DeKalb County was formed in 1822 and named after Baron Johann DeKalb, who was a general with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Notable landmarks include Stone Mountain Park, Emory University and Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. Large employers include AT&T Mobility and Emory Healthcare.
DeKalb is the fourth-most populated county in metro Atlanta and has one of the region’s most diverse populations.
Within DeKalb County are the cities of Atlanta*, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Clarkston, Decatur, Doraville, Dunwoody*, Lithonia, Pine Lake, Stonecrest, Stone Mountain, and Tucker.
DeKalb County by the Numbers (2022)
| Population | 762,820 |
| Population Change (since 2010) | +10.3% |
| Population Forecast (2050) | 1,012,022 |
| Median Household Income | $77,169 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% |
| Mean Travel Time to Work | 32 minutes |
| Single Family Building Permits | 1,141 |
| Mutlifamily Building Permits | 1,268 |
View ARC’s 21-County Dashboard where you can find various data points about DeKalb County.
Data Resources
- Neighborhood Nexus DeKalb County Fact Sheet
- ARC Population & Employment Forecast
- GEEARS Early Childhood Profile for DeKalb County
- Metro Atlanta Speaks Data Dashboard
- Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Data Dashboard
- ARC Annual Report for DeKalb County (pdf)
Other DeKalb County Resources
ARC Board Members Representing All or Parts of DeKalb County
Visit our Board Portal for a list of ARC Board members representing DeKalb County.
Data Sources
- US Census Bureau, County Population Estimates, 2022
- US Census Bureau, Small-Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2021
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (1-year estimates), 2022
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year estimates), 2017-2021
- Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), Series 16 Forecasts
- HUD, State of the Cities Data System (SOCDS), 2022
* These cities belong to more than one county.
