Maynard Jackson’s Time as Mayor of Atlanta: Key Dates and Local Impact

For anyone living in or visiting Atlanta, understanding when Maynard Jackson served as mayor also means understanding how the city you see today was shaped. His leadership touched everything from City Hall policies to the airport you likely fly through.

Quick Answer: When Did Maynard Jackson Serve as Mayor of Atlanta?

Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr. served three terms as Mayor of Atlanta in two distinct stretches:

• First period:1974–1982
• Second period:1990–1994

You’ll often see those dates broken down by individual terms:

So in total, Maynard Jackson served about 12 years as mayor, with a gap between 1982 and 1990.

Why Maynard Jackson’s Terms Matter to Atlantans

If you live in Atlanta now, you’re still seeing the results of Jackson’s time in office in everyday life.

A few of the biggest ways his mayoral years still affect the city:

• Atlanta’s airport growth
  Jackson was a driving force behind the expansion of what is now Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. His mayoral leadership helped transform it into a major national and international hub.

  • The airport’s name includes “Jackson” to honor him.
  • If you fly in or out of Atlanta, you’re experiencing a key legacy of his 1970s and early 1980s terms.

• City contracts and business opportunities
  During his first two terms (1974–1982), Jackson pushed for more equitable city contracting, increasing opportunities for minority-owned businesses.
  This helped shape:

  • How the City of Atlanta awards contracts today
  • The diversity of local contractors who work on public projects

• Neighborhoods and city services
  In his third term (1990–1994), Jackson focused on:

  • Infrastructure improvements
  • Neighborhood revitalization
  • City service delivery

If you notice long-time residents or community leaders referring to how “the city changed under Jackson,” they’re usually talking about these shifts in opportunity, infrastructure, and Atlanta’s national profile.

Timeline Overview: Maynard Jackson’s Mayoral Service

To put the dates in context:

1974–1982: First and Second Terms

• 1974 – Jackson takes office as Atlanta’s first African American mayor.
• 1974–1978 (First term) –
  • Begins major work on expanding Atlanta’s airport.
  • Advocates for stronger inclusion of minority and women-owned firms in city projects.
• 1978–1982 (Second term) –
  • Continues airport expansion and economic development.
  • Strengthens policies on city contracting practices.

During these years, much of the groundwork was laid for Atlanta’s reputation as a transportation and business center.

1982–1990: Out of Office (But Still Influential)

• Jackson could not immediately run for another consecutive term because of term limits.
• Other mayors served during this period, but his influence remained visible in:
  • Ongoing airport work
  • City contracting structures
  • Atlanta’s growing role in the region

1990–1994: Third Term

• 1990 – Jackson returns to City Hall for a third term.
• Focus areas often included:
  • Infrastructure and public works
  • Strengthening city finances
  • Addressing neighborhood concerns as Atlanta continued to grow

If you grew up in Atlanta in the early 1990s, your memory of “Mayor Jackson” usually refers to this third term.

Where You’ll See Maynard Jackson’s Legacy Around Atlanta

If you’re in Atlanta and want to connect the dates he served to places you can actually visit, here are some key sites:

Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport

• Official name: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
• Location: Just south of downtown Atlanta, accessible via MARTA Airport Station (at the airport terminal)

The “Jackson” in the airport’s name honors his crucial role in:

• Expanding the airport system in the 1970s and early 1980s
• Positioning Atlanta as a major aviation and business hub

Every time you or your visitors fly through ATL, you’re interacting with a central piece of his mayoral legacy.

City Hall and Government District

• Atlanta City Hall
  • Address: 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303
  • This is where Maynard Jackson served during his 1974–1982 and 1990–1994 terms.

When locals talk about “policy changes during the Jackson administration,” they’re referring to decisions made in and around this building.

How His Years in Office Connect to Today’s City Government

Knowing the 1974–1982 and 1990–1994 time frames can help you understand how Atlanta’s government evolved.

City Leadership Structure

Maynard Jackson served under the same basic strong-mayor system Atlanta uses today, where:

• The Mayor of Atlanta leads the executive branch of city government.
• The Atlanta City Council enacts ordinances and works with the mayor on city policy.
• Many of the systems for budgeting, contracting, and planning that he worked with (and helped reshape) are still in effect in updated forms.

If you interact with Atlanta city services now—for example, through:

• City of Atlanta departments (Public Works, Planning, Aviation, etc.)
• Atlanta City Council meetings at 55 Trinity Ave SW

—you’re dealing with structures that were significantly influenced by decisions made during Jackson’s terms.

FAQ: Common Questions Atlantans Have About Maynard Jackson’s Terms

Did Maynard Jackson serve three terms or two?

• He served three terms total, but in two separate periods:
  • First stretch: 1974–1982 (two consecutive terms)
  • Second stretch: 1990–1994 (one term)

Why was there a gap between 1982 and 1990?

• Atlanta’s rules limit consecutive terms for mayors.
• After serving two terms back-to-back (1974–1978 and 1978–1982), Jackson stepped aside before returning to win another term in 1989 and serve from 1990–1994.

Was Maynard Jackson the first African American mayor of Atlanta?

• Yes. When he took office in 1974, he became Atlanta’s first African American mayor, a landmark moment in the city’s political and civil rights history.

Simple Reference: Maynard Jackson’s Mayoral Years

For quick reference if you’re researching Atlanta’s history or explaining it to someone:

• Total years as mayor: About 12 years
• Service periods:
  • 1974–1978 – First term
  • 1978–1982 – Second term
  • 1990–1994 – Third term

If you’re learning about how modern Atlanta developed—its airport, business climate, and city policies—those years are central. Understanding that Maynard Jackson served from 1974 to 1982, and again from 1990 to 1994 gives you a clear timeline for one of the most influential chapters in Atlanta’s civic history.