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59-633: Arabia Mountain , a part of Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area , is the northern of two peaks in the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve , in DeKalb County, Georgia , United States. A low saddle separates it from Bradley Mountain, several hundred feet to its south. The two form a monadnock . The peak is 955 feet (290 m) above sea level, rising 172 feet (52 m) above Arabia Lake reservoir. Bradley Mountain

118-1014: A 12-foot-wide (3.7 m) concrete road for pedestrian and bicycle use running from downtown Lithonia to Stonecrest Mall and thence through the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve to Panola Mountain State Park , ending at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers. This includes a spur to a parking area on Klondike Road and a spur to the DeKalb County School System 's Murphey Candler Elementary School and Arabia Mountain High School . DeKalb County, Georgia DeKalb County ( / d ə ˈ k æ b / , / ˌ d iː ˈ k æ b / də- KAB , DEE - KAB )

177-610: A buffer between the two nations, used as a trade and transportation corridor. The land was ceded to the State of Georgia by the Muscogee in 1821. The land was then distributed to settlers via the Georgia Land Lotteries. Throughout the rest of the 19th and most of the 20th centuries, the area remained very sparsely populated, with many of the roads remaining unpaved until the mid-1900s. The railroad connecting Atlanta and Augusta runs through

236-476: A ledge" or sever a large block of stone from the mass. That allowed more control over the size of the stone and large stones could be used for dimensional or building construction. The proximity to the railroad meant that the Tidal Grey could be easily transported across the country. Another advancement to the quarrying industry at Arabia Mountain was the discovery that adding granite grit to chicken feed helped with

295-649: A line from Druid Hills northeast to Tucker , is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin, while the portion of the county north of that line is located in the Upper Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). Stone Mountain lies near the eastern border of the county. Soapstone Ridge , parallel to

354-651: A nature preserve for local residents to enjoy. Since then, the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve has been expanded several times and now includes 2,550 acres, several granite outcrops and two lakes. On October 12, 2006, the mountain and Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve were designated as nationally significant as a part of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area in recognition of its cultural, historical and natural features. The PATH Foundation has completed more than 30 miles of

413-589: A private, coeducational, liberal arts university. It is a member of the Association of American Universities , an association of leading research universities in the US and Canada. The university consists of the following divisions: Emory College of Arts and Science, the Laney Graduate School, Candler School of Theology , Goizueta Business School , Emory University School of Law , Rollins School of Public Health , and

472-798: A result of the 1821 Treaty of Indian Springs with a faction of the Muscogee (Creek). DeKalb County, formed in 1822 from Henry , Gwinnett and Fayette counties, took its name from Baron Johann de Kalb (1721–1780), a Bavarian -born former officer in the French Army, who fought for the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War . The oldest existing house in the county is the 1831 Goodwin House along Peachtree Road in Brookhaven . Much of

531-617: A satellite campus in Stone Mountain Village. Georgia Piedmont Technical College (formerly DeKalb Technical College) is the largest vocational institution in Georgia . Georgia Piedmont Technical College trains students in business, engineering, technologies, health, human services, industrial arts, information systems, and transportation. DeVry University offers bachelor's and master's degrees in healthcare, accounting, business, and management technology. Columbia Theological Seminary

590-755: Is a theological institution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Decatur. More than 640 students are enrolled at Columbia in one of five degree programs: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Theology. Luther Rice College and Seminary is a private Christian college and seminary in Lithonia. It offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs in ministry and ministry-related programs. The DeKalb County Public Library has 22 branches throughout

649-462: Is also called shell grit . Other uses for shell grit include protecting plants from slugs or snails and for aquariums. Insoluble grit consists mainly of crushed stone (though often with additives). These do not dissolve in the bird's digestive system; instead, they remain in the gizzard for weeks or months to help the bird grind up its food for digestion. Stones used may include quartz , granite , feldspar , and phosphate rock. Insoluble grit

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708-408: Is closer to the visitor trails than Arabia Mountain and is often misidentified by visitors as Arabia Mountain. The mountain is also in a namesake National Heritage Area in the U.S. state of Georgia that encompasses natural, cultural, and historical elements to form a cohesive, nationally significant landscape. The area is due east of Atlanta and spans 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) reaching from

767-898: Is found in the gizzards of birds that eat plant parts and some that eat invertebrates . Because of its grinding function, this kind of grit is sometimes called "hen's teeth." The size of grit particles varies widely by species, from less than 0.1 millimeter in diameter to, in the case of larger birds like ostriches , over 2.5 cm in diameter. Juvenile birds will often ingest smaller pieces of grit than adults, as in Sarus Cranes. Grit size also varies with birds' diet; larger grit helps birds grind down harder, coarser food more efficiently. The kind of grit used may also change seasonally, whether due to varying availability of grit or varying availability of food to be digested. Sex and reproductive status are usually not associated with grit size. Grit that starts off in rough or angular pieces may become rounded off as it

826-572: Is located in the city of Brookhaven." Xpress GA / RTA commuter buses and MARTA heavy rail subway and buses serve the county. Currently, there are plans for the construction of a multi-use trail, known as the Peachtree Creek Greenway . The goal of the greenway is to provide residents with close-to-home and close-to-work access to bicycle and pedestrian trails, serve transportation and recreation needs, and help encourage quality of life and sustainable economic growth. The trail will connect

885-524: Is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia . As of the 2020 census , the population was 764,382, making it Georgia's fourth-most populous county. Its county seat is Decatur . DeKalb County is included in the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell metropolitan area . It contains roughly 10% of the city of Atlanta (the other 90% lies in Fulton County ). Stonecrest

944-454: Is more populous, DeKalb has the highest population density of any county in the Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $ 51,349 and the median income for a family was $ 60,718. Males had a median income of $ 43,663 versus $ 40,288 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 28,412. About 12.4% of families and 16.1% of the population were below

1003-745: Is not listed as an endangered species in Georgia or the US, but is in Tennessee). When granite and similar stone outcrops are exposed to erosion , over time, small depressions, called solution pools, form where weaker rock wears away faster than surrounding rock (often assisted by lichen ). Over time, these depressions fill with sand washed down from higher locations, which accumulates a small amount of organic content from decaying dead leaves and other detritus , as well as rain water. Small's stonecrop then takes hold in these sandy hollows. Primary Succession : It took thousands of years for plants and trees to grow in

1062-585: Is served by Atlanta Public Schools (APS). The Decatur portion is served by Decatur City School District . In 2020 this was the case, except that the Emory University / Centers for Disease Control area at the time was still in DeKalb County schools. In 2018 the City of Atlanta had annexed the region, but initially it was still covered by DeKalb County schools. There were plans to move the area into APS, and this

1121-468: Is the largest city that is entirely within the county. DeKalb is primarily a suburban county. In recent years, some communities in North DeKalb have incorporated, following a trend in other suburban areas around Metro Atlanta. Stonecrest , Dunwoody and Brookhaven are now the largest cities that are entirely contained within the county. The area of DeKalb county was acquired by the state of Georgia as

1180-645: Is used in a bird's gizzard. Grit has been known to avian researchers since at least the late 1700s. United States federal and state researchers began dedicating significant attention to grit by the start of the 1900s. Grit use has been studied in poultry , wild gallinaceous birds , and waterfowl . For poultry, the aim has been to improve the output of poultry and egg farms. For waterfowl and gallinaceous birds, there have been many avenues of research: their status as game birds, their population densities, any potential role of grit in lead poisoning , and pesticides that grit may include. This bird-related article

1239-702: The Chattahoochee River and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico . South River drains into the Ocmulgee River and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean . In 2021, the non-profit American Rivers named DeKalb's South River the fourth-most endangered river in the United States , citing "the egregious threat that ongoing sewage pollution poses to clean water and public health." The southern two-thirds of DeKalb County, in

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1298-672: The Georgia Department of Corrections was formerly located in an unincorporated area in DeKalb County. Female death row inmates (UDS, "under death sentence") resided in the Metro State Prison. The prison was closed in 2011. The Consulate-General of Mexico in Atlanta is located in the North Druid Hills CDP. The Consulate-General of Guatemala in Atlanta is located in Chamblee . The Consulate-General of Peru in Atlanta

1357-620: The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing . Mercer University is a private, coeducational, faith-based university with a Baptist heritage. Its main campus is in Macon . The Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus is in DeKalb County; it houses the College of Nursing, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology along with programs of

1416-503: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 271 square miles (700 km ), of which 268 square miles (690 km ) is land and 3.6 square miles (9.3 km ) (1.3%) is water. The county is located within the upper Piedmont region of the state. The county is crossed by the South River and numerous creeks, including Nancy Creek , Snapfinger Creek and two forks of Peachtree Creek . Peachtree Creek and Nancy Creek drain into

1475-552: The poverty line , including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over. Major employers in DeKalb County include: The DeKalb County 9/11 Memorial was dedicated on September 11, 2011. U.S. Marine and sculptor Curtis James Miller designed a memorial that is located in front of the Dekalb County Fire and Police Headquarters. The memorial pays homage to the 343 New York Firefighters , 60 New York Police Department and Port Authority Police Officers , and

1534-461: The railroad terminus in the 1830s, thus a spot at the Thrasherville encampment in western DeKalb was picked to become Terminus and then Marthasville, before becoming Atlanta a few years after its founding. North and southwest Fulton came from two other counties: Milton and southeast Campbell , respectively. DeKalb once extended slightly further north to the Chattahoochee River , but this strip

1593-450: The "edge effect" allows for greater biodiversity where two or more ecosystems intersect. For example, where the rock outcroppings border forests, the shallow soil retains more moisture due to runoff and can support the species of both the rock outcropping and the forest. In the 1970s, the Davidson family donated over 500 acres including Arabia Mountain and surrounding lands to DeKalb County as

1652-475: The DeKalb Marshal's Office, which serves civil processes issued through state court, such as evictions. Fire services are provided throughout the county by DeKalb County Fire and Rescue. Previously, DeKalb County Fire and Rescue also provided emergency medical services throughout the county; however, in 2013, the county signed a contract with American Medical Response to provide emergency medical services to

1711-742: The Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics, the School of Medicine, and the Tift College of Education. Oglethorpe University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts school in Brookhaven and is named after James Oglethorpe , founder of the Georgia Colony . Perimeter College at Georgia State University (formerly Georgia Perimeter College) has three campuses within DeKalb County and offers two-year associate degrees. Georgia Military College (GMC) has

1770-458: The Heritage Area. The monadnocks were formed when erosion resistant rock is exposed after softer rock is eroded over time. The individual characteristics of the monadnock are determined by the individual processes that formed the granite. For example, Arabia Mountain features a unique "swirl" pattern due to the heat and pressure that caused Arabia Mountain to have a taffy-like consistency when it

1829-535: The Lithonia district quarries . The seemingly barren landscape of Arabia Mountain is teeming with plant life specially adapted to live in the mountain's harsh environment. Arabia Mountain is one of five locations in the US where black-spored quillwort ( Isoetes melanospora ) is found. It is one of 44 locations in the US where little amphianthus ( Amphianthus pusillus ) is found. These are endangered species protected by Georgia and federal law. The largest and most important population of black-spored quillwort and one of

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1888-625: The South River (Upper Ocmulgee River), and the railroad, such as the Klondike National Historic District, Flat Rock Community, and downtown Lithonia, Georgia . The existence of the Atlanta Augusta Railroad allowed the granite quarrying industry in the area to flourish in the late 1800s. Remnants of this industry can be seen throughout the Heritage Area in the form of quarry office ruins, rock ledges, and drill holes on

1947-652: The area was determined to be a significant part of national history and earned congressional designation as a National Heritage Area in 2006. The defining feature that gives the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area its significance at the national level is its granite outcroppings, called monadnocks . These monadnocks are composed of a granitoid rock and are interspersed with islands of plant life. The Metro-Atlanta area has multiple monadnocks, including Stone Mountain , Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain . Arabia and Panola Mountains are located within

2006-404: The area was forested; a section of old-growth forest is preserved at Fernbank Forest . In 1853, Fulton County formed from the western half of DeKalb, divided along a perfectly straight and due north–south line down the middle (along which Moreland Avenue now runs). Until this time, the growing city of Atlanta had been inside DeKalb. Atlanta grew because the city of Decatur did not want to become

2065-496: The area. This railroad helped historically supported Lithonia's quarry industry, which was fed by the granite gneiss of numerous area quarries, including Arabia Mountain. Otherwise, much of the surrounding land was used for small-scale farming. The remains of the agricultural landscape are still visible in the National Heritage Area, including at the Lyon Farm, Vaughters Farm, and Parker House. Small settlements developed along crossroads,

2124-518: The birds' digestion. The Davidson family, which owned several quarries in the area, became the largest supplier of poultry grit in the world. They claimed that the sparkling particles of mica in the Stonemo grit attracted the eye and helped the chicken's gizzard break down food. The company was so successful in distributing their feed additive, a Time magazine article from 1941 reported the U.S. government allowed them to continue to operate during WWII in

2183-500: The cities of Atlanta, Brookhaven, Chamblee and Doraville. 33°46′N 84°14′W  /  33.77°N 84.23°W  / 33.77; -84.23 Poultry grit There are two kinds of grit: Soluble grit dissolves in a bird's digestive system. It is usually made from calcium-high materials; the calcium helps the bird in egg shell production. Soluble grit can be made from limestone or coarsely ground or broken seashells , like oyster or mussel shells; this kind of grit

2242-423: The community and local organizations, and staff. Additionally, Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve includes 2,550 acres in DeKalb County, Georgia with a multi-use bike path, hiking trails, and lakes for fishing. The park features large exposed granite formations, wetlands, pine forest, oak forest, streams habitat and two lakes. Plant species include the rare red diamorpha in the winter and yellow daises in

2301-586: The county. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is based in the Druid Hills CDP in an unincorporated area in the county. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Atlanta Field Office is located in Chamblee . The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice has its headquarters in Avondale Estates , near Decatur . The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has its headquarters near Decatur, in an unincorporated area. The Metro State Prison of

2360-493: The county. In 2022, DeKalb County had the second highest crime rate in Georgia. The county saw 40.3 crimes per 1,000 residents. The county also had the second highest rate of robberies and motor vehicle theft, as well as the third highest rates of burglary and larceny theft. DeKalb was only behind Bibb County for highest crime rate. In recent years, along with many other counties in the Atlanta area, DeKalb County has voted strongly Democratic in presidential elections, while in

2419-693: The early 1970s spared them this fate of urbanization , although part of the proposed Stone Mountain Tollway later became the Freedom Parkway . Only Interstate 20 and Interstate 85 were successfully built through the county. DeKalb also became one of only two counties to approve MARTA rapid transit in the 1970s; the county now contains the east and northeast heavy rail lines. In April 2018, more than 350 bus drivers for DeKalb County School District went on strike over low pay and poor working conditions, resulting in seven bus drivers being fired. According to

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2478-400: The fall. The area included rock quarries and abandoned structures from the mining operations. Although there is little historical evidence about what existed in the lands that currently make up the National Heritage Area, by the time of Anglo-American settlement in the early 19th century, the area was sparsely populated by Muscogee (Creek) and Cherokee Tribes. It is believed that the area was

2537-603: The granite outcroppings. The first plants on the mountains were lichens, which draw nutrients from dust and rainwater. Acids from these lichens and mosses gradually formed pits in the rock, called chemical erosion. This allowed shallow amounts of soil to accumulate, providing a place for more plant life to take root. This process is called Primary Succession as a succession of plants colonize the rock from lichen, to mosses, to diamorpha and larger plants, then gradually accumulating enough soil to support shrubs and trees. Physical Weathering : Not only does plant matter such as moss erode

2596-670: The historic commercial center of Lithonia to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers , including a number of sites in between, including Panola Mountain State Park , Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, the historic Flat Rock Community with the Flat Rock Archives , and more. The National Heritage Area was established in 2006 and is coordinated by the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area Alliance, which includes board members, representatives from

2655-481: The largest Amphianthus populations occur here. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's five-year review of these species, completed in 2008, states that "enforcement to protect sensitive areas needs improvement" in the Arabia Mountain area." Arabia Mountain is one of a small number of locations in the southeastern United States where Small's stonecrop ( Sedum smallii , syn. Diamorpha smallii ) thrives (this plant

2714-640: The more than 2800 civilian victims of the terrorist attacks in New York City , Washington D.C. , and Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001. A piece of steel from one of the World Trade Center Towers in New York City is the centerpiece of this monument. The portion of DeKalb County not within the city of Atlanta or the city of Decatur is served by DeKalb County School District (formerly DeKalb County School System). The Atlanta portion

2773-405: The name of national defense. In 1949, the Lithonia district produced nearly 1.5 million tons of granite valued at the time at $ 3 million. The proximity of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area to Atlanta, the second fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country during the 2000s leaves it vulnerable to overdevelopment. This threat of encroaching sprawl was recognized after nearly a decade, as

2832-622: The northeastern and southern edges of the county, placing most of it "inside the Perimeter" along with nearly all of Atlanta. Interstate 675 and Georgia 400 were originally planned to connect inside the Perimeter, along with the Stone Mountain Freeway ( U.S. Highway 78 ) connecting with the Downtown Connector (a co-signment of I-75/I-85) near Moreland Avenue, destroying many neighborhoods in western DeKalb, but community opposition in

2891-422: The past it was more of a swing county, voting Democratic and Republican an equal number of times from 1960 until 1988. DeKalb is also one of the few counties in Georgia where George Wallace came in third in 1968 . Following the 2020 United States election, there are no elected Republicans in the county. DeKalb is the second most Democratic -leaning county in Georgia, only behind Clayton County . 83 percent of

2950-542: The relay race. The background landscape shows planted fields, which is a tribute to DeKalb's heritage as an agrarian community. The date of the county's founding, 1822, is at the bottom of the seal. Unincorporated DeKalb County is policed by the DeKalb County Police Department ; the DeKalb Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for serving criminal warrants and securing the courts and county jail; and

3009-410: The rock and help to build soil levels in the pits, but the stone is also weathered by non-chemical factors. Wind, freeze-thaw cycles, and even lightning strikes cause the rock to fragment and breakdown. Cracks can form, giving another foothold to plant life, and the rock is broken into particles that add to the shallow soil. The Edge Effect : Due to the variety of eco-systems within the Heritage Area,

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3068-466: The rock. Unlike Arabia, Panola Mountain was never quarried because of its geologic qualities such as softer texture and veining. Like Stone Mountain, Arabia Mountain was quarried for decades before the property was turned over to the DeKalb park system. Structures and excavations from the quarry operations can be seen throughout the park. The stone quarried from Arabia Mountain, officially called "Tidal Grey",

3127-522: The southern border, was heavily quarried between 1400 and 100 BC and objects made from the soapstone have been found as far away as the Great Lakes . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 764,382 people, 289,829 households, and 157,737 families residing in the county. It is the 86th most populous county in the United States. This is up from a 2000 population of 665,865. Although Fulton County

3186-407: The time of formation. Arabia Mountain appears to be composed of granite . Although made of metamorphic rock , the mountain is actually composed of migmatite , metamorphosed at higher temperatures than gneiss but not sufficiently melted to become granite. The resulting swirl pattern made the rock a popular building stone and many buildings in the region were constructed with stone quarried from

3245-416: The votes cast in the 2020 presidential election were for Joe Biden . The current chief executive officer of DeKalb County is Michael Thurmond . He took office on January 1, 2017. Current County Commissioners as of January 2023: The DeKalb County seal was created in 1967, by artist Jackson Bailey. The design is based on a passage from Aristotle in which a comparison is made between human progress and

3304-435: Was cooling over 400 million years ago. Bands of different minerals folded and twisted, creating the "tidal swirl" pattern seen today . By contrast, Panola Mountain has a flakier rock with less compressive strength due to differences in cooling rates. Panola Mountain also has a darker colored rock and different mineral grains. Differences in mineral composition between Panola and Stone Mountains indicated different magma sources at

3363-588: Was later given to Milton, and is now the panhandle of Sandy Springs. During the American Civil War , much of the Battle of Atlanta took place in DeKalb. Until the 1960s, DeKalb was a mainly agricultural county, but as the sprawl of the metropolitan Atlanta region expanded, DeKalb became increasingly urbanized . Finished in 1969, the eastern half of the Interstate 285 beltway , called "the Perimeter", ringed

3422-475: Was prized for its high structural density and compressive strength as well as its "swirl" pattern. Tidal Grey Arabia Mountain can be seen in the construction of buildings for the U.S. Naval Academy , the Brooklyn Bridge , and street curbing in Atlanta as well as many other Georgia cities. Prior to 1880, the stone was hand quarried but starting in 1879, workers used drills, dynamite and air compressors to "raise

3481-479: Was scheduled for 2024. Private schools in DeKalb County include: From its opening in 1990 until 2003, the Seigakuin Atlanta International School was located on the property of Oglethorpe University in Brookhaven , then an unincorporated area called North Atlanta. Agnes Scott College is a private, all female, undergraduate liberal arts college in Decatur. Emory University is

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