Kirkwood is one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods, founded in the 1870s as a railroad suburb along the Georgia Railroad line. Originally developed as a summer retreat for wealthy Atlantans, it transitioned into a working-class community in the early 20th century with the establishment of a brickyard, lumber yard, and other industries.  Kirkwood faced economic decline in the mid-20th century but began revitalizing in the 1990s, with its historic residential character being preserved through inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.