Kennesaw Real Estate.....

The History.....

of Kennesaw dates back to the 1830s when the Georgia Legislature authorized the construction of a rail line through Cobb County. Known as the Western and Atlantic Railroad, 20 miles of track was in operation from Terminus (Atlanta) to Cartersville by 1846. Several small towns were founded along the railroad including Vinings, Smyrna, Acworth and Big Shanty. Big Shanty was the original name for Kennesaw. In 1862, James J. Andrews and a band of Yankee spies boarded the northbound train at Marietta. The train was powered by the locomotive, "The General". At Big Shanty, the crew and the passengers unboarded the train to eat breakfast at the Lacy Hotel, after which Andrews and his men stole The General and headed north to destroy the Western and Atlantic Railroad. They did not, however, count on the persistence of William A. Fuller, the conductor of The General, who chased the locomotive first on foot before running them down north of Ringgold, Georgia on the Texas, which ran in reverse. This incident forever placed Big Shanty on the map. The name Kennesaw is derived from the Cherokee Indian "Gah-nee-sah" meaning cemetery or burial ground. Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield is a 2,888 acre National Battlefield that preserves the Civil War history of the Atlanta Campaign. The battle was fought here from June 18, 1864 until July 2, 1864. Sherman's army consisted of 100,000 men, 254 guns and 35,000 horses. Johnston's army consisted of 63,000 men and 187 guns. Over 67,000 soldiers were killed, wounded and captured during the Campaign. Rich in Civil War and locomotive history, the Kennesaw Georgia of today offers a unique hometown feel. Located in West Cobb County, Kennesaw residents appreciate the city as a great place to live, work and play. Once the site of major fighting during the Civil War, Kennesaw has emerged as a premiere destination for families and businesses looking to relocate to the North Metro Atlanta Area. Kennesaw takes great pride in being a community that protects and manages its historical and cultural resources for future generations. In 2004, Kennesaw was designated a Preserve America Community by First Lady Laura Bush. The Preserve America program is a White House effort to encourage and support community efforts for the preservation and enjoyment of America´s priceless cultural and natural heritage. Kennesaw commemorates it's history in the preservation of the historic train Depot, the 2003 addition of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, and the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park offers 17 miles of trails for hiking and bicycling. The area is a popular picnic destination, a birdwatcher haven due to its large variety of migratory species and wildflowers are abundant. You also have an impressive view of the Atlanta skyline from the top of the Mountain. Another claim to fame for Kennesaw is the gun law passed on May 1, 1982, requiring every head of the household to maintain a firearm together with ammunition. After passage of the law, the burglary rate in Kennesaw declined and even today, the city has the lowest crime rate in Cobb County.

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