Vine City
Vine City History
The Atlanta metropolitan area includes the Vine City neighborhood. Its boundaries are roughly Interstate 20 on the south, Marietta Street on the east, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (formerly West Peachtree) on the north, and Pryor Road on the west, located west/northwest of downtown Atlanta. Historically, the neighborhood’s population has been predominantly African-American, with a sizable white and Hispanic minority.
Since its founding, the neighborhood’s demographics have shifted slightly as many white residents relocated to nearby areas like Cabbagetown and Reynoldstown or newer suburbs like Druid Hills. The neighborhood is now predominantly African-American, with a mix of low-density housing storefronts on Northside Drive, single-family homes on side streets, and multi-story apartment buildings in between.
Up until the mid-1970s, the area was relatively prosperous. Home sizes were typically negligible, and most residents owned their homes before “white flight.” The size and population density of the houses began to increase, attracting lower-income renters. But, they drew in crime, which has persisted to this day. After many historic buildings got demolished as part of the 1996 Olympic preparations, Vine City underwent extensive urban renewal. The only surviving example of urban revival is near Vine City Park, which features a fenced-in area with two rusted cars surrounded by many boarded-up buildings.
Living in Vine City
Vine City has some of the most affordable housing in metro Atlanta, making it an appealing spot to buy a home on a tight budget. If you don’t want to buy, you can also discover affordable flats in the region. Some of these places need renovations, but you can find a few excellent buys if you know where to search.
Vine City Population Data
Vine City has a population of about 1,500 people. The neighborhood’s typical household income is $15,000, with around 18% living in poverty. Alexander Elementary School, Murphy Middle School, and Wheatley High School are the three public schools in the neighborhood.
The average age in this neighborhood is 40, with more than half of the residents being over 45. There are 813 households in this neighborhood, with 92 percent of them being renters. Almost 10% of the population has no automobile access to transportation, including walking distance or bus lines available at any time of day or night within the specified service area. If you want to explore another exciting neighborhood in Atlanta, check out Buckhead.