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Stockbridge is a city in Henry County,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
, United States. As of 2020, its population was 28,973. Stockbridge is part of the
Atlanta metropolitan area Metro Atlanta, designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget as the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell metropolitan statistical area, is the most populous metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Georgia and the sixt ...
.


History

The area was settled in 1829 when Concord Methodist Church was organized near present-day Old Stagecoach Road. It was granted a post office on April 5, 1847, named for a traveling professor,
Levi Stockbridge Levi Stockbridge (March 13, 1820 – May 2, 1904) was a farmer and scientist from Hadley, Massachusetts. He was instrumental in the early history of the Massachusetts Agricultural College now known as the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Biog ...
, who passed through the area many times before the post office was built. He was said to be well known and respected in his namesake community. Others contend that the city was named after Thomas Stocks, who was State Surveyor and president of the
Georgia State Senate The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly, in the U.S. state of Georgia. The Georgia State Senate and the lower house of the General Assembly, the Georgia House of Representatives, comprise the bicameral leg ...
in the 1820s. In 1881, the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad was to pass through Stockbridge between Macon and
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
. The settlers who owned the land about Old Stockbridge asked such a high price for their land that two prominent Atlanta citizens, John W. Grant and George W. Adair, bought a tract about a mile south of Old Stockbridge and offered lots at a reasonable price. Here the railroad built their depot and many lots were sold. The depot was located about north of what is now North Henry Blvd but was destroyed by the Southern Railway in the early 1980s. Stockbridge was incorporated as a town in 1895 and as a city on August 6, 1920, turning 100 years old on August 6, 2020. The Aaron and Margaret Parker Jr. House and Walden-Turner House in Stockbridge are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
.


Naming mystery

On May 6, 1992, Mayor Segio received a letter from John Stockbridge of
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
requesting a letter of "Greeting" from the City of Stockbridge to the attendees of the first reunion of the Stockbridge family. In his letter, he mentioned that he grew up in Georgia and had been told as a child that the city of Stockbridge was named after his great-great-grandfather Levi Stockbridge, who had traveled back and forth from the North to his property in
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
and stopped here on his journey. Levi Stockbridge was born on March 13, 1820, and fits the time frame just prior to the
Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
. Levi would have been 27 years of age when Stockbridge was assigned a post office in 1847. Until May 6, 1992, there had never been a name other than Professor Stockbridge. At that time, Levi Stockbridge was mentioned as the person for whom the city may have been named. It is not certain that Levi Stockbridge was the individual for whom the citizens of the community named their post office and village. However, through John Stockbridge's letters and many conversations with him, it is believed that this is the rightful Professor Stockbridge who had been unknown for 146 years.


Recent history


Eminent domain controversy

In late 2005 the City of Stockbridge engaged in a controversial preemptive use of
eminent domain Eminent domain, also known as land acquisition, compulsory purchase, resumption, resumption/compulsory acquisition, or expropriation, is the compulsory acquisition of private property for public use. It does not include the power to take and t ...
to buy over of land near the current city hall running along East Atlanta Road. The city reportedly wanted to build a new city hall, park/square, and a small tract of land for new and more desirable business to incorporate a new image for the city. Stockbridge became the focus of national news and was also one of the largest issues in the 2006
Georgia General Assembly The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Each of the General Assembly's 236 members serve two-year terms and are directl ...
and their efforts to prevent abuse of eminent domain. Many of the citizens of Stockbridge and Henry County were surprised by the apparent abuse of eminent domain by the city. Early in 2006, a protest was organized by the
NAACP The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is an American civil rights organization formed in 1909 as an interracial endeavor to advance justice for African Americans by a group including W. E. B. Du&nbs ...
and supported by the Republican and
Libertarian Libertarianism (from ; or from ) is a political philosophy that holds freedom, personal sovereignty, and liberty as primary values. Many libertarians believe that the concept of freedom is in accord with the Non-Aggression Principle, according ...
parties from the county. Syndicated Atlanta talk show host
Neal Boortz Neal A Boortz Jr. (born April 6, 1945) is an American author, former attorney, and former libertarian radio host. His nationally syndicated talk show, ''The Neal Boortz Show'', which ended in 2013, was carried throughout the United States. The ...
said during his show, "Private property rights are dead in Stockbridge, Georgia," and called members of the Stockbridge City Council "sorry bastards". The Henry County Board of Commissioners took a stance on the issue by unanimously approving a non-binding resolution that the county would not take land for economic development purposes. However, the county legally has no say in what the City of Stockbridge can do with its land and its use of eminent domain. Many have said this was just a political strategy, as Henry County has been shown in recent voting history to be one of the most conservative counties in the Atlanta metro area, consistently voting Republican in early 21st century presidential elections. (However, as the population grew, the county voted Democratic in the 2016 and 2020 elections.) The conflict between the city and the property owners came to an end on February 2, 2007, as the Georgia Court of Appeals threw out the condemnation. Only one store, a local florist, beat the eminent domain and was allowed to keep its store and property. A brick fence was erected around the florist shop to separate it from the new City Hall.


New city hall

After February 2007, the city had plans drawn up to build the new
city hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or municipal hall (in the Philippines) is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses the city o ...
. The plans called for the new city hall, park, and green space to be built around the florist's shop that started the now famous eminent domain lawsuit. The city said that the new development would strengthen the old and worn-down downtown business district. Stockbridge
City Manager A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city in the council–manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are referred to as the chief executive officer (CEO) or chief administ ...
Ted Strickland said that the new city hall was absolutely necessary, because some current city employees were working out of closets and supply rooms.


Secession movement

A group of residents in Stockbridge attempted to
secede Secession is the formal withdrawal of a group from a political entity. The process begins once a group proclaims an act of secession (such as a declaration of independence). A secession attempt might be violent or peaceful, but the goal is the c ...
to form their own community called Eagle's Landing in the 2018 general election. The referendum was defeated.


Geography

Stockbridge is located in northwestern Henry County at (33.534068, -84.231185). Its northwestern border follows the Clayton County line. Some unincorporated areas in Rockdale County have a Stockbridge mailing address, without actually being a part of the City of Stockbridge. U.S. Route 23 is the main road through the center of the city, leading northwest to downtown
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
and southeast to McDonough, the Henry County seat.
Interstate 75 Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. As with most Interstates that end in 5, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, traveling from S ...
passes through the southwest side of the city, with access from Exits 222, 224, and 228. I-75 leads northwest to Atlanta and southeast to Macon. Interstate 675 splits from I-75 in northwestern Stockbridge and provides access to the city from its Exit 1. According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, Stockbridge has a total area of , of which are land and , or 0.97%, are water.


Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 28,973 people, 10,244 households, and 7,549 families residing in the city.


Government

The Stockbridge city council has five council members, holding council meetings on the second Monday of each month. As of April 2025, the current mayor of Stockbridge is Anthony S. Ford, whose term expires on December 31st, 2025.Mayor - City of Stockbridge, Georgia
City of Stockbridge GA.


Parks and recreation

* Clark Community Park * Gardner Park * Memorial Park * Monument Park at Eagle's Landing * Reeves Creek Trail * Eagles Landing Country Club * Bridgefest – held annually on the last weekend in September * Holiday Gala – held annually * Sounds of Summer concert series – held annually on City Hall lawn * Screen on the Green held annually – hosted by Stockbridge Main Street


Education


Public schools

Stockbridge is served by the Henry County School District. Schools serving the Stockbridge area include: * Cotton Indian Elementary School * Dutchtown Elementary, Middle, and High Schools * Eagles Landing Middle, and High Schools * Flippen Elementary School * Pate's Creek Elementary School * Pleasant Grove Elementary School * Red Oak Elementary School * Smith Barnes Elementary School * Stockbridge Elementary, Middle, and High Schools * Woodland Elementary, Middle, and High Schools


Private schools

* Community Christian School * Mount Vernon Christian Academy


Infrastructure


Transportation

* Xpress GA provides local bus service. * Berry Hill Airport is a private airport located east of town and has no scheduled air service. Stockbridge is served by the following highways: *
Interstate 75 Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. As with most Interstates that end in 5, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, traveling from S ...
* Interstate 675 * U.S. Highway 23 * Georgia State Route 42 * Georgia State Route 138 *
Georgia State Route 401 __NOTOC__ Year 401 ( CDI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Vincentius and Fravitus (or, less frequently, year 1154 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination ...
* Georgia State Route 413


Notable people

* Joey Clanton, race car driver * Kyle Davies, professional baseball player * Michael Harris II, professional baseball player * Max Gresham, stock car racing driver * Mark Hall, lead singer of contemporary Christian band Casting Crowns * Bruce Irvin, NFL player, Seattle Seahawks * Martin Luther King Sr., Baptist pastor, missionary, and early leader in the American Civil Rights Movement; father of
Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister, civil and political rights, civil rights activist and political philosopher who was a leader of the civil rights move ...
* Phil McCullough, professional baseball player * Lee H. Phillips, awarded the
Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...
for his actions during the Korean War * Dean Roland, Ed Roland, and Will Turpin of the alternative rock band
Collective Soul Collective Soul is an American rock band originally from Stockbridge, Georgia. Now based in Atlanta, the group consists of the brothers Ed (lead vocalist) and Dean Roland (rhythm guitarist), Will Turpin (bassist), Johnny Rabb (drummer), a ...
*
Ricky Sanders Ricky Wayne Sanders (born August 30, 1962) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 12 seasons from 1983 to 1994, two with the United States Football League (USFL)'s Houston Gamblers and 10 in the National ...
, race car driver


Media

* The Netflix television show
Stranger Things ''Stranger Things'' is an American television series created by the Duffer brothers, Duffer Brothers for Netflix. Produced by Monkey Massacre Productions and 21 Laps Entertainment, the Stranger Things season 1, first season was released on N ...
was partially filmed in Stockbridge. Now-closed Patrick Henry High School was used for the middle and high school scenes. Smokin' Cues was also a filming location for the show. * A scene in
Furious 7 ''Furious 7'' (also known as ''Fast & Furious 7'') is a 2015 action film directed by James Wan and written by Chris Morgan. It is the sequel to ''Fast & Furious 6'' (2013) and '' The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift'' (2006) and the seventh i ...
, the seventh film of the
Fast and Furious ''Fast & Furious'', also known as ''The Fast and the Furious'', is an American action media franchise centered on a series of films revolving around street racing, heists, and spies. The franchise also includes short films, a television se ...
franchise, was filmed at the Vulcan Materials Company's rock quarry. * Patrick Henry High School was used to film the middle school scenes of the horror film '' Brightburn''. * A scene from ''
We Are Marshall ''We Are Marshall'' is a 2006 American biographical sports drama film directed by McG. It depicts the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed 75 people: 37 players of the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team, five coaches, ...
'' was filmed at the W.D. Miller Store in Stockbridge.


References


External links


City of Stockbridge official website
{{authority control Cities in Georgia (U.S. state) Cities in Henry County, Georgia