How Atlanta Got Its Name: The Story Behind the City’s Identity

If you live in Atlanta, visit often, or are just curious about the city, you’ve probably wondered: how did Atlanta get its name? The answer ties directly into trains, early Georgia politics, and the city’s role as a transportation crossroads.

Below is a clear breakdown of how Atlanta went from a rough railroad terminus to the city name you see on street signs, government buildings, and airport tickets today.

Before “Atlanta”: The Earlier Names

Atlanta didn’t start out as “Atlanta.” In fact, the area went through multiple names in a short period of time.

Native lands and early settlement

Long before the city had any official name, the land where Atlanta now sits was part of the homeland of the Muscogee (Creek) people, and later heavily impacted by the forced removal of Native American communities. Modern place names in and around the city, like the Chattahoochee River, still hint at this deeper history.

For today’s residents and visitors, most of that story is not visible in daily life, but it’s an important layer behind the modern name.

Terminus: A railroad endpoint

In the 1830s and 1840s, Georgia leaders wanted a major railroad network to move goods and people across the state. Surveyors chose a spot in North Georgia as the ending point of a rail line coming up from the south and coast.

That point was simply labeled the “Terminus” — Latin for “end of the line.”
For a while, the growing settlement around the tracks was informally known by that very practical name.

If you’re in downtown Atlanta today, you’re not far from where this early railroad focus began. The idea of Atlanta as a transportation hub, which is still true with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and major interstates, really starts here.

From Terminus to Marthasville

As the small railroad town developed, “Terminus” started feeling too temporary and mechanical for a fast-growing community.

Why “Marthasville”?

In 1843, the town was officially incorporated as Marthasville.
The name is widely understood to have honored Martha, the daughter of then–Georgia Governor Wilson Lumpkin, who was a strong supporter of the state’s railroad expansion.

So, by this stage:

• Terminus = functional nickname, tied to the railroad endpoint
• Marthasville = early town name, honoring a political figure’s daughter

You might still see the name Marthasville occasionally in historical markers, museum exhibits (like at the Atlanta History Center at 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW), or local tours that cover early city history.

The Shift to “Atlanta”

The name Atlanta arrived a few years after Marthasville and stuck permanently.

The railroad connection

The key to understanding the name is the Western & Atlantic Railroad, a major state-sponsored rail line that linked the interior of Georgia to other markets.

The term “Atlanta” is commonly explained as:

• A feminine form or shortened version of “Atlantic,” referencing the railroad’s connection toward the Atlantic coast,
  or
• A name inspired directly by “Atlantic” through the phrase “Western & Atlantic” Railroad.

So, as the Western & Atlantic line became central to the area’s identity, a new name rooted in that railroad also took shape.

The renaming

Around 1845, the community’s name was changed from Marthasville to Atlanta.
By 1847, Atlanta was officially incorporated as a city under that name.

From a local perspective:

• The name “Terminus” emphasized being an end point.
• “Atlanta” sounded more like a permanent, ambitious city that was connected to a larger region and the Atlantic world.

This branding matters even today: Atlanta continues to promote itself as a connected, global city, anchored by transportation, trade, and culture.

Quick Timeline: How Atlanta Got Its Name

What the Name “Atlanta” Represents Today

For people living in or visiting the city now, the name Atlanta has taken on meanings far beyond its railroad roots.

1. A transportation hub, then and now

The original logic behind the name — a city tied to the Western & Atlantic Railroad — still shows up in modern Atlanta:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the world’s busiest passenger airports.
• Interstates I-75, I-85, and I-20 all meet near downtown.
• The MARTA rail and bus system continues the city’s long connection to public transit.

The name that once pointed to a rail line now fits a city known for planes, trains, highways, and logistics.

2. A symbol of rebuilding and growth

Atlanta’s name is also tied to its identity as a city that rebuilt after the Civil War and pushed forward into the modern era. The phrase “Phoenix City”, used locally in symbolism like the city seal, pairs with the name Atlanta as a marker of resilience and reinvention.

Residents see this in:

• Constant construction and redevelopment across neighborhoods like Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, and Westside.
• Ongoing efforts to preserve history while expanding business, arts, and education.

Where You Can See Early Atlanta History Today

If you want to connect the city’s name to real places you can visit, several Atlanta sites highlight the story:

• Atlanta History Center
  130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
  Features exhibits on the city’s founding, the railroads, and early growth.

• Oakland Cemetery
  248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
  One of the oldest landmarks in the city, with graves of many early Atlanta leaders and interpretive signs about the city’s development.

• Downtown Atlanta railroad corridors
  While much has changed, areas near Underground Atlanta, Five Points, and the Gulch show how central rail lines were — and still are — to the city.

When you walk or ride through these areas, you’re moving through the footprint of Terminus, Marthasville, and eventually Atlanta.

Key Takeaways for Anyone Asking “How Did Atlanta Get Its Name?”

To recap in simple terms:

• The area that is now Atlanta originated as a railroad endpoint, nicknamed Terminus.
• It became an incorporated town called Marthasville in 1843.
• A few years later, the name was changed to Atlanta, a name closely tied to the Western & Atlantic Railroad and the idea of connection to the Atlantic.
• Atlanta was officially incorporated as a city under that name in 1847.
• Today, the name reflects the city’s history as a transportation hub, its role in Georgia’s development, and its modern identity as a major metropolitan center.

So when you see “Atlanta” on highway signs, airport monitors, or MARTA maps, you’re looking at a name that grew from a simple rail endpoint into the identity of one of the South’s largest and most influential cities.