In the 1820s, land in north central Georgia, along Peachtree Ridge near
the headwaters of Nancy Creek, featured substantial water and timber
resources to fuel the agricultural settlement that would become
Doraville. During the Civil War, Doraville survived Sherman's wrath to
prosper and became an official city in 1871. For years, it maintained a
charm and quiet quality of life that personified small-town America.
Construction of a major water-supply system by 1947 enticed auto giant
General Motors to build a major manufacturing factory there, and the
city blossomed. Over the next half century, Doraville flourished,
producing citizens accomplished in the arts, a space shuttle astronaut,
pop music's Atlanta Rhythm Section, Golden Glove boxing champions, and
even the first McDonald's restaurant in Georgia.