When Was the City of Atlanta Founded? A Local’s Guide to the City’s Origins

If you live in Atlanta, visit regularly, or are just curious about how this city came to be, you’ll quickly discover that Atlanta doesn’t have a simple “birthday.” Instead, it has a few key dates that mark its transformation from a railroad crossing in the woods to the capital of Georgia.

Here’s the clear answer, followed by the context that makes it make sense for anyone in Atlanta today.

The Short Answer: Atlanta’s Founding Dates

When people ask “When was the city of Atlanta founded?”, they’re usually talking about three connected milestones:

So, when you see Atlanta’s founding date, the most commonly accepted civic “birthday” is:

But to understand why that date matters—and why 1837 and 1843 still show up in local history—it helps to walk through how Atlanta actually started.

Before There Was “Atlanta”: The Land and Its People

Long before anyone talked about Atlanta, Georgia, this area was home to Native American communities, including the Muscogee (Creek) and Cherokee peoples. The land that now holds:

• Downtown Atlanta
• Midtown
• Westside
• and much of the metro area

was part of their homelands until forced removal and land lotteries in the early 1800s pushed them away.

If you live here now, you’re on land that shifted from Native territory to state-controlled land, then to private ownership, and finally into a fast-growing transportation hub.

You can see echoes of this history in and around:

• Atlanta History Center (130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305) – exhibits on early Georgia and Native peoples
• Historic markers scattered across the city that reference early roads, trading paths, and settlements

1837: The Railroad Decision That Sparked Atlanta

The true origin of Atlanta starts with railroads, not city planners.

In 1837, state engineers picked a spot in north Georgia as the terminus (end point) of the Western & Atlantic Railroad. This railroad was designed to connect the interior of Georgia to the Chattahoochee River and larger markets.

A simple stake in the ground—reportedly called the “Zero Mile Post”—marked where the rail line would end. That point was near what is now:

• The Five Points area in Downtown Atlanta
• Close to present-day Underground Atlanta

At that moment in 1837:

• There was no city charter
• No “Atlanta” name
• Just a planned railroad terminus and a few scattered structures

So, some people say “Atlanta began in 1837” because that’s when the location was chosen. But it was still more of a worksite than a city.

1843: From Terminus to “Marthasville”

As workers built out the railroad, a small community formed around the end of the line. It was often simply called “Terminus,” because that’s what it was: the end of the Western & Atlantic line.

By the early 1840s:

• Settlers were opening shops, boarding houses, and small businesses
• The area grew into a recognizable village

In 1843, the community was officially named “Marthasville”, reportedly in honor of Martha Lumpkin, the daughter of former Georgia Governor Wilson Lumpkin, who was involved with the railroad effort.

If you’re walking around modern Atlanta and see mentions of “Terminus” (like business names) or “Marthasville” in local history displays, this is why—those were the pre-Atlanta names for the same general place.

1847: The Official Birth of the City of Atlanta

The name “Atlanta” began to catch on in the mid-1840s, likely tied to its role as a rail junction and a shortened version of references to the Western & Atlantic Railroad.

The key legal moment came on:

From this date forward:

• Atlanta became a legal municipality
• It could elect officials, set ordinances, and function as a city
• The name “Atlanta” was formalized and replaced Marthasville

This is why, when people ask “When was the city of Atlanta founded?”, historians, tour guides, and many local institutions point to 1847, and specifically December 29, 1847, as the city’s official founding.

If you visit government buildings like Atlanta City Hall (55 Trinity Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30303), this is the date you’re most likely to see referenced as Atlanta’s origin as a city.

Timeline at a Glance: How Atlanta Came to Be

Here’s a quick, Atlanta-focused summary you can refer back to:

• Pre-1830s – Land used and lived on by Native American nations, including the Muscogee (Creek) and Cherokee
• 1830s – Forced removal of Native peoples; land opened to white settlement
• 1837 – Site chosen for Western & Atlantic Railroad terminus near present-day Downtown
• Early 1840s – Settlement develops around the rail endpoint, often called “Terminus”
• 1843 – Community officially named Marthasville
• December 29, 1847 – City of Atlanta incorporated by the Georgia legislature

For civic and historical purposes in Atlanta, 1847 is typically recognized as the founding year, and December 29 as the official incorporation date.

Where You Can See Atlanta’s Early History Today

If you’re in Atlanta and want to connect these dates to real places, there are several spots where the city’s founding story is still visible.

1. Downtown / Five Points Area

This is essentially ground zero for Atlanta’s beginnings.

• The Five Points intersection marks where early roads and the railroad area converged.
• Nearby streets and older buildings sit close to where the “Zero Mile Post” once stood.
• Underground Atlanta and the streets around it line up with some of the oldest layers of the city’s development.

Walking around Downtown, you’re very close to where Terminus became Marthasville, and Marthasville became Atlanta.

2. Atlanta History Center

• Address: 130 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
• Located in Buckhead, this museum offers exhibits on early Atlanta, railroads, and the Civil War era.
• It’s a good place to see artifacts, maps, and interpretations of the city’s growth from the 1830s onward.

For residents or visitors, it’s one of the easiest ways to get a big-picture view of how Atlanta formed and changed.

3. Oakland Cemetery

• Address: 248 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312
• Established in 1850, just a few years after Atlanta’s incorporation
• Many early Atlanta leaders, merchants, and residents are buried here
• As you walk the grounds, you’re seeing the resting place of people who lived in or helped build the first decades of the City of Atlanta

Why Atlanta’s Founding Date Matters Locally

Knowing when Atlanta was founded is more than just a trivia fact—it helps make sense of the city you live in or visit today:

• Transportation first: Atlanta’s identity as a railroad hub in the 1840s paved the way for its role as a highway, freight, and airport hub today.
• Rapid growth: From 1847 onward, Atlanta grew quickly, which is why older neighborhoods like Downtown, Grant Park, Inman Park, and others show layers of history in their street patterns and architecture.
• Civic identity: Many local anniversaries, historical markers, and neighborhood tours reference 1847 as the benchmark date for Atlanta’s age and development.

If you’re attending an event, museum tour, or local history talk in the city, you’ll usually hear 1847 described as the key founding year.

Quick Reference: Answering the Question Clearly

If you ever need to explain this to someone—maybe a visitor, a new neighbor, or a student—here’s a crisp, Atlanta-focused way to say it:

• The location that became Atlanta was chosen as a railroad terminus in 1837.
• The settlement was briefly called Marthasville starting in 1843.
• The place officially became the City of Atlanta on December 29, 1847, when it was incorporated by the Georgia legislature.

So, when someone asks, “When was the city of Atlanta founded?” the most accurate, commonly accepted answer in Atlanta is: