In the early on 1950s , Atlanta , the most populous urban amount inward the U.S. Georgia , was growing at an incredible charge per unit of measurement spilling its borders into the surrounding areas. Within a curt catamenia of fourth dimension , it had tripled its surface area yesteryear annexing vast regions to the northwest , southwest in addition to due south of the city. Not all of these regions were bully on becoming a usage of Atlanta. There were concerns almost the effectiveness of a regime that big. Some people were too worried almost the agency the African-American population was growing inward the urban amount in addition to gaining political mileage.
As the 1950s gave agency to the 1960s , the civil rights movement picked upwards steam in addition to many white families of Atlanta sold their homes in addition to moved across the Chattahoochee River in addition to into Cobb County , that lies to the northwest of the city. But when it became apparent that Atlanta planned to annex this portion every bit good , Cobb County decided to accept action.
Gary McKee , a resident of the surface area , poses side yesteryear side to a sign mark the boundaries of the one-time urban amount of Chattahoochee Plantation. Photo credit: Stephannie Stokes / WABE
What they did was contain a build novel urban amount called Chattahoochee Plantation that ran along the Chattahoochee River spanning Cobb County's entire edge amongst Atlanta. The urban amount was 30 miles long , simply alone 10 feet wide. It had no residents in addition to no mayor , simply that wasn’t necessary.
Chattahoochee Plantation’s chore was to sit down betwixt Cobb County in addition to Atlanta in addition to foreclose the urban amount of Atlanta from expanding its limits into Cobb County , because according to solid soil laws , no urban amount could cross to a greater extent than or less other urban amount inward an annexation move.
Atlanta’s mayor got the message in addition to decided to remain out of Cobb County. In fact , Atlanta pretty much stopped expanding altogether.
Chattahoochee Plantation continued to remain a urban amount until its condition was revoked inward 1995. Today , it be every bit a small-scale community , every bit a neighborhood inward the urban amount of Marietta.
In club to rekindle this footling known tale of history , lately , a community activist erected a twain of route signs mark the boundaries of the one-time urban amount of Chattahoochee Plantation. The signs has been baffling in addition to intriguing drivers for the yesteryear few months. Thanks to Mr. Joe Gavalis , the human responsible for the signs , the storey of Chattahoochee Plantation is directly getting told.
City of Atlanta’s annexation plans inward 1952. Photo credit: www.city-data.com
The urban amount of Chattahoochee Plantation amongst its master copy boundaries shown on an old map from 1968. Photo credit: Atlanta Regional Commission
Sources: WABE / kcac.kennesaw.edu / Now I Know / Wikipedia