Stonecrest, Georgia

Stonecrest, Georgia
Coordinates: 33°42′04″N 84°10′19″W / 33.70111°N 84.17194°W / 33.70111; -84.17194
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyDeKalb
Government
 • TypeMayor-Council
 • MayorJazzmin Cobble
Area
 • Total
37.97 sq mi (98.34 km2)
 • Land37.40 sq mi (96.87 km2)
 • Water0.57 sq mi (1.47 km2)
Elevation
883 ft (269 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
59,194
 • Density1,582.6/sq mi (611.05/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code13-73784[2]
GNIS feature ID2786722[2]
Websitestonecrestga.gov

Stonecrest is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The boundaries of the city generally lie in the far southeastern corner of the county, with a smaller portion just north of Interstate 20. The city borders Lithonia, as well as Rockdale and Henry counties.

The city's population was 59,194 at the 2020 census,[3] which makes it the 15th-largest city in the state as well as the largest city that is entirely within DeKalb County, as Atlanta, the state capital, is located mostly within Fulton County.

History

Residents in the area voted in the November 2016 General Election to approve the city. In March 2017, elections were held to elect representatives for five city council districts as well as mayor. Jason Lary, a former insurance executive, concert promoter, and advocate of incorporation was elected the city's first mayor.[4]

The area is home to the Mall at Stonecrest, for which it is named, as well as the Davidson-Arabia Nature Preserve, Flat Rock Archives, and Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area.[5][6][7]

The city had voted a plan to deannex 345 acres of its territory so that the Georgia Legislature could create a new city, to be called Amazon, Georgia, if Stonecrest had been selected to host Amazon's new corporate headquarters, a project which would result in billions of dollars of investment and the creation of 50,000 jobs,[8] a number equal to the estimated population of Stonecrest.[9]

Jason Lary, the former Mayor of Stonecrest pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing COVID-19 relief funds that were supposed to go to struggling businesses. Jason Lary, whose resignation went into effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 5, 2022, pleaded guilty to three counts involving wire fraud, theft of government funds and conspiracy. Lary agreed that he diverted at least $650,000 in relief money by requiring Stonecrest churches and businesses to kick back a portion of their grant money to companies he controlled.[10]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
202059,194
2025 (est.)61,3373.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1850-1870[12] 1870-1880[13]
1890-1910[14] 1920-1930[15]
1940[16] 1950[17] 1960[18]
1970[19] 1980[20] 1990[21]
2000[22] 2010[23] 2020[24]
2025[25]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Stonecrest had a population of 59,194 and contained 23,071 households and 11,759 families. The median age was 35.2 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 78.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 72.2 males age 18 and over.[26][27]

98.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.6% lived in rural areas.[28]

There were 23,071 households in Stonecrest, of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 26.4% were married-couple households, 19.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 47.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[26]

There were 24,452 housing units, of which 5.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.4%.[26]

Stonecrest city, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2020[24] % 2020
White alone (NH) 1,394 2.35%
Black or African American alone (NH) 54,099 91.39%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 67 0.11%
Asian alone (NH) 220 0.37%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 10 0.02%
Other race alone (NH) 298 0.50%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 1,471 2.49%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,635 2.76%
Total 59,194 100.00%

2019 estimates

Stonecrest in 2019 had a median household income of $49,865, 18.6% of the population lived in poverty, the median property value in the city was $111,400, and 43.3% of the population owned homes.[29]

Places of interest

The Mall at Stonecrest

The Mall at Stonecrest opened in 2001 and is home to over 100 stores and eateries.

Flat Rock Archives

The Flat Rock Archives is an African American museum which mission is to preserve the rural African American history in Georgia.

Arabia Mountain

Arabia Mountain is a part of the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area and is the northern of two peaks in the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve.

Education

The DeKalb County School District is the area school district.[30][31]

Elementary schools serving parts of Stonecrest and located in Stonecrest include: Murphy Candler, Fairington, Flat Rock, Panola Way, and Stoneview. Parts are also in the Redan, Princeton, and Rock Chapel elementary zones.[32]

Middle schools serving parts of Stonecrest include Salem Middle School (in Stonecrest), Lithonia Middle School (in Lithonia), and Miller Grove Middle School (near Stonecrest).[33]

High schools serving parts of Stonecrest include Lithonia High School (in Stonecrest), Miller Grove High School (in Stonecrest), and Martin Luther King High School (across from Stonecrest).[34]

A magnet school, Arabia Mountain High School, is in Stonecrest.

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Stonecrest city, Georgia". www.census.gov. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  4. ^ Rosen, Sam (April 26, 2017). "The Border Battles of Atlanta". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  5. ^ "Information Lookup". Interdevgis.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  6. ^ "The City of Stonecrest". stonecrestcityalliance.com. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  7. ^ "Stonecrest Yes Committee | Dedicated to Self Governance of Our Future!". Stonecrestga.gov. June 9, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
  8. ^ "Town wants Amazon's new HQ so much it plans to split off new town called 'Amazon'". The Register. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  9. ^ "City of Stonecrest designed for businesses". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  10. ^ "Former Stonecrest Mayor Jason Lary pleads guilty to federal fraud charges". FOX 5 Atlanta. January 5, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  11. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1870.
  13. ^ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  14. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  15. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930. pp. 251–256.
  16. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  17. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  18. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1960.
  19. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1970.
  20. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  21. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1990.
  22. ^ "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  23. ^ "2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  24. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Stonecrest city, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ Origin= "2025 City and town population estimates: Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2025. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  26. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  27. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  28. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  29. ^ "United States Census Bureau QuickFacts, Stonecrest City, Georgia". US Census Bureau. January 7, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  30. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: DeKalb County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  31. ^ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Stonecrest city, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 19, 2023. - Compare city map to DeKalb County school boundary maps.
  32. ^ "Elementary School Attendance Areas 2018 - 2019 School Year." DeKalb County School System. Retrieved on February 19, 2023.
  33. ^ "Middle School Attendance Areas 2018 - 2019 School Year." DeKalb County School System. Retrieved on February 19, 2023.
  34. ^ "High School Attendance Areas 2018 - 2019 School Year." DeKalb County School System. Retrieved on February 19, 2023.