Riverdale, Georgia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Riverdale, Georgia
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settlement_type = City
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map_caption = Location in Clayton County and the state of Georgia


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Georgia
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Clayton
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area_total_km2 = 11
area_land_km2 = 11
area_water_km2 = 0
area_total_sq_mi = 4.3
area_land_sq_mi = 4.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 12478
population_density_km2 = 1134.4
population_density_sq_mi = 2901.9
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timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 33 |latm = 33 |lats = 53 |latNS = N
longd = 84 |longm = 24 |longs = 38 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 282
elevation_ft = 925
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 30274, 30296
area_code = 770
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 13-65464GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0321635GR|3
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Riverdale is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 12,478 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Riverdale is located at coor dms|33|33|53|N|84|24|38|W|city (33.564704, -84.410607)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.3 square miles (11.1 km²), of which, 4.3 square miles (11.0 km²) of it is land and 0.23% is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 12,478 people, 4,389 households, and 3,107 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,926.3 people per square mile (1,130.9/km²). There were 4,590 housing units at an average density of 1,076.4/sq mi (416.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.09% White, 67.42% African American, 0.30% Native American, 7.73% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 2.28% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.81% of the population.

There were 4,389 households out of which 44.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.3% were married couples living together, 25.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.32.

In the city the population was spread out with 32.5% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 36.1% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,530, and the median income for a family was $42,323. Males had a median income of $30,802 versus $26,102 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,377. About 10.6% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 18.8% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

In recent years, Riverdale politics has been seen by many to be characterized by [http://www.washblade.com/2007/10-19/news/national/11419.cfm| cronyism] , mudslinging, conflicts of interest, and [http://www.cviog.uga.edu/spotlight/news/item.php?id=160| racial tensions] .

The city is governed by a mayor and four council members who are elected at large. The city is managed by a city manager who has several direct reports from various city departments.

Over the years, the mayor and council had a colorful history. For more than a decade, only women have served as mayor. In addition, the city has also had a transgender council woman. Through approval and disapproval of her gender and politics, she made press on several occasions.

Transportation

:*Mass Transit::* Clayton County C-Tran Runs 2 buses through the city of Riverdale 503,and 504

:* State Highways::*GA HWY 85 (Clark Howell Memorial Hwy)::*HWY 138 (Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy)::*HWY 139 (Main St./Riverdale Rd.)::*HWT 314 (Fayetteville Rd.)

:*Main Roads (4 Lanes or more)::*Gardenwalk Blvd::*Lamar Hutcheson PKWY::*Pointe South PKWY::*Upper Riverdale Rd.

:*Main Roads (2 Lanes)::*Church St.::*Roberts Dr.::*Taylor Rd.::*Valley Hill Rd.::*Bethsaida Rd.::*Helmer Rd.::*Thomas Rd.::*E. Fayetteville Rd.

:* Interstates::*I-75:::*exit 227 HWY 85 to Columbus, Georgia:::*exit 231 HWYs 19, 41 Tara BLVD/Upper Riverdale Rd./Old Dixie Rd. to Griffin, Georgia

Education

Schools in Riverdale are in the troubled [http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/clayton/stories/2008/03/01/clayton_0302.html |Clayton County School System] :* Elementary::*Church St. Elementary::*E.W. Oliver Elementary::*Lake Ridge Elementary::*Lewis Academy of Excellence::*Harper Elementary::*Pointe South Elementary::*Riverdale Elementary:*Middle::*Riverdale Middle::*Sequoyah Middle::*Pointe South Middle::*Kendrick Middle:*High::*Riverdale High

* Students who live in Flintwood go to Mt. Zion High School

ports & Entertainment

:*ShoppingRiverdale's Main Shopping district is HWY 85, between HWY 138 and Gardenwalk Blvd. With a number of Hispanic and African cultural stores.

The city has been slated to develop a new “town center” since 2007. This has been the subject of mixed review by citizens for some time. The plans to construct this public-private development came after the city completed a livable centers initiative (LCI) with funds from the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC).

A majority of city voters approved the city to create a tax allocation district (TAD) in the fall of 2007 in order to assist the city with funding the project. However, the citizens were unaware of an issue with the TAD and in early 2008 the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that portions of TADs could not fund development projects.

Currently, the city has abandoned plans to develop the new town center behind the Home Depot on Lamar Hutcheson Pkwy. due to questionable reasons. The city now plans to bring the new town center to Travon Wilson Memorial Park which the city owns. There has been a huge concern from the public about the current plans including: loss of public recreation space; the loss of the memorial to Travon Wilson, a young boy who was killed in the park in 2004; and the feasibility of the city to even commit to development or truly attract private development.

City officials remain convinced that a halo effect will attract new business and revitalize the area surrounding the new town center. Currently, the city plans to begin the project late summer 2008. The new city hall and multipurpose center will be developed first.

:*Parks

The city currently has three parks, all within a mile of each other:

Travon Wilson Memorial Park (named after a child murdered by stray gunfire) on Church St. behind the Merchant Shopping Center.Church Park on Wilson Rd. behind the First Baptist Church of Riverdale.Banks Park on Main St. and West St. next to city hall.

:*AmusementDixieland Fun Park Located Just one mile south of Pointe South PKWY.

Notable Residents

* Riverdale is also the hometown of R&B singer, Ciara;
* [http://homelesslady.org/homeless_lady_of_riverdale.htm| Janice Cunningham] -known as "the homeless lady of Riverdale."
* Allegedly Rapper T.I. went to High School there. (Shawty Lo posted a video on Youtube showing T.I.P.s high school yearbook) [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHj-QrRNUC8 Youtube - Shawty Lo Responds To T.I.'S Highschool Picture!! ] ]
* Street Evangelist Mary James, who preaches on Georgia 85 for the residents of Riverdale and Clayton County, was arrested for preaching too close to the street. Mary James was taken to jail in June of 2008 for what she said was just “praying for the people.” [http://www.cbs46.com/news/16730350/detail.html?rss=lnta&psp=news]

References

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