Five Points, Atlanta facts for kids
Five Points is a very important area in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It's often seen as the heart of downtown and is a busy place where many streets meet.
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What is Five Points?
The name "Five Points" comes from where several streets come together. Imagine a central spot where Marietta Street, Edgewood Avenue, Decatur Street, and two parts of Peachtree Street all meet. One part of Peachtree Street used to be called Whitehall Street. It was renamed to Peachtree to make businesses there sound more important!
The Center of Atlanta
People in Atlanta usually think of Five Points as the very center of their city. It's even where the system for numbering all the street addresses in Atlanta begins! Even though the streets aren't perfectly straight, this spot is still the main starting point for directions.
Exploring the Area
Right at Five Points, you'll find some interesting places:
- Woodruff Park is a nice park located on one corner, between Peachtree Street and Edgewood Avenue. It's a great place to relax.
- The Five Points MARTA station is a major train station just one block away on Peachtree Street. It's a busy hub for public transportation.
The Famous Coca-Cola Sign
A huge and bright Coca-Cola sign stands tall over Five Points. It's on top of the Olympia Building, which is on the east side of the intersection. This sign is nearly 50 feet tall and has a 33-foot neon light-up face. It faces up and down Peachtree Street so everyone can see it. At the bottom, a special part of the sign shows the current time and temperature.
Other Important Buildings
Around the other corners of Five Points, you'll see:
- The William-Oliver Building on the northwest side.
- Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies on the southwest side.
- A parking garage on the southeast side.
In the middle of the intersection, there's a cool sculpture by George Beasley called the Five Points Monument. It reminds people of an old water tower that used to be there and the streetcar tracks that once crossed the area.
A Look Back in Time
Five Points has a long and interesting history, even before Atlanta was a city.
Early Days
Before European settlers arrived, Five Points was where two important Creek Indian trails met. These were the Peachtree Trail and the Sandtown Trail.
In 1845, a man named George Washington Collier opened a grocery store right at Five Points. This store later became Atlanta's very first post office in 1846!
Atlanta's First Mayor
Five Points was also the location of Atlanta's first mayoral election in 1848. This was when the city chose its first leader. Moses Formwalt won the election and became Atlanta's first mayor, beating Jonathan Norcross.
City Water System
In 1875, Atlanta started its first drinking water system right at Five Points. Three special wells were built there. This system used wooden pipes to deliver water to the people living in Atlanta.
Changes Over Time
For a long time, until the 1960s, Five Points was the main center of Atlanta. But as cities grew outwards and big shopping malls were built, the focus of Atlanta shifted north. Five Points became less busy for a while.
However, in the 21st century, the area started to become lively again! This is mostly thanks to the growth of Georgia State University, which has many buildings and students in the Five Points area.
