Search for Oakhurst GA real estate and Oakhurst homes for sale (click price link):    

Oakhurst Information

Oakhurst is an eclectic neighborhood in the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Decatur. Oakhurst is a streetcar suburb primarily developed in the 1910' and 1920's located in the southwest corner of Decatur. It is about 6 miles from downtown Atlanta and is conveniently located to major transportation arteries such as Interstate 20, Memorial Drive, Dekalb Avenue, and Ponce de Leon Road, and is well served by the Atlanta region's public transportation system, MARTA, and includes a station on the MARTA rail system, the East Lake MARTA rail station. Oakhurst is generally bounded by the Atlanta city limits on the south and west, College Avenue on the north, and South McDonough on the east.

Oakhurst, located south of the center of Decatur, is bounded generally on the West by East Lake Drive/2nd Avenue, on the North by College Avenue and Howard Avenue on on the east by McDonough Street and on the South by Hosea Williams Drive. This area is a quiet, well-established residential neighborhood within the City of Decatur, which is an exceptionally attractive city for homebuyers. New Decatur residents are drawn by the convenience and excitement of intown living, combined with the charm of historic neighborhoods, a small town feeling, and excellent schools and city services.

One of the oldest neighborhoods in the City of Decatur, the Oakhurst district was the City of Oakhurst before it was annexed by the City of Decatur in the 1920s. Now in the midst of a renaissance, it features many examples of bungalow-style residential homes of Craftsman styling. The small but popular commercial center, known as Oakhurst Village, features cozy restaurants, a few memorable watering holes and specialty shops. The old Scottish Rite Hospital designed by Neel Reid in the early part of the 1900s is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located in the district.

Just a few blocks from the village is Oakhurst Park, which features a multi-use field with lights and bleachers, play and fitness equipment, basketball and tennis courts, a picnic pavilion with grills, and greenspace. McKoy Park, another excellent neighborhood park, is less than a half-mile away. It is meticulously maintained by the City of Decatur Parks Department, and features a swimming pool, a baseball field with bleachers, a covered picnic pavilion, a wooded area with individual picnic tables, children's play areas, tennis courts and a basketball court.

Around the turn of the 20th century Oakhurst began as its own independent town, mainly situated around the railroad tracks near College Avenue and the present MARTA station. When the town of Oakhurst was annexed into Decatur in 1910 there were roughly 100 homes. Shortly after annexation, however, the building that had been used as the city hall burned and destroyed all of the town records.

The primary architectual style of the period homes is that of craftsman bungalows although some older homes were also built in the more modest post war style of the 1940's. Recently, as property values have risen due to gentrification, newer homes have been built in varying styles.

At the center of the neighborhood is a business district popularly known as "Oakhurst Village" with several eateries, art galleries, and shops. Oakhurst Village is also home to the restored Old Scottish Rite Hospital, designed by local architect Neel Reid in 1917. The building currently houses an art gallery, a wine bar, and the Solarium, a community center and event facility. There are additional commercial properties on College Avenue.

Oakhurst is served by a strong neighborhood association and business association which sponsors the annual Oakhurst Arts and Music Festival held each October. The neighborhood holds additional events and festivals througout the year, including wine crawls at local businesses and jazz nights in front of the Solarium. Additional festivals and concerts are held in the Oakhurst Village area on a regular basis.

Oakhurst is a liberal minded community, typical of intown Atlanta, with an interesting mix of African Americans, senior citizens, singles, young couples, empty nesters, and gays and lesbians. The population votes overwelmingly for Democrats. In the 2004 Presidential election, 82% of the voters in the Oakhurst Precinct voted for Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry and 63% voted against a 2004 Constitional Amendment to ban gay marriage. During a parade a few years ago, they chose to display many flags but not the U.S. flag out of fear of offending someone. This is typical behavior of a "liberal minded community".

According to the 2000 Census, slightly less than 5,000 people lived in Oakhurst.

Source Wikipedia