If you’re a history buff considering retirement, East Cobb has something for everyone: a community deeply rooted in the long and winding story of the Deep South, as well as a commitment to telling the stories that matter.
Pair this with the luxury living and modern accommodations people have come to expect from East Cobb, and you’ll savor a delectable retirement. Want to know more about the history of East Cobb? Check out the tale of this fascinating region.
The History of East Cobb
In 1829, Georgia was still a mostly rural state with huge cotton plantations. But excitement began to peak when the Gold Rush came to Dahlonega. Residents and people from across the globe flocked to the region, hoping to get a piece of the gold pie. Suddenly, real estate in Georgia was desirable, and rural slices of land remained fairly affordable.
By 1832, people were buying up as much land as they could, enriched by the gold fortunes of Dahlonega. Tragically, the Cherokee lived on much of that land, where they had peacefully raised families and grown food for centuries. The state of Georgia, under pressure from gold prospectors, drove them from their homes, taking their land. At least 3,000 died on the Trail of Tears, and the community decimation of this forced move continues to reverberate today.
With more land available thanks to this theft from the Native Americans, the state initiated a Gold Lottery, giving away 40 acres of land per beneficiary. This included sections of the area that would one day become East Cobb. Many people who were awarded land in this lottery eventually became leaders in the area. You can see some of their names on roads and plaques today. Samuel and Isaac Sewell purchased the Tritt property from two Gold Lottery winners. They also purchased the Sewell Mill. You can still visit the ruins of that mill today.
Cobb County is named for Thomas Willis Cobb, an attorney known for his vocal critiques of Andrew Jackson.
The Birth of East Cobb as We Know It Today
By 1960, East Cobb was a sleepy suburb known as Mount Bethel. In those days, it was considered too far from Atlanta, and too rural to be exciting. Instead, residents thought of it as a quiet religious community. The Mt. Bethel Methodist church on Johnson Ferry Road formed the core of the community.
In the 1970s, developers began building neighborhoods on the affordable plots of land in the area. By the 1990s, it had become a suburban mecca, with high-end homes and plenty of luxury shopping. As more Atlantans moved to the suburbs, the perception that East Cobb was too far away from the city became a thing of the past. In 2017, when the Atlanta Braves moved to Cobb County, it solidified Cobb as a vital metro Atlanta suburb.
Famous People From East Cobb
East Cobb might have been a lazy rural town for much of the last 100 years, but it’s still produced a lot of famous people. Check out the area’s most famous current and former residents:
- Actress Julia Roberts
- Country music artist Travis Tritt
- NFL coach Sean McVay
- Alan Ball, creator of the HBO series “True Blood”
- Jeff Small, CEO and president of DreamWorks
East Cobb is the perfect place to retire, filled with amenities for seniors of all ages, interests and ability levels. To learn more about your retirement options or to explore senior living in East Cobb, subscribe to our blog!
