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Moving to Atlanta? Here’s What You Should Know
If you’re thinking about moving to Atlanta, the first thing you should know is that the locals know your just visiting when people call it “Hotlanta.” The h-word is reserved for tourists. You may also be tempted to call it “ATLWood” or “Y’allywood” because of the booming television and movie industry, but that’s not much better. If you must use a nickname, stick to “the ATL.” It’s widely used and locally respected. Now that we’ve covered the city’s major nicknames, here are eight more things you should know before you move to Atlanta.
1. There are more than 300 green spaces
Another nickname the city boasts, is “City in a Forest,” Atlanta has more than 300 green spaces. While almost every park features unique qualities, one particular park hosted1996 Olympic Games. The aptly named Centennial Olympic Park features an iconic fountain shaped like the Olympic rings as well as incredible recreational facilities and attractions. This includes the CNN Center, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia World Congress Center, the Georgia Aquarium, and the World of Coca-Cola. As an aspiring citizen of Atlanta, you should probably visit them all. There are Groupon deals for most of the locations, so there’s really no excuse.
2. There are plenty of festivals
Centennial Olympic Park may be the most famous in the city, but Piedmont Park is where the magic happens. As the largest recreational area in Atlanta, Piedmont Park is the go-to space for annual festivals. The list of festivals includes The Dogwood Festival, which features artisans, food vendors, and all kinds of performers. The Music Midtown festival showcases massive musical acts like Pearl Jam and Coldplay. Other popular festivals include the Virginia-Highland Summerfest and DragonCon. The former is a lively street fest and the latter includes a massive parade of cosplayers. What’s not to love?
3. You can also experience high art
Music festivals are well and good, but sometimes it’s nice to appreciate some of the finer things in life. In Atlanta, this can be found at the Woodruff Arts Center, a massive campus that houses the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Alliance Theatre. The Center also hosts classes and events on a variety of different topics. In the past, offerings have included everything from instrument making to costuming and African dance.
4. Buckhead boasts the best shopping
If you like shopping, you’ll love Buckhead. This affluent suburb includes not one, not two, but three of the best shopping centers in Atlanta. For a traditional shopping mall experience visit the Lenox Square Mall, Phipps Plaza or The Shops of Buckhead Atlanta. Lenox Square offers several sprawling department stores, and Phipps Plaza features high-end retailers like Gucci and Prada. Across the street, the Shops Around Lenox include smaller retailers like American Apparel and Cosabella.
5. Atlanta is full of history
As the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Atlanta is steeped in the history of the American Civil Rights movement. Built in 2007, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights honors this history with more than 200 exhibits. The center also screens documentaries, hosts lectures, and organizes its own World Music Day. If you have any interest in American history or social justice, you owe it to yourself to visit this landmark museum.
6. It’s home to several Fortune 500 employers
Atlanta’s job market has seen its fair share of ups and downs. While Atlanta is home to one of the largest airports in the world and the headquarters for UPS, Coca-Cola, Home Depot, and several other Fortune 500 companies, the unemployment rate is still close to 5%, a bit above the national average. There are a variety of factors affecting Atlanta’s unemployment rate, but residents claim that it’s difficult to find a job without a personal connection. On the bright side, August 2017 marked the first time Georgia exceeded 4.5 million jobs. TLDR: It seems like Atlanta’s economy is on mend, but perhaps you should start the job search before you make your move.
7. Atlanta is one of the cheaper big cities
Atlanta is one of the more affordable big cities in the United States. You’ll get a lot of square footage for what you’ll spend in Atlanta. If you’re looking to buy a home, the median sales price of a single-family home in Fulton County is $331,000, which is $37,000 less than the national average of new homes sold in the US.
8. You’re Not Alone
Last but not least, you should know that if you’ve been thinking about moving to Atlanta, you’re not alone. Atlanta is actually full of transplants—so full that locals often identify one another by the hospital in which they were born. Be sure to watch out for those Grady babies—they’re nothing but trouble. Ultimately, just be assured that you’re not the only new person on the block. You’ll surely find your home in Atlanta.
Writer/Contributer Abigail Golder