Sweet Auburn, Georgia

Located east of downtown Atlanta, the historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood is the birthplace of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Named a National Historic Landmark District in 1976, Sweet Auburn draws people from all over the world to visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic site, the location of King's childhood home as well as Ebenezer Baptist Church. Freedom Parkway forms the northern border of the neighborhood, and Decatur Street and the King Memorial Transit station make up the southern boundary.

The Marta Blue and Green Lines run along Sweet Auburn's southern boundary. A new initiative, the Atlanta Streetcar, offers a 2.7-mile loop through the area's past, taking passengers on a 12-stop tour of historic Sweet Auburn and other neighborhoods and culminating at Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park. One can get a taste of the neighborhood by walking around Sweet Auburn. It is, in some ways, like stepping back in time, but the present is very much alive. Visitors will encounter distinctive larger-than-life building murals, welcoming eateries and friendly shopkeepers.

Since 1976, when Sweet Auburn was designated a National Historic Landmark District, it has enjoyed new popularity and is a vibrant, thriving modern community with a wealth of amenities. Its popular Sweet Auburn Curb Market is the center of local activity, serving as part gathering spot, part market, and part local celebration—every day. It's located in the 1924 Municipal Market Building. The community celebrates its past and looks to the future at the Auburn Springfest. The annual festival features live music on 10 outdoor stages, a multitude of food vendors and fun for all ages.

The name "Sweet Auburn" refers to the success of the the many African American-owned businesses founded on Auburn Avenue in the early 1900s, including Atlanta's first black-owned life insurance company and the Atlanta Daily World, the city's first black-owned newspaper. Today one of Atlanta's most progressive, enterprising neighborhoods, Sweet Auburn reflects the history and accomplishments of Atlanta's African American residents.