From its founding in 1847, Atlanta has had a penchant for frequent street renamings, even in the central business district, usually to honor the recently deceased. As early as 1903 (see section below), there were concerns about the confusion this caused, as "more than 225 streets of Atlanta have had from two to eight names" in the first decades of the city.

Many recent[when?] Atlanta street renamings commemorate prominent African Americans in Atlanta's history. These renamings can be identified by the use of the person's full name (e.g., Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard) rather than the more traditional last name only (e.g., Cain Street).

According to local and state rules and regulations, street renamings must have support of 75% of property owners along that street[citation needed], and state guides advise against using proper names as street names. However, these rules and procedures are usually ignored or waived, as demonstrated by the recent Ted Turner Drive at Historic Spring Street renaming resolution by the Atlanta City Council.

Name changes

Map including alternative street names in what is now Midtown Atlanta, 1895

List of street name changes prior to 1903

On October 17, 1903, The Atlanta Constitution published the list shown below. Developer Forrest Adair had provided the Atlanta City Council this list of more than 225 streets whose names had been changed from the 1847 founding of the city up until that time. Some streets had experienced multiple renamings, bearing as many as nine different names, resulting in over 650 total names, such as:[27]

Other street origins

See also

References

Old Atlanta Street Names

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Garrett, Franklin M. (1954). Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press.
  3. ^ Sanborn Fire Map 1886
  4. ^ a b Sanborn's Map of Atlanta, Ga., 1917
  5. ^ a b c d e Moore, David Aaron (February 26, 2010). "For Black History Month: What's in a street name?". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 26, 2010.
  6. ^ 1910 map on APNA website
  7. ^ 1913 map on APNA website
  8. ^ a b 1878 Hopkins Griffith and Morgan map
  9. ^ Franklin Garrett, Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events, 1820s-1870s, p.427
  10. ^ City of Atlanta online, ordinance no. 10-O-1420 Archived 2011-11-11 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Sanborn Fire Map - 1911 volume 3
  12. ^ "Marietta Street Artery". December 2, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  13. ^ undefined. "Who is this East Lake road in Atlanta being renamed for?". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  14. ^ a b Ernie Suggs, "Council finally agrees -- barely -- to honor Portman with a street", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 16, 2011
  15. ^ Ahead of the Curve: 911 upgrade pauses City Hall East sale | ajc.com
  16. ^ Bunch, Riley. "Street to be renamed after beloved mentor of struggling Atlantans". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN 1539-7459. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  17. ^ Franklin Garrett, Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events, 1880s-1930s, p.833
  18. ^ South Central Agricultural Society fair Roadside Georgia
  19. ^ Morningside-Lenox Park Association "Neighborhood Walk" brochure: Click on small b/w map under title "The Walking Tour ..."
  20. ^ Atlanta and Environs: A Chronicle of Its People and Events, 1880s-1930s, by Franklin M. Garrett, p.490
  21. ^ Atlanta City Council resolution (2002) to expand the Inman Park historic district Archived 2012-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ "01-O-0135 An Ordinance to Rename Foundry Street and Luckie Street" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  23. ^ "West End District". City of Atlanta. Archived from the original on September 16, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  24. ^ Franklin M. Garrett, Atlanta and Environs, p.143
  25. ^ The Atlanta Historical Journal, Volumes 26-27, p.57, Atlanta Historical Society, 1982
  26. ^ 10-O-0135 An Ordinance to Rename Raymond Street Archived 2010-07-29 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ "Many Streets Get New Names". The Atlanta Constitution. October 17, 1903. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
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