Druid Hills, Georgia

Summary

Druid Hills is a community which includes both a census-designated place (CDP) in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States, as well as a neighborhood of the city of Atlanta. The CDP's population was 14,568 at the 2010 census.[4] The CDP formerly contained the main campus of Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) however they were annexed by Atlanta in 2018. The Atlanta-city section of Druid Hills is one of Atlanta's most affluent neighborhoods with a mean household income in excess of $238,500 (making it the ninth most affluent, per that metric).[5]

Druid Hills
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
Druid Hills CDP, unincorporated DeKalb County
Druid Hills CDP, unincorporated DeKalb County
Coordinates: 33°47′14″N 84°19′34″W / 33.78722°N 84.32611°W / 33.78722; -84.32611
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyDeKalb
Area
 • Total2.98 sq mi (7.72 km2)
 • Land2.97 sq mi (7.70 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
912 ft (278 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total9,429
 • Density3,170.48/sq mi (1,224.08/km2)
 (CDP only)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
30333
Area code404
FIPS code13-24264[2]
GNIS feature ID0331589[3]

History edit

The planned community was initially conceived by Joel Hurt, and developed with the effort of Atlanta's leading families, including Coca-Cola founder Asa Candler. It contains some of Atlanta's historic mansions from the late 19th and early 20th century. Druid Hills includes the main campus of Emory University, which relocated to Atlanta in 1914.[citation needed]

Druid Hills was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and was one of his last commissions. A showpiece of the design was the string of parks along Ponce de Leon Avenue, which was designated as Druid Hills Parks and Parkways and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 11, 1975. The remainder of the development was listed on the Register as the Druid Hills Historic District on October 25, 1979.[6][7] Later the Park and Parkways district was consolidated into the Druid Hills Historic District. The other historic districts in Druid Hills are:

 
St. John's Chrysostom Melkite Church along in Druid Hills, Atlanta, 2012, formerly the mansion of Asa Griggs Candler (Senior)
 
Rainbow Terrace, home of Lucy Beall Candler Owens Heinz Leide at 1610 Ponce de Leon Ave., 1922
 
Briarcliff, the Asa G. Candler, Jr. Mansion, 2012

By 2015 there was a bill in the Georgia Legislature which called for annexing more of Druid Hills into Atlanta.[9]

Geography edit

Druid Hills is located at 33°47′14″N 84°19′34″W / 33.78722°N 84.32611°W / 33.78722; -84.32611 (33.787205, -84.325974).[10]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 0.48%, is water. The CDP's northern boundary is the South Fork of Peachtree Creek; the CSX track and the Decatur city limits are the eastern boundary; the DeKalb County line is the western boundary; and the southern boundary is the Atlanta city limit.

The Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta is bounded by the Druid Hills CDP (i.e. unincorporated DeKalb County) on the north and east; the Morningside/Lenox Park, Virginia-Highland and Poncey-Highland neighborhoods of Atlanta on the west; and the Candler Park neighborhood of Atlanta on the south.[citation needed]

The Chelsea Heights neighborhood is located in the eastern part of the CDP at the Decatur border, and participates in the Druid Hills Civic Association.

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
198012,700
199012,174−4.1%
200012,7414.7%
201014,56814.3%
20209,429−35.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1850-1870[12] 1870-1880[13]
1890-1910[14] 1920-1930[15]
1940[16] 1950[17] 1960[18]
1970[19] 1980[20] 1990[21]
2000[22] 2010[23] 2020[24]

Druid Hills was first listed as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. Census.[20]

2020 edit

Druid Hills, Georgia – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000[25] Pop 2010[23] Pop 2020[24] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 10,511 11,103 7,112 82.50% 76.21% 75.43%
Black or African American alone (NH) 748 1,097 554 5.87% 7.53% 5.88%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 16 19 9 0.13% 0.13% 0.10%
Asian alone (NH) 929 1,594 773 7.29% 10.94% 8.20%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 9 6 3 0.07% 0.04% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 24 33 50 0.19% 0.23% 0.53%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 195 297 425 1.53% 2.04% 4.51%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 309 419 503 2.43% 2.88% 5.33%
Total 12,741 14,568 9,429 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,429 people, 3,579 households, and 1,977 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census edit

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 12,742 people, 4,627 households, and 2,040 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,040.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,173.9/km2). There were 4,830 housing units at an average density of 1,152.6 per square mile (445.0/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.15% White, 6.0% African-American, 0.16% Native American, 7.34% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.43% of the population.

There were 4,627 households, out of which 18.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.9% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 13.0% under the age of 18, 30.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $62,953, and the median income for a family was $106,196. Males had a median income of $57,017 versus $45,458 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $34,829. About 2.3% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

 
Candler mansion (built 1916) at 1500 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Druid Hills

Economy edit

 
Emory Village, a small historic commercial node

Emory University, including its hospitals, is the third largest employer in Metro Atlanta as of 2007/8.[26] The CDC is also an employer of note.

Commercial areas include Emory Village, a small node first developed in the 1920s at the terminus of the streetcar line to Emory. A revitalization of the area was completed in 2011 with new sidewalks, street furniture and two new roundabouts.[27][28]

The other, larger commercial areas fall just outside the community's boundaries, such as the Clairmont Road corridor in North Decatur, the Sage Hill shopping center in Atlanta's Morningside/Lenox Park, and the Ponce de Leon Avenue corridor just west of Druid Hills in Atlanta's Poncey-Highland/Virginia-Highland.

Arts and culture edit

 
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center (Charles Howard Candler mansion)

Druid Hills is home to The Atlanta Boy Choir on S. Ponce de Leon Ave. and Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, housed in the Gothic-Tudor style former estate of Charles Howard Candler, president of Coca-Cola and eldest son of Asa Griggs Candler, Coca-Cola's co-founder.


Parks edit

  • Baker Woodland, Emory University, between Fishburne Dr. & South Kilga Cir. Forest of oak, tulip poplar, beech, and hickory trees - contains over 100 plant species.
  • Burbanck Park, Oxford Rd. & Clifton Rd. 1.2-acre (4,900 m2) natural park which borders Peavine Creek. It is named after Madeline and William Burbanck, Emory University professors who owned the property.[29]
  • Fernbank Forest, Fernbank Museum of Natural History.[30]
  • Fernbank School Park, 157 Heaton Park Dr. This DeKalb County 12-acre (49,000 m2) park is located west of the CSX railroad tracks. It includes a multi-use field and court, playground, picnic area and walking trails.
  • Hahn Woods, Emory University, Houston Mill Rd. (at South Peachtree Creek). Nature preserve with trail and viewing platform over the creek.
  • Medlock Park North Druid Hills subdivision, Nine little league baseball fields with concessions, playground and a running/cycling trail which follows Nancy Creek.
  • Olmsted Linear Park, Druid Hills, Ponce de Leon Ave. 50 acres (200,000 m2) of six distinct parks, strung along Ponce de Leon Avenue like a necklace. They were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in the late 19th century. Each of the six parks has its own name: Deepdene, Dellwood, Shadyside, Springdale, Virgilee and Oak Grove (formerly Brightwood).[31]
  • Wesley Woods Forest, Emory University.
  • Princeton Way Park, a small neighborhood park that is surrounded by the interior homes of Princeton Way. The park is equipped with picnic tables, swings, slides, a sandbox, short walking trails, and an informal baseball setup.

Government edit

The neighborhood organization, the Druid Hills Civic Association (DHCA)[3], gives input to two authorities since the community is divided between the city of Atlanta and unincorporated territory in DeKalb County.

The Atlanta part is an official recognized neighborhood of Atlanta, which in turn is part of NPU N. Officially, DHCA exercises its input into planning and other city processes by giving input to the NPU.[32]

DeKalb County does not have an officially designated role for the community within the county government in the way the City of Atlanta does (though there are five large geographic districts for the election of county commissioners), so the DHCA gives input to the unitarian county government in Decatur.[33]

The United States Postal Service operates the Druid Hills Post Office at 1799 Briarcliff Road NE in the North Druid Hills CDP in unincorporated DeKalb.[34][35]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's main offices were formerly located in the CDP.[36][37][38] The City of Atlanta annexed the CDC effective January 1, 2018.[39]

Infrastructure edit

Transportation edit

Public bus transportation is provided by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, while Emory University runs an extensive fleet of shuttles, called the "Cliff".[40]

Healthcare edit

Emory University Hospital and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Egleston Hospital are in the Druid Hills area.

The City of Atlanta annexed Egleston and Emory University effective January 1, 2018.[41] Prior to the annexation, Egleston was in Druid Hills CDP, as was Emory Hospital.[37][42][43]

Education edit

Primary and secondary schools edit

Druid Hills resides in the DeKalb County School District.[37] Most residents are zoned to Fernbank Elementary School (in the Druid Hills CDP) while some are zoned to Briar Vista Elementary School.[44] All residents are zoned to Druid Hills Middle School (in the North Decatur CDP[45]),[46] and Druid Hills High School (in the Druid Hills CDP[37]).[47]

The Paideia School [4] is a nearby preK–12 private school [5] in the city of Atlanta.

Colleges and universities edit

Emory University is a private university formerly located in the Druid Hills CDP.[37][48] The City of Atlanta annexed Emory effective January 1, 2018.[39]

Religion edit

 
Druid Hills Baptist Church
Churches
  • Atlanta Metropolitan Cathedral Archived September 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, 999 Briarcliff Rd.
  • Atlanta Primitive Baptist Church, 1367 S Ponce De Leon Ave.
  • Emory Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 1886 N Decatur Rd.
  • Church of the Epiphany (AEC), 2089 Ponce De Leon Ave.
  • Druid Hills Baptist Church (CBF), Ponce de Leon Ave. & N. Highland Ave.
  • Druid Hills Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 1026 Ponce De Leon Ave.
  • Druid Hills United Methodist Church (UMC), Ponce de Leon Ave. & Briarcliff Rd. - built 1955, Ivey and Crook, architects
  • Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church (UMC), 1660 N. Decatur Rd.
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), 1450 Ponce De Leon Ave.
  • St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2045 Ponce de Leon Ave.
  • Saint John's Lutheran Church (ELCA), 1410 Ponce de Leon Ave.
  • St. John Chrysostom Melkite Church, 1428 Ponce De Leon Ave.
  • The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, 1287 S. Ponce De Leon Ave.

Villa International, a Christian ministry that consists of a two-story 33-room guest house for visiting academics and medical staff from multiple countries, was established in 1972 to provide a welcoming environment in response to the suicide of an African academic in 1966. The initial cost to establish it was $300,000, and by 2020 it gained the nickname "Little U.N." from its guests.[49] The City of Atlanta annexed Villa International effective January 1, 2018.[41] Prior to that date it was in the Druid Hills CDP.[37][50]

Synagogues are located in adjacent Virginia-Highland, Morningside/Lenox Park and North Druid Hills, the latter having one of the largest concentrations of Orthodox Jews in Metro Atlanta.

Notable people edit

See also edit

Bibliography edit

  • Bryant, James C. Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta: The Story and the People, 1912–1997. Atlanta, Ga.: Druid Hills Golf Club, 1998
  • Hartle, Robert, Jr. Atlanta's Druid Hills: A Brief History. The History Press, June 27, 2008.

References edit

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Druid Hills CDP, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  5. ^ Stephen R. Higley, PhD. "Neighborhood Summary By Metro Area". Higley1000.com. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  6. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  7. ^ [1] Archived October 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ [2] Archived October 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Niesse, Mark (March 13, 2015). "Druid Hills annexation into Atlanta debated". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1870.
  13. ^ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1880.
  14. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930.
  15. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1930. p. 251-256.
  16. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1940.
  17. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  18. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1960.
  19. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1970.
  20. ^ a b "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  21. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1990.
  22. ^ "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 2000.
  23. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Druid Hills CDP, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Druid Hills CDP, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Druid Hills CDP, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ "Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce : 2007/2008" (PDF). Metroatlantachamber.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2014. Figures are for HQ only, not retail stores.
  27. ^ ""Revitalization Plan", Alliance to Improve Emory Village" (PDF). Emoryvillage.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  28. ^ "David Payne, "Emory Village roundabout project begins", Emory Report, August 23, 2010". Emory.edu. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  29. ^ Clifton Community Partnership. "Burbanck Park". Clifton Community Partnership. Cool Dog Interactive. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  30. ^ Fernbank Forest
  31. ^ Olmsted Linear Park Alliance. "The Olmsted Linear Park Tour". atlantaolmstedpark.org. Olmsted Linear Park Alliance. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  32. ^ "Druid Hills Civic Association". Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  33. ^ "DeKalb County website". Co.dekalb.ga.us. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  34. ^ "Post Office Location - DRUID HILLS." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 5, 2009.
  35. ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: North Druid Hills CDP, GA" (PDF). 2010 U.S. Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  36. ^ "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention". Cdc.gov. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  37. ^ a b c d e f "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Druid Hills CDP, GA." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on June 1, 2017.
  38. ^ Kessler, John. "CDC flu chief: ‘Mother Nature rolling the dice’." Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Sunday May 3, 2009. Retrieved on February 5, 2011. "The second bolt of lightning struck two miles south of the CDC, in Druid Hills."
  39. ^ a b Niesse, Mark. "City of Atlanta's expansion to Emory and CDC approved". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  40. ^ "Cliff Shuttles, Emory University". Transportation.emory.edu. Archived from the original on December 6, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  41. ^ a b Niesse, Mark (February 20, 2020). "Atlanta expands eastward by completing annexation of Emory and CDC". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2020. - This article includes a map of the annexed area, which includes Emory Hospital
  42. ^ "Egleston hospital". Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. July 11, 2016. Archived from the original on July 11, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2020. 1405 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322-1062
  43. ^ "Emory University Hospital". Emory Healthcare. Retrieved March 11, 2020. 1364 Clifton Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30322
  44. ^ "Elementary School Attendance Areas 2016 - 2017 School Year." DeKalb County School System. Retrieved on June 1, 2017.
  45. ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: North Decatur CDP, GA" (PDF). 2010 U.S. Census. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  46. ^ "Middle School Attendance Areas 2016 - 2017 School Year." DeKalb County School System. Retrieved on June 1, 2017.
  47. ^ "High School Attendance Areas 2016 - 2017 School Year." DeKalb County School System. Retrieved on June 1, 2017.
  48. ^ Compare the Druid Hills CDP map with the address of Emory University (2016 home page states: "201 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30322 USA") and the location of its buildings.
  49. ^ Badertscher, Nancy (February 20, 2020). "Churches, donors help fund Atlanta's 'Little U.N.' born from tragedy". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  50. ^ "Home". Villa International. Retrieved March 11, 2020. 1749 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA

External links edit

  • Druid Hills Civic Association
  • Druid Hills Historic District Archived December 16, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
  • Arbor Atlanta: Hahn Woods
  • Wesley Woods Forest
  • Emory University Walking Tour
  • Emory Village historic preservation incl. history of Emory Village