District 44
From Atlanta to Decatur to Forest Park, District 44 spans two counties and dozens of communities — anchored by world-class institutions and some of the region's most engaged voters.
Overview
Georgia Senate District 44 is a dynamic cross-section of metro Atlanta, spanning DeKalb and Clayton Counties and serving as home to roughly 200,000 residents. The district reaches from the City of Decatur and the Emory University corridor through the east side of Atlanta, Gresham Park, Cedar Grove, and Flat Shoals, extending into Forest Park, Lake City, and Morrow.
The district is anchored by the CDC, the Decatur VA, and a world-class research and healthcare corridor. It is equally defined by its vibrant, diverse neighborhoods where longtime residents live alongside Georgia's newest immigrant communities. From walkable urban centers to suburban hubs, District 44 brings together people who are focused on common goals: securing affordable housing, improving transit access, and creating sustainable economic development for every family.
Landmarks & Institutions
District 44 is home to major research, healthcare, educational, and government institutions across both counties.
Fort Gillem Redevelopment
The former 1,465-acre military installation in Forest Park has been redeveloped into a major logistics and employment center — home to Amazon, Kroger, and Home Depot facilities that have created thousands of jobs, with continued mixed-use growth planned.
Clayton State University
Located in Morrow, Clayton State serves thousands of students from across the south metro area. With its mission of social mobility, it is a critical pipeline for first-generation college students and working adults pursuing degrees.
National Archives at Atlanta
One of a small number of National Archives research facilities nationwide, the Atlanta branch in Morrow holds federal records for the southeastern United States — court records, military service files, and genealogical resources used by researchers across the region. The neighboring Georgia Archives preserves state records, including the Royal Charter, from 1732 to today.
Panthersville Government Complex
The Panthersville Government Complex is a major center of state operations in South DeKalb, home to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's headquarters and a newly funded mental health facility that will provide critical services for communities across Georgia. Together, these institutions anchor a corridor of public-sector infrastructure that plays an important role in the district's civic and public-safety landscape.
Georgia State University — Perimeter College
GSU's Perimeter College Decatur campus serves thousands of students pursuing associate degrees and transfer pathways to four-year programs. As one of the largest two-year institutions in the state, it is a vital access point to higher education for residents across the district.
Agnes Scott College
A nationally ranked liberal arts college for women in the heart of Decatur. Agnes Scott's Collegiate Gothic campus has a long tradition of producing civic and professional leaders.
Atlanta VA Medical Center in Decatur
The VA Medical Center on Clairmont Road serves veterans across a 50-county region. Its proximity to Emory enables research partnerships in veteran healthcare, traumatic brain injury, and mental health.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention
The CDC's headquarters sits on Clifton Road adjacent to Emory, making District 44 home to the nation's premier public health agency. Thousands of scientists and public health professionals live throughout the district.
Emory University
One of the nation's top research universities, Emory enrolls roughly 15,000 students and operates the largest health system in Georgia. The university is a leading voice on public health, law, and the sciences.
Fernbank Museum & Science Center
Fernbank Museum of Natural History and the separately operated Fernbank Science Center are major education and cultural destinations serving DeKalb County and the metro region.
Parks & Green Spaces
District 44 has significant green infrastructure in the north — and a pressing need for more equitable investment in the south.
Reynolds Nature Preserve
Located in Morrow in the Clayton County portion of the district, Reynolds Nature Preserve offers 146 acres of woodland, wetlands, and hiking trails — one of the few dedicated green spaces serving the southern end of the district.
Michelle Obama Legacy
The Michelle Obama Trail is a popular paved path in South DeKalb, offering a scenic route along Sugar Creek and the South River for walkers, runners, and cyclists. Connecting neighborhoods, parks, and the GSU Perimeter Campus, it provides a safe, shaded greenway that encourages outdoor recreation and strengthens community access to nature. And the Melvinia Shields Monument in the Rex area of Clayton County honors the five-generation journey of the former First Lady's family from enslavement to the White House.
Constitution Lakes Park
This 267-acre DeKalb County park along the South River features boardwalks over reclaimed lakes, wetland habitats, and the locally famous Doll's Head Trail. Located in the Gresham Park area, it is one of the most distinctive green spaces in south DeKalb.
Olmsted Linear Park
The Olmsted Linear Park follows Ponce de Leon Avenue through Druid Hills, preserving the original parkway design by Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. Six linked parks — Virgilee, Shadyside, Oak Grove, Springdale, Deepdene, and Dellwood — form a continuous green corridor.
Getting Around
MARTA Rail Stations
- — Decatur — city center, steps from Agnes Scott and Decatur Square
- — Avondale — eastern Decatur and Avondale Estates
- — East Lake — gateway to East Lake and Kirkwood
Key Corridors
- — I-75 — runs through Forest Park and Morrow, the district's primary north-south artery in Clayton
- — Flat Shoals Road — connects south DeKalb communities through the district's center
- — Clifton Road — connects Emory and CDC campuses; still lacks rapid transit despite decades of study
- — Ponce de Leon Ave — east-west spine connecting Druid Hills to Midtown Atlanta
District Map
Senate District 44 spans from Decatur south through Forest Park and Morrow, covering communities in both DeKalb and Clayton counties. .