Metro Atlanta
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (September 2023) |
Metropolitan Atlanta | ||
---|---|---|
CSA
| ||
UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
ZIP codes | 300xx to 303xx | |
Area codes | 404/678/470/943 inside the perimeter 770/678/470/943 outside the perimeter |
Metro Atlanta, designated by the
The core 5 counties of metropolitan Atlanta are
Definitions
By
A 2006 survey by the
The Atlanta metropolitan area was first defined in 1950 as Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton counties. Walton, Newton, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Henry, Cherokee, Rockdale, and Butts counties were added after the 1970 census, with Barrow and Coweta counties joining in 1980 and Bartow, Carroll, Paulding, Pickens and Spalding counties in 1990.
Atlanta's larger
Metropolitan statistical area
The counties listed below are included in the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell metropolitan statistical area.[13] In 2023, the Office of Management and Budget split the MSA into two conurbated metropolitan divisions.
The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan division consists of the following 24 counties:
The Marietta metropolitan consists of the following five counties.
Some entities define a much smaller metropolitan area by including only the counties which have the densest suburban development. Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton were the five original counties when the Atlanta metropolitan area was first defined in 1950, and continue to be the core of the metro area. These five counties along with six more (Cherokee, Douglas, Fayette, Henry, Rockdale, and Forsyth) are members of the
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell MSA
County | Seat | 2020 census | 2010 census | Change | Area | Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fulton * | Atlanta
|
1,066,710 | 920,581 | +15.87% | 534 sq mi (1,380 km2) | 1,998/sq mi (771/km2) |
Gwinnett * | Lawrenceville | 957,062 | 805,321 | +18.84% | 437 sq mi (1,130 km2) | 2,190/sq mi (846/km2) |
Cobb * | Marietta | 766,149 | 688,078 | +11.35% | 345 sq mi (890 km2) | 2,221/sq mi (857/km2) |
DeKalb * | Decatur | 764,382 | 691,893 | +10.48% | 271 sq mi (700 km2) | 2,821/sq mi (1,089/km2) |
Clayton * | Jonesboro | 297,595 | 259,424 | +14.71% | 144 sq mi (370 km2) | 2,067/sq mi (798/km2) |
Cherokee * | Canton | 266,620 | 214,346 | +24.39% | 434 sq mi (1,120 km2) | 614/sq mi (237/km2) |
Forsyth * | Cumming | 251,283 | 175,511 | +43.17% | 224 sq mi (580 km2) | 1,122/sq mi (433/km2) |
Henry * | McDonough | 240,712 | 203,922 | +18.04% | 327 sq mi (850 km2) | 736/sq mi (284/km2) |
Paulding * | Dallas | 168,661 | 142,324 | +18.50% | 314 sq mi (810 km2) | 537/sq mi (207/km2) |
Coweta * | Newnan | 146,158 | 127,317 | +14.80% | 446 sq mi (1,160 km2) | 328/sq mi (127/km2) |
Douglas * | Douglasville | 144,237 | 132,403 | +8.94% | 201 sq mi (520 km2) | 718/sq mi (277/km2) |
Fayette * | Fayetteville | 119,194 | 106,567 | +11.85% | 199 sq mi (520 km2) | 599/sq mi (231/km2) |
Carroll | Carrollton | 119,148 | 110,527 | +7.80% | 504 sq mi (1,310 km2) | 236/sq mi (91/km2) |
Newton | Covington | 112,483 | 99,958 | +12.53% | 279 sq mi (720 km2) | 403/sq mi (156/km2) |
Bartow * | Cartersville | 108,901 | 100,157 | +8.73% | 470 sq mi (1,200 km2) | 232/sq mi (89/km2) |
Walton | Monroe | 96,673 | 83,768 | +15.41% | 330 sq mi (850 km2) | 293/sq mi (113/km2) |
Rockdale * | Conyers | 93,570 | 85,215 | +9.80% | 132 sq mi (340 km2) | 709/sq mi (274/km2) |
Barrow | Winder | 83,505 | 69,367 | +20.38% | 163 sq mi (420 km2) | 512/sq mi (198/km2) |
Spalding | Griffin | 67,306 | 64,073 | +5.05% | 200 sq mi (520 km2) | 337/sq mi (130/km2) |
Lumpkin | Dahlonega | 33,488 | 29,966 | +11.75% | 284 sq mi (740 km2) | 118/sq mi (46/km2) |
Pickens | Jasper | 33,216 | 29,431 | +12.86% | 233 sq mi (600 km2) | 143/sq mi (55/km2) |
Haralson | Buchanan | 29,919 | 28,780 | +3.96% | 283 sq mi (730 km2) | 106/sq mi (41/km2) |
Dawson | Dawsonville | 26,798 | 22,330 | +20.01% | 214 sq mi (550 km2) | 125/sq mi (48/km2) |
Butts | Jackson | 25,434 | 23,655 | +7.52% | 188 sq mi (490 km2) | 135/sq mi (52/km2) |
Meriwether | Greenville | 20,613 | 21,992 | −6.27% | 505 sq mi (1,310 km2) | 41/sq mi (16/km2) |
Morgan | Madison | 20,097 | 17,868 | +12.47% | 361 sq mi (930 km2) | 56/sq mi (21/km2) |
Pike | Zebulon | 18,889 | 17,869 | +5.71% | 219 sq mi (570 km2) | 86/sq mi (33/km2) |
Jasper | Monticello | 14,588 | 13,900 | +4.95% | 373 sq mi (970 km2) | 39/sq mi (15/km2) |
Heard | Franklin | 11,412 | 11,834 | −3.57% | 301 sq mi (780 km2) | 38/sq mi (15/km2) |
Total | 6,104,803 | 5,298,377 | +15.22% | 8,474 sq mi (21,950 km2) | 720/sq mi (278/km2) |
The 10 counties listed above with under 60,000 residents are usually not included in any other metropolitan definition except the OMB/Census Bureau's MSA and CSA.
The official tourism website of the State of Georgia features an "Atlanta Metro" tourism region that includes only eight counties: Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, Clayton, Douglas, Fayette, and Henry.
Combined statistical area
Atlanta GA-AL CSA
Statistical area | 2020 census | 2010 census | Change | Area | Density |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GA MSA | 6,089,815 | 5,286,728 | +15.19% | 8,376 sq mi (21,690 km2) | 727/sq mi (281/km2) |
Athens–Clarke County, GA MSA | 215,415 | 192,541 | +11.88% | 1,035 sq mi (2,680 km2) | 208/sq mi (80/km2) |
Gainesville, GA MSA
|
203,136 | 179,684 | +13.05% | 429 sq mi (1,110 km2) | 474/sq mi (183/km2) |
LaGrange, GA-AL Micropolitan Statistical Area
|
104,198 | 101,259 | +2.90% | 446 sq mi (1,160 km2) | 234/sq mi (90/km2) |
Rome, GA MSA
|
98,584 | 96,317 | +2.35% | 518 sq mi (1,340 km2) | 190/sq mi (73/km2) |
Jefferson, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area
|
75,907 | 60,485 | +25.50% | 343 sq mi (890 km2) | 221/sq mi (85/km2) |
Cornelia, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area
|
46,031 | 43,041 | +6.95% | 279 sq mi (720 km2) | 165/sq mi (64/km2) |
Cedartown, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area
|
42,853 | 41,475 | +3.32% | 312 sq mi (810 km2) | 137/sq mi (53/km2) |
Thomaston, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area
|
27,700 | 27,153 | +2.01% | 328 sq mi (850 km2) | 84/sq mi (33/km2) |
Toccoa, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area
|
26,784 | 26,175 | +2.33% | 184 sq mi (480 km2) | 146/sq mi (56/km2) |
Total | 6,930,423 | 6,020,643 | +15.11% | 12,250 sq mi (31,700 km2) | 566/sq mi (218/km2) |
Municipalities
Edge cities
- Cumberland
- Perimeter Center
- Hartsfield-Jacksonarea
- Gwinnett Place/Sugarloaf area
More than one half of metro Atlanta's population is in unincorporated areas or areas considered a census-designated-place (CDP) by the census bureau. One notable example is East Cobb, an unincorporated area (though not a CDP) adjacent to Marietta and Roswell in Cobb County. With an estimated population of approximately 164,055 as of 2020, it would be the second largest city in the metro besides Atlanta if incorporated.[14]
Metro Atlanta includes the following incorporated and unincorporated suburbs (both inside and outside Atlanta), exurbs, and surrounding cities, sorted by population according to 2020 census data (or later data if the city was incorporated after 2020 and census data is unavailable):[15]
Cities and suburbs
Principal Cities
Places with 100,000 to 399,999 inhabitants
- East Cobb (unincorporated) pop. 164,055
- Sandy Springs pop. 108,080
- South Fulton pop. 107,436
Places with 75,000 to 99,999 inhabitants
- Roswell pop. 92,833
- Big Creek (unincorporated) pop. 83,277
- Johns Creek pop. 82,453
- Mableton (incorporated 2022) pop. 78,000
Places with 50,000 to 74,999 inhabitants
- Lost Mountain (unincorporated) pop. 73,312
- Alpharetta pop. 65,818
- Marietta pop. 60,972
- Stonecrest pop. 59,194
- Smyrna pop. 55,663
- Brookhaven pop. 55,161
- Dunwoody pop. 51,683
Places with 25,000 to 49,999 inhabitants
- Huntsville (unincorporated) pop. 49,763
- Ellenwood (unincorporated) pop. 46,967
- Bill Arp (unincorporated) pop. 44,518
- Peachtree Corners pop. 43,905
- Newnan pop. 42,549
- Gainesville (included in CSA) pop. 42,296
- Milton pop. 41,296
- East Point pop. 38,358
- Tucker pop. 35,322
- Woodstock pop. 35,065
- Douglasville pop. 34,650
- Peachtree City pop. 34,364
- Kennesaw pop. 33,036
- Canton pop. 32,973
- Chamblee pop. 32,251
- Duluth pop. 31,873
- Redan (CDP) pop. 31,749
- Lawrenceville pop. 30,629
- Silver City (unincorporated) pop. 29,495
- McDonough pop. 29,051
- Stockbridge pop. 28,973
- Union City pop. 26,830
- Carrollton pop. 26,738
- Sugar Hill pop. 25,076
Places with 24,999 or fewer inhabitants
- Decatur pop. 24,928
- Griffin pop. 23,478
- Clarkdale (unincorporated) pop. 23,401
- Cartersville pop. 23,187
- Candler-McAfee (CDP) pop. 22,468
- Acworth pop. 22,440
- Lathemtown pop. 21,110
- Suwanee pop. 20,786
- Snellville pop. 20,573
- North Druid Hills (CDP) pop. 20,385
- Forest Park pop. 19,932
- Fayetteville pop. 18,957
- Winder pop. 18,338
- North Decatur (CDP) pop. 18,511
- Conyers pop. 17,305
- Norcross pop. 17,209
- Buford pop. 17,144
- Villa Rica pop. 16,970
- Powder Springs pop. 16,887
- Lithia Springs (CDP) pop. 16,644
- Rex (unincorporated) pop. 16,580
- Fairburn pop. 16,483
- Riverdale pop. 15,129
- Belvedere Park (CDP) pop. 15,113
- Monroe pop. 14,928
- Clarkston pop. 14,756
- Druid Hills (CDP) pop. 14,568
- Lilburn pop. 14,502
- Covington pop. 14,192
- Loganville pop. 14,127
- Dallas pop. 14,092
- College Park pop. 13,930
- Braselton pop. 13,403
- Mountain Park (Gwinnett) (CDP) pop. 13,089
- Vinings (CDP) pop. 12,581
- Panthersville (CDP) pop. 11,237
- Doraville pop. 10,623
- Thomaston pop. 9,816
- Irondale (CDP) pop. 8,704
- Tyrone pop. 7,658
- Hampton pop. 6,987
- Auburn (CDP) pop. 6,887
- Barnesville pop. 6,775
- Austell pop. 6,581
- Morrow pop. 6,445
- Lovejoy pop. 6,422
- Hapeville pop. 6,373
- Conley (CDP) pop. 6,228
- Stone Mountain pop. 5,802
- Flowery Branch pop. 5,679
- Cumming pop. 5,430
- Locust Grove pop. 5,402
- Jonesboro pop. 4,724
- Palmetto pop. 4,448
- Dacula pop. 4,442
- Bonanza (CDP) pop. 3,135
- Avondale Estates pop. 2,960
- Lakeview Estates(CDP) pop. 2,695
- Grayson pop. 2,666
- Lake City pop. 2,612
- Chattahoochee Hillspop. 2,378
- Lithonia pop. 1,924
- Berkeley Lake pop. 1,574
Geography
Topography and geology
The area sprawls across the low foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to the north and the Piedmont to the south. The northern and some western suburbs tend to be higher and significantly more hilly than the southern and eastern suburbs. The average elevation is around 1,000 feet (300 m).
The highest point in the immediate area is
The area's
Earthquakes and fault lines
An extinct
Thus, the 1886 Charleston, South Carolina earthquake was also felt in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast. It caused damage as far as central Alabama and West Virginia. Two small earthquakes were also felt on the southeast side near Eatonton in early April 2009. The New Madrid Seismic Zone (near the Missouri-Tennessee borders) and the seismic zone producing the 1886 magnitude 7.3 earthquake are still capable of producing moderate or major earthquakes, which the entire Atlanta area will feel moderately or even strongly.
Climate
The Atlanta metro area has a humid subtropical climate with four seasons. Summer is the longest. January daily lows average from 32–35 °F (0–2 °C) north to south, and highs range from 48–54 °F (9–12 °C), but often reach well above or below this average. There is an average annual snowfall of about 2.5 inches (6.4 cm), falling mostly from December through March, though there was snow north of the city on April 3, 1987. Snow flurries are actually common during the winter months when there is an especially deep trough in the jet stream. These events usually do not amount to more than a slight dusting and therefore go unrecognized in most weather summaries.
Summers are long and consistently hot and humid. July mornings average 71 °F (22 °C) and afternoons average 89 °F (32 °C), with slight breezes, and typically a 20–40% chance of afternoon thunderstorms. During the summer afternoon thunderstorms, temperatures may suddenly drop to 70–77 degrees with locally heavy rainfall. Average annual rainfall is about 50.2 inches (1,280 mm). Late winter and early spring, as well as July, are the wettest. Fall, especially October, is the driest.
From 1878 to 2011, the highest recorded temperatures at Atlanta were 105 °F (40.6 °C) on three days in the extraordinarily hot July 1980, followed by 104 °F (40 °C) that month and in August 2007, the hottest month ever for the area. This was broken on the last day of June 2012, when the temperature reached 106 °F (41.1 °C), during a massive heat wave that hit most of the country, with another 105 the next day tying the July record. The lowest recorded temperatures were −6 °F (−21 °C) and −8 °F (−22 °C) on January 20 and 21 of 1985, and −9 °F (−23 °C) on February 13, 1899, during severe cold snaps that went so far south they devastated the entire citrus industry in central Florida.
The area experiences a
The Southeastern U.S. drought of 2006–2008 began with dry weather in 2006, and left area lakes very low. The drought began to abate significantly after the
Environment
The area's prolific rains are drained by many different
By 2005 the metro area was using 360 million US gallons (1,400,000 m3) of water per day (about 80 US gallons (300 L) per person per day) from these rivers. This usage was reduced by more than 10% during the drought, but soared back up after watering restrictions were eased (and before the flooding ensued). The need for water is seen as a barrier to further growth in the area, but permanent measures for non-emergency
Disputes over water are becoming increasingly common, with both
Flora
The native
Shrubby plants include
native only to the area around Stone Mountain.Common garden plants include dogwood,
Native to the nearby mountains, maples are now one of the most common landscape trees for new homes and parking lots, giving their color in the fall instead of spring. When planted close to buildings (which provide shelter and radiate heat), they can retain some of their color into December, especially if November has been warm.
Common
By far the most notorious introduced species is kudzu, a highly invasive species from Japan which climbs and smothers trees and shrubs. New effective herbicides as well as increased development of formerly rural areas has greatly reduced kudzu in the metro area (although still quite common elsewhere in Georgia). Wisteria planted decades ago by farmers in then-rural areas has become wild and is common in undeveloped forests. Some vines exceed 50 years of age and cover dozens of acres of forest, creating a dense, purple explosion each spring.
Fauna
Among
The most common
The American kestrel is sometimes seen. Late in the year, three species of owls can be heard nightly in wooded areas. Various woodpeckers can be seen in forested lots, including the red-bellied woodpecker, northern flicker (also known as the "yellow-shafted flicker"), and the downy woodpecker. The red-headed woodpecker is common in open fields and on golf courses. The American goldfinch is present mostly in winter, and the ruby-throated hummingbird only in summer.
Year | DEM | GOP | Others |
---|---|---|---|
2020
|
57.0% 1,684,934 | 41.6% 1,229,242 | 1.4% 39,950 |
2016
|
52.3% 1,250,397 | 44.2% 1,057,123 | 3.5% 82,781 |
2012
|
49.4% 1,108,989 | 49.0% 1,099,845 | 1.5% 34,208 |
2008
|
51.3% 1,153,849 | 47.7% 1,074,509 | 1.0% 22,898 |
2004
|
44.1% 818,067 | 55.2% 1,023,670 | 0.7% 13,661 |
2000
|
44.4% 631,882 | 52.5% 746,974 | 3.1% 43,635 |
1996
|
46.1% 565,241 | 47.3% 579,727 | 6.6% 81,199 |
1992
|
43.3% 521,891 | 43.4% 522,934 | 13.4% 161,013 |
1988
|
39.5% 358,191 | 59.8% 542,979 | 0.7% 6,516 |
1984
|
38.0% 322,409 | 61.9% 524,579 | 0.0% 354 |
1980
|
52.5% 381,253 | 43.1% 312,920 | 4.4% 32,160 |
1976
|
63.9% 417,621 | 35.8% 233,778 | 0.3% 1,917 |
1972
|
27.4% 142,069 | 72.3% 374,580 | 0.3% 1,653 |
1968
|
30.3% 150,806 | 36.6% 182,609 | 33.1% 165,093 |
1964
|
50.2% 218,167 | 49.8% 216,221 | 0.0% 42 |
1960
|
59.0% 163,034 | 40.9% 113,022 | 0.0% 91 |
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1900 | 419,375 | — | |
1910 | 522,442 | 24.6% | |
1920 | 622,283 | 19.1% | |
1930 | 715,391 | 15.0% | |
1940 | 820,579 | 14.7% | |
1950 | 997,666 | 21.6% | |
1960 | 1,312,474 | 31.6% | |
1970 | 1,763,626 | 34.4% | |
1980 | 2,233,324 | 26.6% | |
1990 | 2,959,950 | 32.5% | |
2000 | 4,112,198 | 38.9% | |
2010 | 5,286,728 | 28.6% | |
2020 | 6,089,815 | 15.2% | |
2023 (est.) | 6,307,261 | 3.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census |
Numerically, Metro Atlanta is the third fastest growing metropolitan area in the U.S.[16]The 2020 census counted 6,089,815 people in the 28-county metro area. This was an increase of 803,087 from its 2010 population, representing growth of 15.2%. This was, however, a slower rate than the 28.6% increase recorded between 2000 and 2010.
Race, ethnicity, or foreign-born status |
Pop. 2010 | % of total 2010 | Pop. 2000[A] | % of total 2000 | absolute change 2000–2010[B] |
% change 2000–2010[B] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 5,268,860 | 4,112,198 | ||||
White only |
2,920,480 | 55.4% | 2,589,888 | 63.0% | 330,592 | 12.8% |
Non-Hispanic white only | 2,671,757 | 50.7% | 2,447,856 | 59.5% | 223,901 | 9.1% |
Black only |
1,707,913 | 32.4% | 1,189,179 | 28.9% | 518,734 | 43.6% |
Asian only and Pacific Islander only |
256,956 | 4.9% | 137,640 | 3.3% | 119,316 | 86.7% |
Asian Indian |
108,980 | 1.5% | 37,162 | 0.9% | 41,818 | 112.5% |
Korean | 93,870 | 1.2% | 22,317 | 0.5% | 21,553 | 96.6% |
Vietnamese | 63,096 | 0.7% | 23,564 | 0.6% | 15,096 | 66.9% |
Chinese | 50,554 | 0.7% | 22,097 | 0.5% | 12,558 | 52.3% |
Hispanic or Latino of any race | 747,400 | 10.4% | 268,851 | 6.5% | 278,549 | 103.6% |
Mexican | 354,351 | 6.0% | 165,109 | 4.0% | 149,242 | 90.4% |
Puerto Rican |
43,337 | 0.8% | 19,358 | 0.5% | 23,979 | 123.9% |
Cuban | 17,648 | 0.3% | 9,206 | 0.2% | 8,442 | 91.7% |
Foreign-born | 916,434 | 13.6% | 424,519 | 10.3% | 291,915 | 68.8% |
A Atlanta MSA in 2000 did not include Butts, Dawson, Haralson, Heard, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, and Pike counties, whose population totalled in 2000: 135,783; in 2010: 156,368 (2.96% of total new 28-county metro)[17]
B Compares the larger 28-county Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta MSA 2010 with a smaller 20‑county Atlanta MSA 2000; however the 8 new counties represent less than 3% of the larger 28‑county metro.
Source: for race and Hispanic population, U.S. Census Bureau 2010 and 2000 census; for foreign-born population: US Census Bureau 2010 and 2000 American Community Surveys; Immigrants in 2010 Metropolitan America, Brookings Institution
Race and ethnicity
Due to its availability of jobs, Atlanta has been a destination for young college-educated blacks in the Reverse Great Migration of African Americans from the North since the turn of the 21st century, with many settling quickly into suburban locations. The Atlanta metropolitan area has the second highest total African American population of any metropolitan area, with only the New York City metro area having more.
Year | Black pop. in City of Atlanta |
Black pop. in DeKalb County |
Total black pop. Atlanta + DeKalb |
Total black pop. Metro Atlanta |
Proportion of black pop. in Atlanta + DeKalb |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | 255,689 | 361,111 | 616,800 | 1,189,179 | 51.9% |
2010 | 226,894 | 375,697 | 602,591 | 1,707,913 | 35.2% |
2020 | 246,906 | 407,451 | 641,923 | 2,186,815 | 29.4% |
The
Atlanta also has Georgia's largest
Metro Atlanta has an increasingly international population, with 716,434 foreign-born residents in 2010, a 69% increase since 2000, with suburban Gwinnett County being one of the most diverse counties in the Southeastern United States.
Metro Atlanta's immigrants are more suburban than those of most cities. Out of the top 100 U.S. metros, Atlanta has the 11th highest ratio of the foreign-born living in the suburbs and not in the core city.
In 1990, greater Atlanta had the largest Japanese population in the Southeast United States. The
Language
In 2008, approximately 83.3% of the population five years and older spoke only
Economy
The Atlanta area is home to 31 Fortune 1000 headquarters. 2022 rankings:
ATL rank |
Company | City | Sector | Fortune rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Home Depot
|
Atlanta | Retail | 17 |
2 | United Parcel Service | Sandy Springs | Package delivery | 34 |
3 | Coca Cola Company
|
Atlanta | Beverage | 93 |
4 | Delta Air Lines | Atlanta | Airline | 113 |
5 | Southern Company | Atlanta | Energy | 153 |
6 | NAPA
|
Atlanta | Automotive parts | 191 |
7 | WestRock | Sandy Springs | Packaging | 192 |
8 | PulteGroup | Atlanta | Home building | 267 |
9 | Norfolk Southern
|
Atlanta | Railroad | 332 |
10 | AGCO | Duluth | Farm equipment | 334 |
11 | Newell Brands | Sandy Springs | Consumer goods | 348 |
12 | Asbury Automotive Group | Duluth | Automotive retail | 360 |
13 | Intercontinental Exchange | Sandy Springs | Information | 459 |
14 | Global Payments | Atlanta | Financial | 407 |
15 | Graphic Packaging | Sandy Springs | Packaging | 466 |
16 | NCR
|
Atlanta | Technology | 466 |
17 | Veritiv | Sandy Springs | Packaging / logistics | 477 |
18 | Equifax | Atlanta | Information | 617 |
19 | BlueLinx | Marietta | Building products | 665 |
20 | Carter's | Atlanta | Clothing | 689 |
21 | SiteOne Landscape Supply | Roswell | Landscape | 756 |
22 | Acuity Brands | Atlanta | Lighting | 759 |
23 | Floor & Decor | Smyrna | Flooring products | 764 |
24 | GMS | Tucker | Building products | 786 |
25 | FleetCor Technologies
|
Atlanta | Financial | 868 |
26 | Americold Realty Trust | Sandy Springs | Cold storage | 893 |
27 | Primerica | Duluth | Financial services | 895 |
28 | Rollins | Atlanta | Home services | 930 |
29 | Gray Television | Atlanta | Broadcasting | 935 |
30 | Saia | Johns Creek | Transportation | 961 |
31 | Beazer Homes USA | Sandy Springs | Home building | 992 |
The
Utilities
The area is the world's largest toll-free calling zone spanning 7,162 square miles (18,549 km2),
In 1998,
The city of Atlanta is the most wired city in the United States.
Major
Metro Atlanta primarily uses
Water is provided by various county and a few city systems. Several of these systems actually serve parts of neighboring counties and cities as well. The
Housing
Low-density
Changes in
Community improvement districts
All of Georgia's
- Buckhead[32]
- Perimeter Center Community Improvement Districts, covering the Perimeter Center area of Sandy Springs and Dunwoody[33]/
- Cumberland Community Improvement District, around Cumberland Mall[34]
- Town Center Area Community Improvement District, around Town Center at Cobb mall[35]
- Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District, around Gwinnett Place Mall[36]
- Gateway85 Community Improvement District, covering area southeast of Norcross[37]
- Snellville[38]
- Lilburn Community Improvement District, established early 2010 in Lilburn
- Aerotropolis Atlanta CIDs[39]
- Boulevard CID (industrial district), created 2010[40]
In May 2016, the City of Atlanta launched Atlanta City Studio, the city's first "pop-up urban design laboratory focused on shaping the future of city neighborhoods."[41] The studio hosts "lectures, open forums, urban art presentations and other neighborhood and design components."[42] Atlanta City Studio will relocate twice per year in order for residents to interact with staff and share their ideas about improving city design. The studio is located on the second floor of Ponce City Market and in January 2017 will relocate "to a retail location on the Westside, possibly on MLK Jr. Drive or Cascade Road."[43]
Education
Colleges and universities
- Agnes Scott College – Decatur
- Atlanta Metropolitan State College – Atlanta
- Atlanta Technical College – Atlanta
- Atlanta University Center – Atlanta
- Brenau University – Gainesville
- Chattahoochee Technical College – Acworth and Marietta
- Clayton State University – Morrow
- Columbia Theological Seminary – Decatur
- Emory University – Atlanta
- Georgia College – Milledgeville
- Georgia Gwinnett College – Lawrenceville
- Georgia Institute of Technology– Atlanta
- Georgia Piedmont Technical College – Clarkston
- Georgia State University – Atlanta
- Gwinnett Technical College – Lawrenceville
- Interdenominational Theological Center – Atlanta
- John Marshall Law School – Atlanta
- Kennesaw State University – Kennesaw and Marietta
- Lanier Technical College – Gainesville, Cumming, Winder, Dawsonville and Commerce
- Life University – Marietta
- Mercer University – Atlanta
- Morris Brown College – Atlanta
- Oglethorpe University – Brookhaven
- Oxford College – Oxford
- Reinhardt University – Waleska
- Savannah College of Art and Design – Atlanta
- Southern Crescent Technical College – Griffin
- University of North Georgia – Gainesville
- University of West Georgia – Carrollton and Newnan
- West Georgia Technical College – Carrollton, Douglasville, Newnan and Waco
School districts
- Atlanta Public Schools
- Barrow County Schools
- Bartow County School District
- Buford City School District
- Butts County School District
- Carroll County School District
- Carrollton City School District
- Cartersville City School District
- Cherokee County School District
- Clayton County Public Schools
- Cobb County Public Schools
- Coweta County School System
- Dawson County School District
- Decatur City School District
- DeKalb County School System
- Douglas County School District
- Fayette County School System
- Forsyth County Schools
- Fulton County Public Schools
- Gainesville City School District
- Griffin-Spalding County School District
- Gwinnett County Public Schools
- Hall County School District
- Haralson County School District
- Heard County School District
- Henry County School District
- Jasper County School District
- Lamar County School District
- Marietta City School District
- Meriwether County School District
- Morgan County School District
- Newton County School District
- Paulding County School District
- Pickens County School District
- Pike County School District
- Rockdale County School District
- Social Circle City School District
- Walton County School District
Government and politics
In geographic terms, Georgia has the smallest average county size of any state.[citation needed] This focuses government more locally but allows greater conflict between multiple jurisdictions, each with its own agenda.
The first significant
The
Since 2007 proposals have been floated to allow new multi-county sales taxes, in addition to existing county sales taxes for roads, to pay for regional transportation initiatives.[44]
Politics
Due to demographic shifts and population increases in the region, Metro Atlanta has trended toward the Democratic Party, so much so that Democrats have been able to win statewide due to turnout from this area. In 2020, Joe Biden won the area by 15.4 points, enough to narrowly capture the state's 16 electoral votes.[citation needed]
In 2020 and 2022, Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock successfully won full terms to represent the state in the U.S. Senate, mainly due to winning by large margins in Metro Atlanta.[citation needed]
Healthcare
The area is served by a network of healthcare facilities including private practice, urgent care, hospital systems, and specialty care facilities. There are approximately 37 hospitals serving the metro. There are both private for profit systems and community not-for-profit systems.
Hospitals with # beds
Trauma Centers - Level I * ; Level II **
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
- Egleston Hospital - Atlanta - 235
- Hughes Spalding Hospital - Atlanta - 82
- Scottish Rite Hospital - Sandy Springs - 319
- Emory University Hospital - Atlanta - 733
- Emory University Hospital-Midtown- Atlanta - 511
- Emory University Hospital-Wesley Woods - Atlanta - 71
- Emory University Orthopedic and Spine Hospital - Tucker - 75
- Emory Decatur Hospital - Decatur - 422
- Emory Hillandale Hospital - Lithonia - 90
- Emory Johns Creek Hospital - Johns Creek - 118
- Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital - Sandy Springs - 356
Grady Memorial Hospital - Atlanta - 974 *
Northeast Georgia Medical Center - Gainesville - 872 **
- Northside Hospital Atlanta- Sandy Springs - 621
- Northside Hospital Cherokee - Canton - 126
- Northside Hospital Duluth - Duluth - 81
- Northside Hospital Forsyth - Cumming - 304
- Northside Hospital Gwinnett- Lawrenceville - 353 **
- Piedmont Atlanta Hospital- Atlanta - 512
- Piedmont Eastside Hospital - Snellville - 287
- Piedmont Fayette Hospital - Fayetteville - 290
- Piedmont Henry Hospital - Stockbridge - 341
- Piedmont Mountainside Hospital - Jasper - 52
- Piedmont Newnan Hospital - Newnan - 154
- Piedmont Newton Hospital - Covington - 94
- Piedmont Rockdale Hospital - Conyers - 138
- Piedmont Walton Hospital - Monroe - 77
Shepherd Center - Atlanta - 152
- Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center-South - East Point - 198
- Wellstar Cobb Hospital - Austell - 387
- Wellstar Douglas Hospital - Douglasville - 102
- Wellstar Kennestone Hospital- Marietta - 662 **
- Wellstar North Fulton Hospital - Roswell - 202 **
- Wellstar Paulding Hospital - Hiram - 294
- Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital - Griffin - 160
- Veterans Administration Medical Center- Decatur
Media
Radio
|
TV
|
Culture and attractions
Professional sports teams
Club | Sport | League | Venue | City | Since | Titles |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta Braves | Baseball | Major League Baseball | Truist Park | Cumberland | 1966 | 2 (1995, 2021) |
Gwinnett Stripers | Baseball | International League (AAA) | Coolray Field | Lawrenceville | 2009 | |
Atlanta Falcons | American football | National Football League | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta | 1966 | |
Atlanta Gladiators | Ice hockey | ECHL | Gas South Arena | Duluth | 2003 | |
Atlanta Hawks | Basketball | National Basketball Association | State Farm Arena
|
Atlanta | 1968 | |
Atlanta Dream | Basketball | Women's National Basketball Association | Gateway Center Arena | College Park | 2008 | |
College Park Skyhawks | Basketball | NBA G League | Gateway Center Arena | College Park | 2019 | |
Atlanta United FC | Soccer | Major League Soccer | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta | 2017 | 1 (2018) |
Atlanta United 2 | Soccer | MLS Next Pro | Fifth Third Bank Stadium
|
Kennesaw | 2017 |
Former teams include the Atlanta Flames (now Calgary Flames) and Atlanta Thrashers (now Winnipeg Jets), both of the National Hockey League.
Atlanta also plays host to one NASCAR Cup Series race each year at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
The Atlanta metropolitan area is also home to three
Military presence
- Dobbins Air Reserve Base
- Fort Gillem, closed
- Fort McPherson, closed
Transportation
The U.S. Census Bureau has defined a metropolitan area for Atlanta which includes, but is not limited to, Roswell, Georgia and Sandy Springs, Georgia. According to the 2016 American Community Survey, about 78% of working metropolitan residents commuted by driving alone, 9% carpooled, 3% used public transportation, and 1% walked. Less than 1% of working residents commuted by bicycle, while about 2% of commuters travelled by all other means. About 7% of residents worked at home.[45]
Transit systems
Atlanta has always been a rail town, and the city once had an extensive streetcar system, which also provided interurban service as far out as Marietta, 15 miles (24 km) to the northwest.[46][47] The streetcars were replaced by an extensive trolleybus system, supplemented by buses, in the 1940s and 1950–52, and then converted to all buses in the 1950s and 1960–62. However, building a modern rapid transit system proved a difficult and drawn-out process and, compared to the original plans for a regional system, has only partially been accomplished.
Plans are underway for commuter rail and
The first
As planned, all commuter trains would arrive at the
Another proposed plan that has received very strong
Commercial railways
Before Atlanta was even a city, it was a
Many of these
Through
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, more commonly known as
Air
Domestic-only carriers from Atlanta:
Domestic and international from Atlanta:
|
Foreign-based international carriers:
|
Other airports (maintained by local counties) include
Roads and freeways
Atlanta is served by three major interstate highways. Including tributaries, they are the following:
(Note: The cities used below are also the
Interstate 20 passes through from Birmingham to the west and from Augusta to the east. It serves Douglasville, the major suburb west of Atlanta. It serves Lithonia and Conyers to the east.
Atlanta is also served by several other freeways, in addition to the interstate highways, including:
Lakewood Freeway, or Georgia 166, extends between Lakewood Park in south Atlanta and Campbellton Road, just west of I‑285.
Peachtree Industrial Blvd, or Georgia 141, is a route north-northeast of Atlanta which begins on the north side of I‑285 and runs parallel to I‑85 for about four miles until it terminates when it splits into GA‑141 and Peachtree Industrial (continuing as a normal divided highway).
Georgia State Route 316 is a four-mile-long route that branches from I‑85 and stretches eastward into Gwinnett County. It continues east as a normal divided highway through the suburb of Lawrenceville and on to Athens.
There are many historic roads across the area, named after its mills and early ferries, and the bridges later built to replace the ferries. Pace's Ferry is perhaps the best known.
Owing to the area's long history of settlement and uneven terrain, most arterial roads are not straight but meander instead, which can be confusing as much as the famed proliferation of Atlanta streets with "Peachtree" in the name. It is also often joked that half the streets are named Peachtree, while the other half have several names to make up for it.
Partly, confusion is because the region maintains the historic nomenclature of each county naming its roads for the towns they connect with in surrounding counties. Thus, from Dallas to Roswell,
There are many roads like this throughout the area, leading to duplication of names in different counties. In Fulton, "Roswell Road" refers to
Where more than one town in the same county has a road to the same place, the smaller towns have their own name prefixed to it, while the county seat does not. The road need not go directly to the other place, but may connect through other roads. Examples include Due West Road west from Marietta, Kennesaw Due West Road southwest from Kennesaw, and Acworth Due West Road south from Acworth. Some are usually hyphenated, like Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, Ashford-Dunwoody Road, Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, and Chamblee-Tucker Road.
There are also several roads named for communities which have been overwhelmed by the urban and suburban sprawl, and so are somewhat odd to newcomers. These include
There are also a few
.Other arterials are completely new, like much of
See also
References
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- ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing". Archived from the original on 2014-10-03. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
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External links
- Media related to Atlanta metropolitan area at Wikimedia Commons
- Metro Atlanta travel guide from Wikivoyage