East Point, Georgia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2007) |
| East Point, Georgia | |
 |
|
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Fulton |
| Area | |
| - Total | 13.8 sq mi (35.6 km²) |
| - Land | 13.8 sq mi (35.6 km²) |
| - Water | 0 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Elevation | 1,050 ft (320 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 39,595 |
| - Density | 2,869.2/sq mi (1,112.2/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 30344, 30364 |
| Area code(s) | 404 |
| FIPS code | 13-25720[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0331624[2] |
The City of East Point is southwest of the neighborhoods of Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 39,595. The city is named for being at the opposite end of the former Atlanta & West Point Railroad from West Point, Georgia.
Contents |
[edit] History
The name East Point derives from the fact that it is the place where the Atlanta & West Railroad ends in the east, just as West Point, GA is the place where the rail line ends in the west.
The city started with a citizenry of only 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, i.e. mayor, of the city.
By 1880 the town also had two churches, a common school, a steam-gin, a sawmill, a post office (actually founded in 1851), a telegraph office and its own newspaper weekly, The Plow Boy. East Point ranked as a grain and cotton-growing center, and with its pleasant climate and proximity to the railway, had also become a popular summer resort.
During the United States' Civil War, numerous war time skirmishes were fought in East Point, and after viewing the destruction brought by Sherman’s March, one eyewitness reported that there was “nothing here [that] resembles a town.”[1]
In 1884 the first telephone rang in East Point, and in 1887, the city received its first charter. Then came the first housing boom in 1890, when 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.
By the turn of the century, the adolescent town was poised to grow into the city it eventually would become.
[edit] Politics & Industry
While the City has an elected Mayor, the majority of daily decisions are made by a hired City Manager. The Manager is approved by the 8 person City Council, - headed by the Mayor who has veto power. The city is divided into four Wards (A, B, C, & D), each with two City Council Members. City managers are frequently changed due to a split council and a hostile work environment.
Although many businesses have moved out of East Point and have relocated to such areas as Buckhead, East Point has, in the opinion of some, seen a great resurgence in recent years with new businesses and residences popping up all over the city. A large new shopping center, Camp Creek Marketplace, has opened on the city's western side and more and more older World War II era homes have been purchased and remodeled, especially in the Jefferson Park neighborhood. A new multiplex, the first in many years in East Point, opened in Camp Creek in December of 2007.
The National Archives regional repository for data collected from the U.S. Census was originally located in the Colonial Hills area of East Point until it was moved to a new facility in the nearby City of Morrow.
[edit] The Arts
East Point has a long history of a thriving fine arts community.
East Point has a long history of a thriving fine arts community that includes artists: Bjay Allen, Marc Villanueva, Su Abbott, John Folsom and Alli Royce Sobel.
[edit] Sports & Recreation
East Point has a continual history of community involvement in youth and adult sports. East Point is served by Sumner Park, Sykes Park, Brookdale Park, Grayson Field, Jefferson Park, and Chris Stacks Field.
When the Dick Lane Velodrome was first built, it was one of only two in the United States.
Several notable athletes have emerged from the city of East Point, among them Reggie Rutland, Jonas Jennings (NFL), Nick Rodgers (NFL), Bill Thorn, and Jay Hudson.
[edit] Geography
East Point is located at (33.676008, -84.451277)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.8 square miles (35.7 km²), of which, 13.8 square miles (35.6 km²) of it is land and 0.07% is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 39,595 people, 14,553 households, and 9,430 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,878.9 people per square mile (1,111.8/km²). There were 15,637 housing units at an average density of 1,137.0/sq mi (439.1/km²).
There were 14,553 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.7% were married couples living together, 28.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,874, 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.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- City of East Point
- East Point Police Department
- East Point Living
- Colonial Hills Neighborhood Association
- Jefferson Park Neighbors Association (501c3)
- Dick Lane Velodrome
- Bill Thorn [2]
- East Point, Georgia is at coordinates Coordinates:
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
.svg/75px-Flag_of_Georgia_(U.S._state).svg.png){kind=small}
