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
Snap! Dragon's Garden
Spring has sprung at the Dunwoody Community Garden! Join us March 25th 11:00 am-2:00 pm. for a…
Tap That Tuesdays
Join Bar{n} for their special Tuesday night event featuring $5 draft beers and $7 pretzel & beer…
Hire Dunwoody Career Expo
HIREDunwoody is a career expo that brings together local jobseekers and the thriving business…
The Ultimate Bocce Ball League at Ashford Lane
Registration is now open for the inaugural Ultimate Bocce Ball League at the Ashford Lane…
Trivia Night
Whether you’re the whiz of the group or the dunce, a trivia outing is about so much more than the…
The Niceties at Stage Door Theatre
Zoe is a young black student at a liberal arts college. What begins as a polite clash in…
BlueSprig Pediatrics Touch-A-Truck
BlueSprig Pediatrics offers individualized ABA therapy for autistic individuals. BlueSprig…
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar Spring Menu Tasting Event
Lazy Dog Restaurant is hosting a special sneak peek event to celebrate new seasonal menu additions!…
Paint Like Bob Ross-In the Park!
Complete a Bob Ross landscape painting in just one class…even if you have never painted before!…
Treasure Island at Stage Door Theatre
A Thrilling musical about pirates, treasure maps, & mutiny on the high seas! Performed by the…
Lemonade Days Festival
Welcome to the annual Lemonade Days Festival – a premier Dunwoody signature event. Hosted by…
Big Green Eggs and Kegs
Don't Miss out on the best party in the 'burbs! 2022 sold out so buy your tickets today! 2nd Annual…
Plein Air Art Class
Sharon Weiss, award-winning artist and longtime Spruill Arts instructor, will be leading a plein air…
Dunwoody Food Truck Thursdays
Food trucks, music, and a whole lot of fun! AND bring some food for those in need. Take Thursday…
MDG Spring Art Market
MDG, Hue Designs ATL and Project Love Light are proud to present our 2023 Spring Art Market. Local…
Monarchs & Margaritas 2023
Monarchs and Margaritas is BACK!!! Guests will enjoy: An authentic farm-to-table meal made with…
AAPI Celebration
All are invited to celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander culture and cuisine in Dunwoody!•…
Cinco de Mayo
Come celebrate Cinco with MDG. We will have a taco bar for everyone. Traditional spanish music.
Walk to Cure Arthritis
Together, let’s rock the walk to a lifetime of Yes! Yes, to finding solutions, better treatments and…
The Burger Benefit
The Burger Benefit will bring chefs from around the country for a one day event to raise money for…