Fulton County
Fulton County can be divided into three regions: South, North and for lack of a better term, Central. Central Fulton County is basically... the City of Atlanta. The city itself has a population of 425,200. Peachtree Street may be its most famous street - it certainly is the most popular name for a street. In fact, there are over 50 streets in Atlanta with "Peachtree" in their names. Peachtree Battle Road, Peachtree-Dunwoody Road, Peachtree Hills...it can be rather confusing.
In addition, the roads are not built on a grid pattern like Washington, D.C., for example. They can run haphazard at times and are often still under construction. In fact, you may notice that the same road changes names several times within the course of just a few miles.
Atlanta is a mixture of gleaming skyscrapers, historic communities and pulsing nightlife. Downtown Atlanta is the heart of the business district, with companies such as SunTrust, CNN and BellSouth calling it home. An 11-block portion of downtown is occupied by The Peachtree Center, a mix of office towers, restaurants and hotels. Designed by architect John Portman, it is an impressive display.
Midtown, located just north of Downtown, is known for its unique residential communities and its cultural arts scene. The Woodruff Arts Center houses the Atlanta Symphony, the Alliance and Studio Theatres and the High Museum of Art. Concerts, musicals and other live performances are held throughout the year at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, whose Moorish/Egyptian decor features a twinkling, starry ceiling. Midtown is also home to the popular Piedmont Park, where Atlantans go to enjoy the outdoors.
Continuing north you will discover Buckhead, a mecca of elegant Southern homes, exclusive shopping and thriving commercial development. Known as Atlanta's silk stocking district, Buckhead is home to the Georgia Governor's Mansion and the Atlanta History Center. Drive down Blackland and Tuxedo Roads and you will be amazed at the beautiful mansions and landscaped yards. During the spring it is especially breathtaking.
During the day, Buckhead is a major commercial center, with three-fourths as much space as downtown Atlanta. It is also home to approximately 1,400 retail outlets, over 4,600 hotel rooms and the largest shopping center in the Southeast. The population of Buckhead is 61,000, with a daytime number reaching 135,000.
And at night, Buckhead becomes one of Atlanta's hottest entertainment hubs, with restaurants, bars and night clubs that are consistently packed. Within two and a half blocks of Peachtree at Paces Ferry (in the Buckhead Village area) there are over 100 restaurants and night spots.
Atlanta's in-town communities can be found clustered throughout the city. Noteworthy are Ansley Park, located in Midtown and former home of the late Lewis Grizzard; Inman Park, just a mile from downtown and featuring Victorian homes; and Virginia Highland, located at the intersection of Virginia and North Highland avenues and featuring quaint bungalows. Luxury apartments and condominiums (both high-rise and mid-rise) can be found in Midtown and Buckhead.