Now its Old Fourth Ward, but what was it before? The Fourth Ward was a larger political area that was in place until the 1950’s when the city altered its district system. Boulevard, one of O4W’s main thoroughfares, was one of the wealthiest streets in Atlanta until the Great Atlanta Fire of 1917, when all the large houses burned down. This led to the erection of brick buildings which exist now as section 8 housing. For many years, O4W was a majority African American area, but has seen a surge of gentrification in the last 20 years.

Once an area rife with crime and vagrancy, O4W has lifted itself up off the ground in many ways. At the center of this is Edgewood Avenue, a bar and restaurant district full of hip nightlife. Noni’s, for instance, is a popular Edgewood restaurant that moves all it’s chairs and tables and becomes a dance club at night. Near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s boyhood home is the Sweet Auburn Market, an open air market that has delicious local fare of both the prepared and unprepared variety. Historic Old Fourth Ward Park is another great attraction and has recently been connected to the Beltline adding even more walkability and connectivity to the neighborhood.

Gentrification is steadily raising prices, but O4W has been known as a great place to find affordable homes. There you can find a nice array of starter homes, bungalows, and historic homes. With the resurgence of the Beltline, a lot of higher end apartment complexes have shot up in the area as well.