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This is
This is

CLARKSTON

Once referred to as the “Ellis Island of the grew to be one of Atlanta’s fi rst and for this reason, considers itself to
South,” Clarkston is also often referred to suburban communities, with residents be a walking and biking community.
as America’s most diverse square mile: often commuting to the big city for The city is home to Communicycle, a
it’s been welcoming to refugees and employment. community-founded program offering
immigrants from more than 50 countries bicycle education, repair and access on a
for the past 35 years. Clarkston originally bore the nicknames donation basis.
of “Goatsville” and “Angora Heights”
In the late 1990s, the United States’ because of the large concentration of In addition to Communicycle, Clarkston’s
Asylum program for refugees identifi ed goat farmers in the area. Angoras, goats Community Center also offers youth,
Clarkston as an ideal place for refugee considered to be of high quality, were senior, technology and healthy living
resettlement. The city was identifi ed prevalent in Clarkston and allowed to programs. It’s common for Clarkston
for its trend of relocating homegrown roam freely. residents to engage in martial arts
residents, inexpensive housing options on Monday, tai chi on Tuesday, uhuru
and access to public transportation. Clarkston’s sole high school, Clarkston dancing on Wednesday and contra
Before long, new residents from more High, has incorporated this history by dancing on Thursday.
than 40 countries began calling Clarkston making the Angora its offi cial mascot.
home. Clarkston also offers Milam Park, which
In addition to Clarkston High School, features playground equipment, a walking
Today, Clarkston is a hub of immigrant- two DeKalb County School District trail, a swimming complex, tennis courts,
owned businesses and city-dwellers elementary schools and one middle nature preserve and a lake for fi shing.
branching out of Atlanta. It’s not unusual school are located in Clarkston. The
to pass a group of Clarkston High School city is also home to Georgia Piedmont Clarkston’s Friendship Forest Park offers
students hailing from Ethiopia, Somalia, Technical College, Georgia State 15.7 acres worth of wildlife sanctuary and
Eritrea, Viet Nam, Nepal, North Carolina or University’s Clarkston Campus and walking paths for residents and visitors.
a nearby DeKalb County suburb. Atlanta Area School for the Deaf. Forty Oaks Nature Preserve—near Milam
Park—offers the same amenities as well
Clarkston was founded in 1882 as Clarkston is along the Stone Mountain as a community garden.
a railway stop between Athens and bike path linking Atlanta’s Centennial
the eastern seaboard. It eventually Olympic Park to Stone Mountain park,

16 | 2018 Newcomers Guide & DeKalb Chamber Membership Directory