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 (2021)
Population |
757,718 |
Population Change (since 2010) |
+9.5% |
Population Forecast (2050) |
1,012,022 |
Median Household Income |
$69,545 |
Unemployment Rate |
3.4% |
Mean Travel Time to Work |
32 minutes |
Single Family Building Permits |
1,871 |
Mutlifamily Building Permits |
973 |
Data Resources
Other DeKalb County Resources
ARC Board Members Representing All or Parts of DeKalb County
- Michael Thurmond, CEO, DeKalb County Commission
- Patti Garrett, Mayor, City of Decatur
- W. Murphy Talmadge, Citizen Member, District 1
- Vacant, Citizen Member, District 6
- Liane Levetan, Citizen Member, District 7
- Vacant, Citizen Member, District 10
- Julie Keeton Arnold, Citizen Member, District 11
Data Sources
- US Census Bureau, County Population Estimates, 2021
- US Census Bureau, Small-Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2020
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (5-year estimates), 2016-2020
- Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), Series 16 Forecasts
- HUD, State of the Cities Data System (SOCDS), 2021
* These cities belong to more than one county.