There are so many Atlanta suburbs and different neighborhoods that it can seem impossible to know each and every one of them, nevertheless where they all fit into the map. In the case of the Central Atlanta neighborhoods, however, it is somewhat easier to differentiate which is which simply because of the amount of time one generally spends in the downtown area. These Central Atlanta neighborhoods include Five Points, Fairlie-Poplar, SoNo, Castleberry Hill, the Railroad District and Centennial Hills. These are all popular downtown neighborhoods and each has something unique to offer you whether you want to shop, eat, or simply kill some time without spending money.
Five Points is famed all over the world for its role in Margaret Mitchell’s bestselling novel Gone With the Wind, and perhaps simply because of that it is a tourist attraction in itself. The area gets its name from the fact that there are five connecting main roads at the center intersection: Marietta Street, Edgewood Avenue, Decatur Street and two sections of Peachtree Street. In 1875, this was the spot where three artesian wells were constructed which, for the first time, catered water to residents of Atlanta through wooden pipes. Five Points is home to the Georgia State University and Rich’s departments store; the area makes for good shopping and gives you a real feel for the city.
Northwest of Five Points is Fairlie-Poplar, a central neighborhood that is an historical district. It developed in the 1800s and was to be the permanent commercial district of Atlanta. When development first took place here Fairlie-Poplar was hailed as the fireproof commercial district of the city, seeing as its buildings were constructed from bricks, iron and other non-flammable materials. There are several historical architectural styles encompassed within the neighborhood and this is a big draw for culturally inclined tourists who are interested in how the styles grew over the years.
SoNo is a nickname for South of North Avenue, a neighborhood that boasts the Renaissance and Central Parks as its centerpiece. The other attractions include the Atlanta Civic Center, Sci-Trek Science and Tech Museum, plus the tallest building in the city, the Bank of America Plaza.
Castleberry Hill is an up and coming neighborhood that boasts several art galleries and artsy coffee shops. This is the kind of neighborhood one might spend the day walking around, taking in the sights and maybe reading or studying over a cup of coffee while contemplating the art found all around.
These are some of the major Central Atlanta neighborhoods, perhaps some of those that you might most like to visit or even find an apartment in. The fact is that the entire central Atlanta area is very vibrant, festive and full of opportunities for fun and adventure. Take a tour of the entire downtown area and see for yourself!