Druid Hills, Georgia

For other uses, see Druid Hills (disambiguation).

Druid Hills
CDP and neighborhood of Atlanta
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
Druid Hills CDP, unincorporated DeKalb County
Coordinates: 33°47′14″N84°19′34″W / 33.78722°N 84.32611°W / 33.78722; -84.32611
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	DeKalb
Area [1]
• Total	2.98 sq mi (7.72 km2)
• Land	2.97 sq mi (7.70 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	912 ft (278 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	9,429
• Density	3,170.48/sq mi (1,224.08/km2)
	(CDP only)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30333
Area code	404
FIPS code	13-24264 [2]
GNIS feature ID	0331589 [3]

Druid Hills is a community which includes both a census-designated place (CDP) in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, as well as a neighborhood of the city of Atlanta. The CDP's population was 14,568 at the 2010 census. ^[4] The CDP formerly contained the main campus of Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); however, they were annexed by Atlanta in 2018. The Atlanta-city section of Druid Hills is one of Atlanta's most affluent neighborhoods with a mean household income in excess of $238,500 (making it the ninth most affluent, per that metric). ^[5]

History

The planned community was initially conceived by Joel Hurt, and developed with the effort of Atlanta's leading families, including Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler. It contains some of Atlanta's historic mansions from the late 19th and early 20th century. Druid Hills includes the main campus of Emory University, which relocated to Atlanta in 1914.^{[ citation needed ]}

Druid Hills was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and was one of his last commissions. A showpiece of the design was the string of parks along Ponce de Leon Avenue, which was designated as Druid Hills Parks and Parkways and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 1975. The remainder of the development was listed on the Register as the Druid Hills Historic District on October 25, 1979. ^{[6] [7]} Later the Park and Parkways district was consolidated into the Druid Hills Historic District. The other historic districts in Druid Hills are:

• Emory University District, added in 1975
• University Park-Emory Highlands-Emory Estates Historic District, added in 1998
• Emory Grove Historic District, added in 2000. ^[8]

St. John's Chrysostom Melkite Church along in Druid Hills, Atlanta, 2012, formerly the mansion of Asa Griggs Candler (Senior)

Rainbow Terrace, home of Lucy Beall Candler Owens Heinz Leide at 1610 Ponce de Leon Ave., 1922

Briarcliff, the Asa G. Candler, Jr. Mansion, 2012

By 2015 there was a bill in the Georgia Legislature which called for annexing more of Druid Hills into Atlanta. ^[9]

In 2016 Emory University's administration stated that it intended to petition the university to be annexed into the City of Atlanta, along with the CDC area; ^[10] in 2017 the university leadership formally submitted its petition. ^[11] The City of Atlanta annexed Emory's campus effective January 1, 2018, a part of its largest annexation within a period of 65 years; the Atlanta City Council voted to do so the prior December. ^[12]

Geography

Druid Hills is located at 33°47′14″N84°19′34″W / 33.78722°N 84.32611°W / 33.78722; -84.32611 (33.787205, -84.325974). ^[13]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11 km²), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²), or 0.48%, is water. The CDP's northern boundary is the South Fork of Peachtree Creek; the CSX track and the Decatur city limits are the eastern boundary; the DeKalb County line is the western boundary; and the southern boundary is the Atlanta city limit.

The Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta is bounded by the Druid Hills CDP (i.e. unincorporated DeKalb County) on the north and east; the Morningside/Lenox Park, Virginia-Highland and Poncey-Highland neighborhoods of Atlanta on the west; and the Candler Park neighborhood of Atlanta on the south.^{[ citation needed ]}

The Chelsea Heights neighborhood is located in the eastern part of the CDP at the Decatur border, and participates in the Druid Hills Civic Association.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1980	12,700		—
1990	12,174		−4.1%
2000	12,741		4.7%
2010	14,568		14.3%
2020	9,429		−35.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [14] 1850-1870 [15] 1870-1880 [16] 1890-1910 [17] 1920-1930 [18] 1940 [19] 1950 [20] 1960 [21] 1970 [22] 1980 [23] 1990 [24] 2000 [25] 2010 [26] 2020 [27]

Druid Hills, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000 [28]	Pop 2010 [29]	Pop 2020 [27]	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	10,511	11,103	7,112	82.50%	76.21%	75.43%
Black or African American alone (NH)	748	1,097	554	5.87%	7.53%	5.88%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	16	19	9	0.13%	0.13%	0.10%
Asian alone (NH)	929	1,594	773	7.29%	10.94%	8.20%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	9	6	3	0.07%	0.04%	0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	24	33	50	0.19%	0.23%	0.53%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	195	297	425	1.53%	2.04%	4.51%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	309	419	503	2.43%	2.88%	5.33%
Total	12,741	14,568	9,429	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

Druid Hills was first listed as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. census. ^[23] As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,429 people, 3,579 households, and 1,977 families residing in the CDP.

Candler mansion (built 1916) at 1500 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Druid Hills

Economy

Emory Village, a small historic commercial node

Emory University, including its hospitals, is the third largest employer in Metro Atlanta as of 2007/8. ^[30] The CDC is also an employer of note.

Commercial areas include Emory Village, a small node first developed in the 1920s at the terminus of the streetcar line to Emory. A revitalization of the area was completed in 2011 with new sidewalks, street furniture and two new roundabouts. ^{[31] [32]}

The other, larger commercial areas fall just outside the community's boundaries, such as the Clairmont Road corridor in North Decatur, the Sage Hill shopping center in Atlanta's Morningside/Lenox Park, and the Ponce de Leon Avenue corridor just west of Druid Hills in Atlanta's Poncey-Highland/Virginia-Highland.

Arts and culture

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center (Charles Howard Candler mansion)

Druid Hills is home to The Atlanta Boy Choir on S. Ponce de Leon Ave. and Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, housed in the Gothic-Tudor style former estate of Charles Howard Candler, president of Coca-Cola and eldest son of Asa Griggs Candler, Coca-Cola's co-founder.

Parks

• Baker Woodland, Emory University, between Fishburne Dr. & South Kilga Cir. Forest of oak, tulip poplar, beech, and hickory trees - contains over 100 plant species.
• Burbanck Park, Oxford Rd. & Clifton Rd. 1.2-acre (4,900 m²) natural park which borders Peavine Creek. It is named after Madeline and William Burbanck, Emory University professors who owned the property. ^[33]
• Fernbank Forest, Fernbank Museum of Natural History. ^[34]
• Fernbank School Park, 157 Heaton Park Dr. This DeKalb County 12-acre (49,000 m²) park is located west of the CSX railroad tracks. It includes a multi-use field and court, playground, picnic area and walking trails.
• Hahn Woods, Emory University, Houston Mill Rd. (at South Peachtree Creek). Nature preserve with trail and viewing platform over the creek.
• Medlock Park North Druid Hills subdivision, Nine little league baseball fields with concessions, playground and a running/cycling trail which follows Nancy Creek.
• Olmsted Linear Park, Druid Hills, Ponce de Leon Ave. 50 acres (200,000 m²) of six distinct parks, strung along Ponce de Leon Avenue like a necklace. They were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in the late 19th century. Each of the six parks has its own name: Deepdene, Dellwood, Shadyside, Springdale, Virgilee and Oak Grove (formerly Brightwood). ^[35]
• Wesley Woods Forest, Emory University.
• Princeton Way Park, a small neighborhood park that is surrounded by the interior homes of Princeton Way. The park is equipped with picnic tables, swings, slides, a sandbox, short walking trails, and an informal baseball setup.

Government

The neighborhood organization, the Druid Hills Civic Association (DHCA), gives input to two authorities since the community is divided between the city of Atlanta and unincorporated territory in DeKalb County.

The Atlanta part is an official recognized neighborhood of Atlanta, which in turn is part of NPU N. Officially, DHCA exercises its input into planning and other city processes by giving input to the NPU. ^[36]

DeKalb County does not have an officially designated role for the community within the county government in the way the City of Atlanta does (though there are five large geographic districts for the election of county commissioners), so the DHCA gives input to the unitarian county government in Decatur. ^[37]

The United States Postal Service operates the Druid Hills Post Office at 1799 Briarcliff Road NE in the North Druid Hills CDP in unincorporated DeKalb. ^{[38] [39]}

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's main offices were formerly located in the CDP. ^{[40] [41] [42]} The City of Atlanta annexed the CDC effective January 1, 2018. ^[12]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Druid Hills High School (DeKalb County School District)

The non-Atlanta portions of Druid Hills are in the DeKalb County School District. ^[41] Most residents are zoned to Fernbank Elementary School (in the Druid Hills CDP) while some are zoned to Briar Vista Elementary School. ^[43] All residents are zoned to Druid Hills Middle School (in the North Decatur CDP ^[44] ), ^[45] and Druid Hills High School (in the Druid Hills CDP ^[41] ). ^[46]

The Atlanta sections (the Emory/CDC annexation) are in Atlanta Public Schools. The zoned schools are Springdale Park Elementary School, ^[47] D. T. Howard Middle School, ^[48] and Midtown High School (formerly Henry W. Grady High School). ^[49] The Emory/CDC annexation was scheduled to be moved into APS from DeKalb Schools in 2024. ^[50]

The Paideia School is a nearby preK–12 private school in the city of Atlanta.

Colleges and universities

Emory University is a private university formerly located in the Druid Hills CDP. ^{[41] [51]} The City of Atlanta annexed Emory effective January 1, 2018. ^[12]

Infrastructure

Transportation

Public bus transportation is provided by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, while Emory University runs an extensive fleet of shuttles, called the "Cliff". ^[52]

Healthcare

Emory University Hospital and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Egleston Hospital are in the Druid Hills area.

The City of Atlanta annexed Egleston and Emory University effective January 1, 2018. ^[53] Prior to the annexation, Egleston was in Druid Hills CDP, as was Emory Hospital. ^{[41] [54] [55]}

Notable people

• Cully Cobb, founder of the Cobb Institute of Archaeology at Mississippi State University

See also

• Georgia (U.S. state) portal

• Druid Hills Golf Club
• Emory Grove Historic District

Bibliography

• Bryant, James C. Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta: The Story and the People, 1912–1997. Atlanta, Ga.: Druid Hills Golf Club, 1998
• Hartle, Robert, Jr. Atlanta's Druid Hills: A Brief History. The History Press, June 27, 2008.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Druid Hills CDP, Georgia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 28, 2011.
5. Stephen R. Higley, PhD. "Neighborhood Summary By Metro Area". Higley1000.com. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
6. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
7. Archived October 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
8. Archived October 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
9. Niesse, Mark (March 13, 2015). "Druid Hills annexation into Atlanta debated". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved March 11, 2020.
10. Chess, Richard; Madison Bober (December 4, 2017). "Emory, CDC to be Annexed into Atlanta". Emory Wheel . Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
11. Stafford, Leon (June 27, 2017). "Emory University formally files petition to become part of Atlanta". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
12. Niesse, Mark. "City of Atlanta's expansion to Emory and CDC approved". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
14. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
15. "1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1870.
16. "1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
17. "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
18. "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930. pp. 251–256.
19. "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
20. "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
21. "1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1960.
22. "1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1970.
23. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
24. "1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1990.
25. "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
26. "2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2010.
27. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Druid Hills CDP, Georgia". United States Census Bureau .
28. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Druid Hills CDP, Georgia". United States Census Bureau .
29. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Druid Hills CDP, Georgia". United States Census Bureau .
30. "Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce : 2007/2008" (PDF). Metroatlantachamber.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2014. Figures are for HQ only, not retail stores.
31. ""Revitalization Plan", Alliance to Improve Emory Village" (PDF). Emoryvillage.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
32. "David Payne, "Emory Village roundabout project begins", Emory Report, August 23, 2010". Emory.edu. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
33. Clifton Community Partnership. "Burbanck Park". Clifton Community Partnership. Cool Dog Interactive. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
34. Fernbank Forest
35. Olmsted Linear Park Alliance. "The Olmsted Linear Park Tour". atlantaolmstedpark.org. Olmsted Linear Park Alliance. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
36. "Druid Hills Civic Association". Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
37. "DeKalb County website". Co.dekalb.ga.us. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
38. "Post Office Location - DRUID HILLS." United States Postal Service . Retrieved on May 5, 2009.
39. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: North Druid Hills CDP, GA" (PDF). 2010 U.S. Census . U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved March 11, 2020.
40. "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention". Cdc.gov. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
41. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Druid Hills CDP, GA." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on June 1, 2017.
42. Kessler, John. "CDC flu chief: ‘Mother Nature rolling the dice’." Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Sunday May 3, 2009. Retrieved on February 5, 2011. "The second bolt of lightning struck two miles south of the CDC, in Druid Hills."
43. "Elementary School Attendance Areas 2016 - 2017 School Year." DeKalb County School System. Retrieved on June 1, 2017.
44. "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: North Decatur CDP, GA" (PDF). 2010 U.S. Census . U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved March 11, 2020.
45. "Middle School Attendance Areas 2016 - 2017 School Year." DeKalb County School System. Retrieved on June 1, 2017.
46. "High School Attendance Areas 2016 - 2017 School Year." DeKalb County School System. Retrieved on June 1, 2017.
47. "Springdale Park Elementary School". Atlanta Public Schools . Retrieved July 17, 2024. - Use the map to find where Emory University is.
48. "Howard Middle School". Atlanta Public Schools . Retrieved July 17, 2024. - Use the map to find where Emory University is.
49. "Midtown High School". Atlanta Public Schools . Retrieved July 17, 2024. - Use the map to find where Emory University is.
50. McCray, Vanessa (December 10, 2019). "APS, DeKalb annexation deal could pay for six school health clinics". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved March 11, 2020.
51. Compare the Druid Hills CDP map with the address of Emory University (2016 home page states: "201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA") and the location of its buildings.
52. "Cliff Shuttles, Emory University". Transportation.emory.edu. Archived from the original on December 6, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
53. Niesse, Mark (February 20, 2020). "Atlanta expands eastward by completing annexation of Emory and CDC". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved March 11, 2020. - This article includes a map of the annexed area, which includes Emory Hospital
54. "Egleston hospital". Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. July 11, 2016. Archived from the original on July 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2020. 1405 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322-1062
55. "Emory University Hospital". Emory Healthcare. Retrieved March 11, 2020. 1364 Clifton Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30322

Further reading

• "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Druid Hills CDP, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau.
• "CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: DRUID HILLS CDP" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau.
• 1990 U.S. Census: index map for DeKalb County, CDP on page 10

External links

• Druid Hills Civic Association
• Druid Hills Historic District Archived December 16, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
• Arbor Atlanta: Hahn Woods
• Wesley Woods Forest
• Emory University Walking Tour
• Emory Village historic preservation incl. history of Emory Village