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
Adult Improv Classes
Adults 18+ Back by popular demand! Improve quick thinking and confidence with interactive exercises…
Afternoon Crafts at Dunwoody Public Library
Monthly stories and crafts for school-age children. Ages 5-10 years Groups of 5 or more, call branch…
Backyard Scientists: Homeschool Nature Class
Get your kids outside and into nature! On Thursdays, homeschoolers in K-5th grade can enjoy outdoor…
Chamber Orientation
This bimonthly Orientation is designed to provide you with a complete overview of the Perimeter…
Music Bingo
Enjoy free music bingo while you dine and savor the latest food hall in Dunwoody! Thursdays @7pm
Spruill Gallery Presents Granular Landscapes with works by Soo Kim Yung and sound installations by Claire Paul
Spruill Gallery is pleased to present Granular Landscapes featuring Soo Kim Yung and Claire Paul…
Trivia Night
Whether you’re the whiz of the group or the dunce, a trivia outing is about so much more than the…
Yoga on the Farm
As the week begins to wind down, pause to take a breath and start your Thursdays with intention…
Live Music at HOBNOB
Join us at HOBNOB Ashford Lane every Friday and Saturday for live music at 7pm! Enjoy the best of…
Live Music at The Village
Enjoy live music at Bar{n} this Summer!
Perimeter Chamber- Virtual AI Powered Selling, the Future of Sales Meeting
Join chamber member Jay Eibler, President of Sandler by All In Selling LLC, for this virtual…
Dueling Pianos in Dunwoody!
You pick the songs with cash money. We play them. Jokes are made. Everybody sings along. Drinks…
Dunwoody Farmer's Market
Where can you drink organic coffee, eat a fresh-baked breakfast sandwich, and shop for tonight's…
Karaoke Night at Gilly's
Come out for Karaoke night at Gilly's Sports Bar Saturday nights at 9pm!
Monarchs & Margaritas
The Dunwoody Nature Canter’s annual fundraising gala is here: Monarchs & Margaritas! Join us for…
Puppet Palooza Saturdays with Piccadilly Puppets
This year we are teaming up with Piccadilly Puppets to bring five different puppet shows throughout…
Spruill Gallery Shop Event & Pet Portraits
Join us at the Spruill Gallery on May 4 from 2 to 5 pm as we introduce our inaugural +Shop event…
Live Music at Politan Row
Check out the Atlanta Brass Cats Duo every Sunday from 1-4pm.
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…