Riverdale, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Riverdale is a city in Clayton County, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 12,478 at the 2000 census.
of 2000, there were 12,478 people, 4,389 households, and 3,107 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,926.3 people per square mile (1,130.9/km²). There were 4,590 housing units at an average density of 1,076.4 per square mile (416.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.09% White, 67.42% African American, 0.30% Native American, 7.73% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races
, and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.81% of the population.
There were 4,389 households out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples
living together, 25.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the city the population was spread out with 32.5% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 36.1% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,530, and the median income for a family was $42,323. Males had a median income of $30,802 versus $26,102 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,377. About 10.6% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over.
. In 1887, a railroad, built from Atlanta and Fort Valley
, passed through Riverdale. Farmers in the area provided wood for the railroad. In turn, the farmers would get fertilizer. As the railroad grew, it needed more land. Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Rivers donated their land in order for the railroad to grow, and their land grew to become one of the main stops on the railroad.
In 1908, the city was incorporated with the name Riverdale, named in honor of Mr. W.S. Rivers.
, mudslinging, conflicts of interest, and racial tensions
.
The city is governed by a mayor and four council members who are elected at large. The city is managed by a city manager who has several direct reports from various city departments.
Over the years, the mayor and council had a colorful history. For more than a decade, only women have served as mayor. In addition, the city has also had a transgender council woman. Through approval and disapproval of her gender and politics, she made press on several
, Hispanic, and African cultural stores.
The city had been slated to develop a new “town center” since 2007. The plans to construct this public-private development came after the city received funds under the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) from the Atlanta Regional Commission
(ARC). The city had abandoned plans to develop the new town center behind the Home Depot on Lamar Hutcheson Pkwy. due to questionable reasons. The city now plans to bring the new town center to Travon Wilson Memorial Park which the city owns. There has been a huge concern from the public about the current plans including: loss of public recreation space; the loss of the memorial to Travon Wilson, a young boy who was killed in the park in 2004; and the feasibility of the city to even commit to development or truly attract private development. The city had planned to begin the project late summer 2008. The new city hall and multipurpose center would have been developed first. City officials remain convinced that a halo effect
will attract new business and revitalize the area surrounding the new town center.
Clayton County, Georgia
Clayton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 236,517. The 2008 Census estimate placed the population at 273,718. The county seat is Jonesboro...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 12,478 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Riverdale is located at 33°33′53"N 84°24′38"W (33.564704, -84.410607).Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 12,478 people, 4,389 households, and 3,107 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,926.3 people per square mile (1,130.9/km²). There were 4,590 housing units at an average density of 1,076.4 per square mile (416.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.09% White, 67.42% African American, 0.30% Native American, 7.73% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.81% of the population.
There were 4,389 households out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 25.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the city the population was spread out with 32.5% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 36.1% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $39,530, and the median income for a family was $42,323. Males had a median income of $30,802 versus $26,102 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,377. About 10.6% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
The area now known as Riverdale was settled sometime before the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. In 1887, a railroad, built from Atlanta and Fort Valley
Fort Valley, Georgia
Fort Valley is a city in and the county seat of Peach County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,815.Fort Valley is the corporate headquarters of the Blue Bird Corporation, a large manufacturer of buses...
, passed through Riverdale. Farmers in the area provided wood for the railroad. In turn, the farmers would get fertilizer. As the railroad grew, it needed more land. Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Rivers donated their land in order for the railroad to grow, and their land grew to become one of the main stops on the railroad.
In 1908, the city was incorporated with the name Riverdale, named in honor of Mr. W.S. Rivers.
Politics
In recent years, Riverdale politics has been seen by many to be characterized by cronyismCronyism
Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy....
, mudslinging, conflicts of interest, and racial tensions
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
.
The city is governed by a mayor and four council members who are elected at large. The city is managed by a city manager who has several direct reports from various city departments.
Over the years, the mayor and council had a colorful history. For more than a decade, only women have served as mayor. In addition, the city has also had a transgender council woman. Through approval and disapproval of her gender and politics, she made press on several
Crime
The crime rate in Riverdale is nearly twice that of Atlanta. Gang activity is considered very common in Riverdale. One of Riverdales major issues has been its reputation for murder and rape.State highways
Georgia State Route 85Georgia State Route 85State Route 85 is a Georgia state route that begins in Columbus and ends just west of Forest Park in north Clayton County. Besides Columbus, the route passes through only one county seat, Fayetteville in Fayette County...
(Clark Howell Memorial Hwy)
Georgia State Route 138Georgia State Route 138State Route 138 is a highway in the U.S. state of Georgia. The highway is an east–west route that begins at the junction of S.R. 92 just north of Fairburn and ends at U.S. 78/S.R. 10 near Monroe. It totals approximately in length...
(Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy)
Georgia State Route 139Georgia State Route 139State Route 139 is a Georgia state route that starts in Clayton County at S.R. 85 in Riverdale, and ends at Veterans Memorial Highway in Mableton. The portion of S.R. 139 in College Park has been rerouted around the new Atlanta Airport runway, which crosses over I-285....
(Main St./Riverdale Rd.)
Georgia State Route 314Georgia State Route 314State Route 314 begins at S.R. 85 in Fayetteville and ends at Riverdale Road in College Park in north Clayton County. The route is mostly residential until entering the Fayetteville city limits, where there has been a recent commercial boom....
(Fayetteville Rd.)
Main roads
These are roads with more than four lanes.- Gardenwalk Boulevard
- Lamar Hutcheson Parkway
- Pointe South Parkway
- Upper Riverdale Road
Minor roads
These are roads with two to four lanes- Church StreetChurch Street-Streets:* Church Street, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom* Church Street , New York City, New York, United States* Church Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia* Church Street , England, United Kingdom...
- Roberts Drive
- Taylor Road
- Valley Hill Road
- Bethsaida Road
- Helmer Road
- Thomas Road
- E. Fayetteville Road
Interstate
I-75Interstate 75 in GeorgiaIn the U.S. state of Georgia, Interstate 75 runs north–south along the U.S. Route 41 corridor on the western side of the state, passing through the cities of Valdosta, Macon and Atlanta. It is also designated — but not signed — as State Route 401...- exit 237A - Georgia State Route 85 south (southbound exit only)
Education
Schools in Riverdale are in the Clayton County School System.Clayton County Public Schools
Clayton County Public Schools is a public school district located in Jonesboro, Georgia, U.S. With over 48,000 students, CCPS is the fifth largest school district in Georgia.-High schools:...
- Elementary
- Church St. Elementary
- E.W. Oliver Elementary
- Lake Ridge Elementary
- Lewis Academy of Excellence
- Harper Elementary
- Pointe South Elementary
- Riverdale Elementary
- Middle
- Riverdale Middle
- Sequoyah Middle
- Pointe South Middle
- Kendrick Middle
- High
- Riverdale HighRiverdale High School (Georgia)Riverdale High School is a public high school located on Roberts Drive in Riverdale, Georgia. The school serves about 1,800 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Clayton County Public Schools district. Its interim principal is Dr. Terry Young....
- Charles R. Drew High School
Shopping
Riverdale's Main Shopping district is along S.R. 85, between S.R. 138 and Gardenwalk Blvd, with a number of AsianAsian supermarket
An Asian supermarket, sometimes called an "Oriental supermarket", is a grocery store in non-Asian countries that stocks items imported from the many countries in East and Southeast Asia. They carry items and ingredients generally well-suited for Asian cuisines and not found in most Western...
, Hispanic, and African cultural stores.
The city had been slated to develop a new “town center” since 2007. The plans to construct this public-private development came after the city received funds under the Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) from the Atlanta Regional Commission
Atlanta Regional Commission
The Atlanta Regional Commission is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency for the metro Atlanta, Georgia region, as defined as a 10-county area including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties, including the city of...
(ARC). The city had abandoned plans to develop the new town center behind the Home Depot on Lamar Hutcheson Pkwy. due to questionable reasons. The city now plans to bring the new town center to Travon Wilson Memorial Park which the city owns. There has been a huge concern from the public about the current plans including: loss of public recreation space; the loss of the memorial to Travon Wilson, a young boy who was killed in the park in 2004; and the feasibility of the city to even commit to development or truly attract private development. The city had planned to begin the project late summer 2008. The new city hall and multipurpose center would have been developed first. City officials remain convinced that a halo effect
Halo effect
The halo effect is a cognitive bias whereby one trait influences another trait or traits of that person or object. This is very common among physically attractiveness...
will attract new business and revitalize the area surrounding the new town center.
Parks
The city currently has three parks, all within a mile of each other:- Travon D. Wilson Memorial Park on Church St. behind the Merchant Shopping Center.
- Church Park on Wilson Rd. behind the First Baptist Church of Riverdale.
- Banks Park on Main St. and West St. next to city hall.
Notable residents of Riverdale
- T.I , rapper
- Waka Flocka FlameWaka Flocka FlameJuaquin Malphurs , better known by his stage name Waka Flocka Flame, is an American rapper signed to 1017 Brick Squad and Warner Bros. He is a Southern hip hop artist best known for his singles "O Let's Do It", "Hard in da Paint" & "No Hands", along with his debut album, Flockaveli...
, rapper and member of 1017 Bricksquad