Lithonia, Georgia

"Lithonia" redirects here. For the song, see Lithonia (song).
Lithonia, Georgia
City
Stone sign with a depiction of two trees with the words Welcome to Lithonia City of Granite Donated by the Lithonia Summer Street Festival Committee May 18, 1996
Welcome sign on Main Street in Lithonia
Motto: 
City of Granite
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
Lithonia, Georgia is located in Metro Atlanta
Lithonia, Georgia
Lithonia, Georgia
Coordinates: 33°42′46″N 84°6′21″W / 33.71278°N 84.10583°W / 33.71278; -84.10583
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyDeKalb
Government
 • MayorShameka Reynolds
 • DeKalb County CEOMichael L. Thurmond
Area
[1]
 • Total
0.93 sq mi (2.41 km2)
 • Land0.93 sq mi (2.40 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
925 ft (282 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,662
 • Density2,868.53/sq mi (1,107.78/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
30038, 30058
Area code(s)770, [678]
FIPS code13-46860[2]
GNIS feature ID0325978[3]
Websitecityoflithoniaga.org

Lithonia (/lɪˈθoʊniə/ lih-THOH-nee-ə, AAVE: /laɪ-/ ly-) is a city in eastern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The city's population was 2,662 at the 2020 census. Lithonia is in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

"Lithonia" means "city/town of stone". Lithonia is in the heart of the Georgian granite-quarrying and viewing region, hence the name of the town, from the Greek lithos, for “stone”.[4] The huge nearby Stone Mountain is composed of granite, while the Lithonia gneiss is a form of metamorphic rock. The Stone Mountain granite is younger than, and has intruded the Lithonia gneiss. The area has a history of rock quarries. The mines were served by the Georgia Railroad and Atlanta, Stone Mountain & Lithonia Railway. Some of the rock quarries have been converted to parkland, and the rail lines to rail-trail.

Lithonia is one of the gateways to the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area,[5] which is largely contained inside Stonecrest, Georgia.

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 132. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  5. ^ arabiaalliance.org