Everything on Powder Springs (Atlanta, Marietta: crime, homes, employment)

[Moving for Baby]

I have recently been doing some research on Powder Springs. I am just in the beginning stages. I may consider moving to Powder Springs in the next couple of years. We are an African American Family with 1 child. She will be going to elementary school by the time we move. Therefore education is important to us. I would like to know the all I need to know on Powder Springs.

What neighborhoods to avoid?
Is racism an issue?
I did see that Kemp Elementary received a 10 on the great school websites. What do you think?
How is employment in that area?
How is the commute to Atlanta?
Is there a better city (within the vicinity) you can recommend?

I know I am asking too many questions. However, I have only noticed posts from years ago. I now times have changed.

Any information you provide will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks Again

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by Moving for Baby

I have recently been doing some research on Powder Springs. I am just in the beginning stages. I may consider moving to Powder Springs in the next couple of years. We are an African American Family with 1 child. She will be going to elementary school by the time we move. Therefore education is important to us. I would like to know the all I need to know on Powder Springs.

1) What neighborhoods to avoid?
2) Is racism an issue?
3) I did see that Kemp Elementary received a 10 on the great school websites. What do you think?
4) How is employment in that area?
5) How is the commute to Atlanta?
6) Is there a better city (within the vicinity) you can recommend?

I know I am asking too many questions. However, I have only noticed posts from years ago. I now times have changed.

Any information you provide will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks Again

1) Generally speaking, the area that's a few miles North of the actual town of Powder Springs is considered the best area nowadays - it's more considered to be "West Cobb" than Powder Springs (near the Avenue of West Cobb Shopping Center area). The town of Powder Springs like many of Atlanta's suburbs, has had it's issues in the last few years regarding teens/gangs that cause issues in some areas, some crime, etc. It's not among the worst by ANY means, but it's not as low-key as it was years ago, either. We actually do have a new police chief that's about to start however, and supposedly some of the stuff that is allowed to sneak by in some other areas won't be tolerated here once that transition takes place - we'll see. Regarding Powder Springs "proper" (the town)... these (map below) are the neighborhoods to scratch off of your list, as if you read the blotters, 8 out of 10 times, the crime takes place somewhere in this area...




2) Powder Springs was once very White. In recent years, a number of Black and Hispanic residents have moved into the area. Some of the old timers had issues with it and moved, or holed themselves up in their homes. Others have no issue with it at all. There have been a number of people from Jamaica, Bermuda, and Kenya moving into the area in recent years, and to be honest, there's more of an issue at times with the locals (White AND Black) not quite getting along with those folks culturally, than "domestic" White and Black peopel not getting along. It's no better or worse than many other areas in the metro in this regard.

3) Parents would have to answer that - and you may wish to explore the school thread at the top of the Atlanta room and search in there for Kemp comments.

4) Powder Springs is a smaller town. "Employment" in this immediate area will most likely be in a restaurant, or one of the larger chain stores in Hiram, the next town West. There are not a lot of large industries in Powder Springs to choose from.

5) Average (normal traffic) from Powder Springs to Atlanta can be 35-45 minutes depending on where you're going in the City. Longer in heavy traffic of course. It's important to note that we do not have commuter rail here, and with the exception of the "Xpress" commuter buses, you will have to drive. It's very important to have a good idea what part of town you'll be working in before buying here - it can make the difference between a short commute or spending hours a day on the road.

6) "Better" is subjective. Smyrna has a lot more to do. Marietta as well. Kennesaw as well. All three of those are more of what you'd call "Busy suburbs" while Powder Springs is more of a semi-sleepy suburb small town(ish) feel.

[Moving for Baby]

Thank you very much for your insightful replay!

I will let soak in the information you gave me and do some additional research. I'm sure I will have some additional questions later. I hope you don't mind me following up later.

Thanks again!

[silhouette1]

Hi, did you end up moving to Powder Springs? I am considering moving to Georgia from the DC area, and Powder Springs, along with Marietta, is one of the towns my family is considering.

[hellomikie92]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

1) Generally speaking, the area that's a few miles North of the actual town of Powder Springs is considered the best area nowadays - it's more considered to be "West Cobb" than Powder Springs (near the Avenue of West Cobb Shopping Center area). The town of Powder Springs like many of Atlanta's suburbs, has had it's issues in the last few years regarding teens/gangs that cause issues in some areas, some crime, etc. It's not among the worst by ANY means, but it's not as low-key as it was years ago, either. We actually do have a new police chief that's about to start however, and supposedly some of the stuff that is allowed to sneak by in some other areas won't be tolerated here once that transition takes place - we'll see. Regarding Powder Springs "proper" (the town)... these (map below) are the neighborhoods to scratch off of your list, as if you read the blotters, 8 out of 10 times, the crime takes place somewhere in this area...




2) Powder Springs was once very White. In recent years, a number of Black and Hispanic residents have moved into the area. Some of the old timers had issues with it and moved, or holed themselves up in their homes. Others have no issue with it at all. There have been a number of people from Jamaica, Bermuda, and Kenya moving into the area in recent years, and to be honest, there's more of an issue at times with the locals (White AND Black) not quite getting along with those folks culturally, than "domestic" White and Black peopel not getting along. It's no better or worse than many other areas in the metro in this regard.

3) Parents would have to answer that - and you may wish to explore the school thread at the top of the Atlanta room and search in there for Kemp comments.

4) Powder Springs is a smaller town. "Employment" in this immediate area will most likely be in a restaurant, or one of the larger chain stores in Hiram, the next town West. There are not a lot of large industries in Powder Springs to choose from.

5) Average (normal traffic) from Powder Springs to Atlanta can be 35-45 minutes depending on where you're going in the City. Longer in heavy traffic of course. It's important to note that we do not have commuter rail here, and with the exception of the "Xpress" commuter buses, you will have to drive. It's very important to have a good idea what part of town you'll be working in before buying here - it can make the difference between a short commute or spending hours a day on the road.

6) "Better" is subjective. Smyrna has a lot more to do. Marietta as well. Kennesaw as well. All three of those are more of what you'd call "Busy suburbs" while Powder Springs is more of a semi-sleepy suburb small town(ish) feel.

I'm white, and recently moved in powder springs, I see no issues what so ever.

[Moving for Baby]

Originally Posted by hellomikie92

I'm white, and recently moved in powder springs, I see no issues what so ever.

Do you have any children in the school system?

[MyLittlePrincessK]

We lived in the the Powder Springs zip code (30127) for 10 years until we moved for a job relocation last summer. We lived in Cobb County just outside (and I mean barely) the city limits for Powder Springs. Our small subdivision had 51 homes in it -- we lived in a very middle class neighborhood which (before I moved in 2010) had one family from Greece, one family from the UK, two families from Nairobi, one family from the Philippines, one from Thailand, two or three more of other Asian (unknown to me) descent, several African American families and Caucasian families/people (some were single females, divorced males with kids, etc) to round out the mix. Needless to say, in a very small neighborhood in little old Powder Springs, GA we had a diversity worthy of any big city here in the US.

[SouthBound58]

Originally Posted by Moving for Baby

Do you have any children in the school system?

Grandchildren go to mcEacheren and it is 95% black.

[Randall102269]

Oh no, you are asking all the right questions. Powder springs has great schools. I have never run into any racism. It is a very clean community. There are not to many other cities I can recommend. Good luck.

[netdragon]

We're moving from Smyrna to the McCeachern/Varner district halfway between Macedonia and Macland w/ new construction. We love Smyrna because it is convenient, better commute, has more shopping than West Cobb, Sprouts, the start of Silver Comet Trail (only accessible from Powder Springs itself in West Cobb, etc. However, on the downside, land is very expensive here though for the pool/tennis subdivision we're in and we want more land. The commute also changed to Marietta, which opened up West Cobb for us. If you're just having a baby, commuting to Atlanta, you may want to look at small homes in Smyrna (I recommend King Springs school district) for the time being and do your big move later. Your car and gas tank may thank you, and you'll have more free time.