East Point, Georgia

East Point, Georgia
City
City of East Point
Downtown East Point
Location in Fulton County and the state of Georgia
East Point Location of East Point in Metro Atlanta
Coordinates: 33°40′11″N84°28′12″W / 33.66972°N 84.47000°W / 33.66972; -84.47000
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Fulton
Area [1]
• Total	14.70 sq mi (38.08 km2)
• Land	14.69 sq mi (38.04 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation [2]	961 ft (293 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	38,358
• Density	2,611.34/sq mi (1,008.24/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	30344, 30364
Area code	404
FIPS code	13-25720 [3]
GNIS feature ID	2403534 [2]
Website	eastpointcity.org

East Point is a suburban city located southwest of Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 38,358. The city name is derived from being at the opposite end of the former Atlanta and West Point Railroad from West Point.

History

The name "East Point" derives from the fact that this is the terminus of the Atlanta & West Point Railroad in the east; ^[4] West Point, Georgia, is the terminus where the rail line ends in the west.

This settlement was founded as a railroad terminus with 16 families in 1870, but grew quickly after it became an inviting place for industry to develop. Soon it boasted the railway, two gristmills, and a government distillery located on Connally Drive. One of the earliest buildings was the factory of the White Hickory Manufacturing Company, built by B.M. Blount and L.M. Hill (who became the first chairman of the board of aldermen of the city).^{[ citation needed ]}

By 1880 the town had two churches, a common school, a steam-cotton gin, a sawmill, a post office (founded in 1851), a telegraph office and its own newspaper weekly, The Plow Boy. East Point ranked as a grain and cotton-growing center. With its pleasant upland climate and proximity to the railway, it was a popular summer resort for people from the city of Atlanta.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 1884 the first telephone rang in East Point, and in 1887 the city received its first charter. In 1890 a major portion of property along East Point Avenue was subdivided and developed, opening the way for more homes, more churches, more people, and more places of employment. By 1892 Main Street was completed, despite protests from a few progress-shy early settlers who maintained that one major thoroughfare, Newnan Road, was more than sufficient.^{[ citation needed ]}

By the start of the 20th century, the adolescent town was poised to grow into the city it eventually would become.^{[ citation needed ]}

In late 2015 and early 2016, some scenes for the Netflix series Stranger Things were filmed at the exterior of the First Baptist Church (standing in for a hospital exterior in a fictional Indiana town). ^[5]

The recording studio of Dungeon Family was originally located in East Point, and contributed to the development of Atlanta hip hop. ^{[6] [7]}

Geography

East Point is bordered to the north, east, and west by the city of Atlanta, to the southeast by Hapeville, and to the south by College Park. Downtown Atlanta is 7 miles (11 km) northeast of the center of East Point.

According to the United States Census Bureau, East Point has a total area of 14.7 square miles (38.1 km²), of which 0.02 square miles (0.05 km²), or 0.12%, is water. ^[8]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	195		—
1890	738		278.5%
1900	1,315		78.2%
1910	3,682		180.0%
1920	5,241		42.3%
1930	9,512		81.5%
1940	12,403		30.4%
1950	21,080		70.0%
1960	35,633		69.0%
1970	39,315		10.3%
1980	37,486		−4.7%
1990	34,402		−8.2%
2000	39,595		15.1%
2010	33,712		−14.9%
2020	38,358		13.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1850-1870 [10] 1880 [11] 1890-1910 [12] 1920-1930 [13] 1930-1940 [14] 1940-1950 [15] 1960-1980 [16] 1980-2000 [17]

East Point racial composition as of 2020 ^[18]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	3,527	9.19%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	29,156	76.01%
Native American	74	0.19%
Asian	250	0.65%
Pacific Islander	11	0.03%
Other/Mixed	1,296	3.38%
Hispanic or Latino	4,044	10.54%

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 38,358 people, 14,216 households, and 6,721 families residing in the city.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $31,874, ^[3] and the median income for a family was $36,099. Males had a median income of $27,114 versus $25,839 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,175. About 17.2% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Water tower

MARTA in Downtown East Point

The National Archives and Records Administration regional repository for data collected by the U.S. Census was originally located in the Colonial Hills area of East Point, before moving to Morrow, Georgia. ^[19]

The Southeast Region Office of the Federal Bureau of Prisons is in East Point. ^{[20] [21]}

In the late 20th century, East Point suffered a loss of jobs due to railroad and industrial restructuring. In the 21st century, its economy expanded, and new businesses and residences developed. ^[22] The city states that "several Fortune 500 companies" are located in East Point. ^[23]

Arts and culture

See also: National Register of Historic Places listings in Fulton County, Georgia

East Point Historic Civic Block consists of three historically significant buildings and one memorial park in downtown East Point. ^[24]

Opened in 2003, Camp Creek Marketplace is a 309,089-square-foot (29,000 m²) retail space, containing 39 stores and 14 restaurants. ^{[25] [26]}

The Commons is a $150 million, 79,000-square-foot (7,300 m²), retail, restaurant, and residential development expected to bring over 1,500 jobs to East Point, with an estimated completion between 2027 and 2029. ^{[27] [28]}

Atlanta–Fulton Public Library System operates the East Point Branch. ^[29]

Parks and recreation

Dick Lane Velodrome

East Point has 23 parks, a recreation center, playgrounds, tennis courts, sand volleyball, basketball courts, trails, and recreational activities and programs. ^[30]

Connally Nature Park is a 27-acre (11 ha) green space that features pink lady slipper orchids which blossom in spring, and white oak trees. ^[31]

Dick Lane Velodrome in Sumner Park, built in 1974, is one of 22 velodromes in the United States, and was a training facility for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. It hosts cycling events and competitions.^{[ citation needed ]}

Government

The city has a city council-city manager form of government, with a professional city manager hired by the council. The manager is approved by the eight-member city council, headed by the mayor who has veto power. ^[32] The city is divided into four wards (A, B, C, & D), each electing two city council members. ^[33]

Education

Tri-Cities High School

Primary and secondary schools

Fulton County School System operates East Point's public schools. Schools located in East Point include: ^[34]

• Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School
• Brookview Elementary School
• Conley Hills Elementary School
• Hamilton E. Holmes Elementary School
• KIPP South Fulton Academy
• Parklane Elementary School
• Paul D. West Middle School
• Tri-Cities High School
• Woodland Middle School

Russell High School is a former high school in East Point.

Media

Part of the Fear Street horror film series were shot in East Point in 2019. ^[35]

Infrastructure

MARTA heavy rail subway and bus lines serve the city. ^[23]

Notable people

See also: Category:People from East Point, Georgia

• Dale Boone, competitive eater. ^[36]
• Gino Groover, professional baseball player. ^[37]
• John Milner, professional baseball player. ^[38]
• Hines Ward, professional football player and coach. ^[39]

See also

• List of U.S. communities with African-American majority populations in 2020

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: East Point, Georgia
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 68. ISBN   0-915430-00-2.
5. "Georgia Locations for Netflix's 'Stranger Things'". Deep South Magazine. Deep South Media. July 28, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2017. Georgia's small towns outside of Atlanta, including Douglasville, Conyers, Jackson, Winston and Fayetteville, easily pass for the Midwest, and Jackson's intact downtown isn't a far stretch from 1983 Hawkins on film.
6. Jordan, Mike (September 14, 2022). "Headland Drive: The start of something good". Atlanta. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
7. Helmore, Edward (April 14, 2024). "Rico Wade, key figure in Atlanta hip-hop scene, dies aged 52". The Guardian. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
8. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), East Point city, Georgia". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
9. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
10. "1870 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau . 1870.
11. "1880 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau . 1880.
12. "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau . 1930.
13. "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau . 1930. p. 253.
14. "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau . 1940.
15. "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau . 1980.
16. "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau . 1980.
17. "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau . 2000.
18. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
19. "The National Archives at Atlanta". August 15, 2016.
20. Southeast Region Office Archived 2010-03-02 at the Wayback Machine . Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on January 1, 2010.
21. Zoning Map ^{[ permanent dead link ]}. City of East Point. Retrieved on June 21, 2009.
22. "Camp Creek Marketplace". ddr. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
23. "Economic Development". The City of East Point. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
24. "The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Announces Its 2015 List of the State's 10 Places in Peril" Archived October 29, 2014, at archive.today , ABC27
25. "Camp Creek Marketplace - RCG Ventures" . Retrieved February 25, 2024.
26. "Camp Creek MarketPlace in Atlanta, GA". mallseeker.com. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
27. Mock, Eric (November 3, 2023). "East Point announces $150M downtown redevelopment plan". FOX 5 Atlanta. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
28. "The Commons Moves Forward in East Point". What Now Atlanta. November 3, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
29. East Point Branch. Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. Retrieved on February 24, 2010.
30. "Parks & Recreation - City of East Point, Georgia". January 10, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
31. "Connally Nature Park". ATLnature. September 29, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
32. "Office of the Mayor". The City of East Point. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
33. "Mayor Council". The City of East Point. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
34. "Schools & Buildings". Fulton County Schools. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
35. Williams, Dorjan (March 13, 2019). "East Point has nothing to fear but 'Fear' itself". WXIA-TV. Archived from the original on January 15, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
36. Earle, Joe (December 2, 2012). "Champion *eater thinks his hometown needs its own nosh". Reporter Newspapers.
37. "Gino Groover". Baseball Reference. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
38. Springer, Jon. "John Milner". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
39. Layden, Tim (October 13, 1997). "His Mother's Son It Took Wideout Hines Ward Three Seasons To Find His Place At Georgia--And Far Longer To Finally Appreciate The Woman Who Has Dedicated Her Life To Raising Him". Sports Illustrated.

External links

• Official website