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Kennesaw, Georgia

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Kennesaw
City
Kennesaw City Hall
Kennesaw City Hall
Location in Cobb County and the state of Georgia
Location in Cobb County and the state of Georgia
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyCobb
IncorporatedSeptember 21, 1887
Government
 • MayorMark Mathews (R)
Area
 • Total8.5 sq mi (22.0 km2)
 • Land8.4 sq mi (21.9 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation
1,089 ft (332 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total29,783
 • Density3,500/sq mi (1,400/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30144/30152/
Area code678/770
FIPS code13-43192Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0316387Template:GR
Websitehttp://www.kennesaw-ga.gov

Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. It had a population of 29,783 according to the 2010 census. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Founded in 1887, Kennesaw has a past surrounded with railroad history. During the Civil War, Kennesaw was the staging ground for the Great Locomotive Chase on April 12, 1862.

In 2007, the city was selected by Family Circle magazine as one of the nation's "10 best towns for families".[1] The award was aimed at identifying the best communities nationally that combine big-city opportunities with suburban charm, a blend of affordable housing, good jobs, top-rated public schools, wide-open spaces, and less stress.[citation needed] However, the city is best known worldwide for its mandatory gun-possession law.[2]

History

In the 1830s, Kennesaw, then known as Big Shanty, was home to a haphazard construction camp for workers, including many Irish and Scottish immigrants, who converged on Cobb County to take part in the railroad building craze. [citation needed]

The name Kennesaw is derived from the Cherokee Indian gah-nee-sah meaning cemetery, or burial ground. During the American Civil War, Big Shanty was the site of major fighting in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, part of the larger Atlanta Campaign. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park,[3] located southeast of the city limits, now contains many of these historic areas, though much of the surrounding land has been developed, and some buried artifacts taken by people with metal detectors.

L.C. Chalker purchased a 1 1/4-acre tract of land adjacent to the Kennesaw Cemetery from J.W. Ellis in 1934, which was sold for burial purposes. Chalker purchased another acre adjacent to the first parcel in 1948, which was also to be used for a cemetery. The Chalker family managed these portions of the cemetery until they were sold to the City of Kennesaw in the mid 50's. The earliest known burial is the infant Lucius B. Summers, who was interred in 1863. Other grave markers date as far back as the 1860s to the 1890s. The Kennesaw Cemetery Preservation is the home to many Civil War heroes as well as ancestors from the city of Kennesaw. Burials are still taken place to this day in the cemetery.

The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History[4] is located downtown, next to the Western & Atlantic railroad tracks on Cherokee Street, just off Main Street (old U.S. 41 and Georgia 3). The museum is the current preservation and display location for The General, the locomotive that played the key role in the Great Locomotive Chase (the Texas which chased it is at the Atlanta Cyclorama).

In March 2004, First Lady Laura Bush designated Kennesaw a Preserve America Community.[5]

Geography

Kennesaw is located at 34°1′31″N 84°36′57″W / 34.02528°N 84.61583°W / 34.02528; -84.61583 (34.025183, -84.615875)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.5 square miles (22 km2), of which 8.4 square miles (22 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), or 0.82%, is water.

Kennesaw Mountain (as well as conjoined Little Kennesaw Mountain) is located southeast of the city limits in the battlefield park. Its summit is the highest point in the Atlanta metro area, at an elevation of 1,808 feet (551 m) above sea level. The city was renamed for the mountain.

The area around Kennesaw is a major retail hub with a major regional mall, Town Center at Cobb, numerous restaurants and most major chain stores located along Barrett Parkway southeast of the city.

Government

The city hall[6] is located downtown, just off Main Street (old U.S. 41 and Georgia 3, later Georgia 293). It contains the offices of mayor and city council, the city jail in the basement, and a small 9-1-1 call center and other offices. It is the public-safety answering point for the city of Kennesaw and the neighboring city of Acworth, and dispatches the separate police departments of both cities. Calls for fire services are relayed to and dispatched from Cobb County's 911 center,[7] and serviced by the Cobb County Fire Department, as neither city has its own fire department.

Wireless Internet in city parks

In 2008, the city of Kennesaw awarded a bid to Digitel Wireless for the implementation of city wireless Internet. In March 2008, the city of Kennesaw announced the grand opening of four new wireless areas: Swift-Cantrell Park and Adams Park, and the train depot area across from the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. In addition, the city has provided Wi-Fi in the Ben Robertson Community Center.[8]

Crime statistics

Kennesaw crime rates are less than half of US averages. Crime rates declined from 2003 through 2008.[9][10]

County services

The Cobb County Public Library System operates a Kennesaw branch library. The Cobb County Police Department serves unincorporated areas, including the Town Center Area Community Improvement District and Kennesaw State University (in addition to KSU's own police).

Controversies

Gun law

In 1982 the city passed an ordinance [Sec 34-21][11]

(a) In order to provide for the emergency management of the city, and further in order to provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants, every head of household residing in the city limits is required to maintain a firearm, together with ammunition therefore.

-


(b)Exempt from the effect of this section are those heads of households who suffer a physical or mental disability which would prohibit them from using such a firearm. Further exempt from the effect of this section are those heads of households who are paupers or who conscientiously oppose maintaining firearms as a result of beliefs or religious doctrine, or persons convicted of a felony.

Gun rights activist David Kopel has claimed that there is evidence that this gun law has reduced the incident rate of home burglaries citing that in the first year, home burglaries dropped from 65 before the ordinance, down to 26 in 1983, and to 11 in 1984.[12] Another report observed a noticeable reduction in burglary from 1981, the year before the ordinance was passed, to 1999.[13]

However, the city's website[14] claims the city has the lowest crime rate in the county.

2009 racial-discrimination suit

In August 2009, the Marietta Daily Journal published details regarding a lawsuit over racial discrimination filed against the city of Kennesaw and a number of its officials. The city settled the lawsuit, filed in March of that year, for $1.8 million. Three employees of the city's department of public works – two current and one former – alleged racial discrimination amid a hostile work environment. Willie Smith and Stanley Mitchell, who had worked for the city since 1995 and 1987, respectively, were each awarded $414,375.00, while Gary Redd, who had quit in August 2008 after two years, received $234,375.00. Buckley & Klein, the law firm representing the plaintiffs, received $736,875. In exchange, the settlement dismissed all charges filed by the plaintiffs to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), denied all wrongdoing on behalf of the defendants, and stated that plaintiffs cannot "attempt to re-initiate the claims set forth in the civil action".[15]

Local attractions

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19601,507—
19703,548135.4%
19805,09543.6%
19908,93675.4%
200021,675142.6%
201029,78337.4%

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 21,675 people, 8,099 households, and 5,782 families residing in the city. There were 8,670 housing units at an average density of 1,027.3 per square mile (396.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.97% White, 1.90% Black, 5.22% Native American, 2.91% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.54% from other races, and 2.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.20% of the population.

There were 8,099 households out of which 40.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 42.1% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $60,404 and the median income for a family was $67,778. Males had a median income of $45,253 versus $33,660 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,757. About 3.1% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools are provided by the Cobb County School District, including the original North Cobb High School, later Harrison High School, and most recently Kennesaw Mountain High School.

Awtrey, Lost Mountain, McClure, Palmer, and Pine Mountain are all the Middle Schools in Kennesaw.

Bullard, Haynes Intermediate School, Lewis, Haynes Primary School, Kennesaw, Big Shanty Intermediate School, and Chalker are all the elementary schools in Kennesaw.

Kennesaw State University[18] is located just east of the city limits, and uses the silhouette of the two mountains as its logo.

Mount Paran Christian School is a pre k-12 school located on Stanley Road.

The First Baptist Church of Kennesaw maintains the First Baptist Christian School of Kennesaw. St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church has a K-8 elementary school.

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ Family Circle, August 2007
  2. ^ "Kennesaw, where everyone is armed by law", Financial Times
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ [3]
  6. ^ (34°01′24″N 84°37′00″W / 34.0233°N 84.6167°W / 34.0233; -84.6167 (Kennesaw City Hall))
  7. ^ [4]
  8. ^ [5]
  9. ^ [6]
  10. ^ [7]
  11. ^ Municipal Code, Kennesaw, GA
  12. ^ "DaveKopel.org: Amicus Curiae, US Supreme Court:Writ of Certoriari 07-290, District of Columbia vs Dick Heller" (PDF). 2008-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ [8]
  14. ^ http://www.kennesaw-ga.gov/visitors/about-us
  15. ^ Wilson, Brandon (2009-08-27). "Kennesaw doles out $1.8M for racial suit". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
  16. ^ [9]
  17. ^ [10]
  18. ^ [11]
  19. ^ Jesse James Dupree at Allmusic
  20. ^ Exempt player bios at www.pba.com

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