As one of the oldest sections of Atlanta, the frontier neighborhood of Old Fourth Ward developed from ashes soon after the Civil War. During the 1890s, the main road, Boulevard, was referred to as one of the most desirable residential streets in Atlanta.

Soon after, during the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, the gorgeous Victorian and Queen Anne homes along Boulevard were destroyed. During the 1950s and 1960s, wealthy residents moved out of Old Fourth Ward. Boulevard became a road surrounded by apartments and section 8 housing.

Recently, with the development of the BeltLine, new apartment and condo complexes, trendy restaurants, retail shops and location near Downtown, Midtown, Inman Park and Virginia-Highland, Old Fourth Ward is becoming more and more popular.

Now seen as an eclectic community, Old Fourth Ward is home to 24,150. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Homefinder, most locals rent their homes. On Trulia, 14 rentals are listed. These range in price from about $600 to $2,000 a month. For those looking to buy, Trulia has 9,201 homes available. The median home price is $184,354. Buyers can find anything from 1920s Craftsman cottages and bungalows to new retro-style homes, lofts and apartments. All blend well and make Old Fourth Ward perfect for anyone.

Though most are non-family households, children that do reside in Old Fourth Ward attend Inman Park Cooperative Preschool, Hope-Hill Elementary, Intown Academy Charter, Inman Park Middle School
and Grady High School. Nearby universities include Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia State and Emory School of Medicine.

In regards to lifestyle, Curbed Atlanta named Old Fourth Ward the “Best Neighborhood in Atlanta” in 2012 because of its attractions for foodies, history buffs, hipsters, joggers and more.

Shopping and Dining

• Noni’s. Located on Edgewood Avenue, Noni’s is family-owned and serves a variety of fresh Italian comfort food. Menu items include fried calamari, sandwiches, risotto, pasta and delicious gelato.
• Irwin Street Market. The market is a collaborative of local, artisan and food based business. Located at 660 Irwin Street, the heart of Old Fourth Ward, the market is home to unique items, good food and even cooking classes.
• Highland Bakery. As you walk into Highland Bakery, you will smell the sweet aroma of coffee, muffins, cakes and more. Menu items include cinnamon rolls, breakfast sandwiches, French toast, scones, eggs benedict, sandwiches, salads and cookies.
• Sister Louisa’s Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium: Enjoy colorful artwork and social commentary from Sister Luisa as you sip on drinks, enjoy light snacks and of course, play a game of ping pong.

Entertainment and Recreation

• Historic Fourth Ward Park. As part of the Beltline, the Historic Fourth Ward Park offers 17 new acres of greenspace, a playground, a splashpad, an outdoor theater and a two-acre lake. Additionally, a second phase features a world-class skatepark, playground and large multi-use athletic field.
• The Masquerade. A live music venue, The Masquerade features three indoor stages and an open air amphitheater.
• Ponce City Market. Coming in the spring of 2014, Ponce City Market is the largest adaptive reuse project in Atlanta’s history. The historic Sears, Roebuck & Company building will be turned into a combination of 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 450,000 square feet of office space and 260 residential units. It will also have parks and access to the Beltline.

Historical Attractions

• Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. Old Fourth Ward includes the birth home of Martin Luther King, Jr. at 501 Auburn Ave. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in 1929, graduated from Morehouse College in 1948 and was ordained at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. He then went on to lead the Civil Rights Movement.
• Ebenezer Baptist Church. Founded in 1886, the church has had pastors who not only preach the Gospel but take their ministries into the world. One such pastor was Martin Luther King, Jr.

Whether you are a self-proclaimed hipster or not, Old Fourth Ward has something for everyone. Learn about more intown and Fulton County homes here.