200 Years of DeKalb County

Posted June 30, 2022

Now Open

200 Years of DeKalb County Exhibit

Join the DeKalb History Center in commemorating more than 200 years of DeKalb with an exhibit honoring some of the people, places, and events that have contributed to the wide-ranging history of the county.

Starting out as the ancestral homeland to Indigenous Peoples such as the Muscogee (Creek) and Cherokee Nations, DeKalb County was officially established by settlers of European descent on December 9, 1822, shortly after the Land Lottery of 1821. This rural county eventually industrialized and became the largest dairy producer in the state and the world’s largest producer of granite poultry grit. After World War II, business – and our population – boomed, as innovation and growth changed DeKalb and its residents. Advancements in transportation were seen with PDK Airport, Buford Highway, and MARTA, and passionate minds such as Scott Candler, Sr., Manuel Maloof, and Narvie Jordan Harris helped to modernize and diversify the county into the one we know and love today.

Visiting the exhibit:

First Floor, Historic DeKalb Courthouse

Open Monday-Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, and Saturdays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Admission is free, but we do appreciate donations!

No appointment necessary.

Exhibit will close in 2024.