If it is southwest of Atlanta, why is it called East Point?
This week on the Stories of Atlanta, we take a look at what seems to be an Atlanta history contradiction. It has to do with the naming of a neighboring city and why it got its name.
With the unpleasantness of dealing with Atlanta’s rowdy element behind them, Atlanta’s city fathers turn their attention to what would become a constant nemesis during the city’s pre-Civil War days…fire. Of course, Atlanta’s history and General Sherman’s infamous blaze go hand-in-hand, but prior to the big one, the threat of fire was always on the minds of Atlantans, so they came up with a plan to be better prepared.
The early 1850’s also saw the addition of Atlanta’s fourth railroad line, which provides a possible answer to the above question about East Point, and in 1852 Atlantans were given the chance to vote for a new president and, apparently, being alive wasn’t a quality that some Georgians felt was needed in a presidential candidate. And in that same year, Atlanta’s first mayor meets an untimely end. It’s all that Atlanta history, plus a new grist mill and a new church on this week’s Stories of Atlanta.
Thank you.I am resident of East Point, since the early sixties. Why is though East Point always comes up Atlanta. It really doesn’t matter. I thank you for sharing this with us.
I always assumed it was called Eastpoint because there is literally a city further west called Westpoint… guess I was wrong
AJ – that’s an interesting point (pun intended). It’s possible that the town chose the name East Point because West Point was just about 80 miles to the west. Apparently, West Point was originally named Franklin but changed its name in 1832, well before the rail line was established. More information can be found at this Troup County Archives site: https://www.trouphistory.org/a-brief-history-of-west-point-georgia/
Joycelyn – Thanks for watching and for taking the time to post a comment. – Lance