Established in 1856, Lithonia, whose name is derived from the Greek word for stone (lithos), is a reflection of its surroundings. Granite found in the nearby Arabia Mountain and elsewhere in the region made stone quarrying a key economic driver in the city until the 1970s. Today, Lithonia has benefited from its proximity to Interstate 20. Residents can commute to major employers in Atlanta, 20 miles away, including Coca-Cola and Delta Airlines.
With a population of about 2,600, Lithonia has maintained its small-town appeal. "At least half of the people here grew up here. The whole community knows each other, creating a family environment," says RaShanna Lowery, a Lithonia native and employee at Lucious Sanders Recreation Center, a local gathering spot. Its downtown features local businesses, bars, restaurants and the Lithonia Farmers Market. "It's very historic, but in a good way," Lowery says.
Lithonia was named after stone, which pays tribute to the neighborhood's origins and history.
The terrain of Lithonia's Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is of distinctive granite.
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Community events including Halloween Trunk or Treat
Lithonia has several community centers, including the Lucious Sanders Recreation Center on the old site of Bruce Street School. "It was the only school African Americans were allowed to attend in Lithonia back in the day. It can't be destroyed," Lowery says. The center offers summer camps, after-school programs and youth sports and collaborates with the nearby senior center for events. "Every season, we do something like trunk-or-treat, fall festival plays for seniors, and rent out the Porter Sanford Arts Center." The site now includes the Bruce Street Senior Center, Union Missionary Baptist Church and DeKalb County Police Department.
Residents can also enjoy events and music at Lithonia Amphitheater, with summer concerts featuring local funk, soul and R&B musicians. The Lithonia Farmers Market runs every Saturday from June through August, celebrating Black businesses with live music, poetry, fresh juices and produce. Families gather in costume for October's annual Halloween Trunk or Treat at Lithonia City Hall.
Bruce Street Senior Center provides many activities and events to residents.
The center features a full-size gymnasium, multipurpose rooms, a kitchen, a meeting room, and a playground.
Lucious Sanders Recreation Center provides sports programs and community events throughout the year.
Union Missionary Baptist Church welcomes its parishioners each week.
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Shopping nearby at The Mall at Stonecrest
Lithonia’s compact historic downtown is lined with locally owned businesses. “There are a lot of family-owned restaurants here. You go back to the same places and see the owners’ kids grow up,” Lowery says. In the city is a small shopping center, Lithonia Plaza, with a grocery store, but most head 2 miles to The Mall at Stonecrest. The indoor mall with a movie theater is surrounded by shopping centers, car dealerships and restaurants. South of the mall, The New Black Wall Street Market opened in 2021 as a mixed-use retail and event space focused on minority- and women-owned businesses.
Green Love Kitchen is a local hotspot among the residents of Lithonia.
Stop by Green Love Kitchen and try one of their delicious tropical smoothies.
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Beverly Heights is an amenity-filled townhome community
Lithonia's homes were primarily built in the 20th century, starting from the early 1900s, and many older properties have been remodeled. New homes are also being built in places like Beverly Heights, an emerging community of townhomes with a neighborhood walking trail where three-bedroom units are priced around $300,000. As of October 2024, the median home price in Lithonia has risen slightly to around $280,000 but is lower than nearby cities like Conyers, where the median price is $315,000. "Lithonia is way more affordable than other parts of Atlanta," Lowery says.
Residents can enjoy Lithonia's history as well as the natural, unique landscape.
Lithonia's newer built homes have mixed wood styles that fit resident preferences.
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Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is 5 miles away
Lithonia Park features multiuse fields, basketball courts, playgrounds, trails and swimming pools to beat the Georgia summer heat. The city experiences all four seasons: long, hot, humid summers, crisp autumns and brisk winters. The Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is 5 miles away, with 40,000 acres of loblolly pines and sweet gum forests and over 30 miles of multiuse trails. Hikers and bikers can view two massive granite outcrops, called monadnocks, and historic sites of Lithonia's granite mining past.
Bikers can enjoy a spanning, wooded path while immersed in the nature of Arabia Mountain.
Lithonia's Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area visitors can take a stroll on the boardwalk.
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DeKalb County Public Schools has a B-minus rating
Lithonia is part of DeKalb County Public Schools, Georgia's third-largest district, serving around 93,000 students and holding a B-minus rating on Niche. Specialized programs start in fourth grade, including the lottery-based High Achievers Magnet Program and the Special Interest Magnet, which emphasizes STEAM-focused career paths. Lithonia High School's "Lithonia Bulldog Band" is a source of community pride. "Marching bands and music are big here," Lowery says. "The high school has competitions, and people sell them out. I get tickets to the Battle of the Bands every year." Lithonia is also home to Strayer University and Luther Rice College & Seminary, a private Baptist school offering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
Lithonia High School welcomes Dekalb students and is located at 2440 Phillips Rd, Lithonia, GA.
Luther Rice College & Seminary is a popular higher level education for those pursuing faith.
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Easy access to I-20
Lithonia is 20 miles from Atlanta via Interstate 20. "It takes 25 minutes to get to Atlanta," Lowery says. "You can access everything without living in the middle of it." Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is 25 miles away. Emory Hillandale Hospital is in town. Though public transit is limited, residents can reach Downtown Atlanta via the bus from The Mall at Stonecrest, connecting with the MARTA Blue Line.
DeKalb County’s crime rate
The City of Lithonia does not provide yearly crime data, but the Lithonia Police Department manages public safety. According to the latest data from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, DeKalb County has a crime rate of 4,674 per 100,000 people, compared to Georgia’s overall rate of 1,725 per 100,000.
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GreatSchools:
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