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46-604: Buford Highway (also Buford Highway Corridor ), a.k.a. the DeKalb International Corridor , and in the 1990–2000's as the DeKalb County International Village district, is a community northeast of the city of Atlanta , celebrated for its ethnic diversity and spanning multiple counties including Fulton , DeKalb, and Gwinnett counties in the U.S. state of Georgia . The area generally spans along and on either side of

92-535: A blue collar, largely white, lower middle-class population. The highway was characterized by strip mall development, and apartment complexes sprouted up in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1976 the first ethnic restaurant opened, the Havana Sandwich Shop. In the 1980s, immigrants settled in the area due to affordable housing, available public transportation, and proximity to construction jobs in growing Gwinnett County. The area attracted many Latino workers during

138-683: A line from Druid Hills northeast to Tucker , is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin, while the portion of the county north of that line is located in the Upper Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). Stone Mountain lies near the eastern border of the county. Soapstone Ridge , parallel to

184-607: A private, coeducational, liberal arts university. It is a member of the Association of American Universities , an association of leading research universities in the US and Canada. The university consists of the following divisions: Emory College of Arts and Science, the Laney Graduate School, Candler School of Theology , Goizueta Business School , Emory University School of Law , Rollins School of Public Health , and

230-632: A satellite campus in Stone Mountain Village. Georgia Piedmont Technical College (formerly DeKalb Technical College) is the largest vocational institution in Georgia . Georgia Piedmont Technical College trains students in business, engineering, technologies, health, human services, industrial arts, information systems, and transportation. DeVry University offers bachelor's and master's degrees in healthcare, accounting, business, and management technology. Columbia Theological Seminary

276-566: A stretch of Georgia State Route 13 (SR 13) in DeKalb County. It begins just north of Midtown Atlanta , continues northeast through the towns of Brookhaven , Chamblee , Doraville , and Norcross . The name of the corridor originates from the name of the highway which connects to the city of Buford . Creative Loafing 's Atlanta edition named Buford Highway Atlanta's "best neighborhood for diversity" in their March 2012 Neighborhood Guide. The population exceeds 50,000. Buford Highway

322-470: A wide variety of ethnic groups, notably Korean, Mexican, Chinese, and Vietnamese, and also Indian, Bangladeshi, Central American, Somali, and Ethiopian. The DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce calls the area the "International Corridor." The Buford Highway community is home to one of the highest concentration of foreign-born residents in the country, notably Mexican, Central American, Chinese , Korean and Vietnamese. The area attracted many Latino workers during

368-783: Is a theological institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Decatur. More than 640 students are enrolled at Columbia in one of five degree programs: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Theology. Luther Rice College and Seminary is a private Christian college and seminary in Lithonia. It offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs in ministry and ministry-related programs. The DeKalb County Public Library has 22 branches throughout

414-539: Is an ethnically diverse, linear community made up of apartment complexes, suburban neighborhoods and shopping centers. Similar to other sun belt cities, immigrants who relocated to Atlanta in the 20th and 21st centuries went straight to the suburbs, where residential and commercial real estate was affordable and where many second-generation immigrant communities were already established. Along Buford Highway, there are few wholly distinct ethnic areas. The more than 1,000 immigrant-owned businesses are owned by and patronized by

460-582: Is located in the city of Brookhaven." Xpress GA / RTA commuter buses and MARTA heavy rail subway and buses serve the county. Currently, there are plans for the construction of a multi-use trail, known as the Peachtree Creek Greenway . The goal of the greenway is to provide residents with close-to-home and close-to-work access to bicycle and pedestrian trails, serve transportation and recreation needs, and help encourage quality of life and sustainable economic growth. The trail will connect

506-459: Is more populous, DeKalb has the highest population density of any county in the Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $ 51,349 and the median income for a family was $ 60,718. Males had a median income of $ 43,663 versus $ 40,288 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 28,412. About 12.4% of families and 16.1% of the population were below

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552-541: Is served by Atlanta Public Schools (APS). The Decatur portion is served by Decatur City School District . In 2020 this was the case, except that the Emory University / Centers for Disease Control area at the time was still in DeKalb County schools. In 2018 the City of Atlanta had annexed the region, but initially it was still covered by DeKalb County schools. There were plans to move the area into APS, and this

598-408: Is titled "Chambodia". DeKalb County, Georgia DeKalb County ( / d ə ˈ k æ b / , / ˌ d iː ˈ k æ b / də- KAB , DEE - KAB ) is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia . As of the 2020 census , the population was 764,382, making it Georgia's fourth-most populous county. Its county seat is Decatur . DeKalb County is included in

644-632: The Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell metropolitan area . It contains roughly 10% of the city of Atlanta (the other 90% lies in Fulton County ). Stonecrest is the largest city that is entirely within the county. DeKalb is primarily a suburban county. In recent years, some communities in North DeKalb have incorporated, following a trend in other suburban areas around Metro Atlanta. Stonecrest , Dunwoody and Brookhaven are now

690-736: The Chattahoochee River and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico . South River drains into the Ocmulgee River and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean . In 2021, the non-profit American Rivers named DeKalb's South River the fourth-most endangered river in the United States , citing "the egregious threat that ongoing sewage pollution poses to clean water and public health." The southern two-thirds of DeKalb County, in

736-580: The Chattahoochee River , but this strip was later given to Milton, and is now the panhandle of Sandy Springs. During the American Civil War , much of the Battle of Atlanta took place in DeKalb. Until the 1960s, DeKalb was a mainly agricultural county, but as the sprawl of the metropolitan Atlanta region expanded, DeKalb became increasingly urbanized . Finished in 1969, the eastern half of

782-720: The Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War . The oldest existing house in the county is the 1831 Goodwin House along Peachtree Road in Brookhaven . Much of the area was forested; a section of old-growth forest is preserved at Fernbank Forest . In 1853, Fulton County formed from the western half of DeKalb, divided along a perfectly straight and due north–south line down the middle (along which Moreland Avenue now runs). Until this time,

828-702: The Georgia Department of Corrections was formerly located in an unincorporated area in DeKalb County. Female death row inmates (UDS, "under death sentence") resided in the Metro State Prison. The prison was closed in 2011. The Consulate-General of Mexico in Atlanta is located in the North Druid Hills CDP. The Consulate-General of Guatemala in Atlanta is located in Chamblee . The Consulate-General of Peru in Atlanta

874-766: The Interstate 285 beltway , called "the Perimeter", ringed the northeastern and southern edges of the county, placing most of it "inside the Perimeter" along with nearly all of Atlanta. Interstate 675 and Georgia 400 were originally planned to connect inside the Perimeter, along with the Stone Mountain Freeway ( U.S. Highway 78 ) connecting with the Downtown Connector (a co-signment of I-75/I-85) near Moreland Avenue, destroying many neighborhoods in western DeKalb, but community opposition in

920-645: The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing . Mercer University is a private, coeducational, faith-based university with a Baptist heritage. Its main campus is in Macon . The Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus is in DeKalb County; it houses the College of Nursing, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology along with programs of

966-509: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 271 square miles (700 km ), of which 268 square miles (690 km ) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km ) (1.3%) is water. The county is located within the upper Piedmont region of the state. 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

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1012-560: The poverty line , including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over. Major employers in DeKalb County include: The DeKalb County 9/11 Memorial was dedicated on September 11, 2011. U.S. Marine and sculptor Curtis James Miller designed a memorial that is located in front of the Dekalb County Fire and Police Headquarters. The memorial pays homage to the 343 New York Firefighters , 60 New York Police Department and Port Authority Police Officers , and

1058-567: The 466,000-square-foot (43,300 m) Northeast Plaza , 355,000-square-foot (33,000 m) Plaza Fiesta and the Buford Highway Farmers Market complex. Buford Highway is served by MARTA bus route 39 ( Lindbergh Center to Doraville) as well as Ride Gwinnett routes 10, 20 and 35 to and from Doraville station. The Doraville MARTA metro rail station is a block away from Buford Highway on New Peachtree Road. On July 22, 2010 PBS 's Need to Know program portrayed

1104-614: The City of Brookhaven announced that the highway in their city would be improved by reducing the number of traffic lanes, adding a greenway and island. The city of Chamblee, in which part of the Buford Highway community is located, is sometimes referred to as "Chambodia" due to its high East Asian population and the concentration of East Asian restaurants along Buford Highway in Chamblee. A chapter of Tom Wolfe 's novel A Man in Full

1150-482: The DeKalb Marshal's Office, which serves civil processes issued through state court, such as evictions. Fire services are provided throughout the county by DeKalb County Fire and Rescue. Previously, DeKalb County Fire and Rescue also provided emergency medical services throughout the county; however, in 2013, the county signed a contract with American Medical Response to provide emergency medical services to

1196-769: The Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, the School of Medicine, and the Tift College of Education. Oglethorpe University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts school in Brookhaven and is named after James Oglethorpe , founder of the Georgia Colony . Perimeter College at Georgia State University (formerly Georgia Perimeter College) has three campuses within DeKalb County and offers two-year associate degrees. Georgia Military College (GMC) has

1242-488: The center's space was vacant, and new owners EIG Operating Partnership, who bought the center for $ 33 million, hoped to fill those vacancies with high-end antique stores and galleries. In 2012 the center was primarily occupied by discount and ethnic retailers. The largest single space, 56,000 sq. ft., once a J.C. Penney catalog store, then a Publix, was until 2011 the Mercado del Pueblo Hispanic supermarket. The vacant unit

1288-481: The cities of Atlanta, Brookhaven, Chamblee and Doraville. 33°46′N 84°14′W  /  33.77°N 84.23°W  / 33.77; -84.23 Northeast Plaza In the mid-1980s the center was re-branded "Fashion Square" but this was later dropped in favor of the original Northeast Plaza name. In 2000, major tenants included a Publix supermarket, a 12-screen theater, China Cabinet and The Avenue. At that time, 145,000 square feet (13,500 m ) of

1334-550: The construction boom that preceded the 1996 Olympic Games . Asian business owners were attracted to the stretch of highway by cheap leases and reliable traffic flow. During the 1996 Olympics, Chamblee embraced the growing international character of Buford Highway, while more conservative Doraville resisted it. As the Southern Foodways Alliance reported: "Why would we want to attract more immigrants when we got all we want?" asked Doraville mayor Lamar Lang to

1380-510: The construction boom that preceded the 1996 Olympic Games . Asian business owners were attracted to the stretch of highway by cheap leases and reliable traffic flow. In 2017, the man who came up with the idea for the BeltLine ring of trails around Atlanta, Ryan Gravel , announced that he would turn his attention to Buford Highway. His new non-profit named "Generator" would partner with another non-profit, We Love BuHi, to find ways to celebrate

1426-480: The corridor as an example of a high- pedestrian area in suburban America that fails to meet increased demand for walkability due to changing demographics. The program noted that in the previous ten years, 30 people had died and an additional 250 were injured while trying to cross Buford Highway, a rate three times higher than any other road in Georgia. Despite this, there are no plans to improve pedestrian safety in

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1472-601: The county. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is based in the Druid Hills CDP in an unincorporated area in the county. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Atlanta Field Office is located in Chamblee . The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice has its headquarters in Avondale Estates , near Decatur . The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has its headquarters near Decatur, in an unincorporated area. The Metro State Prison of

1518-493: The county. In 2022, DeKalb County had the second highest crime rate in Georgia. The county saw 40.3 crimes per 1,000 residents. The county also had the second highest rate of robberies and motor vehicle theft, as well as the third highest rates of burglary and larceny theft. DeKalb was only behind Bibb County for highest crime rate. In recent years, along with many other counties in the Atlanta area, DeKalb County has voted strongly Democratic in presidential elections, while in

1564-446: The diversity of the community and preserve its culture, with the aim of coming with realistic civic proposals around issues such as gentrification, transit and affordability. Buford Highway originated as a non-descript state roadway connecting Atlanta and points northeast, including the then-railroad towns of Chamblee and Doraville , as well as points farther north. The towns of Doraville, Chamblee and Norcross had long been home to

1610-705: The early 1970s spared them this fate of urbanization , although part of the proposed Stone Mountain Tollway later became the Freedom Parkway . Only Interstate 20 and Interstate 85 were successfully built through the county. DeKalb also became one of only two counties to approve MARTA rapid transit in the 1970s; the county now contains the east and northeast heavy rail lines. In April 2018, more than 350 bus drivers for DeKalb County School District went on strike over low pay and poor working conditions, resulting in seven bus drivers being fired. According to

1656-542: The growing city of Atlanta had been inside DeKalb. Atlanta grew because the city of Decatur did not want to become the railroad terminus in the 1830s, thus a spot at the Thrasherville encampment in western DeKalb was picked to become Terminus and then Marthasville, before becoming Atlanta a few years after its founding. North and southwest Fulton came from two other counties: Milton and southeast Campbell , respectively. DeKalb once extended slightly further north to

1702-540: The largest cities that are entirely contained within the county. The area of DeKalb county was acquired by the state of Georgia as a result of the 1821 Treaty of Indian Springs with a faction of the Muscogee (Creek). DeKalb County, formed in 1822 from Henry , Gwinnett and Fayette counties, took its name from Baron Johann de Kalb (1721–1780), a Bavarian -born former officer in the French Army, who fought for

1748-665: The more than 2800 civilian victims of the terrorist attacks in New York City , Washington D.C. , and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. A piece of steel from one of the World Trade Center Towers in New York City is the centerpiece of this monument. The portion of DeKalb County not within the city of Atlanta or the city of Decatur is served by DeKalb County School District (formerly DeKalb County School System). The Atlanta portion

1794-422: The past it was more of a swing county, voting Democratic and Republican an equal number of times from 1960 until 1988. DeKalb is also one of the few counties in Georgia where George Wallace came in third in 1968 . Following the 2020 United States election, there are no elected Republicans in the county. DeKalb is the second most Democratic -leaning county in Georgia, only behind Clayton County . 83 percent of

1840-527: The press. "That's just not our way of life here," agreed the city council. "We’re basically Baptists and Methodists and Presbyterians." Buford Highway is, in most places in the corridor, a seven-lane highway with no median and few sidewalks, a situation which is grossly mismatched with the heavy pedestrian traffic along and across the highway. Most properties along the corridor are in the form of strip malls, retail businesses surrounded by large parking lots, and large apartment complexes. The largest strip malls are

1886-562: The relay race. The background landscape shows planted fields, which is a tribute to DeKalb's heritage as an agrarian community. The date of the county's founding, 1822, is at the bottom of the seal. Unincorporated DeKalb County is policed by the DeKalb County Police Department ; the DeKalb Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for serving criminal warrants and securing the courts and county jail; and

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1932-535: The southern border, was heavily quarried between 1400 and 100 BC and objects made from the soapstone have been found as far away as the Great Lakes . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 764,382 people, 289,829 households, and 157,737 families residing in the county. It is the 86th most populous county in the United States. This is up from a 2000 population of 665,865. Although Fulton County

1978-411: The unincorporated area of the corridor. These deaths have led some cities along Buford Highway to consider development plans with significant pedestrian improvements. For example, the City of Brookhaven's Buford Highway Improvement Plan and Economic Development Strategy contemplates adding mid-block crossings, street trees and buffer plantings, pedestrian-scale lighting and other improvements. In 2017

2024-416: The votes cast in the 2020 presidential election were for Joe Biden . The current chief executive officer of DeKalb County is Michael Thurmond . He took office on January 1, 2017. Current County Commissioners as of January 2023: The DeKalb County seal was created in 1967, by artist Jackson Bailey. The design is based on a passage from Aristotle in which a comparison is made between human progress and

2070-494: Was scheduled for 2024. Private schools in DeKalb County include: From its opening in 1990 until 2003, the Seigakuin Atlanta International School was located on the property of Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven , then an unincorporated area called North Atlanta. Agnes Scott College is a private, all female, undergraduate liberal arts college in Decatur. Emory University is

2116-468: Was to be acquired by G-Mart International Foods , a retailer aiming at the Korean-American and other ethnic markets. As of January 2013, the store was operating under the "Mercado del Pueblo" branding. Other tenants include Family Dollar , Dollar Tree , dd's Discounts , a Goodwill Industries store, Funtime Bowl, Metro Pawn Shop, and Ryan's cafeteria. Numerous ethnic restaurants are located in

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