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 (2017)
| Population | 753,253 |
| Population Change (since 2010) | +8.8% |
| Population Forecast (2040) | 874,424 |
| Median Household Income | $61,827 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% |
| Mean Travel Time to Work | 32.2 minutes |
| Single Family Building Permits | 1,796 |
| Mutlifamily Building Permits | 1,583 |
Data Resources
- Neighborhood Nexus DeKalb County Data Profile
- Neighborhood Nexus DeKalb County Fact Sheet
- DeKalb Population & Employment Forecast
- GEEARS Early Childhood Profile for DeKalb County
- Metro Atlanta Speaks Data Dashboard
- Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Data Dashboard
- ARC 2019 Annual Report - DeKalb County
Other DeKalb County Resources
ARC Board Members Representing All or Parts of DeKalb County
- Michael Thurmond, CEO, DeKalb County Commission
- Eric Clarkson, Mayor, City of Chamblee
- Eddie Ausband (Citizen Member, District 1)
- Mike Houchard (Citizen Member, District 6)
- Liane Levetan (Citizen Member, District 7)
- Bucky Johnson (Citizen Member, District 10)
- Mickey McGuire (Citizen Member, District 11)
Data Sources
- US Census Bureau, Subcounty Intercensal Population Estimates, 2000 to 2009
- US Census Bureau, County Characteristics Resident Population Estimate, 2010 to 2017
- US Census Bureau, American Community Survey (1-year estimates), 2017
- Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), Series 15 Forecasts, 2015-16
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), 2017
* These cities belong to more than one county.