Dunwoody is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. It's a northern suburb of Atlanta and part of the larger Atlanta metropolitan area. Dunwoody officially became a city on December 1, 2008. However, people have lived in this area since the early 1830s. In 2020, about 51,683 people called Dunwoody home.

History of Dunwoody

The historic Dunwoody Farmhouse

How Dunwoody Got Its Name

The Dunwoody area was settled in the early 1830s. It is named after Major Charles Dunwody (1828–1905). An interesting fact is that an extra "o" was added to his name by mistake on a banking note, and the spelling stuck! Charles Dunwody returned to Roswell, Georgia after fighting in the American Civil War.

Early Buildings and Railroads

One of Dunwoody's oldest buildings is the Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church, built in 1829. It's still used today and has one of the city's oldest cemeteries. Many of the people who helped start Dunwoody are buried there.

The first public school, Dunwoody Elementary, opened in 1911. It was located near the center of the city. A fire damaged the school's cafeteria in 1966. Today, the Dunwoody branch of the Dekalb County Public Library and the North Dekalb Cultural Arts Center are on that spot.

In 1881, the Roswell Railroad started running through the area. It helped Dunwoody grow into a small community. Even after the railroad closed in 1921, the community kept growing. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt even stopped in Dunwoody during a campaign trip!

Dunwoody Becomes a City

Dunwoody stayed mostly rural until the 1960s, when more homes and businesses started to be built. In 1971, a big shopping center called Perimeter Mall was built. The Dunwoody Village shopping area was also completed that same year.

In 2006, people started studying if Dunwoody should become its own city. Some people worried that this would take away tax money from the rest of the county. However, a group called Citizens for Dunwoody worked to make it happen.

In 2008, a bill was passed that allowed people in Dunwoody to vote on becoming a city. On July 15, most voters said yes! So, on December 1, 2008, Dunwoody officially became a city.

Geography and Location

Dunwoody is located at 33°56′34″N 84°19′4″W / 33.94278°N 84.31778°W / 33.94278; -84.31778. It covers about 34.1 square kilometers (13.2 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Dunwoody is at the very northern part of DeKalb County. It shares borders with Fulton County, Georgia to the north and west, and Gwinnett County, Georgia to the northeast. Interstate 285 runs along its southern border.

What happened during the 1998 Dunwoody tornado?

The path of the 1998 tornado through a Dunwoody neighborhood

On April 8, 1998, a large tornado hit parts of Dunwoody. It caused a lot of damage to thousands of homes. Many trees were also knocked down. This tornado is often called the "Dunwoody tornado" because most of its damage happened here.

Dunwoody's Main Areas and Neighborhoods

Dunwoody has several unique districts and neighborhoods:

Dunwoody Village

The courtyard of Dunwoody Village

This is the historic center of the community. It's known for its special American colonial architecture style, which started when the Dunwoody Village Shopping Center was built in the 1970s. This style gives the area a unique look and feel.

Perimeter Center

A Dunwoody directional sign

Perimeter Center is a major business and shopping area that grew around Perimeter Mall. The mall opened in 1971, and since then, many offices, homes, and shops have been built. It's one of the biggest job centers in Metro Atlanta. The tallest building in Dunwoody, Ravinia 3, is 34 stories tall and located here. Perimeter Center is easy to reach because it's near two major highways, GA 400 and I-285. The Dunwoody Transit Station also provides public transportation to this area.

Georgetown

Georgetown was developed in the early 1960s. It's close to I-285 and borders the city of Chamblee, Georgia. This area has both single-family homes and its own shopping district. It's one of the most walkable parts of the city.

Williamsburg Commercial District

This area is on the eastern side of Dunwoody. It has several shopping centers like Orchard Park, Mt. Vernon, and Williamsburg at Dunwoody. It's a central spot for dining and shopping.

Winters Chapel

Winters Chapel is located where Dunwoody meets Peachtree Corners, Georgia. It's named after Winters Chapel Methodist Church, which has been there since the 1870s. This area is good for new businesses and shops. It also has two parks connected by sidewalks: a long park along the Twin Lakes water reservoir and Windwood Hollow Park, which has tennis courts, a playground, and picnic areas.

Tilly Mill

This area is named after the Tilly family, who had a farm and mill here in the late 1800s. Tilly Mill Road connects Dunwoody to other areas. Important places in Tilly Mill include the Dunwoody campus of Georgia State University's Perimeter College and Brook Run, Dunwoody's main park. Brook Run is a large park with walking trails, a playground, a dog park, and a community garden. The Marcus Jewish Community Center is also in this area.

The Perimeter Center skyline, showing Dunwoody (center) and Sandy Springs (left and right)

People of Dunwoody (Demographics)

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1980	17,768	—
1990	26,302	48.0%
2000	32,808	24.7%
2010	46,267	41.0%
2020	51,683	11.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

Dunwoody street-sign topper

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 51,683 people living in Dunwoody. There were 20,482 households and 12,620 families.

Dunwoody racial composition as of 2020
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	27,824	53.84%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	6,036	11.68%
Native American	36	0.07%
Asian	8,839	17.1%
Pacific Islander	17	0.03%
Other/Mixed	2,321	4.49%
Hispanic or Latino	6,610	12.79%

Economy and Jobs

Three Ravinia Drive (far right) is the tallest building in Dunwoody.

The main office for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper is in Dunwoody. InterContinental Hotels Group, a big hotel company, also has its American offices here. The restaurant chain Krystal has its main office in the city too.

Top Employers in Dunwoody

Here are some of the biggest employers in Dunwoody:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	InterContinental Hotels Group	1765
2	Dekalb County School District	772
3	Convergent Outsourcing	423
4	Peachford Hospital	410
5	T Mobile	396
6	Nordstrom	366
7	Southeastern Data	366
8	Maggiano's	322
9	Macy's	298
10	Walmart	298

Education in Dunwoody

Public Schools

The DeKalb County School System (DCSS) runs the public schools in Dunwoody.

Elementary Schools

Austin Elementary School
Chesnut Charter Elementary School
Kingsley Elementary School
Vanderlyn Elementary School
Dunwoody Elementary School
Hightower Elementary School (serves parts of Doraville)

Middle and High Schools

Peachtree Charter Middle School
Dunwoody High School

Private Schools

Dunwoody Christian School

Colleges and Universities

Georgia State University, Dunwoody Campus
American InterContinental University (AIU Dunwoody)
Troy University, Atlanta site

Public Libraries

The DeKalb County Public Library has a branch in Dunwoody.

Transportation

Major Roads

Interstate 285, also known as The Perimeter, runs along the city's southern edge.
A part of Georgia State Route 141 is on the southeastern border.
Georgia State Route 400 is very close to Dunwoody's western border.

Public Transportation (MARTA)

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) offers subway and bus services.

The Dunwoody station is the only subway station within the city limits. Other nearby stations include Medical Center, Sandy Springs, and North Springs. All these stations are on the Red Line.

There are also three main bus routes that serve Dunwoody:

Route 103 - Peeler Rd./N. Shallowford Rd.
Route 132 - Tilly Mill Road
Route 150 - Perimeter Center/Dunwoody Village

Walking and Biking Paths

Dunwoody has several paths for walking and cycling:

Dunwoody Trailway
Georgetown Gateway (Planned)
Perimeter Multi-Modal Trails (Planned)
PATH400 (Under construction)
Winters Chapel Corridor Multiuse Trail (Planned)

Notable People from Dunwoody

Many well-known people have lived in Dunwoody, including:

Ryan Seacrest, a famous TV host
Erin Andrews, a sports reporter
Bret Baier, a news anchor
Harris Barton, a former professional football player
Black Lips, a music band
Alex Caskey, a professional soccer player
Emily Jacobson, an Olympic fencer
Sada Jacobson, an Olympic fencer
Charles London, a football coach
Robert Duncan McNeill, an actor and director
Robin Meade, a news anchor
Kip Pardue, an actor
Jeff Williams, a poker player
Cindy Wilson, a singer from the band The B-52s
Sally Yates, a former U.S. Attorney General
Matt Porwoll, an award-winning filmmaker

Parks

Brook Run Skate Park
Donaldson-Bannister Farm

Dunwoody, Georgia facts for kids

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