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Mableton, Georgia

Coordinates:33°49′06″N84°34′34″W/ 33.81833°N 84.57611°W/33.81833; -84.57611
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"Mableton" redirects here. For the historic home in Santa Rosa, California, seeMcDonald Mansion.

Mableton, Georgia
City
From top to bottom, left to right: a residential street in Mableton, Robert Mable's home built in 1843, the Mableton Post Office, the Atlanta skyline from Mt. Harmony Memorial Gardens in Mableton
Location in Cobb County and the state of Georgia
Location inCobb Countyand the state ofGeorgia
Mableton is located in Metro Atlanta
Mableton
Mableton
Location within theAtlanta Metropolitan Area
Coordinates:33°49′06″N84°34′34″W/ 33.81833°N 84.57611°W/33.81833; -84.57611
StateGeorgia
CountyCobb
SettledSeptember 11, 1843
Incorporated (town)August 19, 1912
DisincorporatedAugust 17, 1916
Incorporated (city)May 11, 2023
Founded byRobert Mable
Government
•MayorMichael Owens(D)
• District CommissionerMonique Sheffield
• BodyCobb County Board of Commissioners
Area
[1]
• Total36.56 sq mi (94.7 km2)
• Land36.46 sq mi (94.43 km2)
• Water0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2)
Elevation
978 ft (298 m)
Population
(2020)
• Total37,115
• Density2,133.48/sq mi (823.65/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)UTC-4(EDT)
ZIP code
30126
Area code770/678/404
FIPS code13-48288[2]
GNISfeature ID0332295[3]
Websitemableton.gov

Mableton(/ˈmeɪbəltən/) is a city inCobb County, Georgia,United States. Voters of the unincorporated area of Mableton approved a referendum to incorporate on November 8, 2022, and six council members were elected on March 21, 2023, withMichael Owenselected asmayor of Mabletonin the2023 Mableton mayoral election.According to the2020 census,the census-designated area Mableton had a population of 37,115; the city has more. UponBrookhaven's cityhood in December 2012, Mableton was previously the largestunincorporated CDPinMetro Atlanta.With boundaries described in Appendix A of House Bill 839, Mableton is the largest city in Cobb County in terms of population and includes historical Mableton, along with the Six Flags area, areas of unincorporated Smyrna, and parts of unincorporated South Cobb.

History[edit]

Early history (1843–1912)[edit]

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, most of the land in present-day southern Cobb County belonged to theCherokeeandCreek.Two Native American villages were established near the area that will later become known as Mableton - the settlements of Sweet Water Town and Nickajack. Both tribes coinhabited the area peacefully, with one legend claiming that eventual ownership of the area by the Cherokee was settled via a ball game.[4]One of the early known records of white Europeans being aware of the inhabitants is an 1839 map depicting a 'Nickajack Creek' converging with the Chattahoochee River south and west of theStanding Peachtreesettlement.[5]

Robert Mable

The town was named after Scottish immigrant Robert Mable (October 18, 1803 - July 7, 1885), who on September 11, 1843, bought 300 acres (approximately 120 hectares or 1.2 km2) of land in southern Cobb County from theGeorgia Land Lottery of 1832.Mable was a millwright and farmer who grew cotton, corn, potatoes, and sorghum in the area; he owned between 11 and 48 slaves by 1860. According to oral interviews, Mable was a "fair and kind" enslaver who educated slave children alongside his own, and eventually also liberated his slaves before any government mandate ordered him to.[4]TheRobert Mable House and Cemetery,located offU.S. 78on Floyd Road just north of Clay Road, now includes an amphitheater which hosts public events.[6]

More white settlers moved into the northern edge of Mableton byNickajack Creek,near Smyrna, in the mid-1800s. They formed a community initially known as Mill Grove and later Nickajack. The creek provided ample power to run grist, saw, cotton, and woolen mills. Acovered bridge,originally built c. 1848–1850, traverses the stream and is now part of ahistorical district.It is one of the few remaining covered bridges in Georgia, and still highly active today after it was later buttressed to handle automobile traffic. A notable resident of the area during that period was John Gann, Cobb County's first state senator. His home, built in 1841, still stands today and is also part of the historical district.[5]

During theAtlanta campaignof theCivil War,Union officersWalter Q. GreshamandFrancis P. Blair Jr.of theXVII Corpsreached Mableton on July 3, 1864, after theUnion defeat at Kennesaw.Gresham replenished his troops' supplies and received medical care at Robert Mable's house, and camped for the night before advancing to Atlanta.[7]The house was spared from the carnage ofSherman's March to the Sea.[8]

The Mableton train depot, constructed 1881

TheGeorgia Pacific Railway(later absorbed bySouthern Railwayand today known as theNorfolk Southern Railway) opened a railroad station in Mableton in December 1881. The chief engineer erected a sign displaying 'Mableton' upon completion of the station in honor of Robert. The first train from Atlanta arrived at the station just before Christmas. Shortly after, the post office was established on June 28, 1882. This replaced the post office in Bryantville, a former settlement about two miles (3.2 km) southeast. The arrival of the railroad allowed Mableton to act as a commercial hub for then-rural Cobb County.[9]Cotton export flourished throughout the county from the 1890s until theGreat Depression.[10]

Original incorporation (1912–1916)[edit]

Homer A. Gloreand his wife in Mableton Drug Store and Post Office in 1925

On August 19, 1912, Mableton was incorporated as a town but was disincorporated on August 17, 1916.[11]In that year, the town suffered from a heavy flood, resulting in an unexpected tax burden being placed upon the residents for repairs.[8]But after locals successfully demanded that a tax on storm drains be shared by all of Cobb County instead, the town's charter was revoked and Mableton was disincorporated.[12]Homer A. Glore,a medical doctor served as the firstmayor of Mableton.[4][13]

Unincorporated area (1916–2023)[edit]

Restored municipality (2023–)[edit]

In 2020, a local initiative known as the South Cobb Alliance fostered a debate for cityhood.[14]A feasibility study conducted by theCarl Vinson Institute of Governmentstated that the potential city would generate $11.3 million in operating expenses and $14.6 million in revenue.[15]Alternatively, nearby Smyrna considered anne xing parts of Mableton. This move would have made Smyrna the largest city in Cobb County, surpassing the county seat ofMarietta,and ultimately disrupt Mableton's cityhood efforts.[16]

Following the2022 midterm elections,a referendum on cityhood was passed, with 13,162 in favor of Mableton's cityhood and 11,675 rejecting it.[17]It is the largest city in Cobb County in terms of population, with the new city incorporating about 47,000 residents.[18]The city limits also include areas of unincorporated Smyrna and Austell.

The City of Mableton was approved by the voters in a referendum on the General Election Ballot on November 8, 2022.[19]

The referendum was the result of the General Assembly's passage of House Bill (HB-839), which set the boundaries of the city, established city council districts, and laid out the powers of the Mayor and Council. The law also established March 21, 2023, as the date for a special election for the first council members andmayor of Mableton.

In2023 Mableton mayoral election,Michael Owensdefeated Aaron Carman in the runoff election and became the city's mayor.[20]

Geography[edit]

Mableton is located at33°49′06″N84°34′34″W/ 33.81833°N 84.57611°W/33.81833; -84.57611(33.818333, -84.576111).[21]TheChattahoochee Riveracts as the southeast border, separating Cobb County from westFulton County— where the historic African-American neighborhood ofCollier Heightsand the former site of theBankhead Courtshousing project are nearby. Two suburban cities directly border Mableton:Austellin the west andSmyrnain the north.Lithia Springs,an unincorporated community, is directly southwest.

Mableton is approximately 15 miles west-northwest from the city ofAtlanta,and approximately 20 miles fromHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19607,127—
198024,894—
199025,1371.0%
200029,73318.3%
201037,11524.8%
202040,83410.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]
1850-1870[23]1870-1880[24]
1890-1910[25]1920-1930[26]
1940[27]1950[28]1960[29]
1970[30]1980[31]1990[32]
2000[33]2010[34]2020[35]

Mableton appeared as an unincorporated place in the1960 U.S. Census.[29]It was not listed in the1970 U.S. Census.[30]It was listed as acensus designated placein the1980 U.S. Census.[31]

2020 census[edit]

Mableton, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[36] Pop 2010[34] Pop 2020[35] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
Whitealone (NH) 17,165 14,090 10,944 57.73% 37.96% 26.80%
Black or African Americanalone (NH) 8,633 14,424 17,982 29.04% 38.86% 44.04%
Native AmericanorAlaska Nativealone (NH) 72 101 61 0.24% 0.27% 0.15%
Asianalone (NH) 401 810 677 1.35% 2.18% 1.66%
Pacific Islanderalone (NH) 3 6 7 0.01% 0.02% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 112 113 271 0.38% 0.30% 0.66%
Mixed race or Multiracial(NH) 432 707 1,455 1.45% 1.90% 3.56%
Hispanic or Latino(any race) 2,915 6,864 9,437 9.80% 18.49% 23.11%
Total 29,733 37,115 40,834 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census[edit]

As of thecensus[2]of 2000,there were 11,339 housing units at an average density of 550.8 per square mile (212.7/km2). There were 10,894 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% weremarried couplesliving together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.12.

Government[edit]

Mableton, Georgia was incorporated as a city on August 19, 1912, before being disincorporated on August 17, 1916 as a result of a flood overwhelming the city's sewer system.[37][38]In November 2023, the city was reincorporated in an election.[19]

The mayor is the highest elected official in the city and the current mayor isMichael Owenswho was elected in the2023 Mableton mayoral election.

1912–1916[edit]

# Mayor Term start Term end
1 Homer A. Glore 1912 1913
2 W.H. Stroud[39] 1913 ????

2023–present[edit]

# Image Mayor Term start Term end Terms Party
1 Michael Owens 2023 Incumbent 1 Democratic

Transportation[edit]

The public-use, general aviationFulton County Airport (Brown Field)is adjacent to Mableton's southeast border with Fulton County. It includes two runways and handles approximately 65,000 operations annually.[40]

Recreation[edit]

Trails[edit]

The Silver Comet Trail intersecting Floyd Road in Mableton

TheSilver Comet Trailruns through Mableton.[41]It is a 61.5 mile paved trail with a 2% grade, beginning in Smyrna and ending at the Georgia-Alabama state line nearCedartown, GA.

One of the Silver Comet Trail's connectors, located at South Hurt Road in Mableton and Smyrna

Heritage Parkis a smaller trail running along Nickajack Creek that ultimately connects to the Comet. A notable landmark includes the ruins of a woolen mill built in the 1860s.[42]

Heritage Park in Mableton

Parks[edit]

  • Lions Park
  • Thompson Park
  • Riverline Park
  • Wallace Park

Community Garden[edit]

The Historic Mableton Community Garden is located at 5178 Floyd Road.[43]

Amphitheater[edit]

Governor Roy Barnes provided a state grant for construction of a 2,500-seatamphitheatershortly after his appointment in 2000, fulfilling residents' desire dating back from the 1970s. The Mable House Barnes Amphitheater is a $7 million state and local investment and attracts numerous high-profile acts.[44]

Amusement park[edit]

Six Flags Over Georgiais located near Mableton's border with Austell, adjacent to I-20. The park is home to 11 roller coasters, thefirst "floorless" freefall tower ride in the world,and a fully-functional carousel from 1908 listed in theNational Register of Historic Places.

Education[edit]

TheCobb County School Districtoperates several public schools in the area:

Elementary schools[edit]

  • Mableton Elementary School
  • Clay-Harmony Leland Elementary School
  • Bryant Elementary School
  • Riverside Elementary School
  • H.A.V.E.N. Academy at Skyview
  • Russell Elementary School

Middle schools[edit]

  • Floyd Middle School
  • Garret Middle School
  • Lindley Middle School
  • Betty Gray Middle School

High school[edit]

Private schools[edit]

TheGeorgia Japanese Language School(GJLS;ジョージア Nhật Bản ngữ trường họcJōjia Nihongo Gakkō), apart-time supplementary Japanese school,holds its classes at the Lindley 6th Grade Academy in Mableton;[45][46]Lindley was previously occupied by the W. H. Barnes Education Center.[47]The GJLS originally opened with nine students in 1974 atOglethorpe University,serving grades 1 through 9. The school moved to W.H. Barnes in 2002.[46]

Whitefield Academy,a Christ-centered college preparatory school in Smyrna, is near Mableton.[48]

The SAE Schoolis an "independent project-based learning school" for pre-school to 8th grade students located in Mableton.[49]

Primrose Schools,a private school for early preschool children, is in the Providence neighborhood of Mableton.[50]

Public library[edit]

  • South Cobb Regional Library

Redevelopment[edit]

In the summer of 2010, more than a hundred residents, bureaucrats, politicians, architects, designers and traffic engineers spent a week designing a vision for a redeveloped downtown Mableton. It was then formalized byDuany Plater-Zyberkinto a plan that was unanimously approved by Cobb County's Board of Commissioners in 2013.[51]The establishment of the new Mableton Town Center (MTC) is part of the county's 2040 Comprehensive Plan.[52]

A rendering of the proposed mixed-use development along Mableton Parkway

As of late 2020, Embry Development Company is in talks with the Cobb County Board of Commissioners to begin construction of a 31-acremixed-usecommercial/residential plaza at Mableton Parkway and Old Powder Springs Road.[53]The development calls for 81 town homes, 46 "courtyard cottage" style houses, 21 detached single-family homes, and 13,500 square feet of retail and restaurant space. The particular area, in addition to establishments along Veterans Memorial Highway (U.S. 78), is largelydated and rundown,with some businesses failing to adhere tobuilding codes.[54]

Another company, Garner Group, is also redeveloping a nearly 40 year oldstrip mallalong Floyd Road and East-West Connector into a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly plaza. There will be 360 luxury apartments and 42 townhomes on the 60-acre site, with the entire development occupying about 720,000 square feet. Planning Commission Chair Galt Porter, proponent of the plan, stated of the recent growth in the area: "It's probably been 15 to 20 years since there's been a market rate development of apartments anywhere close to this...you have to go to Smyrna to get something, or you have to go out all the way into Powder Springs to get something. There's just nothing in this area."[55]The project was approved by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners on October 21, 2020.[56]

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedDecember 18,2021.
  2. ^ab"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  3. ^"US Board on Geographic Names".United States Geological Survey.October 25, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  4. ^abc"The Mable House: Historic Structure Report"(PDF).2014.
  5. ^ab"Home, Gann Historical Society & Library, Inc".Gann Historical Society & Library, Inc.RetrievedSeptember 14,2020.
  6. ^"MABLETON, Cobb County. Incorporated as a town, August 19, 1912 to August 17, 1916. The post office was established June 28, 1882".Archive.is. Archived fromthe originalon December 5, 2012.RetrievedApril 4,2019.
  7. ^"The Mable House".Georgia Historical Society.June 16, 2014.RetrievedSeptember 9,2020.
  8. ^abTiller, Katie."Mableton's namesake still has ties to community".The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.RetrievedSeptember 9,2020.
  9. ^"Mission & Vision Statement".Mableton Improvement Coalition.RetrievedSeptember 8,2020.
  10. ^Acworth Society for Historic Preservation, Inc. (2003).Acworth.Charleston, SC: Arcadia.ISBN0-7385-1479-9.OCLC52982944.
  11. ^Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975).Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins(PDF).Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 139.ISBN0-915430-00-2.
  12. ^"Historical Sites - Taste of South Cobb".RetrievedSeptember 9,2020.
  13. ^"[Photograph of the Glore family, Mableton, Cobb County, Georgia, 1894] - Digital Library of Georgia".dlg.usg.edu.RetrievedSeptember 19,2020.
  14. ^"South Cobb Alliance".sites.google.RetrievedJune 10,2020.
  15. ^Kristal Dixon, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution."Study shows proposed city of Mableton is financially feasible".The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.RetrievedJune 10,2020.
  16. ^Kristal Dixon, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution."Smyrna annexation could make it largest Cobb city, but stymie Mableton".The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.RetrievedJune 10,2020.
  17. ^"Results - Election Night Reporting - Cityhood Question - Mableton".November 8, 2022.
  18. ^"Cobb County voters decide on Mableton cityhood | Results".November 9, 2022.
  19. ^abDillon, Denise (November 9, 2022)."Voters choose to incorporate Mableton, making it Georgia's newest city".FOX 5 Atlanta.Archivedfrom the original on December 24, 2023.RetrievedDecember 24,2023.
  20. ^"City of Mableton elects first mayor, city council".WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta.April 19, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on December 23, 2023.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  21. ^"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".United States Census Bureau.February 12, 2011.RetrievedApril 23,2011.
  22. ^"Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade".United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^"1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1870.
  24. ^"1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  25. ^"1910 Census of Population - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  26. ^"1930 Census of Population - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1930. pp. 251–256.
  27. ^"1940 Census of Population - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  28. ^"1950 Census of Population - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  29. ^ab"1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1960.
  30. ^ab"1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1970.
  31. ^ab"1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  32. ^"1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 1990.
  33. ^"2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia"(PDF).United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  34. ^ab"P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mableton, Georgia".United States Census Bureau.
  35. ^ab"P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Mableton, Georgia".United States Census Bureau.
  36. ^"P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Mableton, Georgia".United States Census Bureau.
  37. ^Johnson, Larry Felton (August 20, 2023)."When Mableton first was (and shortly thereafter wasn't) a city".Cobb County Courier.Archivedfrom the original on December 23, 2023.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  38. ^"A Different Kind of Cityhood Movement in Metro Atlanta".Bloomberg.May 26, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2023.RetrievedDecember 25,2023– via bloomberg.
  39. ^"[Photograph of T.B. Dodgen and his home, Mableton, Cobb County, Georgia, ca. 1900-1939?] - Digital Library of Georgia".dlg.usg.edu.Archivedfrom the original on December 23, 2023.RetrievedDecember 23,2023.
  40. ^"Airport".fultoncountyga.gov.RetrievedOctober 15,2020.
  41. ^"Silver Comet Trail, Cobb County Information - Georgia".Silvercometga.RetrievedJuly 11,2018.
  42. ^"Heritage Park | Cobb County Georgia".cobbcounty.org.RetrievedSeptember 27,2020.
  43. ^"Mableton Community Garden".mableton.org.RetrievedJune 8,2020.
  44. ^"About Us".mablehouse.org.RetrievedJuly 19,2020.
  45. ^"ジョージア Nhật Bản ngữ trường học /Georgia Japanese Language School".Georgia Japanese Language School.RetrievedOctober 11,2020.
  46. ^ab"13handbook_en09.pdf"(Archive). Georgia Japanese Language Academy. Retrieved on May 11, 2014. "C/O Lindley 6th Grade Academy 1550 Pebblebrook Circle Mableton, GA 30126 U.S.A."
  47. ^"03yoran_english.pdf"(). Georgia Japanese Language Academy. Retrieved on May 11, 2014." C/O W. H. Barnes Education Center 1550-B Pebblebrook Circle Mableton, GA 30126 U.S.A. "
  48. ^"Welcome to Whitefield Academy".whitefieldacademy.RetrievedOctober 11,2020.
  49. ^"Home Page".The SAE School.RetrievedOctober 11,2020.
  50. ^"The Leader in Early Education and Care".primroseschools.RetrievedOctober 11,2020.
  51. ^"Mableton Redevelopment District Now Has Master Plan".Patch. February 11, 2011.RetrievedJanuary 12,2020.
  52. ^"Ongoing and Completed Projects | Cobb County Georgia".cobbcounty.org.RetrievedOctober 23,2020.
  53. ^Gilbert, Aleks (August 3, 2020)."Cobb Planning Commission to hear mixed-used, single-family proposals".Northwest Georgia News.RetrievedAugust 6,2020.
  54. ^Johnson, Larry Felton (August 5, 2020)."Cobb Planning Commission holds decision on Mableton Parkway mixed-use development until September".Cobb County Courier.RetrievedAugust 6,2020.
  55. ^Gilbert, Aleks (October 6, 2020)."Mixed-use development could give Mableton a boost, Planning Commissioners say".MDJOnline.RetrievedOctober 11,2020.
  56. ^Lutz, Meris."Cobb approves major redevelopment of South Cobb shopping center".The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.RetrievedOctober 23,2020.
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