County Seat: Decatur
Population: 665,865
Median Income: $87,447
Average List Price, 2003 $208,871
Average Sale Price, 2003 $204,137
Median 2-Bdr. Apt. Rental: $825
Sales Tax: 7%
Property Tax: $37.26/ per $1000 of assessed value (unincorporated)
Travel Time: Hartsfield Intl. Airport: 40 minutes
Downtown Atlanta 25 minutes
Cities/Geographic Areas: Atlanta (partially in DeKalb), Avondale Estates,
Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody, Emory/Druid Hills, Lithonia,
Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Tucker/Northlake
Located just east of downtown Atlanta, Dekalb actually predates Atlanta, having been created in 1822. The county was named after the Revolutionary War hero Baron Johann DeKalb, a German who fought alongside Americans against the British. With growing development in the 1950’s the county changed from mostly rural to more of an urban setting.
DeKalb County is metro Atlanta’s most ethnically diverse community, with more than 20 different ethnic groups calling the county home. In addition, there are over 280 international businesses in DeKalb, and an International Center which helps ease the transition for non-English speaking students and their parents into their school systems and communities.
Dekalb is known for its cultural and educational opportunities, with five major institutions of higher learning, fine arts centers and two museums. Personal income levels are some of the highest in Georgia and well above the national average.
The county has many small residential areas, each with its own distinct personality. Dekalb County is home to the Fernbank Museum, Centers for Disease Control, the American Cancer Society’s national headquarters, Emory University’s Rollins Research Center, and the Yerkes Primate Center. These facilities have worldwide respect for the biomedical research they conduct. Dekalb County is home to Stone Mountain Park, the second most visited tourist attraction in the southeast behind Disney World, and site of the largest granite monolith in the world.
SCHOOLS
School Information
Board of Education (404) 297-2300
Private Schools (K-12)
Chapel Hill Harvester (404) 243-5020
Forest Hills Christian (770) 469-3422
Greenfield Hebrew Academy (404) 843-9900
Masters Christian Academy (404) 325-8540
Marist School (770) 457-7201
Providence Christian Academy (770) 279-7200
Greater Atlanta Christian Schools (770) 243-2000
The Paideia School (404) 377-3491
Stone Mountain Christian (770) 554-0454
Colleges and Technical Schools
Agnes Scott College (404)
Columbia Theological Seminary (404) 378-8821
Dekalb Technical Institute (404) 297-9522
DeVry Institute of Technology (404) 292-2645
Emory University (404) 727-6036
Mercer University (770) 986-3000
Oglethorpe University (404) 364-8307
TAG AND LICENSE
Tag Office (404) 371-8247
Drivers License (404) 657-9300
UTILITIES
Electricity
Georgia Power (404) 325-4001
Snapping Shoals EMC (770) 786-3484
Walton EMC (770) 972-2917
Gas
Choose A Supplier (877) GASCHOICE
Telephone
BellSouth (404) 780-2355 or (800) 356-3094
Water
Dekalb County Water System (404) 378-4475
RECREATION
Stone Mountain Park, home of Stone Mountain - the worlds largest piece of exposed granite, offers boating, fishing, picnic and camping areas, as well as an 18-hole golf course. The park also has walking trails, an animal preserve, and an antique train that runs around the mountain. County facilities include 10 recreation centers, tennis, swimming, golfing, bike and fitness trails, and fields for the various types of ball games.
AVONDALE ESTATES, – nestled just outside Decatur, this charming town has homes built around a lake. The homes are well tended and styles range from charming bungalows to stately traditional and Tudor styles. The town known as one of the safest places to live, has a downtown lined with stores designed as an alpine Tudor village.
CHAMBLEE, – adjoining the city of Doraville in the northeast corridor of I-85 and Buford Highway near I-285, these two towns are known for the diversity of their population. Chamblee dates back to the 1820’s and started as a farming community and later became a dairy center in the 1930’s. Peachtree-Dekalb airport located in Chamblee, is one of the busiest private airports in the metro area. The town is popular as a place to search for antiques, and some of the many shops hold antique auctions. Neighboring Doraville, a quiet town created in the 1830’s, was named Dora to honor the daughter of a Civil War hero. Doraville is home to a large General Motors Assembly Plant. Homes are mainly traditional with three bedroom ranch styles the popular choice.
DECATUR, – dates back to 1822 and is the county seat of Dekalb county. At the center of this small town is the old courthouse, surrounded by small shops, the new courthouse tower and several modern mid-rise office towers. There is a strong sense of community in Decatur and new residents either refurbish the older homes, or build new homes on any available in-fill lots to fit in with the neighborhood. Homes range from a variety of popular and distinctive smaller Craftsman, Prairie, and Tudor bungalows dating from around 1905 to the 1930’s, to larger, stately versions of these same designs, as well as some large grand Georgian, Neo-Classical, and Colonial Revival styles from the early half of the century. Recently, there has been a strong move to revitalize the city of Decatur, and many older community areas. Many older homes are being bought up by young professionals who prefer the small town atmosphere and convenience of inner city life, as well as the classic craftsman architecture of some of the 1920's to 1940's bungalows. There are some newer "city homes" being built in styles reflecting the areas early 1900's neighborhood feel.
DUNWOODY, – located in northwestern Dekalb county between I-285 and the Chattahoochee River, Dunwoody is a desirable area known for its beautiful residential areas. Homes are predominately large two-story Williamsburg homes on spacious wooded lots, and they command relatively high prices. Estates exceeding $1 million can be found, but most homes are in the $250,000 to $600,000 range. Dunwoody is home to some of the cities finest hospitals. The area was created during a land lottery held in 1821 and named after C.A. Dunwoody, who petitioned for the first post office, and after the Civil War, built the first bridge spanning the Chattahoochee River near Roswell. Dunwoody residents have easy access to Atlanta’s perimeter highway I-285, and the ever-expanding Perimeter Mall area with its great shopping, restaurants, and prime business centers.
EMORY/DRUID HILLS – the development of this beautiful residential area was begun in 1890 by Joel Hurt, who from 1890 - 1893 acquired 1492 acres of land northeast of Atlanta for the project. Hurt commissioned the founder of landscape architecture himself, Frederick Law Olmsted, to design and plan Druid Hills. The depression of 1893 delayed development and it was not until 1905 that Olmsted’s firm completed the final plans. Development of Druid Hills was completed between 1910 and 1935, and the area emerged as the most successful affluent residential community in Atlanta.
Druid Hills with Olmsted’s plan of a gently curving main avenue intersected by parkways running alongside wooded parks, continues to maintain its genteel lifestyle today. The area is listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Home styles are mostly stately two-story traditional Tudor and Georgian designs and most are priced between $500,000 to over $1,000,000. Some townhomes are available for $300,000 and up. Prices in these areas have steadily escalated, because of their close proximity to the Emory University research center and to downtown Atlanta. The most famous Druid Hills home is Callanwolde, built in 1920 for the son of Asa Candler, founder of Coca-Cola and now a fine arts center. Other mansions are located throughout the area, but one of the most well recognized is the house used for the filming of "Driving Miss Daisy".
STONE MOUNTAIN, – the town was originally named New Gibraltar in 1839, later it was called Rock Mountain and in 1925 the name was changed to Stone Mountain. Stone Mountain has long been a summer retreat for Atlanta residents. As far back as the 1880’s families would pack a picnic and board the train to spend a day in the country at Stone Mountain. The mountain has long dominated the area, and at 825 feet above the surrounding plateau, is the world’s largest exposed mass of solid granite. Stone Mountain Village is a restored town that started as a stagecoach stop in 1821 and now contains quaint shops in an old fashioned setting. There are antiques, arts and crafts, and good restaurants in the Village. Home styles range from traditional to contemporary, and there is a wide range of prices from the low $100's to $1,000,000+.
TUCKER, – Tucker has a friendly small town atmosphere, and could represent the typical American hometown with its old main street and railroad tracks running right through the middle of town. The area is convenient to healthcare and shopping and public schools are very good. Neighborhoods are quiet and stable and homes do not remain on the market very long. Homes are a mix of traditional, split level, and ranches, with some new homes. Prices generally range from $150's, to $450,000+.