Marietta, Georgia

Located 15 miles northwest of Atlanta, the suburban city of Marietta offers the best of everything to its residents: history, culture, ambiance, natural beauty, and close proximity to one of the most vibrant big cities in America—prompting the National Civic League to name Marietta an All-America City in 2006. Add to that surprisingly modest home prices, and it’s little wonder why this is one of the metro’s most popular neighborhoods.

HISTORY

Marietta was first settled in the early 1830s, experienced growth and prosperity from the arrival of the railroad in the 1840s, and was incorporated in 1852. After that point, the city struggled for survival due to three separate devastating fires during the 1850s. They managed to rebuild just in time for the Civil War, only to be ravaged again by fire in 1864 during General Sherman’s March to the Sea. One building that managed to survive all the fires was the historic Oakley House, built in 1838, which holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously occupied home in the city. Despite these and other tragedies, Marietta has managed to preserve much of its history, and today maintains no less than six historic districts.

NEIGHBORHOOD STATS

With a population of just over 58,000 people, Marietta is one of the largest suburban communities in the Atlanta metro area. The median household income is about $39,000, below the state median of $46,007, while the median home value is slightly above the state average, at just over $200,000. The most expensive homes can generally be found on the east side of Marietta, in and around Chattahoochee Plantation (median price $350,000 and up); the south side just outside the city center offers more affordable properties in the $100,000-$130,000 range. While most homes in the area were built after 1970, Marietta does offer a fair number of classic homes, as well.

EDUCATION

Although Marietta is the county seat of Cobb County, public education within the city limits is governed by Marietta City Schools, while the Cobb County School District operates public schools in the rest of the county. Marietta has one high school, one middle school and several elementary schools. The city also hosts three institutes of higher education: Southern Polytechnic State University, Chattahoochee Technical College and Life University.

ATTRACTIONS

Marietta serves as both a historic and cultural hub for the region, home to several museums, and theaters, and hosting numerous cultural events. The heart of the city is its historic town square, offering plenty of specialty stores and dining options in a turn-of-the-century setting. The square also hosts a highly popular farmer’s market, held very weekend year round. History buffs will also enjoy the Kennesaw National Battlefield Park just north and west of town, as well as the Marietta Confederate Cemetery.