The county seat of Douglas county was named for Stephen A. Douglas, who lost the presidential race to Abraham Lincoln. Douglasville is located about 20 miles west of downtown Atlanta and grew an astounding 37% from 2000 to 2005.
A myriad of reasons fueled this growth, not the least of which is the turn-of-the-century charm exhibited in the downtown area. The majority of the buildings are one- and two-story brick structures dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, and are of the Victorian architectural style. The retail growth in the area is supported by Arbor Place Mall, which is the fourth largest mall in Georgia, as well as a variety of national retail and fast food businesses.
Among the varied places to visit, Sweetwater Creek State Park is nearby and covers over 2,500 acres and includes a 9-miles of wooded trails that follow the stream to the ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company, a textile mill burned during the Civil War. The park features a 215-acre lake with two fishing docks, canoe and fishing boat rentals, playground, and picnic shelters.
