Explore Atlanta's Unique Neighborhoods

Each neighborhood in Atlanta has a personality all its own

By WABE 90.1 FM

WABE and ATLPBA

Atlanta Skyline (2014-03-31) by Mike Stewart/ AP PhotoWABE 90.1 FM

From quirky to corporate, tight-knit to trendy, Metro Atlanta is home to many unique communities. Some of the neighborhoods include Midtown and West End.

West End by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

West End

One of the oldest homes in Atlanta was built in 1856, about a mile and a half south of downtown in a community called the West End. The West End is older than the city of Atlanta itself, so it’s no surprise that this house is older than most of the structures in the city.

Atlanta's West End Video by ATL PBAWABE 90.1 FM

Wren’s Nest by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

In West End: Come For The History, Stay For The Sense Of Community
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Radio reporting by Courtney Kueppers

In its beginning, the West End attracted wealthy settlers. By 1840, gold was found in Dahlonega, and wealthy settlers were building big homes in the West End. With the railroad, the settlement became less and less rural.

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

By the turn of the 20th century, some of Atlanta’s most distinguished citizens called the West End home.

But the Depression came and caused many people to abandon their intown residences.

Soccer in the Streets (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

By 1970, the West End was largely considered too far gone for urban renewal, because the cost to renovate the homes.

By the 1980s, the neighborhood was predominantly black.

Willie A. Watkins by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Despite all the change that has happened in the neighborhood in the past few years, the neighbors remain committed to their diverse and inclusive community. Their ‘bulldog tenacity’ still rings true.

East Atlanta Village by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

East Atlanta

East Atlanta Village is a modern food and art destination frozen in a ’90s punk-era hangover. Scrappy music venues, restaurants of every cuisine and quirky stores line the streets, decorated by layers of hand-painted murals and graffiti on every wall. 

Atlanta's East Atlanta Video by ATL PBAWABE 90.1 FM

Blood on the Harp by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

With Change Lingering, Can East Atlanta Keep Its Cool?
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East Atlanta Village bleeds art, and many in the community would say that a small music venue, restaurant, and bar called The East Atlanta Restaurant and Lounge is the heart of it. But most people call it "The Earl."

The Earl (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

When The Earl first opened in July 1999, there wasn’t much of a public art scene in EAV. A bakery, a grocery store, a diner — “old-school stuff,” as John Searson, The Earl’s co-owner, called it.

The Earl by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

East Atlanta Village itself is a canvas for local mural and graffiti artists.

Some murals are political, and some are just surreal.

"Living Walls" (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

For artists like Fabian Williams, the work is a chance to provoke people to think deeper into societal issues.

“In Atlanta, people respect the truth when they hear it, even if it’s uncomfortable,” he said.

Midtown Skyline by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Midtown

In the 1950s, Midtown was a quiet neighborhood with a hospital, the Atlanta College of Art, some entertainment, and enough creativity to merit the distinction of arts district.

Atlanta's Midtown Video by ATL PBAWABE 90.1 FM

lilli Midtown by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Peachtree Street had been zoned as commercial, residential options became boarding houses and the shops around 10th Street transitioned to appeal to the renters nearby.

Midtown’s Piedmont Park (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

In the 1950s, young people, including students from Atlanta College of Art, moved in following cheap rent, and the culture of Midtown shifted from elite to bohemian.

Then subcultures arose.

Atlanta Pride Run (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

By the 1960s and ’70s, it was a hotbed for musical performances and organized events.

Following the Stonewall Riots of 1969, queer activists became more outspoken nationwide, and in Atlanta.

Atlanta's Rainbow Crosswalk by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

In 1971, the Georgia Gay Liberation Front held Atlanta’s first Gay Pride March, marching from Peachtree Street to Piedmont Park.

Atlanta’s Pride festival is one of the oldest and strongest in the U.S.

Buford Highway by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Buford Highway

Riding down Buford Highway, you’ll find a mix of shops bearing names in many languages, from Korean to Spanish. 

Atlanta's Buford Highway Video by ATL PBAWABE 90.1 FM

Plaza Fiesta by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Along Buford Highway: A Multicultural, Multi-Generational Community Thrives
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The community lies within cities that have rich diversity, such as Doraville, which has a population of 14.4% Asian and 55.3% Hispanic or Latino, according to a 2017 estimate by the American Community Survey.

Plaza Fiesta shoppers (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Inside Plaza Fiesta, local merchants sell an array of goods ranging from ornate Quinceañera dresses to Mexican Chicharrones snacks. The shopping complex along Buford Highway attracts millions of visitors a year.

The Bachiller family (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

In the ‘80s and ‘90s, word of mouth attracted families emigrating.

By 2013, the population on Buford Highway was composed of: 48.7% Hispanic, 33.5% White, 11.9% African-American, and 4.1% Asian.

Aixa Pascual by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Buford Highway follows a nationwide trend of immigrant entrepreneurialism. More than 50% of companies were founded by immigrants from 1996 to 2011, according to Inc. magazine.

Little Five Points by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Little Five Points

It's impossible to miss the counterculture energy that thrives within the colorful buildings in Atlanta's iconic Little Five Points. 

Junkman’s Daughter by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Meet The Generation Of Atlantans Who Helped Make Little Five Points What It Is Today
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The neighborhood's tagline "Everyone is welcome" is evident with people from all walks of life browsing the vast inventory at Junkman's Daughter or posing for photographs in front of vibrant murals.

Little Five Points (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Hipsters and anarchists mesh with budding musicians and artists, as well as tourists, travelers, and teens from Atlanta's suburbs in this unique enclave of independently owned businesses.

Little Five Points (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

What might surprise these visitors is just how stable Little Five Points has been as an eclectic alternative business district in Atlanta for more than four decades.

Bass Lofts by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

While Little Five Points is known for its counterculture vibe, there is an amazing and stunning stability over time. Today it still fulfills residents' everyday needs in the same way it did in 1923.

Variety Playhouse by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

You can eat, shop, go to the post office, get your groceries, see a theater production, get a loan, clean your teeth, align your back, and visit the doctor.

Summerhill Neighborhood by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Summerhill

Long-abandoned storefronts on Summerhill’s Georgia Avenue are starting to house new businesses like an ice cream shop, a brewery and a barbecue joint. But it didn’t happen overnight.

Summerhill Neighborhood by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

In Summerhill: Residents, Developers Try To Come Together. Will It Work?
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Summerhill, which was founded by African Americans during Reconstruction, is one of the oldest predominantly black neighborhoods in the city.

Halfway Crooks Beer (2019-07) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

The boundaries of the community today once housed two neighborhoods: Summerhill and the Southside, which was home to a large population of Jewish immigrants.

Summerhill Variety Store by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

By 1970, less than half of the businesses on Georgia Avenue were still open, according to historian Marni Davis. By the ’80s, Summerhill had mainly fallen into urban decay, due to disinvestment.

Halfway Crooks Beer (2019-07) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

If you didn’t know better, being in Summerhill feels remarkably like life in a small town. The streets are narrow, and there aren’t many high rises.

Georgia State Stadium by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

The neighborhood will soon be home to a new demographic of residents and potential customers, such as GSU students, for the newly opened eateries.

Auburn Avenue (2018) by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Old Fourth Ward

Atlanta’s Fourth Ward had originally been diverse with German and Jewish inhabitants. The 1906 race riot that claimed at least 12 African American lives and injured hundreds of others left the city segregated

Wheat Street Baptist Church by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

The fabric of the neighborhood shifted as tenants replaced homeowners. Apartment buildings often replaced many of the destroyed single-family homes. Commercial buildings popped up.

Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

The neighborhood was booming by the time Martin Luther King Jr. was born in 1929, and so was the rest of Atlanta.

Ebenezer Baptist Church (2018) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

While the city’s original success had come from its railroads, Atlanta was becoming a thriving business center thanks to the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce “Forward Atlanta” campaign.

Ponce City Market by Flickr Creative CommonsWABE 90.1 FM

In 1926, Sears, Roebuck & Co. had chosen Atlanta for its southeastern hub, which is now Ponce City Market.

Sweet Auburn Curb Market (2018) by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Today, the Old Fourth Ward is on its way up again. Vacant historic buildings are being repurposed. You can see modern influences as you browse the food stalls at the historic Sweet Auburn Curb Market.

Inman Park by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Inman Park

This suburb of Inman Park was designed to be grand with the hopes of attracting Atlanta’s wealthiest and most influential citizens. Winding streets wrapped around Olmstead-inspired parks and the homes would sit on generous lots.

Callan Castle by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

With the financial help of Samuel M. Inman, a wealthy cotton merchant, Joel Hurt started buying up plots of land in 1880s. This would become Atlanta’s first planned residential suburb: Inman Park.

Inman Park by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Atlanta demolished 554 homes by 1971 to prepare for Interstate 485. Neighborhoods banded together and committed to improving the residential areas and fighting off the road.

Inman Park (2019) by Evey Wilson/ for WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Inman Park residents even adopted a symbol: a butterfly that embodies Inman Park’s renaissance, with the outline of a face looking to the left: the past and the right: the future.

Krog Street Market by Evey Wilson / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Today, Inman Park is known for its cafes, its restaurants, and its access to the BeltLine. The Victorian homes are still standing and meticulously taken care of.

Cabbagetown In Atlanta by Lauren Booker / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Cabbagetown

The neighborhood became classified as a Landmark District by the city of Atlanta in 1979, which has helped it retain its close-knit, historic feel with charming shotgun-style houses, bungalows and apartment buildings.

Cabbagetown Historic District by John Spink. Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photo Archive, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University. Copyright Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Courtesy of Georgia State University.WABE 90.1 FM

Cabbagetown’s physical borders of Oakland Cemetery and the railroads alongside the streets of DeKalb and Decatur also contribute to the neighborhood’s small-town feel.

Cabbagetown Textile Plant by Bill Mahan. Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photo Archive, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University. Copyright Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Courtesy of Georgia State University.WABE 90.1 FM

Jacob Elsas started the Fulton Cotton Spinning Co. in 1881, which later became the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill in 1889. The mill specialized in making cotton and paper bags.

Cabbagetown Before and After by Lanna Swindler. Atlanta Journal-Constitution Photo Archive, Special Collections and Archives, Georgia State University. Copyright Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Courtesy of Georgia State University. / Photo by Lauren BookerWABE 90.1 FM

In 1978, the mill closed its doors after Fulton Industries, Inc. was sold to Allied Products Corp. However, the culture that Cabbagetown was founded on continues.

Cabbagetown by Lauren Booker / WABEWABE 90.1 FM

Soon after Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill closed, newcomers, such as artists and musicians, started moving into the neighborhood because of its affordable housing.

Credits: Story

Visit WABE for the full story of West End by Evey Wilson, published on April 22, 2019. Radio reporting by Courtney Kueppers.
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Visit WABE for the full story of East Atlanta by Alex Patton, published on June 25, 2019. Radio reporting by Courtney Kueppers.

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Visit WABE for the full story of Midtown by Evey Wilson, published on July 16, 2019.

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Visit WABE for the full story about Buford Highway by Lauren Booker, published on July 23, 2019.
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Visit WABE for the full story about Little Five Points by Evey Wilson, published on Feb. 25, 2019. Radio reporting by Courtney Kueppers.
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Visit WABE for the full story about Summerhill by Courtney Kueppers, published on Aug. 20, 2019.
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Visit WABE for the full story about Old Fourth Ward by Evey Wilson, published on Jan. 14, 2019.
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Visit WABE for the full story of Inman Park by Evey Wilson, published on Oct. 1, 2019.
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Visit WABE for the full story of Cabbagetown by Lauren Booker, published on March 25, 2019.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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