The Small Town in the Big City
Developed as early as the 1870s, Kirkwood has its roots in the old
Atlanta streetcar. By 1910, there were three streetcar journeys each day,
in and out of Atlanta, and this continued up until the 1950s.The city
itself was incorporated in 1899, and with the new city name came a city
council, mayor, water system, school systems, and fire department, of
which the school is still standing today.
After the racial
segregation that occurred in most of the Atlanta suburbs in the 50s and
60s, Kirkwood began the process of integration in the 1980s with new
residents who wanted to renovate the historic housing that was still
standing throughout the neighborhood.
Today, Kirkwood is a
diverse neighborhood full of quaint shops, restaurants, and historic
homes and sites, known affectionately as "the small town in the big
city." Kirkwood also hosts numerous annual festivals and events,
including the Kirkwood Spring Fling, Kirkwood Wine Stroll, Kirkwood
Family Find, Kirkwood Home for the Holidays, and B*ATL Event. There are
several parks and greenspaces, as well as a community garden, for
residents to enjoy.
Kirkwood Fun Fact: The Kirkwood Historic District is the largest in the state of Georgia!
