How Many “Atlantas” Are There? Understanding All the Different Atlantas

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia, or you’re planning a visit, you’ve probably heard people use “Atlanta” in a lot of different ways. Sometimes they mean the City of Atlanta, sometimes the metro area, and sometimes even the Atlanta airport or the Atlanta area code.

So how many “Atlantas” are there, really?

From an Atlanta resident’s point of view, there are several different “Atlantas” you’ll hear about, each with its own meaning:

• The official City of Atlanta
• The Atlanta metropolitan area
• The broader “Atlanta” people claim on addresses and resumes
• The Atlanta airport (ATL) and its surrounding area
• “Inside the Perimeter” vs. “Outside the Perimeter”
• Neighborhoods that feel like “mini-Atlantas”

Below is a clear breakdown of what each of these actually means and how they matter to everyday life in and around Atlanta.

The Official City of Atlanta

When people ask how many Atlantas there are, the most important starting point is the official City of Atlanta.

What it is:
A legally defined city with its own city government, mayor, city council, police department, fire department, municipal court, and city services.

Count:
There is one official City of Atlanta, Georgia.

Basic facts locals and visitors care about

• County (or counties):
  Most of Atlanta is in Fulton County, with a portion in DeKalb County.
• City government:
  City Hall is located at 55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303.
• City limits:
  The city has defined boundaries. Parts of neighborhoods you think of as “Atlanta” might actually be in separate cities like Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, Decatur, or East Point.

If you’re dealing with:

• Water service
• Trash pickup
• Business licenses
• City property taxes

…you need to know whether you’re inside the actual City of Atlanta limits or just in the Atlanta metro area.

The Atlanta Metropolitan Area (“Metro Atlanta”)

Most people who say they’re “from Atlanta” actually live somewhere in the Atlanta metropolitan area, not always in the city itself.

What it is:
A multi-county region where people commonly live, work, or commute into Atlanta. It’s often simply called “Metro Atlanta” or “the Atlanta area.”

Commonly included counties

While definitions vary slightly, Metro Atlanta usually includes multiple surrounding counties, such as:

• Fulton County (includes most of the City of Atlanta)
• DeKalb County
• Cobb County
• Gwinnett County
• Clayton County
• Douglas, Fayette, Henry, Cherokee, and others are also often included in “metro” definitions.

Why this “Atlanta” matters

To a resident or visitor, Metro Atlanta matters because:

• Traffic & commuting:
  Someone can live in Marietta (Cobb County) and say they “commute into Atlanta,” meaning they drive into the city for work.
• Services & events:
  Many sports, entertainment, and big events are advertised to the “Atlanta area,” drawing people from all over the metro.
• Housing & moving:
  People searching for homes in “Atlanta” often end up in surrounding cities like Smyrna, Tucker, College Park, or Alpharetta, all part of the broader Atlanta region.

In everyday conversation, this is one of the most common “Atlantas” you’ll hear.

Mailing Address “Atlanta” vs. Actual City Limits

Another form of “Atlanta” comes from mailing addresses.

You can have a mailing address that says “Atlanta, GA” even if you technically don’t live inside the City of Atlanta.

Why this happens

• The U.S. Postal Service organizes addresses for mail delivery, not for strict city-boundary accuracy.
• Some areas outside the official city limits still use “Atlanta” as the city line in the address.

For example, someone may technically live in unincorporated DeKalb County, but their mailing address might say Atlanta, GA 303xx.

How this affects you

This version of “Atlanta” affects:

• Online forms:
  You might select “Atlanta” as your city, even though your local government is actually DeKalb County or another city.
• Police, fire, and utilities:
  Your emergency services and utilities may be run by county agencies or a different city, not the City of Atlanta.

If you’re ever unsure whether your home or business is inside the official City of Atlanta, you can:

• Check your property tax bill (it will list your city).
• Call City of Atlanta customer service at 311 (inside city) or 404-546-0311 (outside city) and ask them to confirm your address.

Hartsfield-Jackson and the “Airport Atlanta”

Many travelers and even some locals think of “Atlanta” primarily as the airport.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is one of the world’s busiest airports and is physically located mostly in Clayton County, in the cities of Atlanta and College Park.

Address:
6000 N Terminal Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30320

Why this becomes its own “Atlanta”

For visitors, “I’m flying into Atlanta” may really mean:

• They’ll only see the airport and nearby hotels.
• They’re passing through ATL for a connection and never leaving the terminal.
• They might stay in nearby areas that still identify as “Atlanta” in hotel listings, even if technically they’re in College Park or Hapeville.

Locals sometimes treat “the airport area” as its own version of Atlanta, separate from:

• Downtown Atlanta
• Midtown
• Buckhead
• Other intown neighborhoods

“Inside the Perimeter” vs. “Outside the Perimeter”

There’s also the cultural split between ITP and OTP, which can feel like two different Atlantas.

What is “the Perimeter”?

The “Perimeter” is Interstate 285 (I-285), the loop highway that circles much of the region.

• Inside the Perimeter (ITP):
  Areas inside I-285, often seen as “core Atlanta,” including most of the City of Atlanta, Decatur, and surrounding intown communities.
• Outside the Perimeter (OTP):
  Areas outside I-285, including suburbs like Marietta, Alpharetta, Roswell, Smyrna, Lawrenceville, and Douglasville.

How this creates different “Atlantas”

People in Atlanta often talk about ITP vs. OTP as if they’re different cities:

• ITP Atlanta:
  Denser, more urban, with neighborhoods like Midtown, Old Fourth Ward, West End, Virginia-Highland, Little Five Points.
• OTP Atlanta:
  More suburban, with single-family homes, shopping centers, and office parks in surrounding counties.

Someone might say:

• “I live in Atlanta, but OTP in Cobb County,” or
• “I’m inside the Perimeter, near downtown Atlanta.”

This isn’t an official divide, but it’s a very real cultural and lifestyle distinction for people who live in the Atlanta area.

Intown Neighborhoods That Feel Like Their Own “Atlanta”

Within the City of Atlanta, different neighborhoods can feel like separate “mini-Atlantas” because of their unique character and reputation.

Some well-known examples:

• Downtown Atlanta – Home to State Farm Arena, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Georgia State University, and major hotels.
• Midtown – Dense, walkable, with Piedmont Park, the Fox Theatre, and many high-rises.
• Buckhead – Known for high-end shopping, dining, and business offices.
• Westside/West Midtown – Trendy area with converted warehouses, restaurants, and new development.
• East Atlanta, Kirkwood, Edgewood, Old Fourth Ward – Popular for nightlife, local shops, and historic streets.
• South Atlanta neighborhoods like Mechanicsville, Peoplestown, Pittsburgh – Deep local history and active community groups.

If you’re visiting, you may hear locals say things like:

• “That’s not my Atlanta” to describe a part of the city they don’t usually go to.
• “My Atlanta is the Westside” to express where they spend most of their time.

These are all within the same City of Atlanta, but day-to-day life can feel very different depending on where you are.

Quick Summary: The Many Meanings of “Atlanta”

Here’s a simple way to sort out the different “Atlantas” you’ll hear about:

Are There Other Cities Named “Atlanta” in the U.S.?

Outside Georgia, there are other small towns named “Atlanta” in states like Texas, Michigan, and Illinois. But for most people asking this question—especially those who live in or travel to Georgia—there is only one major Atlanta that shapes daily life, and that’s Atlanta, Georgia and its surrounding metro area.

If you’re:

• Moving to Atlanta: Focus on whether you want to live inside the City of Atlanta, ITP, or OTP.
• Visiting Atlanta: Decide which neighborhood “Atlanta” you want to experience—Downtown for attractions, Midtown for culture, Buckhead for shopping, etc.
• Handling official business: Verify whether your address is actually within city limits so you know whether to contact City of Atlanta, your county, or a nearby city.

In everyday life, it may feel like there are many different Atlantas—but they’re all connected versions of the same region centered around Atlanta, Georgia.