Smyrna

History

Pioneers began settling the area in 1832. By the late 1830s, a religious encampment called Smyrna Camp Ground had become a popular travel destination and was well known throughout Georgia. It is a Greek name for the Biblical city of Smyrna, modern day İzmir in Turkey, the home of the Christian martyr Polycarp. After the completion of the Western and Atlantic Railroad in 1842, the area began to grow. It was known by several names until 1872—Varner's Station, Ruff's Siding, Neal Dow, and Ruff's Station. The city was incorporated with the name Smyrna in 1872. Two Civil War battles occurred in the area, the Battle of Smyrna Camp Ground and the Battle of Ruff's Mill, both on July 4, 1864. The area's businesses, homes, and 1849 covered bridge (since rebuilt and still in use today) were burned by Sherman's troops. The nearby Bell Bomber plant that produced B-29 bombers during World War II was reopened by Lockheed in 1951, and became a catalyst for growth. The city's population grew during the next two decades, from 2,005 in 1950 to almost 20,000 by 1970.

Geography

Smyrna is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, located about northwest of the Atlanta city limits, and with Smyrna's downtown approximately from downtown Atlanta. Smyrna is located just west of the northern intersection of I-285 and I-75, which is the site of the edge city Cumberland and the Cobb Galleria. Smyrna is bordered by Vinings to the east, Marietta to the north and west, and Mableton to the south and southwest. The city of Sandy Springs and the affluent Atlanta neighborhoods of Paces and Buckhead are approximately within 10 miles of Smyrna's center. Smyrna Heights is a neighborhood in Smyrna. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.23%, is water. The general terrain of the area is characteristic of the Piedmont region of Georgia, characterized by hills with broad ridges, sloping uplands, and relatively narrow valleys. The city's official symbol is the jonquil (a flower). Known as the "Jonquil City", it derives this name from the thousands of jonquils that flourish in gardens and along the streets in early spring.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  63,046
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  51,370
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  45,226
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  41,035
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  39,552
• Eastern Towhee

  Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  39,497
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  38,939
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  37,495

Largest nearby schools

• Campbell High School
  High · Smyrna · 2,928 students · 17.9:1 ratio
• Osborne High School
  High · Marietta · 2,772 students · 16.9:1 ratio
• Walton High School
  High · Marietta · 2,646 students · 19.3:1 ratio
• Marietta High School
  High · Marietta · 2,626 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• Pebblebrook High School
  High · Mableton · 2,511 students · 17.3:1 ratio
• Wheeler High School
  High · Marietta · 2,375 students · 17.3:1 ratio
• Hillgrove High School
  High · Powder Springs · 2,363 students · 19.4:1 ratio
• McEachern High School
  High · Powder Springs · 2,327 students · 18.8:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.54 — 2022-09-12
  13 km NE of Jackson, Georgia
• M 2.72 — 2018-11-23
  3 km N of Plainville, Georgia
• M 2.6 — 2005-10-25
  6 km SSE of Summerville, Georgia