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’s roots, you’ve probably wondered: where did Atlanta get its name? The answer connects railroads, politics, and a bit of creative wordplay that helped shape the city we know today.

From Railroad Stop to City: Atlanta’s Early Names

Before it was Atlanta, the area went through a series of very different names. Each one reflects a specific moment in the city’s early growth.

Terminus: The End of the Line

In the 1830s, Georgia lawmakers decided to build a major state railroad to connect the interior of the state with the Midwest and coastal trade. Surveyors picked a spot in north Georgia where the rail lines would end.

• That point was marked in 1837 by a stake labeled “Terminus”, meaning “the end of the line.”
• At the time, there wasn’t much city to speak of—just a railroad endpoint and a small settlement forming around it.

If you walk around Underground Atlanta or the Five Points area today, you’re near the heart of what used to be that original Terminus site.

Marthasville: A Personal Tribute

As the settlement grew, people wanted a more dignified name than “Terminus.”

• In 1843, the town was officially renamed Marthasville.
• The name honored Martha Lumpkin, daughter of Governor Wilson Lumpkin, who was closely involved in the railroad’s development.

Marthasville sounded more like a town, but it still didn’t quite match the growing ambitions of a regional transportation hub. Within a few years, leaders were already considering another name.

Why “Atlanta”? The Railroad Connection

The name Atlanta ties directly to the city’s identity as a railroad crossroads.

Inspired by the Western & Atlantic Railroad

One widely accepted explanation is that Atlanta comes from the Western & Atlantic Railroad, which terminated in the area:

• The railroad ran from Chattanooga down into Georgia.
• Because this key line was called the Western & Atlantic Railroad, the region at its end point became associated with the “Atlantic” part of the name.
• From “Atlantic”, people began using the more graceful, feminine-sounding version “Atlanta.”

By 1845, the name Atlanta was in use, and in 1847, it was officially incorporated as a city under that name.

In simple terms:

A Feminine Form of “Atlantic”

At the time, it was common to give cities feminine names or feminine versions of place-related words. Just as Charlotte and Augusta carry that pattern, Atlanta can be understood as:

• A feminine form of “Atlantic”, reflecting the railroad’s name.
• A way to connect the city’s identity with transportation, trade, and connection to the broader Atlantic world.

That connection between transportation and identity still shapes how Atlanta sees itself—as a major transportation and logistics hub, both historically and today.

Quick Timeline: How Atlanta Got Its Name

How the Name Shapes the City’s Identity Today

Even though most Atlantans don’t think about railroads every day, the name “Atlanta” still carries that original meaning of connection and movement.

A Transportation Hub from the Start

Atlanta’s history and name help explain:

• Why Downtown, Five Points, and the Gulch area are packed with rail lines, MARTA tracks, and major roadways
• Why Atlanta became a natural choice for Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport—another critical hub, just as the rail terminus once was
• Why the city grew quickly into a commercial and logistics center for the Southeast

If you’re standing near Five Points MARTA Station, you’re essentially on top of the historical crossroads where those early rail lines converged, shaping both the map and the name of Atlanta.

Local Landmarks That Reflect the Name’s Roots

Across the city, you’ll see references that quietly nod to the naming story:

• Atlanta History Center (130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW) – offers exhibits and materials on the city’s early railroad history and naming.
• Georgia State Capitol area – while the building came later, many nearby historical markers reference Atlanta’s origin as a rail center.
• Rail corridors and old depots around Downtown and Midtown – reminders of the Western & Atlantic Railroad’s influence.

For residents and visitors, understanding how Atlanta got its name can make these places feel more connected and meaningful.

Common Questions About Atlanta’s Name

Is Atlanta named after a person?

No. While Marthasville was named after Martha Lumpkin, Atlanta itself is not named after a specific person.

Instead, the name is:

• Derived from the Western & Atlantic Railroad
• Viewed as a stylized, shortened, and feminized form of “Atlantic”

Is there a link between Atlanta and the mythological “Atlantis”?

No. Despite the similarity in sound, Atlanta has no historical or official connection to Atlantis or to any mythological city. The name is rooted in railroads and the Atlantic connection, not ancient legends.

Why didn’t the city keep the name Marthasville?

City leaders wanted a name that:

• Better reflected its growing role as a major rail hub
• Sounded more modern, commercial, and forward-looking
• Was short and distinct for use on rail schedules, tickets, and maps

Atlanta fit all of those needs better than Marthasville, so it quickly became the preferred and then official name.

How to Explore Atlanta’s Naming History in Person

If you’re in Atlanta and want to see traces of this history yourself, some practical spots to check out include:

• Atlanta History Center

  • 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
  • Offers exhibits on the city’s development from railroad junction to major metropolis.

• Downtown Atlanta / Five Points Area

  • Walk around Five Points MARTA Station, Underground Atlanta, and the nearby rail lines to get a sense of where Terminus once stood.

• Local libraries and archives

  • Fulton County Library System – Central Library (1 Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta, GA 30303) often has local history resources, maps, and historical accounts that mention the evolution from Terminus to Atlanta.

These places can help bring the story behind the name “Atlanta” into focus, especially if you like seeing original documents, maps, and historic locations.

Atlanta’s name isn’t just a label—it’s a snapshot of the city’s origin story. From Terminus to Marthasville to Atlanta, each step reflects the city’s close relationship with transportation, growth, and connection—a relationship that still defines life in Atlanta today.