COMMUNITY
Staff reports
Cobb’s smallest city, Austell, which has about 7,700 people, was
incorporated in 1885.
Austell was once known as Salt Springs due to springs with supposedly
medicinal qualities that were popular for the Civil War sick.
Some who enjoyed the springs stuck around, impressing upon propertyowner
G.O. Mozeley to sell them lots to settle on. Austell subdivided 40
acres, splitting the town into squares with 50-foot-wide streets.
The old Georgia Pacific railway helped the city grow as Austell became a
stop along lines to Birmingham and Chattanooga. As such, train enthusiasts
sometimes flock to historic downtown Austell.
Austell’s name comes from Alfred Austell, a banker and railroad builder
who organized the Atlanta National Bank and served on the first Atlanta
Board of Education. Cobb’s first public school was built in Austell in 1890
and is now Austell Elementary.
Governed by a six-member council, Austell is led by Mayor Ollie
Clemons. Starting his first term in January 2020, Clemons is the first elected
Black mayor in the city’s history.
Places of Interest: Lithia Waters at Frog Rock; Disc golf course at Frog
Rock; Veterans Memorial Park on Veterans Memorial Highway; and, nearby,
Six Flags Over Georgia
Annual Events: Lighting of the Great Tree and arrival of Santa Claus on
the First Friday in December at Collar Park, a family event.
A Bit of History: The city was a well-known health resort in the 1800s.
Famous Residents: Austell’s most famous resident is Louise Suggs. She
was one of the charter members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association
and her competitiveness, accuracy and “picture swing” led her to a
phenomenal amateur and professional career in golf.
50 FACTBOOK | 2022
Austell