History of Dunwoody
Today, Dunwoody, Georgia, is known as an urban center for dining and premier shopping near Atlanta, anchored by Perimeter Mall, but the area officially recognized as the city of Dunwoody didn’t exist until December 2008, when Dunwoody was officially incorporated following a community-led movement.
Although not formally recognized as a city before then, residents in this area have always identified themselves as living in "Dunwoody" — a place with a distinctive history separate from other areas and cities in DeKalb County.
Listen to one of the founding mothers give her account of the incorporation of Dunwoody as a city in this two-part podcast from our friends at What's Up Dunwoody.
Part 1:
Part 2:
An Early Center of Commerce
Dunwoody’s roots go back hundreds of years, but even from its earliest days, Dunwoody, GA, has been a center of commerce. The Cherokee Indian tribe of the Creek Confederation first inhabited the area that is now Dunwoody, largely because of its proximity to the Chattahoochee River. It was the largest and busiest trading center in the vicinity. By 1820, Cherokee farms dotted the area around the Chattahoochee, and white settlers began to arrive soon thereafter, creating homesteads and expanding the area’s population.
Shaped by Mill & Rail
Charles Archibald Alexander Dunwoody (Dunwoody namesake, 1828-1905) was the son of John Dunwoody (also spelled Dunwody), one of the founders of the Roswell Manufacturing Company mills in neighboring Roswell, Georgia. By 1853, area had two cotton mills, employed about 300 people and was the largest cotton factory complex in North Georgia.
A railroad between Roswell and Atlanta was soon built, used to transport much-needed mill products to Atlanta during the Civil War and first linking the Dunwoody area to Atlanta. Much of that line was destroyed during the war, and after the fighting ended, Charles Dunwoody decided to build a new home near what it now Chamblee-Dunwoody Road and Spalding Drive.
A new railroad, the Roswell Railroad, was built to run between Roswell and Chamblee with a stop in Dunwoody, carrying produce from Dunwoody and fabric from the mills in Roswell. Dunwoody soon developed as a crossroads community (Chamblee-Dunwoody, Mt. Vernon and Nandina Road) and continued to grow and prosper even after the railroad shut down in 1921.
Enduring History
Today, people can visit several historic sites in Dunwoody, including the city’s oldest building, the Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church, which was built in 1829. The still-active church is home to a well-preserved cemetery where many of the founding fathers of Dunwoody are buried. Visitors can also browse through the Cheek-Spruill Farmhouse (1906), Swancy Farmhouse (1889) and Railroad Section Gang House (1880).
History of our Hospitality
Dunwoody's hotel scene has transformed into a true hospitality mecca in metro-Atlanta. While many of Dunwoody's hotel brands are new to the Perimeter Center market, staples like the Marriott Atlanta Perimeter Center and Crowne Plaza Ravinia have evolved with the City's growing hotel scene over the last 50 years.
- Marriott Atlanta Perimeter Center (March 1976)
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Atlanta Perimeter Center (December 1985)
- Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia (March 1986)
- Atlanta Perimeter Hotel & Suites (Sept 1991)
- Staybridge Suites Atlanta Perimeter Center (Nov 1991)
- Dunwoody Convention and Visitors Bureau (December 2009)
- Le Meridien Atlanta Perimeter (Former Atlanta Perimeter Hotel & Suites) (Feb 2013)
- Hampton by Hilton Inn & Suites Atlanta Perimeter Dunwoody (May 2016)
Residence Inn Atlanta Perimeter Center Dunwoody (Aug 2017) - Hyatt Place Atlanta Perimeter (Sept 2020)
- Sonesta ES Suites Atlanta- Perimeter Center (Former Staybridge Suites Atlanta Perimeter) (Dec 2020)
- AC Hotel by Marriott Atlanta Perimeter (Sept 2021)
Upcoming Events
ARIUM presents Sounds of Summer 2023
Whether you're a live music lover or simply looking for a fun time, Sounds of Summer 2023 will be…
Facing Y'all: Art Exhbit at Spruill Gallery
Spruill Gallery frames the South in photography exhibition Facing Y’all: Inclusion Through the Lens…
Fundamentals of Wine: Taste Like A Pro
Using your powers of observation, your sense of smell, and solid wine information (and process of…
Icebox Studio Grand Opening
Join the VIP list and receive complimentary services during the week of Icebox's grand opening!…
Tap That Tuesdays
Join Bar{n} for their special Tuesday night event featuring $5 draft beers and $7 pretzel & beer…
Salsa Night
Every Wednesday Happy Hour Drink Specials - 4pm to 6pm Live Salsa Band - 7pm to 9:30pm Free Salsa…
Wind Down Wednesdays
Every Wednesday Night from 6pm to 9pm enjoy live music, Complimentary Appetizers, and Specialty…
Wine Down Wednesday
Enjoy Wine Down Wednesday each and every Wednesday at Le Meridien in Dunwoody! Experience live…
Atlanta Swing Classic 2023
Welcome to the 2023 Atlanta Swing Classic held at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia. Join the competition or…
Discover Dunwoody Scavenger Hunt
Calling all runners and walkers! You don't want to miss this fun community event. It's a "Discover…
Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays
Food trucks, music, and a whole lot of fun! AND bring some food for those in need. Take Thursday…
Trivia Night
Whether you’re the whiz of the group or the dunce, a trivia outing is about so much more than the…
Jazzy Fridays-Louisiana Bistreaux
Looking for the perfect way to wind down after a long week? Join us every Friday night at Louisiana…
Tuesdays with Morrie @ Stage Door Theatre
Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catch Morrie’s appearance on a television news…
Weave a Mug Rug/Coaster
Learn how to use a simple portable loom and timeless weaving techniques to make a coaster for your…
Dunwoody Farmer's Market
Where can you drink organic coffee, eat a fresh-baked breakfast sandwich, and shop for tonight's…
Farm to Table Dinner & Bluegrass
Join us for our 5th Annual Farm to Table Dinner at the Donaldson-Bannister Farm! Saturday, September…
Kids Cooking Class-Lasagna
Join us for fun, hands on Kids Cooking Class Experience making LASAGNA ! Our Chef will guide your…
Atlanta Art Week: Let's Talk
Join us for Let’s Talk when Atlanta based artists Sheila Pree Bright, Jill Frank and Jerry Siegel…
Bourbon Club
Join us at the Dunwoody HOBNOB location every first Wednesday of the month for our Bourbon club…