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Dunwoody, Georgia

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"Dunwoody" redirects here. For other uses, see Dunwoody (disambiguation).
City of Dunwoody
City as of 1 December 2008, former CDP
Official seal of City of Dunwoody
Seal
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyDeKalb
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • MayorKen Wright
 • City ManagerWarren Hutmacher
Area
 • Total12.1 sq mi (31.4 km2)
 • Land12.1 sq mi (31.3 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation
1,129 ft (344 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total32,808
 • Density2,711.4/sq mi (1,044.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
30338, 30356, 30360
Area code(s)770, 678
FIPS code13-24768Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0325929Template:GR
WebsiteDunwoodyGA.gov

Dunwoody is a city located in metro Atlanta, in northern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. Formerly a census-designated place (CDP), it became an incorporated as a city in late 2008, at midnight on the morning of December 1.[1] As of the 2000 Census, the CDP had a total population of 32,808. A 2008 estimate placed the city's population at 39,583.[1] It is also the hometown of American Idol host Ryan Seacrest

History

The area called Dunwoody was pioneered in the early 1830s and is named for Major Charles Dunwody (1828-1905), although it is unclear why or when a second "o" was added to the name.[2][3]

One of Dunwoody's most historic building dates from 1829. The Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church, at the corner of Roberts Dr. and Spalding Dr., is still active to this date and is also the home to one of the city's oldest cemeteries, where many of the founding fathers of Dunwoody are buried. The first public school, Dunwoody Elementary, first stood near the city center at the intersection of Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd. and Mt. Vernon Rd. It was in continuous operated from 1911 to 1989. On that site today, the Dunwoody branch of the Dekalb County Public Library now operates along with the North Dekalb Cultural Arts Center. In 1881, the "Old Buck" train opened and ran along what is now Chamblee-Dunwoody Rd. north to the Chatahoochee River. It operated for 40 years, and in 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt made a campaign whistle stop in Dunwoody along the way to Roswell, Georgia[4]

At midnight on December 1 of 2008, Dunwoody officially became a city after a nearly 3 year movement.

Geography

Dunwoody's geographic center is at 33°56′34″N 84°19′4″W / 33.94278°N 84.31778°W / 33.94278; -84.31778Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (33.942751, -84.317694).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 12.1 square miles (31.4 km²), of which, 12.1 square miles (31.3 km²) of it was land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.33%) was water.

File:Dunwoody GA.jpg
Dunwoody Farmhouse

Dunwoody lies at the northern tip of DeKalb County, bounded by the Fulton County line on the north and west, Interstate 285 on the south, Peachtree Industrial Boulevard on the southeast, and Gwinnett County on the northeast. Officially, the city limit extends only to the DeKalb County line in the north. However, as far back as the 1960s, the area known as Dunwoody extended as far west as GA-400 and north to the Chattahoochee River. Thus, many residents of the narrow panhandle of Sandy Springs (the strip of Fulton between the Dekalb County line in the south up to the Chattahoochee River in the north) consider themselves a part of Dunwoody. To this end, the Dunwoody name is present in the panhandle's many apartment complexes, roads and shopping centers (such as the Dunwoody Place Shopping Center). Although Sandy Springs claimed its right to self-determination in its own political battle to incorporate, once Sandy Springs became a city in late 2005, it removed "Dunwoody" street sign toppers in the panhandle area. This narrow strip was originally part of DeKalb, but was then ceded to Milton County, which later merged into Fulton. [5]

Perimeter Mall and approximately 40 percent of the Perimeter Community Improvement District,[6] is a self-taxing district of shopping and office buildings (including several high-rises), are both located in Dunwoody. The western part of the Perimeter Center edge city spans the Fulton county line into Sandy Springs. (The two sides of the PCID are legally separate, but work as one organization.) The tallest building in Dunwoody is the 34-story Ravinia 3, at 444 feet (135 m).

Perimeter Center is served by the Dunwoody train station on MARTA's north line, while the other two stations in the area are both on the Fulton side.

Tornado's path through a Dunwoody neighborhood

In 1998, a major tornado tore through parts of Dunwoody, running east-northeast from Perimeter Center and into Gwinnett. Thousands of homes were damaged, hundreds seriously, and several dozen were condemned. In addition, tens of thousands of native forest trees were downed. The vast majority of the tornado's damage occurred here, leading it to be called the "Dunwoody tornado", the most vivid in local memory until the 2008 Atlanta tornado.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 32,808 people, 13,746 households, and 8,976 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,715.7 people per square mile (1,048.6/km²). There were 14,599 housing units at an average density of 1,208.4/sq mi (466.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 85.02% White, 4.43% African American, 0.12% Native American, 7.78% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.34% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.

There were 13,746 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $82,838, and the median income for a family was $100,796. Males had a median income of $70,460 versus $42,813 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $43,523. About 1.5% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.

Movement for incorporation

In early 2006, a study was conducted by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government of the University of Georgia, to determine how feasible it would be to incorporate Dunwoody as a city. Critics claim that incorporation of Dunwoody, as in the incorporation of Sandy Springs in 2005, would take away a great deal of tax revenue from the rest of the county, leading to shortages of services, tax increases, or both for everyone else in the county, as has happened in Fulton. Citizens for Dunwoody, Inc. is the non-profit advocacy group begun by Senator Dan Weber to promote the effort. The CVI study can be read on their website.[7]

The bill for incorporation was withdrawn from the Georgia General Assembly in 2006 for further study, but was presented again in early 2007. SB 82.[8] passed only the lower house. In 2008, the bill of incorporation was re-introduced by Senator Weber, and due to increased pressure, passed in the senate as well as the house. Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed the bill allowing the residents to vote for a city of Dunwoody on March 25, with a referendum set for July 15.

Nearby Tucker is also considering incorporation, as are other cities in DeKalb and Fulton counties.[citation needed] The Georgia Township Act was intended to create villages called "townships", with control over zoning and land use; however Dunwoody continued pushing for full cityhood, and as of 2008 session's end the state legislature has failed to pass the township bill.

Government

As of 2009 Dunwoody's temporary municipal hall is at Suite 1250 at 400 Northridge Road in the City of Sandy Springs .[9]

Districts/Neighborhoods

Dunwoody Village

Also known as downtown Dunwoody, and is the location of the iconic Dunwoody Farmhouse. This area was typically thought of when one mentioned Dunwoody, previous to incorporation. This happens to be the place where the "Williamsburg-style" architecture originated with the construction of Dunwoody Village shopping center in the 1970s. Since then, all other construction followed suit in this area, and an architectural overlay district has been set up since. The neighborhoods of Wyntercreek, Wynterhall, Verdon Forest, Fairfield, Redfield, Withmere, and Mill Glen are on the north side of the district and are newer subdivisions. The south side going toward Georgetown includes older Springfield, Holly Oak, and Cambridge. It also includes the numerous subdivisions along Womack and Vermack roads. The Dunwoody Library, Dunwoody High School, Dunwoody Nature Center, and the Fire Station are also considered part of downtown.

Perimeter Center

Perimeter Center is the major edge city that has formed around Perimeter Mall. The mall was developed in 1971, with all the office, residential, and commercial development occurring since then. It is a major job center, employing thousands of people each day. It also could be considered the "business district" of Dunwoody. It is also where the Dunwoody (MARTA station) is located.

Georgetown

An older part of Dunwoody, Georgetown was developed in the late 1960s. It is located near I-285 and borders with unincorporated DeKalb County. It is also one of the reasons the incorporation movement was started, with many new apartments being approved by DeKalb County for the area, even in some single-family residential areas of the district. It contains the subdivisions of Georgetown, Chateau Woods, and North Springs. It is also home to a vacant building that was previously Shallowford Elementary School and later, Chamblee Middle School. Dunwoody's second Kroger is located in the Georgetown retail district.

Williamsburg

This area is on the eastern edge of Dunwoody near the Sandy Springs panhandle. It is marked by All Saints Catholic Church, and its retail district includes a Blockbuster, a Kroger, and an Animal Hospital, to name a few. It includes the subdivisions of Kingsley, Brooke Farm and Cedar Chase.

Winters Chapel

Located along the Gwinnett County border, this area is unique in that it was rarely considered Dunwoody prior to incorporation. [citation needed] A discount grocery store, an abandoned hardware store and auto mart, a kindergarten, a farmers market, apartment buildings, and a strip mall ("Dunwoody Point") dominate the area.

Tilly Mill

This area is home to the Dunwoody campus of Georgia Perimeter College. It is also the location of the Marcus Jewish Community Center, a synagogue, and a significant Jewish population.

Brook Run/North Peachtree/North Shallowford

This ambiguous area cannot be claimed by any of the aforementioned districts, and has yet to develop its own name and identity. Dunwoody North, Shendoah Estates, and Dunwoody Trails are all located in this area. Brook Run park and Windwood Hollow park are also both located in this area, as well as a strip mall containing the Dunwoody Food Mart, a Rite-Aid, and a laundromat.

Schools

Primary and secondary schools

The DeKalb County School System operates local public schools.

Elementary schools operated by DCSS include:

Peachtree Charter Middle School and Dunwoody High School are DCSS schools in and serving Dunwoody.

Colleges and universities

References

  1. ^ http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2008/12/09/atlanta_cities_census.html
  2. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=lXkxAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA107&lpg=PA107&dq=charles+dunwody&source=bl&ots=wyPnhvPbCo&sig=OLEuKJqGVUMCvwdJzhRy9ipeBWs&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result
  3. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=nv4EAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=major+charles+dunwody&source=web&ots=wrnlCXokvI&sig=xMKzbdrzPkCRbPj7mQ7-49rVGGo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result
  4. ^ http://www.dunwoodyga.org/about_history.html
  5. ^ http://www.dunwoodyga.gov/Visitors/About_Dunwoody.aspx
  6. ^ Home Page. Perimeter Community Improvement Districts. Accessed October 27, 2008.
  7. ^ http://www.citizensfordunwoody.org
  8. ^ http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/fulltext/sb82.htm
  9. ^ "Contact." City of Dunwoody. Retrieved on January 15, 2009.

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Community

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