New to Smyrna?
There are so many reasons to think of Smyrna, Georgia as home. All the amenities for work, play and family can be found in this beautiful city with a "village" heart. Business and social opportunities are plentiful. With visionary leadership and strong community spirit, Smyrna has become one of the most popular places to reside in the Metro-Atlanta area.
It is no wonder that more people are choosing Smyrna to raise children and/or build a business. The village atmosphere offered here is the type of lifestyle many seek when deciding where to put down roots. Learn more about education in Smyrna in the Education section of this website.
As a newcomer to Smyrna, you will want to learn all about City services, parks, recreation opportunities and not-to-be-missed community events and festivals. Be sure to search our database of events and search the Parks & Recreation facilities and programs databases on this website.
This segment of the website is dedicated to providing you with basic newcomer information and an overview of many of our outstanding features. Many telephone numbers that you may be seeking will not be listed in this section. Please refer to the City phone list for important City telephone listings. Be sure to check our "Links" section under "Business" on this website. As often as we can, and when in accordance with our links policy, we will list website links of interest to members of our community.
We also encourage you to review the "Economic Profile" area of our website to learn more about the City statistics. Thank you for your interest in and your investment in the City of Smyrna. Welcome to this beautiful City with a Village heart!
Our Village
Nicknamed the "Jonquil City" for the thousands of yellow flowers that line the street and enliven gardens each spring, this city has become a garden community. The City center, the "Village Green" is complete with a new Library, Community Center, Police Station, City Hall, sensory garden and a new arboretum. The next phase of downtown development, "Market Village" completed in 2002 and features 16 townhomes over 40,000 square feet of retail space, 18,000 square feet of office space and planned for up to four restaurants. Pedestrian oriented with an emphasis on streetscapes, this phase of downtown development is unmatched in appeal and village atmosphere.
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The Village Green
In the mid-1980s, Smyrna had begun to lose its identity and heart to growing suburban sprawl in Cobb County. Mayor and City Council took unprecedented steps to reverse this trend and to revitalize Smyrna. In 1988, the City council decided to rebuild the downtown area to bring back a sense of family and community – a village to call home. The Council felt there needed to be a common meeting ground, a focal point where people could come together. These forward-thinking leaders envisioned a Town Center with a library and community center, private housing, retail and office space, a City Hall and a Public Safety Facility. This concept is now a reality; it is Smyrna’s "Village Green."
The design of the new town center was done in a modified Williamsburg style with a looping road made of brick around a central fountain area. The Village Green is a beautifully landscaped site for the City’s annual concert series, festivals, and other events held throughout the year.
Smyrna received the prestigious Urban Land Institute’s Award of Excellence in 1997 for this beautiful, functional and successful revitalization project. ULI’s awards jury stated that Smyrna’s success represents a powerful example of many suburban communities across America unhappy with the congestion of big city and yearning for the small town feeling. In fact, the Village Green is designed to reflect a strong sense of community and village life.
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Library
Built in 1991, Smyrna’s innovative library is the only City operated library in Georgia and provides a wide variety of services to the public. Visit the Library section of the website, found under the "Community" section (link to Library).
As part of its cultural and educational mission, the Library has regular art exhibits; sponsors book discussion programs; and hosts speaker programs. The children’s department holds weekly story times and conducts a Summer Reading program to promote year-round learning.
With 28,000 square feet of space, the Library was designed to offer a relaxed atmosphere for reading, research and study. Large windows and skylights provide a warm feeling that makes you want to return often. Library cards are available free to City residents while nonresidents are required to pay a moderate annual fee.
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Community Center
The Community Center is operated and maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department. Be sure to visit their section of this website to learn all that you can about programs, parks and facilities (link to Parks & Recreation). Smyrna’s Community Center caters to people who have active lifestyles, and offers a full and comprehensive recreational facility for Smyrna residents. Fifty-five square feet of interior space are host to meetings, receptions, celebrations and theater events. Situated on beautifully landscaped property, the Community Center has two regulation gyms, three racquetball courts, arts and crafts rooms, a game room, a sensory garden, and a dance-aerobics studio. There is a performing arts stage in the large gym, which is the site of various festivals, trade shows, and speaking engagements. It seats an audience of 1,000. The small gym offers an indoor walking track, weight equipment, and other stationary exercise equipment on the upper level. (Link to the facilities database.)
Membership for use of the Community Center is free to residents of Smyrna
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City Hall
Smyrna’s City Hall is 22,000 square feet and houses the departments of Finance, Human Resources, Court Services, Community Relations and the Administrative Offices, including those of Mayor and Council. The Utilities Services Division, which include the Water Department and the application office for garbage collection, is also located in City Hall. Designed in a multi-level arrangement, all departments serve the public through a common, fully accessible lobby entrance.
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Utilities
The Utility Services Division has a drive-through payment window and is easily accessible for walk-in customers. Water for residents is purchased from Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority. Sewage treatment is provided by Cobb County and is services by the City of Smyrna through pipelines and billing. Garbage pickup at curbside by City Sanitation is billed monthly on the water bill. Senior citizens receive a discount. Containers are available for trash and recyclables. Electricity is supplied by Georgia Power and distributed by Georgia Power, Cobb Electrical Membership Corporation, and Greystone Power Corporation. Historically, natural gas has been supplied by Southern National Gas Company and distributed by Atlanta Gas Light Company, but alternatives exist. For more information about Utilities, recycling and sanitation schedules, please see the "Utilities," the "Recycling," and the "Sanitation Schedule" sections of this website.
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Retail/Residential
A retail office building located on the Village Green has 20,000 square feet of public and private office and shop space with an additional 20,000 square feet of recently completed space which includes executive suites and a new ice-cream shop and deli. Also in the Williamsburg style, this retail building/office development is a result of a team effort between the City and a private developer to bring shopping and business back to the downtown area. This existing retail development intersect well with the soon-to-be-completed Market Village.
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Public Safety
Approximately 40,300 square feet of space, the City’s Public Safety Facility opened in August of 1997. It houses the Police Department staff, detention space, and the 911 Communications System. It is located north of the Community Center on Atlanta Road. The Police and Communications Departments are located in this two-story structure connected by an open staircase in the main lobby. Detention space is adjacent to the Police Department with public access only through the main lobby. The facility has space for 50 inmates and support functions include a full service kitchen, multi-purpose room and outside exercise area. For more information about our Police Department, visit the "Public Safety" section of this website.
Not far from the new Police Station is the Fire Station No. 1 which is home to the main Fire Department Offices and the Child Safety Seat Permanent Fitting Station. The Child Safety Seat Permanent Fitting Station is made possible through a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. For more information about our Fire Department, please visit the "Public Safety" section of this website.
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Business Friendly Environment
You will find lots of information on this website about starting a business and incentives. Be sure to consult the "Business" section of this website and explore all of the selections.
Smyrna is a thriving business community. Cobb County’s largest and most attractive industrial complex, Highlands Industrial Park, is located in Smyrna and is one of the premier office parks in the Atlanta area. Located near Interstate-285 off South Cobb Drive, Highlands Park includes such corporations as the world-renowned IBM, as well as many others that make use of this great location.
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Parks and Recreation
There are activities to please everyone within Smyrna’s Parks and Recreation system. Golf courses, tennis courts and pools offer residents opportunities for rest and relaxation. Programs for all ages are offered through Smyrna’s Parks and Recreation Department. Visit their section of this website under "Community" for a listing of parks, facilities and programs.
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Education
Part of the Cobb County School System, Smyrna strives to bring quality education assistance and support to schools within its boundaries. To learn more about the public schools in Smyrna, consult our Education page and the Cobb County School System regarding registration, school locations and all other pertinent information. The City of Smyrna has a particularly strong sponsor relationship with Campbell High School, recently named a Georgia School of Excellence. Campbell High School offers a unique program, which is open to all students of application in the county and is accepted as college credit by many universities and colleges. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Campbell High School is a specifically designed diploma program, which has an emphasis on traditional disciplines while encouraging an international perspective. Also within the City of Smyrna, Campbell Middle School recently received the National School of Excellence Award.
In addition to excellent public schools, there are private schools, adult education programs, vocational/technical schools and area colleges and universities that are convenient to city residents. Review the following list to get started.
Private Schools
Covenant Christian School, 770-435-1596
Covered Bridge Montessori School, 770-434-3181
First Baptist Learning Center – Weekday Education, 770-435-3549
Whitefield Academy, 678-305-3000 - www.whitefieldacademy.com
The Atlanta Classical Christian Academy, 3110 Sports Ave., 770-874-8885 - www.atlantaclassicalchristian.org
Adult Education
Oakwood High School, 770-528-6510
Vocational/Technical
Chattahoochee Technical Institute, 770-528-4500 - www.chat-tec.com
North Metro Technical College is www.northmetrotech.edu
Colleges & Universities
Kennesaw State University, 770-423-6000 - www.kennesaw.edu
Southern Polytechnic State University, 770-528-7200 - www.sct.edu
Life University, 770-426-2600 - www.life.edu
North Metro Tech, 770-975-4000 - www.northmetrotech.edu
Georgia Institute of Technology, 404-894-2000 - www.gatech.edu
Georgia State University, 404-651-2000 - www.gsu.edu
Emory University, 404-727-6123 - www.emory.edu
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Voter Registration
To register, applicant must be a US citizen, at least 18 years of age, mentally sound and have no current felony conviction(s). Length of residency is not a requirement. Apply in person at the Smyrna City Hall, the City Library, or any Smyrna Fire Department. Registration is closed 30 days prior to a City election, which is held in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday of November.
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Medical Care
Good health care is a priority in Smyrna. Three major hospitals are in the area as well as a drug rehabilitation and mental health care facility.
Emory-Adventist Hospital at Smyrna
3949 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna GA 30080
770-434-0710
Wellstar Cobb Hospital
3950 Austell Road, Austell GA 30080
770-732-4000
Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital
2540 Windy Hill Road, Marietta GA 30067
770-644-1000
Ridgeview Psychiatric Institute
3995 South Cobb Drive, Smyrna GA 30080
770-434-4567
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
404-250-KIDS (5437)
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Volunteer Opportunities
Many citizens voluntarily contribute time and experience as members of advisory boards and committees. This provides valuable input to aid Mayor and Council in making decisions about the needs of the City and its citizens. A resident from each of the City’s seven wards is appointed to serve on the following boards, commissions and/or committees:
Cemetery Commission – devoted to restoration, preservation, and maintenance of cemeteries within the City limits.
Civil Service Board – empowered to hear appeals, suspensions, demotions, or dismissals for covered public safety employees only and acts as a grievance board.
Downtown Development Authority – seven members with Mayor as chairman who direct the re-development of downtown Smyrna. This authority has the ability to sell bonds and raise money. They can make loans to small businesses to encourage business growth in the downtown area.
Downtown Development Task Force – a 25-member board appointed by the Mayor and Council to help plan for quality development in the downtown area and discuss what new government facilities are needed.
Friends of the Smyrna Library – devoted to enhancing the library through volunteer services and supplemental funding of library programs.
Fire Explorers Program – young people ages 14 to 21 meet at varied dates and times each month. Members gain experience on firefighter, paramedic, and emergency management activities, policies and procedures. They receive training by working with firefighters on duty.
Housing Authority – approves the issuance of industrial developmental bonds for the purpose of financing multi-family residential rental facilities for low and moderate income families located in the City.
Parks and Recreation Commission – advises the Mayor, the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Department in matters relating to the recreation needs of the community.
Planning and Zoning Board – holds public hearings, studies and advises the Mayor and City Council on planning, zoning and development matters that impact the City.
Police Explorers Program – young people ages 14 to 21 who meet each month to gain experience on police activities, policies and procedures as well as training with officers on duty.
Keep Smyrna Beautiful Commission – advises the Mayor and City Council on litter control, solid waste issues, recycling, and coordinated civic pride projects. This dedicated group of volunteers consistently win awards for the City.
Senior Advisory Council – selected from each ward, this 15-member council advises the City’s senior citizens of upcoming events and activities being offered by the Parks and Recreation Department.
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City Events
Be sure to search our Calendar of Events in the "Events" section of this website. You don’t want to miss any of the fun and flavor of our fantastic events taking place year-round.
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