North Druid Hills, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Druid Hills, Georgia
Unincorporated community Census-designated place
Toco Hills Shopping Center
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
North Druid Hills, Georgia Location in Atlanta
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	DeKalb
Area
• Total	4.46 sq mi (11.55 km2)
• Land	4.45 sq mi (11.53 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	1,014 ft (309 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,385
• Density	4,580.90/sq mi (1,768.54/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	13-56168
GNIS feature ID	1805271

North Druid Hills is a community in DeKalb County, Georgia, USA. It is also known as Briarcliff or Toco Hills. This area is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP). A CDP is a place that looks like a town but doesn't have its own local government.

In 2020, about 20,385 people lived here. The main shopping area is the Toco Hills Shopping Center. You can find it where North Druid Hills Road and LaVista Road meet.

History of North Druid Hills

One of the first European settlers in this part of DeKalb County was Chapman Powell. His cabin, called the "Medicine House," was built near Clairmont and North Decatur roads. You can still see this cabin today at Stone Mountain Park. Dr. Powell owned most of the land in the Candler Lake and South Fork Peachtree Creek area. Later, Walter Candler bought his land.

Major Washington Jackson Houston owned land in what is now Briarcliff. People would visit him to buy ground cornmeal from his 1876 gristmill. He also held social events on his property. Around 1900, Major Houston turned his mill into an early hydroelectric plant. This plant used water power to make electricity.

In the 1920s, Harry J. Carr bought Houston's land. He built a beautiful home there, now known as the Houston Mill House. Emory University bought the house in the 1960s and fixed it up. Today, the Houston Mill House is used for dining and special events.

After World War II, many Jews moved to North Druid Hills. They came from areas like Washington-Rawson and the Old Fourth Ward. Congregation Beth Jacob, an Orthodox synagogue, moved to LaVista Road in 1962. Since then, the area has become a center for Orthodox Judaism in Atlanta. There are now three Jewish schools, six congregations, and a mikveh (a special bath) near LaVista Road.

North Druid Hills was mostly rural until 1965. That's when Executive Park was built. It was the first suburban office park in the Atlanta area. After Executive Park was finished, the area grew quickly with many new buildings.

Becoming a City: The Incorporation Movement

In 2012, a nearby area called Brookhaven became its own city. This made people in North Druid Hills think about doing the same. A group called the North Druid Hills Study Group suggested creating a city called Briarcliff.

People who supported cityhood wanted more local control over their area. Those against it worried that the area didn't have a clear identity or boundaries. The proposed city of Briarcliff would have these borders:

• I-85 to the north
• I-285 to the east
• The cities of Decatur and Avondale Estates to the south
• The City of Atlanta to the west

In 2014, the group tried again to make Briarcliff a city. They called this new effort "Briarcliff 2.0."

Geography of North Druid Hills

North Druid Hills is located at 33°49′11″N 84°19′41″W / 33.819654°N 84.328061°W / 33.819654; -84.328061.

The area covers about 4.46 square miles (11.55 square kilometers). Most of this land is dry land, with a very small amount of water.

The borders of the North Druid Hills CDP are:

• Interstate 85 to the north, near the city of Brookhaven
• Clairmont Road and the North Decatur CDP to the east
• The South Fork of Peachtree Creek and the Druid Hills CDP to the south
• The border with the city of Atlanta to the west

North Druid Hills neighborhoods

Neighborhoods in North Druid Hills

North Druid Hills has many different neighborhoods:

• Biltmore Acres
• Briarcliff Heights
• Green Hills
• LaVista Park
• Merry Hills
• Mount Brian Woods
• Sheridan Court
• Woodland Hills
• Mason Mill
• Vistavia Hills
• Executive Park was one of Atlanta's first mixed-use areas. It has offices and other buildings.
• Fama Pines has been an active neighborhood since the 1950s.

Toco Hills Neighborhood

Toco Hills is a large area with both shops and homes. It is in the eastern part of North Druid Hills. The main shopping centers are at the intersection of LaVista and North Druid Hills roads. These centers were built in the 1950s.

The name "Toco Hills" likely comes from the Toco Hill shopping center. Some people say "Toco" is a Brazilian Indian word for "good luck." Others think it's a short way of saying "top of the County." The area is known for its many trees and homes, especially ranch-style houses. It is also home to a large Orthodox Jewish population.

Population and People

North Druid Hills was first listed as a census designated place (CDP) in 1980. In 2020, there were 20,385 people living in the CDP. There were 8,672 households and 3,215 families.

Diplomatic Missions

The Consulate-General of Mexico in Atlanta is located in the North Druid Hills CDP. A consulate helps citizens from its country who are living or traveling abroad.

Education in North Druid Hills

The DeKalb County Schools serves the North Druid Hills area.

• Briar Vista Elementary School is the main school for most of North Druid Hills. It is located within the CDP.
• Some parts of the area are served by Sagamore Hills Elementary School.
• Students in North Druid Hills also attend Druid Hills Middle School and Druid Hills High School.

The Margaret Harris Comprehensive School is also in North Druid Hills. It is a special school for children with disabilities from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Religious Schools

• The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta runs the Immaculate Heart of Mary School. It opened in 1958.
• Annunciation Day School (ADS) is a private Greek Orthodox Christian school. It teaches students from preschool to 8th grade.
• Torah Day School of Atlanta is a private Orthodox Jewish school for kindergarten to 8th grade.
• Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael is a private Orthodox Jewish high school for boys.
• Temima High School is a private Orthodox Jewish high school for girls.

Other Private Schools

• Atlanta Montessori International School is a private school for preschool to middle school students.
• Cliff Valley School is a private elementary school.
• Intown Community School is a private school connected to the PCA.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has its main office in North Druid Hills. This group helps make sure colleges and universities meet high standards.

Culture

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Metropolis of Atlanta has its main office in North Druid Hills. This is an important center for the Greek Orthodox Church in the Southeast.

Parks in North Druid Hills

W.D. Thomson Park Trail Map

North Druid Hills has several parks for outdoor fun:

• Kittredge Park is a 2-acre park. It has a baseball field, a swimming pool, and a multi-use court.
• LaVista Park is a 4-acre DeKalb County park. It offers a playground and a picnic area.
• W.D. Thomson Park (sometimes spelled "Thompson") is a large 29-acre DeKalb County park. It has courts, a playground, a creek, picnic areas, and trails for walking.

Transportation

Several important roads run through or near North Druid Hills:

• Briarcliff Road is a major road that connects different parts of the CDP.
• Interstate 85 forms the northern border of the CDP.
• LaVista Road is a main road that runs from east to west.
• North Druid Hills Road provides the main access from Interstate 85.

See also

In Spanish: North Druid Hills para niños