Stone Mountain, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stone Mountain, Georgia
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City
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Main Street in Stone Mountain Village
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| Motto(s):
"A City of Vision"
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Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
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 Stone Mountain, Georgia
Location in Metro Atlanta
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Georgia | ||
| County | DeKalb | ||
| Established | as New Gibraltar c. 1839 | ||
| Renamed | as Stone Mountain c. 1847 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1.66 sq mi (4.29 km2) | ||
| • Land | 1.65 sq mi (4.28 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 1,043 ft (318 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,703 | ||
| • Density | 4,059.96/sq mi (1,567.38/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
30083, 30086–30088
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| Area code(s) | 770 | ||
| FIPS code | 13-73816 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0326087 | ||
Stone Mountain is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. In 2020, about 6,700 people lived there. The city is in the eastern part of DeKalb County. It is a suburb of Atlanta and covers almost 1.7 square miles. The city is located very close to the famous Stone Mountain rock formation. People often call the city "Stone Mountain Village" to tell it apart from the larger area and Stone Mountain Park.
Contents
History of Stone Mountain
The history of Stone Mountain goes back a long time, even before Europeans came to live there. Local burial mounds, built hundreds of years ago, show that the ancestors of the Muscogee Creek people lived here first. They were the first to meet European settlers.
In 1821, a deal called the Treaty of Indian Springs opened up a large part of Georgia for new settlers. This land used to belong to the Creek Indians. The area that is now Stone Mountain City became part of the new DeKalb County in 1822.
Early Settlement and Growth
By the 1820s, the area, then called Rock Mountain, was a busy travel spot. There was an inn for people passing through. Stagecoach lines, which were like old buses pulled by horses, connected the village to other cities. These included Georgia's capital, Milledgeville, and later Winder, Athens, Dahlonega, and Macon. Many people visited Rock Mountain in the summer.
A post office opened in 1834. Andrew Johnson, who is seen as the founder of the town, built a hotel in 1836. Around 1839, another person named Aaron Cloud built a tall wooden tower, about 150 feet high, on top of the mountain. It also had a restaurant. A storm destroyed this tower in 1849. Later, in 1851, a smaller tower was built with telescopes for viewing. By 1850, Stone Mountain was a popular place for people from Atlanta to visit. They would travel by train and road, then hike up the mountain to enjoy its beauty.
Granite Quarrying and Early Fairs
For many years, getting granite stone from the mountain was very important for the area. It provided jobs for thousands of people. The strong granite from Stone Mountain was used in many famous buildings. These include parts of the Panama Canal, the roof of the gold storage at Fort Knox, and steps in the U.S. Capitol building.
In 1846, Stone Mountain, then called New Gibraltar, hosted Georgia's first state fair. It was called the Agriculture Fair and Internal Improvement Jubilee. The next year, the fair had more exhibits, like farm tools and a magnetic telegraph. Stone Mountain hosted this event until 1850.
Stone Mountain During the Civil War
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Even though people in DeKalb County voted against leaving the United States, the area was still affected by the Civil War. Stone Mountain Village was destroyed during the Battle of Atlanta on July 19, 1864. Some old homes were saved because they were used as hospitals. The railroad depot's roof burned, but its strong granite walls kept the building standing.
From July to November 1864, Union soldiers took food and other goods from Stone Mountain. On November 15, 1864, many Union troops marched through the city. They destroyed the train tracks by heating them over burning ties and twisting them around trees. This type of destruction was called "Sherman's neckties".
The Community of Shermantown
After the Civil War, homes were rebuilt as Stone Mountain granite was needed again. Many African Americans worked in the granite quarries. They were not allowed to live in areas where white families lived. So, a new community called Shermantown grew on the southeast side of the village. Its name was a nod to Union General William T. Sherman.
In 1868, Reverend R. M. Burson started the Bethsaida Baptist Church for Shermantown. The church building was later built by Reverend F. M. Simons. Bethsaida Baptist Church is still an active part of Stone Mountain Village today. Over time, many of Shermantown's first buildings were replaced. The original wooden church was rebuilt with stone in 1920. Shermantown has now become more connected with the rest of Stone Mountain Village, but it still has its own special community feel.
Breaking Ties with the Ku Klux Klan
In 1915, the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group, was restarted. Members gathered at Stone Mountain with permission from the quarry owner, Samuel Venable, who was a member. They held events, including annual cross-burnings, for over 40 years. However, Stone Mountain's link to the Klan began to end when the State of Georgia started buying the mountain and nearby land in 1958. In 1960, Governor Ernest Vandiver ended the agreements that had given the Klan rights to the property. This officially broke any connection between Stone Mountain and the Klan.
The Civil Rights Movement and Freedom Bell
During the civil rights movement, on August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. mentioned Stone Mountain in his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. He said, "let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!" To honor King, Charles Burris, the first African-American mayor of the Village, dedicated the Freedom Bell on Main Street on February 26, 2000. Every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the bell is rung to remember King's important work.
Many Names for the Mountain and City
The mountain has had many names over the years. A Spanish explorer named Juan Pardo called it Crystal Mountain in 1567. The Creek Indians called it "Lone Mountain." Around the early 1800s, settlers called it Rock Mountain or Rock Fort Mountain. By the late 1830s, Stone Mountain became the common name.
Like the mountain, the village at its base was first called Rock Mountain. It was officially named New Gibraltar in 1839. In 1847, the Georgia government changed the village's name to Stone Mountain.
Stone Mountain Cemetery
The Stone Mountain Cemetery, started around 1850, tells a lot about the village's past. It is where about 200 unknown Confederate soldiers are buried. There are also 71 known Confederate soldiers and one Union soldier named James Sprayberry. Another interesting grave is that of George Pressley Trout, who is buried with his wife and his horse. James B. Rivers, the village's first African American police chief, is also buried there. The cemetery is still used today.
Geography
Stone Mountain city is located at the western base of the large rock called Stone Mountain. This rock is a type of mountain called a monadnock, made of quartz monzonite. The city of Stone Mountain is entirely within DeKalb County. However, the larger area known as Stone Mountain, including its postal regions, also includes parts of Gwinnett County.
The State of Georgia says the city covers about 1.7 square miles. A very small part of this area, about 0.62%, is water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 690 | — | |
| 1880 | 799 | 15.8% | |
| 1890 | 929 | 16.3% | |
| 1900 | 835 | −10.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,062 | 27.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,266 | 19.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,335 | 5.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,408 | 5.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,899 | 34.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,976 | 4.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,899 | −3.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,867 | 156.3% | |
| 1990 | 6,494 | 33.4% | |
| 2000 | 7,145 | 10.0% | |
| 2010 | 5,802 | −18.8% | |
| 2020 | 6,703 | 15.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1850-1870 1870-1880 1890-1910 1920-1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 |
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| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 847 | 12.64% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 4,847 | 72.31% |
| Native American | 22 | 0.33% |
| Asian | 206 | 3.07% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.03% |
| Other/Mixed | 251 | 3.74% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 528 | 7.88% |
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 6,703 people living in Stone Mountain. There were 2,351 households and 1,578 families.
Arts, Culture, and Fun Activities
- ART Station Contemporary Arts Center and Theatre Company: This is a place for different kinds of art. It is located in the old Trolley Car Barn, built in 1913. ART Station has shows and art exhibits all year. In October, they host the Tour of Southern Ghosts.
- Wells-Brown House: This beautiful old house from the 1870s is home to the Stone Mountain Historical Society. It has a growing collection of old items and a library for research.
- Cart-Friendly Community: Stone Mountain is one of the few places in Georgia where you can drive golf carts on city streets. You need a special permit from the city. You can also use carts in the nearby Stone Mountain Park. This makes getting around fun!
- Museum of Miniature Chairs: This museum has three rooms filled with over 3,000 tiny chairs. It is a unique and interesting place to visit.
- PATH Trails: The PATH is a network of off-road trails in the Atlanta area. These trails are great for walking, running, biking, and skating. A PATH trail enters Stone Mountain Village and goes into Stone Mountain Park.
Stone Mountain in Movies and TV Shows
Georgia's movie industry is growing, and Stone Mountain has become a popular place for filming. Film crews are often seen in Stone Mountain Village. Because many want to film in the historic downtown area, requests are handled by the downtown development authority. The money earned from filming helps pay for festivals and other public events in the community.
Many shops and buildings on Main Street were built in the early 1900s. They still have their original look. This makes them perfect for movies that need an old-fashioned or charming village setting.
Parts of movies like Footloose (2011) and Need for Speed (2014) were filmed here. Many TV shows have also filmed in Stone Mountain. These include The Vampire Diaries, Kevin (Probably) Saves the World, MacGyver, and the Netflix science fiction show Stranger Things.
Community Groups
Stone Mountain Village has many community, civic, and outreach groups:
- Stone Mountain Historical Society, 1036 Ridge Avenue
- GFWC Stone Mountain Woman's Club, 5513 East Mountain Street
- Stone Mountain Masonic Lodge No. 449, F&AM, 840 VFW Drive
- DeKalb Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 10, 1238 Ridge Avenue
- Side by Side Brain Injury Clubhouse, 1001 Main Street
- Stone Mountain Cooperative Ecumenical Ministry (Food Bank), 5324 West Mountain Street
Education
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Children in Stone Mountain go to schools run by the DeKalb County Public Schools. Stone Mountain Elementary School and Champion Theme Middle School are located within the city limits.
Most students in the city go to Stone Mountain Elementary School. Some areas go to Rockbridge Elementary School, which is outside the city. All students in Stone Mountain attend Stone Mountain Middle School and Stone Mountain High School. These schools are located outside the city limits.
Georgia Military College (GMC) has a campus in Stone Mountain Village. The DeKalb County Public Library also has a branch here, called the Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg Library.
Famous People from Stone Mountain
- Rick Beato, YouTube personality, musician, and music producer.
- Jerry Blackwell, a professional wrestler known as the "Mountain from Stone Mountain."
- MarShon Brooks, NBA basketball player.
- Bryce Brown (born 1997), basketball player.
- Domonic Brown, professional baseball player.
- Morty Buckles, racing driver.
- Kevin Cone, retired NFL football player.
- Violet Chachki, a drag queen.
- Apollo Crews, a professional WWE wrestler.
- Noureen DeWulf, actress.
- Fast Life Youngstaz, an American hip hop group.
- Donald Glover, actor, writer, comedian, and rapper.
- Jim Goad, author and publisher.
- Phil Gordon, professional poker player.
- Andrew Goudelock, professional basketball player.
- Bruce Irvin, professional football player.
- Connie Johnson, professional baseball player.
- DeQuan Jones, professional basketball player.
- Wally Joyner, retired professional baseball player.
- Kenny Ladler, NFL football player.
- Selina Majors, professional wrestler known as "Bambi."
- Kenneth Parcell, a fictional character from the TV show 30 Rock.
- Brandon Phillips, professional baseball player.
- Cyhi the Prynce, rapper and songwriter.
- Raury, singer, songwriter, and rapper.
- Jake "The Snake" Roberts, professional wrestler.
- Richard T. Scott, painter and writer.
- Silentó, rapper, singer, and songwriter.
- Hugh Thompson, Jr, Vietnam War veteran.
- Amira Unplugged, musician.
- Theodore Van Kirk, navigator of the Enola Gay.
- Jordan Walker, professional baseball player.
- Kara Walker, painter.
- Josh Wolff, Major League Soccer player.
- Isaiah Zuber, NFL wide receiver.
See also
In Spanish: Stone Mountain para niños
