Riverdale, Georgia

Riverdale is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 15,134 at the 2010 census, up from 12,478 in 2000. Riverdale is a suburb just south of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area.

History
The area now known as Riverdale was settled before the Civil War. Riverdale was founded in 1886, when the railroad was extended to that point.

In 1908, the city was incorporated with the name Riverdale, named in honor of Mr. W.S. Rivers, the original owner of the town site who donated his land to the railroad company.

Monroe Huie, a farmer, conceived a notion to supply wood to the local railway network. Whenever the train arrived to collect wood, it also delivered fertilizer to the region. As a result, the sales of fertilizer became the primary business endeavor in the area. Prior to the construction of the spur, fertilizer had to be transported in wagons from the nearby town of Jonesboro.

Geography
Riverdale is in western Clayton County, 12 mi south of downtown Atlanta and 6 mi northwest of Jonesboro, the county seat.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Riverdale has an area of 11.6 sqkm, of which 0.03 sqkm, or 0.22%, is water.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,129 people, 5,517 households, and 3,404 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census 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 PD/sqmi. There were 4,590 housing units at an average density of 1,076.4 /sqmi. 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.

Parks and recreation
The city currently has three parks, all within a mile of each other:
 * Travon D. Wilson Memorial Park 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

Government


The city is governed by a mayor and four council members. Each council member represents the entire city and is elected at-large. Council members come from the four wards that divide the city. The mayor and council appoint a city manager, who has oversight over five departments. They also further appoint a municipal judge and judges pro tempore to serve in the city's municipal court.

Education
Schools in Riverdale are in the Clayton County School System. Schools located in Riverdale include:


 * Charles Drew High School
 * Church Street Elementary
 * Harper Elementary
 * Lake Ridge Elementary
 * Oliver Elementary
 * Pointe South Elementary
 * Riverdale Elementary
 * Riverdale High
 * Riverdale Middle
 * Sequoyah Middle
 * Smith Elementary

State highways

 * [[Image:Georgia 85.svg|20px]] Georgia State Route 85 (Clark Howell Memorial Hwy)
 * [[Image:Georgia 138.svg|20px]] Georgia State Route 138 (Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy)
 * [[Image:Georgia 139.svg|20px]] Georgia State Route 139 (Main St./Riverdale Rd.)
 * [[Image:Georgia 314.svg|20px]] Georgia State Route 314 (Fayetteville Rd., running west of the city limits)

Main roads
These are roads with more than four lanes.


 * Gardenwalk Boulevard
 * Lamar Hutcheson Parkway
 * Pointe South Parkway
 * Upper Riverdale Road

Minor roads
These are roads with two to four lanes. or other 785.


 * Church Street
 * Roberts Drive
 * Taylor Road
 * Valley Hill Road
 * Bethsaida Road
 * Helmer Road
 * Thomas Road
 * E. Fayetteville Road
 * Rountree Road
 * Roy Huie Road

Interstate highway
Interstate 75 passes northeast of the city limits.

Transit
Two MARTA bus routes serve the city, including:
 * Route 191 – Justice Center/Hartsfield Intl
 * Route 196 – Church/Upper Riverdale/Mt.Zion

Notable people

 * James Woodall, president of the Georgia NAACP
 * Sherrilyn Kenyon, author
 * DJ Shockley, football player
 * Edawn Coughman, football player
 * Will Rackley, NFL player
 * Cordy Glenn. NFL player
 * Ashley Holcombe, softball player
 * Cecil Travis, infielder, Washington Senators
 * Barry Loudermilk, U.S. Representative for Georgia's 11th District
 * Nina BoNina Brown, drag queen, appeared on Rupaul's Drag Race, Season 9
 * Devontae Cacok, NBA player
 * Playboi Carti, Rapper, Hip-Hop artist,
 * Waka Flocka Flame, Rapper, Hip-Hop artist
 * Ciara, singer
 * Larry June, rapper
 * Lavelle Westbrooks, football cornerback
 * Kofi Amichia, football player