Lithonia, Georgia

Lithonia, Georgia
City
Lithonia, Georgia

Location in the Atlanta metropolitan area

Coordinates: 33°42′46″N 84°6′21″W / 33.71278°N 84.10583°W / 33.71278; -84.10583Coordinates: 33°42′46″N 84°6′21″W / 33.71278°N 84.10583°W / 33.71278; -84.10583
Country United States
State Georgia
County DeKalb
Government
 • Type Dekalb County
 • Dekalb County CEO Burrell Ellis
Area
 • Total 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)
 • Land 0.9 sq mi (2.3 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 925 ft (282 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 1,924
 • Density 2,157/sq mi (832.8/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 30038, 30058
Area code(s) 770, [678]
FIPS code 13-46860[1]
GNIS feature ID 0325978[2]
Website cityoflithoniaga.org

Lithonia is a city in eastern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The city's population was 1,924 at the 2010 census.[3] Lithonia is in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

"Lithonia" means "city/town of stone". Lithonia is in the heart of the Georgian granite-quarrying and viewing region, hence the name of the town, from the Greek λίθος lithos, for stone. The huge nearby granite dome, Stone Mountain, is composed largely of a rock called Lithonia gneiss, a form of granite. The area has a history of rock quarries. The mines were served by the Georgia Railroad and Atlanta, Stone Mountain & Lithonia Railway. Some of the rock quarries have been converted to parkland and the railines to rail-trail.

Lithonia is one of the gateways to the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area.[4]

Geography

Lithonia is located in southeastern DeKalb County at 33°42′46″N 84°6′21″W / 33.71278°N 84.10583°W / 33.71278; -84.10583 (33.712658, -84.105897).[5] Interstate 20 passes just south of the community, with access from Exits 74 and 75. Lithonia is 18 miles (29 km) east of the center of Atlanta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.89 square miles (2.3 km2), all land.[3]

History

Lithonia began as a small crossroads settlement of farmers. The town grew with the coming of the Atlanta Augusta Railroad in 1845, which allowed the granite quarrying industry in the area to flourish.[6]

Lithonia is the birthplace of the Lithonia Lighting company, one of North America's largest manufacturers of commercial, institutional, industrial and residential light fixtures, which was founded in the city in 1946 but moved to nearby Conyers in the 1950s.

New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, a megachurch which is known for many high-profile funerals, is located near Lithonia. First Baptist Church of Lithonia 1844

Lithonia Historic District

The Lithonia Historic District consists of a commercial core surrounded by residential areas, with a period of significance spanning from 1845 to 1964. Stylistic influences in the district include Second Empire, Queen Anne, Folk Victorian, Neoclassical Revival, English Vernacular Revival, Craftsman, and Colonial Revival. The district is bisected by the Georgia/CSX Railroad, which runs perpendicular to the historic commercial core's primary thoroughfare, Main Street. The commercial area extends south from the intersection of Main Street and the railroad, covering a two block area. The commercial buildings are primarily brick and local granite masonry, with little decorative detailing. Commercial styles include single retail, multiple retail, and retail and office types. Within the historic district, there is some non-historic infill construction such as the 1968 Lithonia Plaza shopping center.

The residential areas consist architecture typical of late 19th to mid 20th century types and styles. Residential neighborhoods also feature locally quarried granite and gneiss. House types and styles include the central hall Georgian cottage, gabled-wing cottage, Queen Anne cottage, New South cottage, pyramid cottage, bungalow, Ranch house, I-House and Queen Anne house.

Landmark properties include the Masonic Lodge (1916), The Lithonia Women's Club (1928), the Lithonia First United Methodist Church (1910), Antioch Baptist Church (1911), Lithonia Presbyterian Church, The Union Missionary Church (1911), the Bruce Street equalization school (c.1953), and “The Seminary” (1895). Contributing sites in the district include two cemeteries, two parks, the former Georgia Railroad Quarry, and the ruins of the Bruce Street School for African-Americans (1938).[7]

The district is significant under National Register criterion A (association with historic events) and C (architecture), with areas of significance in Architecture, Black and European Ethnic Heritage, Community Planning and Development, Industry, and Transportation.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1880266—
18901,182344.4%
19001,2082.2%
19101,42818.2%
19201,269−11.1%
19301,45714.8%
19401,5546.7%
19501,538−1.0%
19601,6678.4%
19702,27036.2%
19802,63716.2%
19902,448−7.2%
20002,187−10.7%
20101,924−12.0%
Est. 20152,022[8]5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

Lithonia's city population was 1,924 at the 2010 census, over 799 households, and 560 families residing in the city. The population density is about 1,924 inhabitants per square mile (1,068.9/km²). There were 892 housing units at an average density of 1,129.9 per square mile (436.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 8.5% White, 84.3% Black, 0.05% Native American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.42% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.8% of the population.

There were 799 households out of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% were married couples living together, 22.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city the population was spread out with 34.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 76.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 63.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,397, and the median income for a family was $54,792. Males had a median income of $29,500 versus $24,788 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,605. About 12.6% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.8% of those under the age of 18 and 25.7% of those 65 and older.

The unincorporated communities located outside the city limits make up almost 75% of the population estimated at over 15,000 inhabitants. Neighborhoods are broken into two ZIP codes: 30058 which includes the City proper, and communities directly outside the city limit, and 30038 located south of Interstate 20 which includes some of the most affluent neighborhoods in Dekalb County.

Shopping

Lithonia is home to a super-regional shopping center, the Mall at Stonecrest (also known as Stonecrest Mall), and serves as the northernmost point on the Arabia Mountain Path.[10] Much of the mall's available property has yet to be developed.

Hospitals

The three main health facilities in Lithonia are:

Education

DeKalb County Public Schools operates public schools. Lithonia Middle School is the only school located in the city limits of Lithonia.

Elementary schools

Middle schools

Miller Grove Middle School

High schools

Universities

Public libraries

DeKalb County Public Library operates the Lithonia-Davidson Library the main library source in Lithonia, which was once privately owned until being incorporated into the Dekalb County Public Library system in 1947.

Other libraries in the Lithonia community include:

Parks

Postal service

Lithonia's main post office is located on Stone Mountain Street in the heart of Lithonia. Many drop boxes and postal services storefronts are located throughout the communities of Lithonia.

Redan post office located directly outside the city limits of Lithonia provides an alternative to postal drop off and pickup service.

United Parcel Service (UPS) and FedEx also provide alternative postal service to Lithonia.

Transportation

MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) provides connecting bus service to and from Lithonia, and GRTA Xpress (Georgia Rapid Transit Authority) provides commuter bus service to downtown Atlanta from a community park and ride lot.

References

  1. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. 1 2 "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Lithonia city, Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  4. ↑ arabiaalliance.org
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ http://www.georgiashpo.org/sites/uploads/hpd/pdf/Lithonia_Summary.pdf
  7. ↑ http://www.georgiashpo.org/sites/uploads/hpd/pdf/Lithonia_Summary.pdf
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ http://arabiaalliance.org/amp/
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