Piedmont Heights dates back to as early as 1912, as evidenced by reference to the “Piedmont Heights” area found in plats in the Fulton County tax offices. Our neighborhood has had an interesting evolution through the years. Once considered “the country” and located on the outskirts of Atlanta, this area was composed of mostly undisturbed forest. The second oldest house in Atlanta is the two-story frame Liddell house on Montgomery Ferry, built circa 1860.

Early residents of the area included the Liddells (who owned a 40-acre farm), the Plasters, the Hopes, and the Monroes. The Monroe family owned a 15-acre parcel of land where the current Ansley-Monroe Villas and the Red Cross are now located. W. L. Monroe operated a vibrant nursery for many years beginning in the 1940s, and it brought employment and residents to the area.

In 1924, our neighborhood was home to the Governor’s Horse Guard Stables, located near the Montgomery Ferry and Flagler intersection. New residents to the area in 1937 could purchase a new home for $4,700, and the homestead exemption covered the county and state taxes! The Rock Spring Road and Wimbledon Road areas were developed during the ‘40s and ‘50s.

After the Northeast Expressway (I-85) was built in the 1950s, the community known as Piedmont Heights began to experience encroaching commercial development, rezoning, and other problems related to Atlanta’s growth. To combat these problems, a group of homeowners formed a civic organization to protect the vitality and beauty of our neighborhood and the “Piedmont Heights Civic Assocation” was born.

Over 1,600 households make up Piedmont Heights. Our neighborhood borders are Piedmont Avenue/Road (east), the abandoned railroad bed (west), and I-85 (north). Many diverse residents call this area home. Singles, elderly residents, young couples, and families find an easy commute to just about anywhere in the city.

Our area has a strong selection of restaurants, financial institutions, grocery stores, and retail outlets, including coffee and bagel houses, all within a short distance of your front doorstep.

Photographs provided courtesy of Special Collections Department, Georgia State University.