Collier Heights
Encyclopedia
Collier Heights, commonly referred to as "The Historic Collier", is a neighborhood in the City of Atlanta, Georgia
, nestled in the southwest corner of Atlanta. Collier Heights is bordered to the west by Fairburn Road, the east by Hamilton E. Holmes
Drive, the north by Donald L. Hollowell Highway, and to the south by Interstate 20
bridge at Linkwood Road. Having the distinction of being one of the first communities in the nation built exclusively by African-American planners for the upcoming Atlanta African-American middle class, this community has been featured in several national publications, such as Ebony
and Jet
magazines, as well as featured in the “Homefinder” section of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Led by Atlanta Attorney Antavius M. Weems, the Association President, in 2008 Collier Heights began its quest to become the first community in the nation to be registered as a Historic Site, listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places
, due to its significance of being the first community in the nation built by African Americans for their fellow African Americans. On June 23, 2009 the historic community achieved its goal.
, and Christine King Farris
. Collier Heights is also home to several prominent figures,such as U.S. Congresswoman and Presidential Nominee from the Green Party, Cynthia Mckinney
; Georgia House of Representative Member, Billy McKinney; Attorney and former State Senator, Leroy Johnson
; former City Councilwoman Myrtle Davis; television actress Jasmine Guy
from the Diff'rent World television series; famed coach Calvin “Monk” Jones and Dr. Asa G. Yancey, Sr., one of the first African American doctors in the State and distinguished physicians, as well as Rev. D.D.Prather who has been described as the new face of Civil Rights and social justice activists around the world. The Reverend Douglas Demetrius Prather, a baptist preacher attended both Collier Heights Elementary School and Saint Paul of the Cross Private Catholic School, both in Historic Collier Heights and continues to maintain pride in such community. In addition to various celebrities, many African American lawyers, doctors, educators, businessmen and other persons of stature live in the well-known area.
Collier Heights gained its fame in the 1960s when bus tours were guided through the neighborhood to display Atlanta's new bourgeoning African American middle class.
In the 1980s, Collier Heights' popularity and prominence within the African American community began to settle with the growth of other than-newer areas of Atlanta's Southwest side, such as Peyton Forest and Cascade Heights. Collier Heights reinvented itself in the new century with a strong homeowners association that brought on its own neighborhood security patrol and highlighted the prominence of its homes and homeowners in various publications, once again making Collier Heights the address of choice.
for its historic significance in the city and the nation. Similarly, Fulton County
, Georgia
honored the historic community by declaring Wednesday, September 16, 2009 as Collier Heights day in the County, presenting the community with a Proclamation
for its historic significance.
operates the Adamsville-Collier Heights Branch.
, Collier Drive, other roads include Waterford Road, Hamilton E. Holmes
Rd, and borders Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy.
MARTA serves Collier Heights with the Hamilton E. Holmes
transit station, which is the system's western-most route.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, nestled in the southwest corner of Atlanta. Collier Heights is bordered to the west by Fairburn Road, the east by Hamilton E. Holmes
Hamilton E. Holmes
Hamilton E. Holmes was an American orthopedic physician. He and Charlayne Hunter-Gault were the first two African-American students admitted to the University of Georgia. Additionally, Holmes was the first African-American student to attend the Emory University School of Medicine, where he...
Drive, the north by Donald L. Hollowell Highway, and to the south by Interstate 20
Interstate 20
Interstate 20 is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I‑20 runs 1,535 miles from near Kent, Texas, at Interstate 10 to Florence, South Carolina, at Interstate 95...
bridge at Linkwood Road. Having the distinction of being one of the first communities in the nation built exclusively by African-American planners for the upcoming Atlanta African-American middle class, this community has been featured in several national publications, such as Ebony
Ebony (magazine)
Ebony, a monthly magazine for the African-American market, was founded by John H. Johnson and has published continuously since the autumn of 1945...
and Jet
Jet (magazine)
Jet is an American weekly marketed toward African-American readers, founded in 1951 by John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois...
magazines, as well as featured in the “Homefinder” section of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Led by Atlanta Attorney Antavius M. Weems, the Association President, in 2008 Collier Heights began its quest to become the first community in the nation to be registered as a Historic Site, listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, due to its significance of being the first community in the nation built by African Americans for their fellow African Americans. On June 23, 2009 the historic community achieved its goal.
History
The neighborhood was founded in 1948, and boasts several famous and history making homeowners, such as Martin Luther King, Sr; Donald Hollowell; millionaire builder Herman J. Russell; Ralph David and Juanita AbernathyRalph Abernathy
Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. was a leader of the American Civil Rights Movement, a minister, and a close associate of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Following King's assassination, Dr. Abernathy took up the leadership of the SCLC Poor People's Campaign and...
, and Christine King Farris
Christine King Farris
Christine King Farris is the eldest and only living sibling of the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. She teaches at Spelman College and is the author of several books and a public speaker on various topics, including the King family, multicultural education, and teaching...
. Collier Heights is also home to several prominent figures,such as U.S. Congresswoman and Presidential Nominee from the Green Party, Cynthia Mckinney
Cynthia McKinney
Cynthia Ann McKinney is a former US Congresswoman and a member of the Green Party since 2007. As a member of the Democratic Party, she served six terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives. In 2008, the Green Party nominated McKinney for President of the United States...
; Georgia House of Representative Member, Billy McKinney; Attorney and former State Senator, Leroy Johnson
Leroy Johnson (senator)
Leroy Reginald Johnson , was an American senator who served on the Georgia State Senate from 1963–75 after winning a seat in the 1962 Georgia General Assembly election. He was the first black state senator to be elected to the legislature in over fifty year, since William Rogers in 1907, and the...
; former City Councilwoman Myrtle Davis; television actress Jasmine Guy
Jasmine Guy
Jasmine Guy is an American actress, singer and dancer. She is best known for her starring role as Whitley Gilbert in the television sitcom A Different World.-Biography:...
from the Diff'rent World television series; famed coach Calvin “Monk” Jones and Dr. Asa G. Yancey, Sr., one of the first African American doctors in the State and distinguished physicians, as well as Rev. D.D.Prather who has been described as the new face of Civil Rights and social justice activists around the world. The Reverend Douglas Demetrius Prather, a baptist preacher attended both Collier Heights Elementary School and Saint Paul of the Cross Private Catholic School, both in Historic Collier Heights and continues to maintain pride in such community. In addition to various celebrities, many African American lawyers, doctors, educators, businessmen and other persons of stature live in the well-known area.
Collier Heights gained its fame in the 1960s when bus tours were guided through the neighborhood to display Atlanta's new bourgeoning African American middle class.
In the 1980s, Collier Heights' popularity and prominence within the African American community began to settle with the growth of other than-newer areas of Atlanta's Southwest side, such as Peyton Forest and Cascade Heights. Collier Heights reinvented itself in the new century with a strong homeowners association that brought on its own neighborhood security patrol and highlighted the prominence of its homes and homeowners in various publications, once again making Collier Heights the address of choice.
Neighborhood Organization
The Collier Heights Community Association (CHCA)– The Collier Heights Community Organization, which formed in 1968, is the largest and oldest neighborhood organization in Collier Heights, encompassing the entire communities/neighborhood. Key committees within the CHCA are the Historic Committee, which focuses on master planning for preserving the history of the community and neighborhood improvement projects. The CHCA organizes a number of festivities throughout the year, such as the National Night Out-a summer block party, a Christmas party and the "Salute To Legends" celebration, which pays homage to the famous history-making residents of Collier Heights. Executive committee members are voted into office for one-year terms. Elections are held in December at the Association's annual Christmas party. The CHCA meets the second Tuesday of every month at Berean Seventh-Day Adventist Church (291 Hamilton E Holmes Dr NW, Atlanta, GA) at 6:30pm.Awards and recognitions
The City of Atlanta honored the community by declaring Tuesday, September 8, 2009 as Collier Heights day in the city, presenting the community with a ProclamationProclamation
A proclamation is an official declaration.-England and Wales:In English law, a proclamation is a formal announcement , made under the great seal, of some matter which the King in Council or Queen in Council desires to make known to his or her subjects: e.g., the declaration of war, or state of...
for its historic significance in the city and the nation. Similarly, Fulton County
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
honored the historic community by declaring Wednesday, September 16, 2009 as Collier Heights day in the County, presenting the community with a Proclamation
Proclamation
A proclamation is an official declaration.-England and Wales:In English law, a proclamation is a formal announcement , made under the great seal, of some matter which the King in Council or Queen in Council desires to make known to his or her subjects: e.g., the declaration of war, or state of...
for its historic significance.
Public
- Bazoline Usher-Collier Heights Elementary School
- Harper-Archer Middle School
- Douglass High School
Public libraries
Atlanta-Fulton Public Library SystemAtlanta-Fulton Public Library System
The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is a network of public libraries serving the City of Atlanta and Fulton County, both in the U.S. state of Georgia. The system is currently administered by Fulton County...
operates the Adamsville-Collier Heights Branch.
Transportation
Besides the main arterial roadArterial road
An arterial road, or arterial thoroughfare, is a high-capacity urban road. The primary function of an arterial road is to deliver traffic from collector roads to freeways, and between urban centres at the highest level of service possible. As such, many arteries are limited-access roads, or feature...
, Collier Drive, other roads include Waterford Road, Hamilton E. Holmes
Hamilton E. Holmes
Hamilton E. Holmes was an American orthopedic physician. He and Charlayne Hunter-Gault were the first two African-American students admitted to the University of Georgia. Additionally, Holmes was the first African-American student to attend the Emory University School of Medicine, where he...
Rd, and borders Donald Lee Hollowell Pkwy.
MARTA serves Collier Heights with the Hamilton E. Holmes
Hamilton E. Holmes
Hamilton E. Holmes was an American orthopedic physician. He and Charlayne Hunter-Gault were the first two African-American students admitted to the University of Georgia. Additionally, Holmes was the first African-American student to attend the Emory University School of Medicine, where he...
transit station, which is the system's western-most route.