East Point, Georgia

East Point, Georgia
City
City of East Point
East Point Street, Downtown East Point
Location in Fulton County and the state of Georgia
East Point Location of East Point in Metro Atlanta
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Fulton
Area
• Total	13.8 sq mi (35.6 km2)
• Land	13.8 sq mi (35.6 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,050 ft (320 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	33,712
• Density	2,400/sq mi (950/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	30344, 30364
Area code(s)	404
FIPS code	13-25720
GNIS feature ID	0331624

East Point is a city southwest of the neighborhoods of Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 33,712. The city is named for being at the opposite end of the former Atlanta & West Point Railroad from West Point, Georgia.

History

The name East Point derives from the fact that it is the place where the Atlanta & West Point Railroad ends in the east, just as West Point, Georgia, is the place where the rail line ends in the west.

The city started with a citizenry of only 16 families in 1870, but grew quickly after it became an inviting place for industry to develop. Soon it boasted the railway, two gristmills and a government distillery located on Connally Drive. One of the earliest buildings was the factory of the White Hickory Manufacturing Company, built by B.M. Blount and L.M. Hill (who became the first chairman of the board of aldermen of the city).

By 1880 the town had two churches, a common school, a steam-gin, a sawmill, a post office (actually founded in 1851), a telegraph office and its own newspaper weekly, The Plow Boy. East Point ranked as a grain and cotton-growing center, and with its pleasant climate and proximity to the railway, had also become a popular summer resort.

In 1884 the first telephone rang in East Point, and in 1887 the city received its first charter. Then came the first housing boom in 1890, when a major portion of property along East Point Avenue was subdivided and developed, opening the way for more homes, more churches, more people and more places of employment. By 1892 Main Street was completed, despite protests from a few progress-shy early settlers who maintained that one major thoroughfare, Newnan Road, was more than sufficient.

By the start of the 20th century, the adolescent town was poised to grow into the city it eventually would become.

Government and infrastructure

While the city has an elected mayor, the majority of daily decisions are made by a hired city manager. The manager is approved by the eight-member city council, headed by the mayor who has veto power. The city is divided into four wards (A, B, C, & D), each with two city council members.

While some areas of the city would be considered blighted, East Point has seen a great resurgence in recent years with new businesses and residences popping up all over the city. A large new shopping center, Camp Creek Marketplace, has opened on the city's western side and more and more older World War II era homes have been purchased and remodeled, especially in the Jefferson Park neighborhood. A new multiplex, the first in many years in East Point, opened in Camp Creek in December 2007.

The National Archives regional repository for data collected by the U.S. Census was originally located in the Colonial Hills area of East Point until it was moved to a new facility in nearby Morrow.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons Southeast Region Office is in East Point.

Transit systems

MARTA heavy rail subway and bus lines serve the city.

East Point Historic Civic Block

Main article: The East Point Historic Civic Block

The East Point Historic Civic Block consists of three historically significant buildings and one memorial park in downtown East Point, Georgia, and is located within the parameters of East Point Street, Linwood Avenue, Church Street, and West Cleveland Avenue. East Point's City Hall, City Auditorium, New Deal Library, and Victory Park make up the Civic Block, which since 2011 has been the focus of both redevelopment interest and historic preservation efforts.

Sports and recreation

East Point is served by Sumner Park, Sykes Park, Brookdale Park, Grayson Field, Jefferson Park, John Milner Park and Chris Stacks Field.

Several notable athletes have emerged from the city of East Point, among them Reggie Rutland, Jonas Jennings (NFL), Nick Rogers (NFL), Bill Thorn, Donald Adams (Basketball), John Milner (baseball) and Jay Hudson.

When the Dick Lane Velodrome was first built, it was one of only two in the United States. Constructed in 1974, the Dick Lane Velodrome (named after a longtime City Council member) was inspired by a group of residents and city officials that visited the Munich Olympics. Located eight miles south of downtown Atlanta, the Dick Lane Velodrome is a 1/5 of a mile and 36° banked concrete track for bicycle racing, set in Sumner park in a residential part of beautiful historic East Point. Dick Lane is the only velodrome in the world with a green space that contains a large oak tree and a creek running through the in-field [1]. The City of East Point owns the velodrome and has a long-term partnership with The East Point Velodrome Association, Inc. (EPVA) to manage the Dick Lane Velodrome, and continue its use as one of the premier facilities of its kind. The EPVA is a 100% volunteer-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation, care and growth of the Dick Lane Velodrome. The EPVA conducts Youth Service Activities for children at no cost to the city or state. These activities include the highly acclaimed Bicycle Little League (for kids 8-12), summer camps (kids 13-16), and bicycle safety clinics. In addition to raising bicycle safety awareness, these programs promote physical health and wellness, teamwork and individual growth through the sport and positive alternatives to drugs and gangs. These pioneering grass-root programs will hopefully ignite positive changes in kids and in competitive cycling in the U.S. EPVA also hosts 3 professional level events per year, held in May, July and September and are part of the American Track Racing Association National Championship Series.

Geography

East Point is located at .

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.8 square miles (36 km²), of which 0.07% is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	195		—
1890	738		278.5%
1900	1,315		78.2%
1910	3,682		180.0%
1920	5,241		42.3%
1930	9,512		81.5%
1940	12,403		30.4%
1950	21,080		70.0%
1960	35,633		69.0%
1970	39,315		10.3%
1980	37,486		−4.7%
1990	34,402		−8.2%
2000	39,595		15.1%
2010	33,712		−14.9%
Est. 2014	35,488		5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 39,595 people, 14,553 households, and 9,430 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,878.9 people per square mile (1,111.8/km²). There were 15,637 housing units at an average density of 1,137.0 per square mile (439.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.16% African American, 16.10% White, 0.20% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 3.40% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.57% of the population. Since then, the population of East Point has decreased, as many families have moved out of the area and relocated. As of 2011, 34,784 people still resided there. Several businesses which flourished in East Point in the 1960s and '70's have since closed, including the city's once large group of local movie theatres.

There were 14,553 households there in 2000, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.7% were married couples living together, 28.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,874, and the median income for a family was $36,099. Males had a median income of $27,114 versus $25,839 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,175. About 17.2% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

The Fulton County School System, which operates area public schools, is headquartered in East Point.

Elementary schools in East Point and serving sections of East Point include Brookview, Conley Hills, Hamilton E. Holmes, Mount Olive, Oak Knoll, and Parklane. Elementary schools outside of East Point serving sections of East Point include Hapeville Elementary School in Hapeville, Seaborn Lee Elementary School in an unincorporated area, and Harriet Tubman Elementary School in College Park.

Middle schools serving sections of city include Paul D. West Middle School and Woodland Middle School, both in East Point. A portion is zoned to Camp Creek Middle School in an unincorporated area. Most of the city is zoned to Tri-Cities High School in East Point. Some of the city is zoned to Westlake High School in an unincorporated area.

Higher education

Point University, formerly Atlanta Christian College, has a location in East Point. Though the University's traditional students are transitioning to West Point, Georgia in Fall 2012, the East Point location will remain active for the school's adult studies program.

Public libraries

Atlanta–Fulton Public Library System operates the East Point Branch.

External links

• City of East Point
• East Point Police Department
• East Point Historical Society (501c3)
• East Point Main Street Association
• East Point hotel and visitor guide
• Center Park Neighborhood Association
• Hillcrest Cemetery Memorial Association
• Dick Lane Velodrome