Lithonia Real Estate

Lithonia, Georgia

Lithonia is a small city in eastern DeKalb County, about eighteen miles east of downtown Atlanta and a short drive from SRA's Tucker office by way of US 78 and GA 12. Interstate 20 runs just south of town, with direct access from Exits 74 and 75, and the city serves as one of the main gateways into the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, which stretches from Lithonia's historic center toward Conyers.

A Town Built on Stone

Lithonia began in 1805 as a small crossroads settlement of farmers. Its fortunes changed with the arrival of the Georgia Railroad in 1845, which opened the area's granite deposits to commercial quarrying and gave the town its name, taken from the Greek for "place of stone." That granite went into buildings across the Southeast, and much of downtown Lithonia, from its commercial storefronts to many of its houses, was built from locally quarried granite and brick. The Lithonia Historic District, roughly 441 acres centered on Main Street and the rail line, reflects that legacy, mixing Second Empire, Queen Anne, Folk Victorian, Craftsman, and Colonial Revival buildings dating mostly from 1845 to 1964. Landmark buildings within the district include the Masonic Lodge, raised in 1916, and the Lithonia Women's Club, built in 1928, both constructed from local granite and brick in styles typical of the era. Lithonia Lighting, once one of the largest manufacturers of light fixtures in North America, was founded here in 1946.

Arabia Mountain and the Outdoors

Some of Lithonia's retired granite quarries have been reclaimed as parkland, and old rail corridors have become trails. The Arabia Mountain PATH, a paved multi-use trail exceeding thirty miles, has its northernmost point in downtown Lithonia and links the town to the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, a 2,550 acre expanse of granite outcrops, lakes, and wetlands, as well as to Panola Mountain State Park and the Monastery of the Holy Spirit farther east. The trail is open to walkers, joggers, cyclists, and skaters, making it one of the most used outdoor amenities in this part of DeKalb County.

Downtown Shops and Local Business

Downtown Lithonia has been the focus of ongoing revitalization led by the city's Downtown Development Authority, whose stated mission is preserving the area's roots while building toward its future. Along and near Main Street, visitors find a mix of small, independently owned businesses, including barber shops, salons, a cigar bar, wedding venues, a boutique ice cream shop, and gift and candle stores, set among the district's older granite and brick storefronts.

Housing Character

Homes in and around Lithonia's historic core reflect the district's long architectural timeline. Central hall Georgian cottages, gabled wing cottages, Queen Anne cottages, and Craftsman bungalows sit alongside later ranch houses and I-houses, many built of or accented with local granite and gneiss. Farther from downtown, subdivisions built from the mid to late twentieth century onward add a broader range of traditional single-family homes, giving the area a layered mix of eras rather than a single architectural style. Lot sizes tend to grow larger the farther a street sits from the old commercial core, a pattern typical of small Georgia railroad towns that expanded gradually outward over more than a century.

• The Arabia Mountain PATH trail network


• Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve


• Historic downtown Lithonia's granite storefronts


• The Lithonia Historic District along Main Street


• Locally owned shops and eateries in the downtown district

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Lithonia from Downtown Atlanta?

Lithonia sits about eighteen miles east of downtown Atlanta, with Interstate 20 providing the most direct route into the city.

What part of Metro Atlanta is Lithonia in?

Lithonia is in eastern DeKalb County, near the Rockdale County line, and is considered part of the Arabia Mountain area along with neighboring Stonecrest.

What is the Arabia Mountain PATH trail?

It is a paved, multi-use trail system of more than thirty miles that begins in downtown Lithonia and connects to the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, Panola Mountain State Park, and other destinations to the east, open to walking, jogging, cycling, and skating.

What kinds of homes will I find in Lithonia?

Historic cottages and Craftsman bungalows built from granite, brick, and wood cluster near downtown, while newer subdivisions with more conventional single-family homes extend outward toward Interstate 20 and Stonecrest.

What is Lithonia known for historically?

Lithonia grew around granite quarrying after the railroad arrived in 1845, and its name comes from the Greek word for stone, a history still visible in the granite buildings of its historic downtown, including The Seminary, a granite building from 1895 that is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.