North Decatur, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
North Decatur, Georgia
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North Decatur Road
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Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
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 North Decatur, Georgia
Location in Atlanta
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | DeKalb |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.91 sq mi (12.72 km2) |
| • Land | 4.91 sq mi (12.72 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 994 ft (303 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,511 |
| • Density | 3,769.29/sq mi (1,455.25/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
30033
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| Area code(s) | 404 770 |
| FIPS code | 13-56112 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0332514 |
North Decatur is a special kind of community in DeKalb County, Georgia, USA. It's called an "unincorporated community" and a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's not an official city, but it's a recognized area for counting people. In 2020, about 18,511 people lived here.
Contents
- A Look Back: History of North Decatur
- Where is North Decatur? Geography and Location
- Exploring North Decatur's Neighborhoods
- Population Changes: Demographics of North Decatur
- Learning in North Decatur: Education
- Fun and Nature: Parks in North Decatur
- Getting Around: Transportation in North Decatur
- Community Life: Churches in North Decatur
- See also
A Look Back: History of North Decatur
North Decatur has an interesting past with early settlers who helped shape the area.
Early Settlers and Land Owners
One of the first people to settle here was Chapman Powell. He built a cabin called the "Medicine House" near Clairmont Road. This cabin has been saved and moved to Stone Mountain Park. Dr. Powell, who lived from 1798 to 1870, owned a lot of land in the area. Later, Walter Candler bought his land.
Another important early settler was Ezekiel Mason. He built a mill on Burnt Fork Creek, on the east side of Clairmont Road. Today, Mason Mill Park in DeKalb County and a local restaurant called Mason Tavern are named after him.
Where is North Decatur? Geography and Location
North Decatur is located at 33°48′11″N 84°17′24″W / 33.80306°N 84.29000°W. It covers about 5 square miles (12.9 square kilometers) of land.
North Decatur's Boundaries
The borders of North Decatur are:
- South: The city of Decatur.
- West: The CSX railroad and Clairmont Road. Across these are the North Druid Hills and Druid Hills CDPs.
- North: LaVista Road and Pangborn Road. Beyond these roads are neighborhoods mostly in the Tucker area.
- East: Lawrenceville Highway and DeKalb Industrial Way. Across these is mostly the Scottdale CDP.
Shopping and Community Hubs
North Decatur doesn't have one main center. Instead, it has three important commercial areas:
- A student-friendly shopping area at Clairmont Road and North Decatur Road, in the southwest part of the CDP.
- The Toco Hills shopping area at North Druid Hills Road and Lavista Road, in the northwest.
- North DeKalb Mall and other stores along Lawrenceville Highway, in the northeast.
Toco Hills started as a small country store in 1950. It has grown into many shopping centers, coffee shops, and places of worship. It serves as a busy center for several communities north of Decatur.
Homes and Living in North Decatur
North Decatur mostly has ranch-style homes built in the 1950s and 1960s. However, new apartment buildings (condominiums) are also being built. It's a popular place to live because it's close to Atlanta's Midtown and Buckhead areas, as well as Emory University and Decatur.
Exploring North Decatur's Neighborhoods
North Decatur is made up of several distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character.
- Clairmont Heights: Found between North Decatur Road, Clairmont Road, Mason Mill Park, and Willivee Drive.
- Country Squire Court: Located off Pangborn Road, southeast of the railroad tracks.
- Druid Lake: A newer, upscale neighborhood off North Druid Hills Road, surrounded by North Druid Valley.
- Leafmore-Creek Park Hills: This neighborhood is between North Druid Hills Road, Clairmont Road, LaVista Road, and the railroad tracks.
- Medlock Park: Located north of North Decatur Road, east of Scott Boulevard, and west of Clairmont Road. It's named after the park within it.
- North Druid Valley: A small neighborhood centered on Homewood Court, south of North Druid Hills Road.
- North Druid Woods: A large neighborhood northwest of where North Druid Hills Road and Lawrenceville Highway meet.
- Ridgeland Park: Found between North Decatur Road and the city limits of Decatur.
- Springdale Heights: Located off Sycamore Heights in the Decatur Heights community.
- Tuxworth Springs: A group of condo buildings off Scott Boulevard.
- University Heights: A neighborhood north of North Decatur Road, around Willivee.
- Valley Brook Estates: This neighborhood is between Lawrenceville Highway and Stone Mountain Freeway, near East Ponce de Leon and off McLendon.
- Winston Place: A condo complex off LaVista.
Population Changes: Demographics of North Decatur
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 11,830 | — | |
| 1990 | 12,830 | 8.5% | |
| 2000 | 15,270 | 19.0% | |
| 2010 | 16,698 | 9.4% | |
| 2020 | 18,511 | 10.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 |
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North Decatur was first counted as a census-designated place (CDP) in the 1980 U.S. census. Its population has grown steadily over the years.
Who Lives in North Decatur?
| Race / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 12,499 | 11,375 | 11,615 | 81.85% | 70.28% | 62.75% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,212 | 1,999 | 2,383 | 7.94% | 11.97% | 12.87% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 37 | 34 | 24 | 0.24% | 0.20% | 0.13% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 875 | 1,845 | 2,437 | 5.73% | 11.05% | 13.17% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 9 | 4 | 4 | 0.06% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Some other race alone (NH) | 17 | 52 | 135 | 0.11% | 0.31% | 0.73% |
| Mixed race or multi-racial (NH) | 192 | 366 | 838 | 1.26% | 2.19% | 4.53% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 429 | 663 | 1,075 | 2.81% | 3.97% | 5.81% |
| Total | 15,270 | 16,698 | 18,511 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 U.S. census, North Decatur had 18,511 residents. There were 8,169 households and 3,518 families living in the CDP.
Learning in North Decatur: Education
The DeKalb County Schools serves the students in North Decatur.
Local Schools
Some students attend Laurel Ridge Elementary School, while others go to Medlock Elementary School. Both of these schools are located within the North Decatur CDP. After elementary school, students from both Laurel Ridge and Medlock schools attend Druid Hills Middle School, which is also in North Decatur. For high school, students go to Druid Hills High School, located in the nearby Druid Hills CDP.
Fun and Nature: Parks in North Decatur
North Decatur offers several parks and nature preserves for outdoor activities and relaxation.
- Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve: Located at 2580 Pine Bluff Drive. This is a nature preserve found between Medlock Park, University Heights, and the Medlock neighborhood. It's a great place to explore nature.
- Mason Mill Park: Found at 1340 McConnell Drive. This is a large 111-acre (0.45 square kilometer) DeKalb County park. It has tennis courts, a recreation center, picnic areas, and walking trails. You can also see the old ruins of the 1906 Decatur Waterworks here, which supplied drinking water to the City of Decatur until the 1940s.
- Medlock Park: Located at 874 Gaylemont Circle. This 39-acre (158,000 square meter) DeKalb County park has baseball and softball fields, a multi-use field, a multi-use court, a playground, a swimming pool, and a picnic area.
Getting Around: Transportation in North Decatur
Several main roads help people travel through and around North Decatur.
- LaVista Road: This road forms the northern border of the North Decatur CDP.
- Lawrenceville Highway: This is a main road for getting to North Decatur from Interstate 285. It also forms the eastern border of the CDP.
- North Decatur Road: This is a key east-west road that connects to Emory University.
- North Druid Hills Road: This important northwest-southeast road provides access from Interstate 85 and the Stone Mountain Freeway.
Community Life: Churches in North Decatur
North Decatur is home to several churches that serve the local community.
- Clairmont Hills Baptist Church (SBC), 1995 Clairmont Road.
- North Decatur United Methodist Church (UMC), 1523 Church Street.
- North Decatur Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 611 Medlock Road.
- Scott Boulevard Baptist Church (CBF), 2532 North Decatur Road.
- St. Paul Baptist Church, 1396 Nelms Drive.
See also
In Spanish: North Decatur para niños
