College Park | |
|---|---|
 Downtown College Park | |
 Flag  Logo | |
 Location inFulton County and the state ofGeorgia | |
  College Park Location of College Park inMetro Atlanta | |
| Coordinates:33°37′03″N84°28′03″W / 33.61750°N 84.46750°W /33.61750; -84.46750 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| Counties | Fulton,Clayton |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| • Mayor | Bianca Motley Broom |
| Area | |
• Total | 11.21 sq mi (29.03 km2) |
| • Land | 11.16 sq mi (28.91 km2) |
| • Water | 0.046 sq mi (0.12 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,037 ft (316 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 13,930 |
| • Density | 1,248.1/sq mi (481.91/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 30337, 30349 |
| Area codes | 404/678/470 |
| FIPS code | 13-17776[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2404098[2] |
| Website | collegeparkga.com |
College Park is a city inFulton andClayton counties,Georgia,United States, adjacent to the southern boundary of the city ofAtlanta. As of the2020 census, the population was 13,930.
Georgia International Convention Center and part ofHartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport are located in the city.[4][5] The College Park Historic District is Georgia's fourth-largest urban historical district listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[6][7] TheGateway Center Arena in College Park is the home stadium of theCollege Park Skyhawks andAtlanta Dream.
The community that became College Park was founded as Atlantic City in 1890 as a depot on theAtlanta and West Point Railroad. The town was renamed Manchester when it was incorporated as a city in 1891. It was renamed again as the city of College Park in 1896. The city's name came from being the home ofCox College (where the city hall and other buildings now stand) and Georgia Military Academy (now theWoodward Academy). The east–west avenues in College Park are named forIvy League colleges, and the north–south streets are named for influential College Park residents.[8]
During World War I'santi-German hysteria, the name of Wilhelm Street was changed to Victoria Street in "solidarity with our British brethren." At the same time Berlin Avenue was changed to Cambridge Avenue and the name of German Lane was changed to English Lane.[9] The history of College Park has been closely linked with what is now known asHartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport—airport development having spurred several radical changes to the landscape of the municipality over the course of the 20th century.[10] In 1966, a study funded by theDepartment of Housing and Urban Development suggested that the introduction and expansion of jet aircraft travel would place the airport and surrounding communities, including College Park, into conflict; ultimately, the study concluded that "the only effective way to control the use of land is to own it," suggesting that the airport would have to acquire the properties it would be in conflict with in order to expand.[11]
In the 1970s and 1980s, large swaths of property in College Park were purchased using information detailed in The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Noise Land Reuse Plan, which allowed the airport to apply for federal funding to purchase property deemed to be in so-called "noise land."[12][13] The 1985Chuck Norris filmInvasion U.S.A. was notoriously filmed in these abandoned portions of College Park; houses owned by the City of Atlanta and the FAA were allowed to be blown up to simulate bazooka attacks, a decision that has faced modern day criticism due to the fact that nearby properties were still in the process of being purchased.[14][13] This site would eventually, in 2003, in part be home to theGeorgia International Convention Center; the center officially opened in 1985 at a separate location, but was relocated to the area in response to planned airport runway expansions.[15] Today, the GICC is the second largest convention center in Georgia, featuring a carpeted ballroom and multiple spaces for meetings, conferences and conventions. It is the only convention center in the country that also houses a SkyTrain with direct rail access to an international airport.[citation needed] Directly next to the Georgia International Convention Center is theGateway Center Arena, which opened in November 2019, home to the NBA's G-LeagueCollege Park Skyhawks and where the WNBA'sAtlanta Dream will play their 2020 season.[16]
In 1978, the College Park Historical Society was founded in order to combat proposed northward expansion of the airport; the society succeeded in lobbying against proposed flight paths over the neighborhood colloquially known as Historic College Park, as well as registered swaths of homes and the Main Street commercial district with theNational Register of Historic Places, eventually resulting in the establishment of the College Park Historic District.[13]
Between the 1980s and the early 2000s, as part of continued execution of the FAA noise abatement program, the City of Atlanta and the FAA purchased roughly 320 acres of property (containing residential structures, churches, and some small commercial buildings) immediately adjacent to the west side of downtown College Park, resulting in a multitude of properties sitting abandoned for decades.[17] The totality of these eventually abandoned properties purchased from the 1970s through the 2000s have been described as a major player in shaping a negative public image of the city, second only to the perception of crime in the area.[18]
Although theAtlanta hip hop music scene in the 1980s and 1990s was largely credited to artists from nearby suburbanDecatur, College Park and the adjacent city of East Point have been strongly associated withartists andrecord producers from "SWATS" ("Southwest Atlanta, Too Strong"), who have substantially contributed to the evolution of thesouthern hip hop genre over the course of the 2000s.[19]
While the controversial process ofgentrification started in the largerAtlanta Metropolitan Area in the 1970s, it was only in the latter 2010s that redevelopment substantially spread to College Park proper.[20] In 2016, the College Park government embarked on a 20-year development plan which included goals "to expand its economic base while keeping its small town historic characteristics," and to "make use of its available land to attract new employers and residential opportunities."[21] 2017 saw the construction of amixed-use project which contained the first mid-rise apartments to be constructed in the city since 1969.[22] From the 1990s and into the 2010s, the City of College Park succeeded in repurchasing the entirety of the 320 acres adjacent to downtown; in 2018, concurrent with substantial commercial and residential development in the area, the City of College Park announced major redevelopment of this abandoned area, now referred to as "Airport City," as part of a larger transit-oriented revitalization plan referred to as "Aerotropolis."[23]
College Park is located on the border of Fulton and Clayton counties. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.1 square miles (26.1 km2), of which 0.019 square miles (0.05 km2), or 0.19%, is water.[24]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 517 | — | |
| 1910 | 2,173 | 320.3% | |
| 1920 | 3,622 | 66.7% | |
| 1930 | 6,604 | 82.3% | |
| 1940 | 8,213 | 24.4% | |
| 1950 | 14,535 | 77.0% | |
| 1960 | 23,469 | 61.5% | |
| 1970 | 18,203 | −22.4% | |
| 1980 | 24,632 | 35.3% | |
| 1990 | 20,457 | −16.9% | |
| 2000 | 20,382 | −0.4% | |
| 2010 | 13,942 | −31.6% | |
| 2020 | 13,930 | −0.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[25] 1850-1870[26] 1870-1880[27] 1890-1910[28] 1920-1930[29] 1940[30] 1950[31] 1960[32] 1970[33] 1980[34] 1990[35] 2000[36] 2010[37] | |||
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 1,528 | 10.97% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 11,017 | 79.09% |
| Native American | 31 | 0.22% |
| Asian | 116 | 0.83% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 449 | 3.22% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 787 | 5.65% |
According to the2020 United States census, there were 13,930 people, 5,861 households, and 2,911 families residing in the city. At the time of the 2010census,[39] there were 13,942 people, 5,595 households, and 3,208 families residing in the city. Between 2000 and 2010, College Park saw a 31.6% reduction in their population. The city government has suggested that this was due to the combined effects of airport expansion and the difficult nature of having housing constructed in areas previously considered to be "high noise."[40]
In 2020, of the College Park residents, 12,670 of them lived in Fulton County and 1,272 of them lived in Clayton County.[41]
For much of the 2000s, College Park – along with the other so-called Tri-Cities,East Point andHapeville – has been popularly associated with crime;[42] for example, a comedy/travel book originally published in 2005 describes College Park as "a nightmarish southern ghetto."[43] Over the course of the 2010s, this reputation has been publicly challenged in the media, by Tri-Cities residents, and by the College Park Police Department.[44][45][46]
TheFederal Bureau of Investigation's annual Uniform Crime Report reveals that the College Park Police Department has historically reported a high crime rate per 100,000 persons as compared to other US jurisdictions.[47] In 2008, College Park had one of the highest crime rates in Georgia, with reports including 13 homicides. However, 2008 was an outlier with respect to the rest of that decade and homicide; for the rest of the years between 2000 and 2010, between 1 and 3 homicides were reported annually. Further, it has been suggested that crime rate per 100,000 persons misrepresents the prevalence of crime, as College Park's daytime population is thought to swell to 50,000 persons (substantially more than the ~15,000 permanent residents considered in crime statistics).[48]
The Uniform Crime Report and data released by the College Park Police Department suggests that the 2010s have brought a substantial decline in total crime, particularly in the latter half; in 2018, a total of 1,225 crimes were reported (compared to 2,695 in 2001, 2,530 in 2010, and 1,387 in 2017), 85% of which were property crimes.[46] In 2018, there was a 13 percent decrease in Part I crimes and zero homicides as compared to 2017, following a 15 percent decrease from 2016 to 2017.
As of the 2016American Community Survey, 35.7% of College Park residents are estimated to live in poverty which partly contributed to the crime problem.[49]
Chick-fil-A, a fast-food chicken chain, is headquartered in College Park.[4][50]Atlantic Southeast Airlines had its headquarters in College Park until December 31, 2011, when it merged withExpressJet. ExpressJet took over the headquarters facility in College Park from 2012 until itsbankruptcy in 2022.[51][52]
TheGeorgia International Convention Center in College Park is Georgia's second-largest convention center.[53]
Due to its proximity between the airport anddowntown Atlanta, College Park is home to more than 5,000 hotel rooms.[53]
In November 2019,The Gateway Center Arena at College Park opened to the public, home to theCollege Park Skyhawks (the NBA G-League affiliate of theAtlanta Hawks) and the WNBA'sAtlanta Dream. In addition, the arena has an exclusive partnership with theFox Theater to host shows.[54]
According to College Park's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[55] the top employers in the city were:
| # | Employer | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chick-fil-A | 1,599 |
| 2 | Federal Aviation Administration | 1,300 |
| 3 | Sysco | 768 |
| 4 | Southwest Airlines | 664 |
| 5 | Woodward Academy | 630 |
| 6 | Express Jet Airlines | 532 |
| 7 | Logisticare Solutions | 403 |
| 8 | VXI global | 360 |
| 9 | Marriott Hotels, Hotel #481 | 238 |
| 10 | Marriott Hotels, Hotel #11005 | 206 |
The city center is part of the College Park Historic District, a 606-acrehistoric district listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[7] The district contains 853 recognized historical resources constructed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[citation needed]
The majority of the historic structures are homes of theQueen Anne style, variousLate 19th and 20th Century Revivals, and bungalows of theAmerican Craftsman style, all dating from 1882 to 1946.[7] Other major historical structures include:[7] The College Park Woman's Clubhouse at Camellia Hall (1927);[56] the College Park First United Methodist Church (1904);[57] aUnited States Postal Service Office (1937); four schools (constructed between 1914 and 1942); and the College Park Depot (pre-1900), part of theAtlanta & West Point Railroad.[58]
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System operates the College Park Branch.[59]
College Park has four public recreation facilities: the Wayman & Bessie Brady Recreation Center, named in honor of its first Coordinators;[60] the Hugh C. Conley Recreation Center, named in honor of a former Mayor Pro-Tem;[61] the Tracey Wyatt Recreation Complex, named in honor of the previous Ward III Councilperson, Tracey Wyatt;[62] and the College Park City Auditorium.[63]
The city has four parks: Barrett Park, which is located along Rugby Avenue; Brenningham Park, which surrounds the Brady Center; Jamestown Park; and Richard D. Zupp Park.[64]
College Park is home to the College Park Municipal Golf Course, a nine-hole course established in 1929.[65]
TheGateway Center Arena, a 5,000 seat multipurpose arena, is intended for public use, as well as to host theAtlanta HawksNBA G League team, theCollege Park Skyhawks and the WNBA'sAtlanta Dream.[66]
The city of College Park is governed by amayor and four council members. The current mayor is Bianca Motley Broom, the first female, African American mayor for the city, and the council members are: Ward 1, Ambrose Clay; Ward 2, Joe Carn; Ward 3, Ken Allen; and Ward 4, Roderick Gay.[67]
The mayor is electedat-large, on anonpartisan basis, for 4 year terms.[68] Theincumbent mayor, Bianca Motley Broom, has held the office since 2020.[69]
Four council members are elected on a nonpartisan basis for 4 year terms, and each represents one of the four wards that make up the city.[68] Legislative authority is placed in the city council, wherein each member is afforded one vote; the mayor oversees the deliberations of the council and is only entitled to a vote in the case of a tie.[70]
Residential areas within College Park are served by theFulton County School System.[71]
Zoned schools are as follows:[72] College Park Elementary School is in the city limits.[73] Other schools serving sections of College Park with residences include the following: Heritage,[74] Asa G. Hilliard in East Point,[75] and Parklane Elementary School in East Point.[76] Zoned middle schools serving College Park include and Paul D. West Middle School and Woodland Middle School, both in East Point.[77][78]
There is also Main Street Academy, an unzonedcharterK–8 school, located in College Park.[79] Since 2016 it has occupied the former Harriet Tubman Elementary School.[80]
Benjamin Banneker High School, in an unincorporated area, andTri-Cities High School in East Point, both serve sections of College Park.[81][82] Frank S. McClarin Alternative High School[83] is located in College Park.[4]
The section in Clayton County is served byClayton County Public Schools.[84]
The zoned schools are:[4] G.W. Northcutt Elementary School,[85] North Clayton Middle School,[86] andNorth Clayton High School.[87]
Woodward Academy is located in College Park.[88]
The western part of Hartsfield–Jackson Airport, including its domestic terminal, is within the eastern side of the city.
TheMetropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) provides rail and bus service in College Park.College Park Station—serviced by theGold Line andRed Line—is the third busiest station in theMARTA rail system, with a weekday average of 9,023 entries.[89][90]
Municipalities and communities ofClayton County, Georgia,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities ofFulton County, Georgia,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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Historic districts in metro Atlanta | ||
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| Clayton County |  | |
| Cobb County | ||
| Coweta County | ||
| DeKalb County |
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| Douglas County | ||
| Fulton County |
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| Gwinnett County | ||
| Hall County | ||
| Newton County |
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| Rockdale County | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
