DeKalb County, Georgia
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Template:Infobox U.S. County DeKalb County is a county located in the state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 665,865. According to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the county's population had risen to 677,959. The Atlanta Regional Commission estimated the 2005 population at 700,500. [1] The county seat is Decatur, Georgia6.
DeKalb is a part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area.
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History
DeKalb County was created in 1822 from Henry, Gwinnett and Fayette Counties. It was named for Baron Johann de Kalb, a German soldier who fought on the side of the Americans in the American Revolutionary War. In 1853, Fulton County was formed from part of DeKalb. Until this time, the growing city of Atlanta had been inside DeKalb. During the American Civil War, much of the Battle of Atlanta was fought in DeKalb. Until the 1960s, DeKalb was a mainly agricultural county, but as Atlanta and its suburbs grew, DeKalb became more urban.
Law and government
In 1984 DeKalb's state delegation created a CEO position (unique to DeKalb) who is the chief elected official. All employees report to the CEO rather than to commissioners, for day-to-day operations. The CEO serves as the chairman of the seven-member commission, but does not vote except to break a tie. The county commission is elected from five small districts and two super-districts that each make up half of the county and overlap the smaller districts.
Most of DeKalb makes up Georgia's 4th United States House of Representatives District.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 702 km² (271 mi²). 695 km² (268 mi²) of it is land and 7 km² (3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.00% water.
The county is crossed by the South River and numerous creeks, including Nancy Creek, Snapfinger Creek and two forks of Peachtree Creek. Peachtree Creek and Nancy Creek drain into the Chattahoochee River and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico. South River drains into the Ocmulgee River and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean.
Stone Mountain lies near the eastern border of the county. Soapstone Ridge, parallel to the southern border, was heavily quarried between 1400 and 100 B.C.E. and objects made from the soapstone have been found as far away as the Great Lakes.
Adjacent Counties
- Gwinnett County, Georgia - north
- Rockdale County, Georgia - east
- Henry County, Georgia - south
- Clayton County, Georgia - southwest
- Fulton County, Georgia - west
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 665,865 people, 249,339 households, and 156,584 families residing in the county. The population density was 959/km² (2,483/mi²). There were 261,231 housing units at an average density of 376/km² (974/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 35.82% White, 54.23% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 4.01% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.53% from other races, and 2.12% from two or more races. 7.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 249,339 households out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.10% were married couples living together, 17.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.20% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 36.70% from 25 to 44, 19.70% from 45 to 64, and 8.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 94.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $49,117, and the median income for a family was $54,018. Males had a median income of $36,270 versus $31,653 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,968. 10.80% of the population and 7.80% of families were below the poverty line. 14.10% of those under the age of 18 and 8.70% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
DeKalb County is one of the most affluent counties with an African American majority in the United States.
Cities and Other Places in DeKalb County
Incorporated Cities
- Atlanta (the East Atlanta portion is in DeKalb County)
- Avondale Estates
- Chamblee
- Clarkston
- Decatur
- Doraville
- Lithonia
- Pine Lake
- Stone Mountain
Unincorporated Census Designated Places
- Belvedere Park
- Candler-McAfee
- Druid Hills
- Dunwoody
- North Atlanta
- North Decatur
- North Druid Hills
- Panthersville
- Redan
- Scottdale
- Tucker
Unincorporated Communities not Census Designated Places
- Brookhaven
- Collinsville
- Constitution
- Mechanicsville
- Mountain View
- Philadelphia
- Pittsburg
- Skyland
- South Decatur
- Turner Hill
Education
The portion of DeKalb County not within the city of Atlanta nor the city of Decatur is served by DeKalb County School System.
The Atlanta portion is served by Atlanta Public Schools.
The Decatur portion is served by City Schools of Decatur.
Trivia
Local residents pronounce the county name as "de-KABB" (IPA [dɪ'kæb]), as opposed to "de-KALB" [dɪ'kælb] in some other states.
Bibliography
- "The History of DeKalb County, Georgia, 1822-1900", by Vivian Price. Wolfe Publishing Company, Fernandina Beach, FL, 1997. ISBN 1-883793-27-0
