DeKalb County
DeKalb County is the most urban county, with a portion of the city of Atlanta falling into it. It has a definite international flair, and is the most ethnically and culturally diverse county in the metro area.
In fact, the International Corridor, a marketplace of ethnic shopping, dining, and business, is located along Buford Highway in DeKalb County. The city of Chamblee is developing an "International Village" atmosphere to accompany this trend. The DeKalb County School System is doing its part by providing special classes and programs for non-English speaking students.
In fact, DeKalb County is a center of higher education in Atlanta. Georgia Perimeter College (formerly DeKalb College) has three campuses within the county and is one of the largest colleges in the state. DeKalb Tech is the largest vocational technical institute in Georgia and offers a wide range of degree programs. And DeKalb is home to a number of prestigious private schools, including nationally-known Emory University and Agnes Scott College, a private, undergraduate school for women.
There are eight cities located in DeKalb County, with perhaps the most prominent being Avondale Estates, Decatur and Stone Mountain. Avondale Estates, designed in the 1920s, was patterned after Stratford-on-Avon. Tudor-style commercial areas surrounded by lush greenery and quiet streets give the area an aura of tradition and style. Decatur, the county seat, is a historic town that still hosts annual festivals celebrating everything from the Fourth of July to the lighting of the Christmas tree. Stone Mountain Village is located at the base of one of Georgia's most popular state parks. The Village is quaint and picturesque, and features affordable houses and a number of new subdivisions. Its historic past and famous park give it a unique appeal. Stone Mountain Park features the largest bas-relief sculpture in the world. Carved on the rock is an image of three Confederate war heroes, which is the centerpiece of a nightly laser show each summer. Thousands of visitors picnic on the lawn before the laser show begins at dusk. Other attractions at the park include golf, tennis, nature trails, water sports, an ante-bellum mansion, and even a riverboat. The brand new Stone Mountain Tennis Center is a state-of-the-art stadium that will host the U.S. Women's Hardcourt Championships for the next four years. It is also home to a number of local ALTA and USTA teams.
However, no picture of DeKalb County is complete with mentioning Dunwoody. This unincorporated area located between I-285 and the Chattahoochee River is one of the most popular and prestigious addresses in Atlanta. Dunwoody borders Sandy Springs in North Fulton, and together they form a business center and upper-scale housing district. Because of the high number of office parks in the area, many high-end subdivisions have appeared. The average home price in Dunwoody is around $350,000, with many homes topping $1 million.