Buckhead

Did you ever hear of a neighborhood named after a deer head? Welcome to Buckhead, a vibrant district in Atlanta, Georgia. Its unique name has a fascinating origin story. In 1838, Henry Irby bought over 200 acres of land. He built a tavern and general store. Legend says he killed a large buck and proudly displayed its head. The locals started calling the area “the buck’s head”, which eventually became Buckhead. The tavern became a popular spot, a central hub in the growing community. Buckhead was officially recognized as an election district in 1840. A post office opened in 1841, further solidifying its identity. Buckhead began its life as a rural settlement. In 1850, the population was only 408 people, mostly farmers. Fast forward to the summer of 1864. The Civil War reached Buckhead. Near Nancy Creek and Moore’s Mill, fierce battles were fought. These clashes were part of the larger Atlanta Campaign. The Battle of Peach Tree Creek, a decisive Union victory, marked a turning point in the war. Buckhead’s clay deposits led to a pottery industry in the late 19th century. The Rolader family made whiskey jugs, milk pitchers, and butter churns. By the turn of the century, wealthy Atlantans began building summer cottages in Buckhead. Transportation improvements, like the trolley line extension in 1907, spurred growth. Grand estates and residential neighborhoods sprung up. Commercial development followed. Jacobs’ Drugstore and Murray’s hardware store became community fixtures. The Buckhead Theater, opened in 1930, entertained residents for decades. In 1952, Buckhead was annexed into Atlanta. This merger brought significant changes. Lenox Square Mall, built on the former Ottley estate, opened in 1959. The mall’s construction marked the beginning of Buckhead’s transformation into a modern commercial center. Today, Buckhead boasts over 50 high-rise buildings.