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Friday, Aug. 19, 2005 | ||
What do you think of this story? | This is Southwest FultonBy BEN NELMS I decided a week or so ago to change the way I identify the South Fulton area in stories I cover in Palmetto, Union City, Fairburn and the unincorporated areas north of those cities and west to the Chattahoochee River. While this large geographical area is referred to by many as South Fulton, I cant help but believe it deserves a more precise way of expressing the individuality and personality of this expanse of land and people. I expect that for some of you, what I am going to say may be old hat. I wondered when I moved here a few months ago why this area was called South Fulton. Its not that the term is incorrect. Its just that its not completely accurate. It seemed that, as a way of identifying the area, something was missing. Everybody who has looked at a map of Fulton County knows its a large, unusually-shaped county, loosely following the descriptive titles of South Fulton, North Fulton and, well, Atlanta. Thats fine, especially if you tilt the county a bit clockwise on its axis. But geography aside, theres something else. And its much more along the lines of identity. As often described, South Fulton takes in nearly every square-foot from the southwest side of Atlanta city limits along with East Point, Hapeville and College Park to the south, all the way to the river. Looking at a map, thats quite a large chunk of land. And thats the point of all this. Im a bit hesitant to be bringing this up since my viewpoint usually runs toward the inclusionary, but... I just cant help thinking that so much of the rest of Fulton gets lost in the descriptive mix. And in case Fulton County-proper hasnt noticed, the other Fulton County, Southwest Fulton, is packed full of the still-little but rapidly growing towns of Union City, Fairburn and Palmetto and an abundance of rural ambience and rolling landscape immediately to the north extending to Chattahoochee Hill Country and the Chattahoochee River. A part of the future of this Southwest Fulton may depend on the unity of one or more areas within its boundaries. There are doubtless a number of concerns on the immediate horizon, municipal and rural. And there is the obvious spread of the Atlanta megalopolis, the present and future development and everything that comes with it. There is also the reality that, as a group of communities, either you will manage the future or the future will manage you. This is exactly why, though opinions on approach may differ, the residents of Southwest Fulton, whether residing in cities or in the country, can little afford to be distracted by events that take their attention away from the area that so many of you love, the area you call home. I think it goes without saying that in the near to long-term future, they eyes of Atlanta/Fulton County will continue to be trained on the increasing tax revenue that will be generated from the largely undeveloped land to the west of New York City South. I hope residents will be vigilant in demanding that they get their moneys worth from the county that will doubtless depend on Southwest Fulton for its increasing monetary needs. As for me and the events I report on, Im compelled to identify a part of the old Campbell County for the unique area it is. The more people I meet in Southwest Fulton, the more I like it. It IS a unique area that possesses a mix of character and it deserves specific recognition for what it is: a genuinely nice place. This is Southwest Fulton.
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