How many cities do you know that were once another city? Brookhaven was once North Atlanta. Between 1924 and 1963, the area now known as Brookhaven existed as the municipality of North Atlanta. An 1872 Act for Judicial Incorporation paved the way. The Georgia General Assembly enabled Brookhaven to become the village of North Atlanta. This act outlined how towns and villages in Georgia could incorporate. However, the act was repealed in 1939.
North Atlanta was bordered by Atlanta to the south. Chamblee bordered it to the north. It covered seven square miles. In 1924, the total population was less than one hundred people. But by 1964, it had grown to over 13350.
Elected officials governed North Atlanta. They received no salaries. The village’s income came primarily from business licenses. A two percent insurance premium tax also contributed. In North Atlanta’s last three years, $5000 came from the state for road improvements. The primary expenses were street lighting, the Brookhaven Public Library and traffic improvements.
Representatives of North Atlanta applied for a post office in 1954. Notices indicated that the post office was denied. The North Atlanta post office application is on file in the National Archives. It shows the planned location was at the Oglethorpe railroad station.
The archives of North Atlanta from 1957 to 1962 are at Oglethorpe University’s Philip Weltner Library. Meeting minutes reveal interesting details.
At the October 1957 meeting, the Marist Society of Georgia applied to build a new site for Marist College in North Atlanta. This became the campus on Ashford Dunwoody Road.
The August 1958 meeting was led by Mayor Bill Haas. It was held at the Ashford Park Clubhouse. An announcement was made that North Atlanta signs had been made and paid for. They just needed to be installed.
In 1963, the Mayor and City Council realized the old charter of 1924 was no longer working. The people of Brookhaven voted on whether to retain their old charter. They considered seeking a new charter or becoming part of unincorporated DeKalb County. Most voters chose becoming part of DeKalb County. The village of North Atlanta was officially abolished on February 2, 1965.
A document titled “North Atlanta 1965: A Report by the Mayor and City Council” gave the history of North Atlanta. The report concluded that the people of Brookhaven should form a North Atlanta Association. One of the first objectives was to explore annexing to Chamblee or Atlanta or eventually reincorporating.
Richard Atkinson wrote an article in the May 2, 1983 Atlanta Journal. It was titled “The Long Lost City of North Atlanta GA.” Atkinson said, “My hometown’s odd beginning matched its end.” The 3/1/1964 meeting minutes include city attorney Higdon’s statement. He said the state legislature’s bill to abolish the village of North Atlanta had been signed by Governor Sanders. February 2, 1965 was the city’s last day. Archives of city were given to Oglethorpe University.
Brookhaven was approved in a referendum to become DeKalb County’s 11th city on July 31, 2012. Incorporation officially took place on December 17, 2012. The new city stretches over 12 square miles. Brookhaven has a rich history. It evolved from a small village to a thriving city. Its journey reflects the dynamic changes in the Atlanta metropolitan area.