What is the most accurate name for this part of north DeKalb County: North Druid Hills, Briarcliff, or Toco Hills? (Atlanta: house, neighborhoods)

[kirkwoodhipster]

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The area immediately east until Northlake Mall, including Oak Grove, Vista Grove, Echo Hills, Lakeside High.

What do you guys think?

It seems like the long-timers refer to this area as Briarcliff, but I cant find any history on this name, where it came from, if it was once a settlement/town, etc. Does anyone know? It was used to name the local high school that is now closed (Briarcliff High) and the library, also now closed (Briarcliff Library). It seems like this name is kind of going by the wayside in recent years though. People my age (23) never use it to describe this area.

A local media site, the Patch, covers the area as North Druid Hills-Briarcliff patch.

News - North Druid Hills-Briarcliff, GA Patch

The U.S. Census Bureau refers to the area as North Druid Hills, but that doesn't mean much (they refer to Brookhaven as "North Atlanta").

Toco Hills, while certainly in popular use, doesnt really describe the whole area, but really a part of the area (Toco Hill Shopping Center and area immediately surrounding).

Finally, there seems to be a LOT of other uses, such as: Emory, Druid Hills, North DeKalb, LaVista, etc.

What do you think?

[grneyedmustang]

I used to live north of there and always wanted to call it Briarcliff???

[Iconographer]

North Druid Hills (30329), as defined by its' Resident's Association:

North Druid Hills Residents Association

Generally, the locals consider Briarcliff Road to be NDH's western boundary.
LaVista Park and Oak Grove are considered to be separate neighborhoods with their own RAs.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by kirkwoodhipster

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Finally, there seems to be a LOT of other uses, such as: Emory, Druid Hills, North DeKalb, LaVista, etc.

What do you think?

I think that you can thank the local realtors for that.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by kirkwoodhipster

It seems like the long-timers refer to this area as Briarcliff, but I cant find any history on this name, where it came from, if it was once a settlement/town, etc. Does anyone know?

Yes. Briarcliff was the name of one of the Candler estates in Druid Hills. The house still stands on the land where the GA Mental Health facility was located. The land is now owned by Emory. It's located between N Decatur Rd and Stillwood Drive on Briarcliff Rd.
It was quite a place in its' day and even had its' own zoo.

[JPD]

I think we shoud, call it Lil' D.C.

[kirkwoodhipster]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

North Druid Hills (30329), as defined by its' Resident's Association:

North Druid Hills Residents Association

Generally, the locals consider Briarcliff Road to be NDH's western boundary.
LaVista Park and Oak Grove are considered to be separate neighborhoods with their own RAs.

Interesting. I noticed that the street-sign toppers said "North Druid Hills". What do you refer to this area as?

And is there name that seems to cover both NDH and LaVista Park and Oak Grove?

[kirkwoodhipster]

Originally Posted by LovinDecatur

Yes. Briarcliff was the name of one of the Candler estates in Druid Hills. The house still stands on the land where the GA Mental Health facility was located. The land is now owned by Emory. It's located between N Decatur Rd and Stillwood Drive on Briarcliff Rd.
It was quite a place in its' day and even had its' own zoo.

Thanks for the info!!

It seems like people say "I'm in Briarcliff" less and less, but would you agree that at one time it was a definable area?

I think Briarcliff is a beautiful name for an area/city, BTW.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by kirkwoodhipster

Thanks for the info!!

It seems like people say "I'm in Briarcliff" less and less, but would you agree that at one time it was a definable area?

I think Briarcliff is a beautiful name for an area/city, BTW.

No, I never heard the neighborhood referred to as 'Briarcliff' in all the time that I lived there.

[jematl]

I lived in the Oak Grove School district for 15 years and everyone just called it "Oak Grove". I have never heard of any area just called "Briarcliff", although the Hawthorne area is now referring to themselves as "North Briarcliff" and they have the street toppers that say it. I have heard the overall area along Briarcliff and Lavista all the way from Briarvista to Northlake referred to as the "Briarcliff/Lavista corridor".