Lithonia, Georgia

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Lithonia, Georgia
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 33°42′46″N 84°6′21″W / 33.71278, -84.10583
Country United States
State Georgia
County DeKalb
Area
 - Total 0.8 sq mi (2 km²)
 - Land 0.8 sq mi (2 km²)
 - Water 0 sq mi (0 km²)
Elevation 925 ft (282 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 2,187
 - Density 2,733.8/sq mi (1,093.5/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 30038, 30058
Area code(s) 770
FIPS code 13-46860[1]
GNIS feature ID 0325978[2]

Lithonia is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,187 at the 2000 census. "Lithonia" means "City of Stone." Lithonia is also the home of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The Lithonia Public Library, established in 1907, was the first public library in DeKalb County; it was an independent library from 1907 to 1951, when it joined with the DeKalb County Public Library.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Lithonia is in the heart of the Georgian granite district, hence the name of the town, from the Greek lithos, for stone. The nearby granite dome, Stone Mountain, is composed largely of a rock called Lithonia gneiss. The city of Lithonia is in metropolitan Atlanta.

Lithonia is located at 33°42′46″N, 84°6′21″W (33.712658, -84.105897)[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.8 square miles (12.0 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Major Roads

Turner Hill road Stonecrest mall --Marta Bus Route 116----

Evans Mill Road New Birth Church ---Marta Bus Route 86,116---

East Covington Highway ---Marta Bus Route 111,115---

Farrington Road ---Marta Bus Route 86---

Hillandale Drive Dekalb Medical Center ---Marta Bus Route 111---

Snapfinger Woods Drive ---Marta Bus Route 96---

Panola Road Lou Walker Senior Center ---Marta Bus Route 86,96,111,117---

Swift Street/Main Street City of lithonia ---Marta Bus Route 86,115,116,216---

Lithonia Industrial Blvd. ---Marta Bus Route 86 (Hillandale),115(Covington Hwy), 116 (Redan Road)---

East Redan Road ---Marta Bus Route 116---

Dekalb Medical Pkwy Dekalb Medical Center ---Marta Bus Route 111---

Mall Parkway Stonecrest Mall ---Marta Bus Route 111,116---

Panola Industrial Blvd. --Marta Bus Route 111---

Klondike Road ---Marta Bus Route 111,116(mall pkwy)

Farrington Pkwy ---Marta Bus Route 86---

South Deshon Road

Stone Mountain/Lithonia Road

Browns Mill Road ---Browns Mill Park---

[edit] Demographics

As of the census GR2 of 2000, there were 2,187 people, 799 households, and 560 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,068.9/km² (2,770.2/sq mi). There were 892 housing units at an average density of 1,129.9/sq mi (436.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 16.64% White, 79.61% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. 2.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. It is one of the wealthiest majority-black areas in the United States.

There were 799 households out of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 23.3% were married couples living together, 41.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% 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 were 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.

[edit] Controversy

In 2006, WSB discovered that the Lithonia Police had been driving uninsured police cruisers for a period of six months. There has been much debate over former mayor Darold Honore and his practices of governing city funds. Honore had the password and locks changed to city council building without releasing the new password or keys to council persons.

In 2008, mayoral elections were held, these events where not without controversy with Joyce McKibben emerging as the winner by one vote. Candidate Rhonda Peek challenged these results and contested that McKibben's main residence wasn't inside the city limits. Peek tried to have her case tried in Dekalb County Municipal Courts but they would not, she then took her case to neighboring Rockdale county where a judge ruled against Peek, stating that the results of the election are valid.

McKibben came under fire for her recent decision to fire Chief of Police and stating that he as well as council members have their "hands dirty in Honore's money".

[edit] Famous residents

  • Alton Brown (Food Network Host, "Iron Chef America" & "Good Eats", b. ~1965)
  • Fred Nix Jr. (technologist, b. 1970)
  • Rebecca Latimer Felton (First woman to serve in the US Senate, b. 1835)
  • Terrell Owens (NFL American football wide receiver, b. 1973)

[edit] Education

Lithonia is served by DeKalb County School System.

Stoneview and the high school are outside of the Lithonia city limits, while the middle school is inside the city limits.

[edit] References

  1. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities and communities of
DeKalb County, Georgia
County seat: Decatur
Cities
Map of Georgia highlighting DeKalb County
CDPs
Unincorporated
community