- Lithonia, Georgia
Infobox Settlement
official_name = Lithonia, Georgia
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settlement_type =City
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Georgia
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = DeKalb
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unit_pref = Imperial
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area_total_km2 = 2
area_land_km2 = 2
area_water_km2 = 0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.8
area_land_sq_mi = 0.8
area_water_sq_mi = 0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 2187
population_density_km2 = 1093.5
population_density_sq_mi = 2733.8
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 33 |latm = 42 |lats = 46 |latNS = N
longd = 84 |longm = 6 |longs = 21 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 282
elevation_ft = 925
postal_code_type =ZIP code s
postal_code = 30038, 30058
area_code = 770
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 13-46860GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0325978GR|3
website =
footnotes =Lithonia is a town in DeKalb County, Georgia,
United States , and is incorporated as a city, the only type ofmunicipality in the state. The population was 2,187 at the 2000 census.Lithonia is located at coor dms|33|42|46|N|84|6|21|W|city (33.712658, -84.105897)GR|1. According to the
United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 0.8square mile s (12.0km² ), all of it land."Lithonia" means "city/town of stone". Lithonia is in the heart of the Georgian
granite area, hence the name of the town, from theGreek language "lithos", for stone. The nearbygranite dome ,Stone Mountain , is composed largely of a rock called Lithoniagneiss . The city of Lithonia is inmetro Atlanta .The [http://www.dekalblibrary.org/about/lithhist.htm Lithonia Public Library] , established in 1907, was the first
public library in DeKalb County; it was an independent library from 1907 to 1951, when it joined with theDeKalb County Public Library .Lithonia Lighting , a majormanufacturer oflight fixture s, was founded here in1946 , moving to nearbyConyers in1957 . [http://www.lithonia.com/company/history.asp]Major roads
*Turner Hill road
Stonecrest Mall --Marta Bus Route 116----
*Evans Mill Road New Birth Church ---Marta Bus Route 86,116---
*"East" Covington Highway ---Marta Bus Route 111,115---
*Farrington Road ---Marta Bus Route 86---
*Hillandale DriveDeKalb Medical Center ---Marta Bus Route 111---
*Snapfinger Woods Drive ---Marta Bus Route 96---
*Panola Road Lou Walker Senior Center ---Marta Bus Route 86,96,111,117---
*Swift Street/Main Street City of Lithonia ---Marta Bus Route 86,115,116,216---
*Lithonia Industrial Blvd. ---Marta Bus Route 86 (Hillandale),115(Covington Hwy), 116 (Redan Road)---
*"East" Redan Road ---Marta Bus Route 116---
*Dekalb Medical Pkwy Dekalb Medical Center ---Marta Bus Route 111---
*Mall Parkway Stonecrest Mall ---Marta Bus Route 111,116---
*Panola Industrial Blvd. --Marta Bus Route 111---
*Klondike Road ---Marta Bus Route 111,116(mall pkwy)
*Farrington Pkwy ---Marta Bus Route 86---
*South Deshon Road
*Stone Mountain/Lithonia Road
*Browns Mill Road ---Browns Mill Park---Demographics
As of the census GR2 of 2000, there were 2,187 people, 799 households, and 560 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,068.9/km² (2,770.2/sq mi). There were 892 housing units at an average density of 1,129.9/sq mi (436.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 16.64% White, 79.61% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.42% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. 2.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. It is one of the wealthiest majority-black areas in the United States.
There were 799 households out of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 23.3% were married couples living together, 41.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.25.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 76.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 63.1 males.
Controversy
In 2006,
WSB-TV discovered that the Lithoniapolice department had been illegally driving uninsuredpolice cruiser s for a period of six months. There has been much debate over formermayor Darold Honore and his practices of governing city funds. Honore had thepassword andlock s changed to thecity council building without releasing the new password or keys to council persons.In early 2008, mayoral
election s were held, these events where not without controversy with Joyce McKibben emerging as the winner by one vote. Candidate Rhonda Peek challenged these results and contested that McKibben's main residence wasn't inside thecity limit s. Peek tried to have her case tried in Dekalb County Municipal Courts but they would not, she then took her case to neighboringRockdale County where ajudge ruled against Peek, stating that the results of the election are valid.McKibben came under fire for her recent decision to fire the
chief of police and stating that he as well as council members have their "hands dirty in Honore's money". Less than a year after her election, McKibben was removed from office in arecall election onSeptember 30 th, after apetition was approved inAugust 2008 . The vote was 78% for and 22% against (166 to 47), with avoter turnout of 20%, considered large for aspecial election . [http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=121814&catid=8] Despite thelandslide defeat , the mayor, who is still in office untilballot s arecertified by theGeorgia secretary of state later in the week, says she will contest the results. Barring anycourt ruling s in her favor, the mayorpro tempore will take office until another special election can be held onNovember 18 th. This is necessary becauseearly voting for thegeneral election onNovember 5 th had already begun in late September.Famous residents
*
Max Cleland (former member of theUnited States Senate , b. 1942)
*Brenda Lee (popularcountry music singer, b. 1944)
*James Gregory (stand-up comedian, b. 1946)
*Alton Brown (Food Network host, "Iron Chef America" & "Good Eats", b. ~1965)
*Fred Nix, Jr. (technologist, b. 1970)
*Rebecca Latimer Felton (First woman to serve in the US Senate, b. 1835)
*Terrell Owens (NFL American football wide receiver, b. 1973)References
External links
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