Kennesaw Real Estate

Kennesaw

Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, northwest of Atlanta, bordered by Acworth to the north and Marietta to the south, with Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park stretching along its southeastern edge between the two cities. From SRA Signature Realty's office in Tucker, reaching Kennesaw generally means taking I-285 West and then I-75 North, a drive that crosses the metro from the northeast side of DeKalb County to the far side of Cobb County along Atlanta's northwest arc.

From Big Shanty to the Great Locomotive Chase

The area now known as Kennesaw was settled in the 1830s under the name Big Shanty and was incorporated as the City of Kennesaw in 1887. Its best-known moment came earlier, on April 12, 1862, when Union raiders known as Andrews' Raiders stole a locomotive called The General while its crew and passengers were eating breakfast at the town's Lacy Hotel, setting off the pursuit remembered as the Great Locomotive Chase. The General is on permanent display today at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in downtown Kennesaw, located across from the town's historic train depot.

Kennesaw Mountain and the City's Parks

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park covers 2,923 acres between Kennesaw and Marietta and offers 17.3 miles of hiking trails through wooded terrain and historic sites, administered by the National Park Service since the 1930s. Inside the city itself, Swift-Cantrell Park spans 42 acres and serves as Kennesaw's largest community park, with a seasonal splash pad, an 18,500 square foot inclusive playground, a dedicated dog park, and a pair of paved walking loops. Adams Park adds additional sports fields near downtown, rounding out a park system that pairs a major national battlefield with everyday neighborhood recreation.

A College Town Built Around a Historic Core

Kennesaw State University traces its roots to a charter granted in 1963 and opened its doors as Kennesaw Junior College in 1966, growing over the following decades into one of Georgia's largest public universities, with its campus split between Kennesaw and neighboring Marietta. The Kennesaw campus includes the Bailey Performance Center, with a 630 seat auditorium used for concerts and lectures open to the surrounding community, alongside the Convocation Center arena. That growth has shaped housing patterns citywide, with smaller homes near the historic depot district dating to Kennesaw's railroad-era beginnings, and a much broader range of subdivisions and multifamily communities built up around the university and the Barrett Parkway corridor as the city expanded through the late 20th century.

Downtown Depot District and the Barrett Parkway Corridor

Downtown Kennesaw centers on the historic depot area around the Southern Museum, where early 20th century storefronts along Main Street now house locally owned restaurants and shops within walking distance of the depot and museum. A few miles away, Ernest W. Barrett Parkway forms Kennesaw's larger retail corridor, anchored by Town Center Mall, giving residents both a walkable historic district and a full range of shopping and dining closer to I-75.

• See The General locomotive at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History


• Hike a portion of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park's 17.3 miles of trails


• Cool off at the splash pad in Swift-Cantrell Park


• Browse the shops and restaurants in Kennesaw's historic depot district


• Shop the Barrett Parkway corridor, anchored by Town Center Mall

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Kennesaw called before it was Kennesaw?

The town was known as Big Shanty from its founding in the 1830s until it was incorporated as the City of Kennesaw in 1887.

What is Kennesaw's connection to the Great Locomotive Chase?

Kennesaw, then called Big Shanty, is where Union raiders stole the locomotive The General on April 12, 1862, launching the pursuit known as the Great Locomotive Chase. The General is now displayed at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History downtown.

Is Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park inside the city?

The 2,923 acre park sits between Kennesaw and Marietta along the city's southeastern edge, offering 17.3 miles of hiking trails through the surrounding wooded terrain.

Is Kennesaw State University located in Kennesaw?

Kennesaw State University's main campus is in Kennesaw, though the university's footprint also extends into neighboring Marietta.

Where is downtown Kennesaw located?

Downtown Kennesaw is centered on the historic train depot and the Southern Museum, a compact area of early 20th century storefronts a short distance from the Barrett Parkway retail corridor.

What kind of parks are available in Kennesaw?

Kennesaw combines the large-scale trails of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park with neighborhood options like Swift-Cantrell Park, which has a splash pad, an inclusive playground, and a dog park, and Adams Park near downtown.

Where can I shop and dine in Kennesaw?

Kennesaw offers both the walkable historic depot district downtown and the larger Barrett Parkway corridor near I-75, anchored by Town Center Mall, giving residents a choice between a compact historic strip and broader retail options.