South Fulton, Georgia


South Fulton[] is a city in Fulton County, Georgia, in the Atlanta metropolitan area of the United States. It was incorporated in 2017 from parts of southwest Fulton County and includes the communities of Red Oak, Cooks Crossing, Stonewall, Fife, Ben Hill, Sandtown, Cliftondale, Ono, Cedar Grove, Boat Rock/Dry Pond, Maude, Lester, Enon, Welcome All, Peters Woods, and part of Campbellton. As of 2020, it had a population of 107,436, making it the state's eighth-largest city in population. As of 2020, South Fulton has the highest African American percentage of any U.S. city over 100,000, surpassing highly African American cities such as Detroit and Jackson.
WWW Official Site

History

Creek people and Cherokee people are indigenous to the area.
The 2016 Georgia General Assembly passed bill HB514 to incorporate South Fulton. Governor Nathan Deal signed the bill into law on April 29, 2016. On November 8, 59% of the citizens of what would become South Fulton voted to charter the city. This referendum was part of a "cityhood movement" in the Atlanta metropolitan area that began in 2005 with the incorporation of Sandy Springs on the north side of Atlanta. Several other communities in Fulton voted to incorporate in 2007.
With the passage of the South Fulton referendum in 2016, Fulton County became the first county in Georgia with no unincorporated residential areas. As a result, in 2017 Fulton County also became the first county in Georgia to cease providing municipal services such as fire, police, zoning, and code enforcement.
Many former Fulton County personnel and facilities were transferred to the City of South Fulton.
On March 21, 2017, South Fulton held elections for mayor and city council, followed by runoff elections before incorporation took effect on May 1.
The first mayor of South Fulton was Bill Edwards, who previously served on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners from 2000 to 2014. His term expired on December 31, 2021.
In November 2017, after a one-year waiting period mandated by state law, the city council selected Renaissance as the new name for the city after allowing residents to suggest names. More than 200 names were submitted, and the list was pared to 20, including Campbellton, Atlanta Heights, Wolf Creek and retaining South Fulton. Following a three-week public notice period and two regular public meetings, which are required to amend the city charter, the city council approved the name change in December 2017. However, Mayor Edwards vetoed the name change on December 18, citing several reasons, including contracts and some public opposition.
In its first eight months, South Fulton created its infrastructure, navigated financial challenges and began a transition from Fulton County services.
In 2023, it was announced that approximately 700 acres along Old National Highway, one of the primary commercial corridors in the city, is set for major revitalization. The revitalization project is scheduled to be completed by 2028.

Demographics

Race / Ethnicity Pop 2020% 2020
White alone 3,4023.17%
Black or African American alone 96,46389.79%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 1480.14%
Asian alone 4590.43%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone 330.03%
Other race alone 7290.68%
Mixed race or Multiracial 2,6742.49%
Hispanic or Latino 3,5283.28%
Total107,436100.00%
South Fulton was first listed in the 2020 U.S. census. As of the 2020 census, its population was 107,436.
According to the 2020 census, South Fulton had a racial and ethnic composition which is approximately 90% Black or African American. Non-Hispanic whites made up 3.17% of the population, followed by 2.49% multiracial Americans, 0.68% some other race, 0.43% Asian American, 0.14 Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, and 3.28% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Government

South Fulton operates with a weak mayor form of government. According to the National League of Cities, a weak mayor government includes a powerful council with both legislative and executive authority. The mayor is not truly the chief executive and has limited power. The council can prevent the mayor from supervising city administration. South Fulton's mayor votes only in case of a tied council vote. The council is primarily responsible for creating and adopting policy via ordinances, resolutions, and amendments. Council members also approve proposed projects, services, events, and purchases above a certain dollar amount. South Fulton's city manager, who reports to the council, manages the city's day-to-day operations and supervises department heads.
As of 2024, the city operates with the following departments: City Clerk; City Manager; Public Affairs; Code Enforcement; Community Development; Economic Development ; Finance; Fire; Human Resources; Information Technology; Legal; Municipal Court; Parks and Recreation; Cultural Affairs; Police and Public Works. All other services – including utilities, sanitation, elections, public health and others – are managed by Fulton County, or private providers. All public schools within the city are managed by Fulton County Schools.

Khalid Kamau controversy

Khalid Kamau was elected Mayor of South Fulton in 2021, who described himself as "America's first #BlackLivesMatter organizer elected to public office." During his tenure, Kamau faced significant public and legal scrutiny involving both financial misconduct and criminal charges. In 2025, an independent audit by Baker Tilly alleged that Kamau misused approximately $70,000 in taxpayer funds for unauthorized expenses, including international travel to Ghana and luxury office items, leading the City Council to revoke his access to municipal buildings. Parallel to these fiscal controversies, Kamau was arrested in July 2023 for entering a private lake house he claimed to believe was abandoned; while an initial burglary charge was dropped, he was formally charged with criminal trespass. After rejecting a plea deal in late 2025, Kamau, who was heavily defeated in his re-election bid that November, is scheduled to stand trial for the misdemeanor charge on February 17, 2026. Kamau was succeeded by Carmalitha Gumbs on 2 December 2025.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Fulton County Public Schools serve the city. The majority of students in the city are under the Westlake Cluster.
Westlake Cluster
Other Fulton County clusters serving parts of South Fulton include Banneker, Creekside, and Langston Hughes.

Parks and recreation

The City of South Fulton Parks & Recreation Department manages 17 parks covering approximately 692 acres, offering a range of recreational amenities including athletic fields, gymnasiums, tennis centers, aquatic facilities, and walking trails. Additionally, the department oversees various community programs, youth sports leagues, and senior activities aimed at enhancing residents' quality of life. Parks in the city include Burdett Park, Sandtown Park, and Welcome All Park.

Arts and culture

The Department of Cultural Affairs oversees the city's artistic and cultural programming. The department manages cultural venues and supports public art initiatives.

Southwest Arts Center

Established in 2001, the Southwest Arts Center serves as South Fulton's primary hub for arts education and performance. It includes a professional exhibition gallery, classrooms, and a theater that hosts performances ranging from community productions to nationally recognized shows.

Wolf Creek Amphitheater

The Wolf Creek Amphitheater is an outdoor performance venue, situated on a 435-acre wooded site. With a seating capacity of 5,420, it features reserved seating, general admission lawn space, and VIP table sections.

Public libraries

Atlanta–Fulton Public Library System operates in South Fulton.