Page 43 - DeKalb Bicentennial Flipbook

The Cheek-Spruill House (left), built
in 1906 and sometimes known as the
Dunwoody Farmhouse, today is the location
of many community events. State Farm
(right) chose Dunwoody for its regional
corporate headquarters. Three towers can
accommodate about 8,500 employees.

CITY OF DUNWOODY

I NCORPORATED 2008
Mayor Lynn Deutsch

Dunwoody, home to corporate headquarters such as State Farm and Zillow, and chef-driven restaurants
offering the trendiest cocktails and fare, was not always the metro center it is today. Dunwoody was
pioneered in the early 1830s and is named for Major Charles Dunwody (one “o” in the name).

fter his service in the Civil War, Major Interstate 285 opened in 1969 and delivered travelers
Dunwody returned home and settled near around Atlanta, encircling it, and became known as the
what is now the intersection of Spalding Perimeter. Inside The Perimeter (ITP) refers to Atlanta city
A Drive and Roberts Drive to farm the land. He limits outlined by Interstate 285, which forms a loop around
established the area’s first post office. the city. Outside The Perimeter (OTP) contains the suburbs
A significant part of the DeKalb County portion was of Atlanta. Dunwoody is OTP.
owned by the Spruill family. Their homeplace on Ashford- When Perimeter Mall was dedicated in 1971, it was
thought of as the middle of nowhere, having been built on
Dunwoody Road, now the Spruill Historic Home and Gallery,
a former cow pasture. Its anchor stores were JCPenney and
was donated to DeKalb County and Dunwoody.
Rich’s. Today, it continues to attract shoppers to anchor
The first church and private school was Ebenezer
stores Dillard’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Von Maur, and many
Primitive Baptist Church, established in 1829, with
small deluxe brand stores and restaurants.
generations of congregants who still worship there today. Dunwoody is named a Tree City USA for its
The first mass transit system was a rail line built in 1881 preservation of forest canopy and dedication to a robust parks
that ran from Chamblee to the Chattahoochee River, passing system. Organizations like Spruill and CREATE Dunwoody,
through Dunwoody. The “Old Buck” train ran for 40 years. among arts-based nonprofits, are bringing the cultural fabric

President Theodore Roosevelt conducted a whistle stop visit of the community to the stage, screen, gallery, festival, mural,
here in 1905. and beyond.

Sp i rit o f D eK alb – B i centen n ial 1822-2022 41