar suburb.  It lies between DeKalb Avenue to the north, Rogers Street/Montgomery Street to the west, Memorial Drive to the south and Mellrich Avenue/Winter Avenue to the east. Kirkwood is located in the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County.
Kirkwood offers the perfect in-town living experience with friendly and diverse neighbors, strong sense of community, beautiful historic homes, mature trees and central location.

LITTLE FIVE POINTS- This quirky neighborhood is located just east of downtown. What started as a commercial district for the Candler Park and Inman Park neighborhoods has today become renowned for its alternative culture. By 1970, the area was in a sad state of disrepair, but in the early 1980's urban pioneers began a revitalization that has become very successful and widespread. Funky shops, music and eclectic cuisine thrive in the "Haight-Asbury of the South", as Little Five is called. The Little Five Points Halloween Festival is a spectacle not to be missed.

MIDTOWN- Move north from downtown and cross Ponce De Leon Avenue and you enter the vibrant and diverse Atlanta Midtown. The business power and skyline rivals that of downtown, but an edgier lifestyle thrives in Midtown. Midtown is celebrated for its diversity of homes and culture, which range from the High Museum of Art, to the Fox Theatre. The preppie Georgia Tech campus shares life with the mansion-dwellers in Ansley Park and all of it lies next door to the clubbing nightlife scene, led by the iconic Fox Theater.

MORNINGSIDE- Approximately 3,500 households comprise this charming neighborhood, including the original subdivisions of Morningside, Lenox Park (not to be confused with the area called Lenox Park, built to the north in the 1980s),University Park, Noble Park, Johnson Estates and Hylan Park. Located 5 miles to the northwest of downtown Atlanta, Morningside is north of Virginia-Highland, west of Druid Hills and east of Ansley Park.

NORTHWEST ATLANTA- is the least renovated area of the city, including The Bluff and English Avenue, two of the poorest and least safe neighborhoods in Atlanta.

PERIMETER CENTER- is a major business district, centered on Perimeter Mall. Located just north of Atlanta proper, this unofficial community lies within two towns - Dunwoody and Sandy Springs. Perimeter Center is one of Metro Atlanta's largest business districts and is the largest edge city in the nation. The King and Queen Towers, formally known as Concourse at Landmark Center, are the most recognizable structures, due to the artistic structures that top them. Perimeter Place, a shopping area that emulates a town center rather than a typical strip mall, contains the Manhattan, Perimeter Center's high-rise condominium tower.

SOUTHWEST ATLANTA -This large district of the City holds several important neighborhoods, like the once-industrial West Midtown, where historic rehabilitation has transformed factories and warehouses into condos, apartments, retail space and sophisticated restaurants.
The West End neighborhood is on the National Register of Historic Places. Like many early residential areas, the West End fell into urban blight in the 1970s. But the aging neighborhood began rejuvenation in 2000. Community value is once again returning, as new and old residents promote their home neighborhood. Young professionals have established households in the West End.  It is also a mecca for artists and a hub for the Afro-centric culture.
In addition, Southwest Atlanta contains Collier Heights and Cascade Heights, home to the city's affluent and influential African-American elite.

VININGS -This community is located between Buckhead and Smyrna, nestled on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. Almost 10,000 residents enjoy life in this unincorporated community that sits less than 10 miles from downtown Atlanta. Excellent, upscale shopping is plentiful in Vinings. The state-of-the-art Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is venue for events from Broadway shows to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Because of its picturesque beauty and lifestyle, Vinings has become a much sought after address.
VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND- Virginia-Highlands was established in 1922, and is distinguished by its craftsman-style bungalows. It has become a destination for its eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and bars, as well as its annual "Summerfest" Festival. It is easy to contend that confidently hip Virginia-Highlands is Atlanta's most sought-after address. Think of Los Angeles' Melrose Avenue, or New York City's SoHo, and you can understand this neighborhood.