Western and Atlantic Railroad's Atlanta terminal fixed, origin of the city's name

Legislative Origin. The Georgia General Assembly voted in 1836 to build the Western and Atlantic Railroad, aiming to link the port of Savannah with the Midwest. This legislative act established the framework for the railroad's construction. The project was state-sponsored, reflecting Georgia's ambition to improve transportation infrastructure. The railroad's route selection was critical for determining the future location of its southern terminus.

Terminus Selection. Stephen Harriman Long, the railroad's chief engineer, surveyed various possible routes. In the autumn of 1837, he drove a stake into the ground to mark the founding of "Terminus." This location, known as the Zero Mile Post, was situated between what are now Forsyth Street and Andrew Young International Boulevard. Long initially predicted the site would support only a tavern, blacksmith shop, and grocery store.

Marthasville and Atlanta. By 1842, the settlement had six buildings and 30 residents. Locals initially requested the name Lumpkin, but Governor Wilson Lumpkin asked them to name it after his daughter, Martha Atalanta Lumpkin. It was incorporated as Marthasville in 1843. In 1845, John Edgar Thomson suggested renaming it Atlanta, a feminine version of "Atlantic," referencing the Western and Atlantic Railroad. The name change was enacted in December 1845.