The City of Chamblee, located in northern DeKalb County, began as a southern rail town.
Over the years, the city has been transformed into a progressive and vibrant international city encompassing 3.5 square miles, with a population just under 10,000 according to the 2010 U.S. Census.
Downtown Chamblee has been preserved as an early 20th century railroad community. Many of the buildings are of historic vintage, and the district has architectural similarities to other similar former railroad communities, such as Decatur.
Much of the downtown businesses are devoted to Chamblee’s antique industry, but that has been changing. The district has attracted significant commercial development since 2000, including lofts and townhomes. The Chamblee MARTA Station (Atlanta’s Rapid Transit System) and City Hall are both located downtown.
The area that would later become Chamblee was originally dairy farms. During the late nineteenth century, an intersection of two railroads was constructed in Chamblee; one carried passengers from Atlanta to Charlotte, North Carolina, while the other ferried workers and goods back and forth from a factory in Roswell to Atlanta.
After World War II, the city experienced a growth in its industrial areas, largely based on the opening of the General Motors plant in neighboring Doraville. Large corporations such as Frito-Lay, Kodak and General Electric built plants along the newly constructed Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.
Chamblee is home to the popular Taste of Chamblee Festival, featuring cuisine from the incredible variety of international restaurants found along Buford Highway known as DeKalb’s International Corridor and other areas of the City.
Points of Interest
Chamblee’s Antique Row District – Download PDF Brochure
Chamblee’s Antique Row, located in the historic central business district, is the South’s largest antique area. In this unique neighborhood, there are more than 150 dealers offering quality antiques and collectibles that can fit any budget, decor or lifestyle.
International Village
As part of DeKalb’s International Corridor stretching along Buford Highway, this special Chamblee zoning district is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country. With more than 30 different nationalities represented within this 394 acre community, the International Village provides visitors with a unique opportunity to discover new cultures through a variety of businesses ranging from restaurants to book and music stores.
The DeKalb-Peachtree Airport is the second busiest airport in the State of Georgia. Located on the site of the WWI installation, Camp Gordon, and the WWII Naval Air Station, the airport now serves the corporate community of metro Atlanta as a general aviation reliever airport.
