The Definitive Guide to Moving to Atlanta

Atlanta is the most populous city in Georgia, and is the capital of the state, and one of its many nicknames is the “Empire City of the South”, a nickname fitting in its reflection of the city’s economic significance and prominence as a bastion of cultural importance to the Southeast. Alternatively, the nickname also alludes to the cultural and demographic makeup of the city – Though South in location the city is largely comprised of migrants from other parts of the US. This diverse combination of traits has led to the city becoming one the nation’s most desirable of destinations within the last ten years. Considering moving to Atlanta, Georgia this year? Read Storage Depot of Douglasville’s definitive city guide to Atlanta, and learn why you should consider moving to “The Big Peach” in 2021.

Discover Atlanta’s Economy

Quick Facts

Population: 506,811

Median Home Value: $290,400

Median Gross Rent: $1,153

Median Salary: $59,948

Economically, Atlanta is a focal point of the Southeast, boasting an estimated GDP of over $324 billion that ranks the city as the 10th largest in the country, and the 18th in the world. This economic prominence has been established in large part due to the influence of the many corporations headquartered within the area. Indeed, the city ranks fourth in the number of 500 companies headquartered within city boundaries, only behind New York City, Houston, and Dallas. Notable companies headquartered within the Atlanta area include The Coca-Cola Company, Home Depot, United Parcel Service, Delta Air Lines, AT&T Mobility and Newell Rubbermaid, and these companies – along with a number of additional smaller corporations – are largely responsible for Atlanta’s prominence as a global economic juggernaut.

Beyond its corporations, the city is known as an established center of the television and movie industries. Notably, the city acts as the ninth-largest media market in the US, and is headquarters to Cox Communications (the nation’s third largest cable television service provider) and the Turner Broad Casting System, a media conglomerate whose main properties include the networks CNN, TBS, and TNT. Additionally, Atlanta is an established hub within the film industry – Mafilm.org notes the city as a top destination in the film industry, a change largely brought about by the city’s generous tax incentive program established in 2008. Consequently, the city is now host to Tyler Perry Studios, and larger blockbuster films such as Captain America: Civil War and Ant-Man have been filmed within the area.

Atlanta’s economic prosperity and corporate desirability has largely been established through its favorable startup conditions – the city ranks first in lowest cost of business, features numerous business resources due to its established base of Fortune 500 companies, and is home to the number one most-traveled airport in the Western Hemisphere, the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Considering moving to Atlanta this year? Make note of Atlanta’s bustling and thriving economy.

Discover Atlanta’s Excitement

Demographically, Atlanta is a remarkedly young city – The median age of its population is 33, and the largest portion of its population makeup is 20-29. The city caters to this younger crowd with its selection of live entertainment options, with professional sports being at its forefront. Notably Atlanta is host to four professional sports teams: the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA, the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL, the Atlanta Braves of the MLB, and Atlanta United FC of MLS. Conveniently all four teams play out of stadiums at the heart of the city’s downtown area. Consequently, the streets surrounding these stadiums are host to a number of revered restaurants and bars positioned to take advantage of the stadium’s crowds.

Alternatively, outside of professional sports, Atlanta is host to a number of prestigious collegiate sports events, the most prominent being college football’s Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, an event which was fittingly last won by the state’s very own Georgia Bulldogs in 2021. Indeed, Atlanta has a rich history of college football – Atlanta is home to the oldest on-campus NCAA Division 1 football stadium, Bobby Dodd Stadium, which was built in 1913 by the students of Georgia Tech. Additionally, Atlanta played host to the second intercollegiate football game in the south in Piedmont Park in 1892.

Moving to Atlanta, GA this year? Consider planning a weekend trip to attend a game with one of the city’s many professional sports teams.

Discover Atlanta’s Cuisine

Atlanta’s culinary scene is the true embodiment of southern tradition, and as such, the city and its downtown area are host to a number of revered and decorated restaurants highlighting southern comfort dishes. Still, that is not to say Southern fare is the city’s only culinary offering – The city’s collection of restaurants is ultimately just as diverse as the demographic makeup of the city. We’ve listed a few of our favorites below – Be sure to stop in at one if you are visiting the city this year!

• King + Duke – A chef-owned restaurant from Atlanta’s Fordy Fry, King + Duke offers a seasonal dining experience centered around woodfire cooking techniques at their 24-foot open hearth centerpiece. Previously named “One of the Best Restaurants of the Year” by GQ Magazine and Esquire, the restaurant specializes in primitive cooking techniques and locally sourced ingredients.
• Buttermilk Kitchen – Buttermilk Kitchen has been Atlanta’s premier breakfast and brunch institution since 2012. This institution works with local venders to produce southern staples that include Fried Pickled Green Tomatoes, Chicken and Waffle plates, and their popular Friday special: Ray’s Waffle Burger.
• Eight Sushi Lounge – A neighborhood sushi bar set against a contemporary and modern setting. Eight Sushi Lounge has consistently been regarded as the hottest sushi spot in downtown Atlanta.
• Cooks and Soldiers – An upscale restaurant serving Basque tapas and larger shareable portions cooked on a wood-burning grill referred to as the Asador. The restaurant takes its name from the annual festival of Tamborrada in San Sebastian, and was recently voted one of Atlanta’s top 10 “new restaurants”.
• Heirloom Market BBQ – A chef driven restaurant that offers slow cooked Southern BBQ staples combined with Korean marinades and spices. The restaurant seeks to promote food built off of three founding principles: Simple, Classic, and Fresh, and Head Chef Jiyeon Lee lovingly refers to their cuisine as “Seoul” food.

Consider moving to Atlanta, GA this year? Be sure to visit one of the many spectacular restaurants in Downtown Atlanta this year!

Discover Atlanta’s Culture

Atlanta ultimately stands as the cultural epicenter of Georgia. Fittingly, the city is home to an abundance of cultural landmarks that include prominent museums, performing arts and music venues, art centers and theaters. Perhaps the city’s most renowned cultural feature is the High Museum of Art, an institution widely touted as the leading art museum in the southeastern United States.

Originally founded in 1905, the High Museum of Art’s permanent collection includes more than 18,000 artworks that focus on seven collecting areas: American art, decorative arts and design, African art, European art, modern and contemporary art, folk and self-taught art, and photography. Highlights of the museum’s collection include works by Claude Monet, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Clarence John Laughlin, and Dorothea Lange. Additionally, outside of its collections, the museum has been host to a number of notable exhibits throughout its history. Perhaps the most significant was the museum’s Louvre Atlanta, an art collaboration showing exhibits from the Louvre in Paris at the museum that ran from October 2006 to 2009.

Beyond its art scene, Atlanta is noted as one of the few US cities with permanent, professional, and resident companies in all major arts disciplines. The city is host to opera (The Atlanta Opera), ballet (Atlanta Ballet), orchestral music (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra), and theater (the Alliance Theatre). Additionally, the city is a frequent host to touring Broadway acts, with performances frequently scheduled throughout the year at Atlanta’s landmark Fox Theatre, a historic landmark among the highest-grossing theaters of its size.

Be sure to check each venue’s calendar prior to planning your visit – Each venue regularly schedules special exhibits throughout its season.

Storage Depot of Douglasville Can Assist with Your Move to Atlanta

Moving to Atlanta, GA or the Douglasville area this summer? We have your backs! Located just 20 miles west of Atlanta, Storage Depot of Douglasville is your first stop for affordable storage in Douglasville, GA and the greater Atlanta Metro Area. Amenities of this facility include drive up self storage units, indoor storage units, and outdoor RV and vehicle parking all secured via 24-hour digital camera monitoring. Feel safe and secure choosing Storage Depot of Douglasville this summer. Additionally, for your convenience this facility offers onsite U-Haul moving truck rentals. Come stop in and talk with our team of storage experts today!

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