Dallas, Georgia

Dallas, Georgia, is the county seat of Paulding County, located roughly 30 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. With a population of approximately 14,000 (and growing rapidly), Dallas retains the authentic small-town feel that made it a center of Paulding County life since the 1850s. The city was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President of the United States under James K. Polk. Paulding County itself was created in 1832 from Cherokee County land and named after John Paulding, a Revolutionary War hero.

Dallas holds a significant place in Civil War history. During Sherman's Atlanta Campaign in May 1864, the area around Dallas was the site of several major engagements. The Battle of New Hope Church (May 25-26, 1864), the Battle of Pickett's Mill (May 27, 1864), and the Battle of Dallas (May 28, 1864) all took place in close proximity. Confederate and Union soldiers constructed nearly twelve miles of earthworks around the city, and remarkably, two of these battles resulted in Confederate victories. The historic battlefield sites are preserved and marked for visitors today.

For much of the 20th century, Dallas remained a quiet rural community. But the 1990s and 2000s brought explosive growth as Atlanta's suburban expansion pushed northwest. New subdivisions, schools, and commercial centers transformed the landscape. Today, Dallas is experiencing a carefully managed growth spurt, welcoming families seeking affordable homes, good schools, and a genuine community feel without the congestion of closer-in suburbs. The historic downtown square remains the heart of the city, with the Paulding County courthouse anchoring a district of local shops, restaurants, and community gathering spaces.

Dallas and Paulding County are experiencing transformative growth. WellStar Paulding Medical Center broke ground on September 4, 2026 on a $300 million expansion that will roughly double the hospital's capacity, the largest healthcare investment in county history. The project includes a new eight-story medical tower and 467-space parking deck, with Phase 1 adding 56 beds by November 2027. WellStar Paulding earned ANCC Magnet Recognition with Distinction in March 2026. Hardy Family Automotive pledged $1 million in April 2026 to support the expansion and the new Graduate Medical Education program. Automann announced 150+ new jobs as Phase I development at a new Class A industrial park in Paulding County. Interroll expanded its Hiram campus with an $11 million second plant, adding 30 jobs in 2026 and bringing its total workforce to over 200. Hungryroot, a meal delivery service, expanded with a roughly 100,000-square-foot tri-temp fulfillment facility in Paulding County, an approximately $20 million investment creating around 190 new jobs. GreyStone Power Corp. built a new corporate headquarters at the corner of Highway 92 and Ridge Road, intended to spark surrounding residential and commercial investment. Crossroads Elementary School opened its doors for the first time on August 4, 2026, and the district, now at 34 schools, continues construction on another new middle school. Paulding County School District approved the Plan Blue elementary boundary realignment in January 2026 affecting seven schools, and its students achieved record-setting mathematics performance on the 2026 Georgia Milestones. The district\'s police department swore in its first class of officers on July 27, 2026. New residential communities including Mt. Tabor Ridge, Oakleigh Glen, and Ridgewood Creek are being built by D.R. Horton and Smith Douglas Homes. Additional new communities include Lost Creek and Thompson Ridge (D.R. Horton), The Georgian (Artisan Built Communities, with a new phase of farmhouse-style floor plans from the $350,000s), Ivey Township (Meritage Homes from $379,990), and Mount Tabor Pointe (LGI Homes from $403,900). D.R. Horton's Sheffield Highlands community offers new Tradition Series single-family homes priced $369,990 to $449,990. Century Communities is developing Tributary in North Paulding County with ranch-style and two-story new construction homes. Melt Yard (a restaurant, bar, and retro arcade) announced a second Paulding County location in Dallas at 300 W. Memorial Drive in a former car dealership, set to open in 2026. District @ Dallas, a 280-unit mixed-use development with four-story residential over retail and a central green space with outdoor amphitheater, is being developed with the Dallas Downtown Development Authority to anchor a revitalized downtown. A new McDonald's is also under construction at Ridge Road and Bakers Bridge Road in south Paulding. Costco broke ground on a new Paulding County location. In August 2026, the Paulding County Board of Commissioners voted to halt all new data center projects until January 1, 2027, following months of resident pushback over neighborhood-scale data center development. The county received a AAA bond rating from Moody's, signaling fiscal strength for attracting business. GreyStone Connect launched Phase 4 of its fiber internet expansion into unserved and underserved areas of Paulding County, including corridors along Highway 61 and Highway 6. The Aviation Training Academy opened, and Paulding was designated a BioReady Silver Community by Georgia Life Sciences in 2025. The GA Highway 92 widening by Georgia DOT is progressing from two lanes to six lanes, improving connectivity to I-20 and I-75. The Dallas Acworth Highway Corridor Improvement Project is underway, widening approximately 2.3 miles to a four-lane divided section with intersection upgrades and pedestrian facilities. The Bill Carruth Parkway Roadway Improvement Project is also underway from SR 6 to south of WellStar Hospital Drive. The FY 2026 Asphalt Resurfacing Project covers approximately 16.24 miles of resurfacing across 79 streets in 14 subdivisions. The county awarded a $458,008 contract for the Winndale Road Trailhead Project and a $1,053,025 contract for the Gulledge Road Improvement Project. The Ridge Road Widening Project and Bobo Road Intersection Improvement are also under design. The SR 6 Business/West Memorial Drive roundabout is under design, and August 2026 community events in Dallas included a Free Family Movie Night on August 8, the 75th Anniversary Diamond Dig on August 15, and a Food Truck Friday + Car Show on August 21. The Richland Creek Water Treatment Plant received $724,800 for granular activated carbon replacement. LiquidStack announced expansion with a new 17,000-square-foot second manufacturing facility in Paulding County, creating 100 new jobs. The FY 2026 Bridge Barrier Project awarded a $762,909 contract for replacement of bridge barriers and guardrails at Friendship Church Road and Laird Road crossings. The Dallas Downtown Development Authority launched the BOOST Grant initiative to support local business growth. Paulding County's population is now estimated at 194,059, reflecting 1.6% annual growth. A developer proposed nearly 700 new single-family homes on Cole Lake Road, seeking annexation into the city. Paulding County adopted a six-month moratorium on most residential rezoning in July 2025 while it rewrites its Unified Development Ordinance, and Cortag, a global maker of tile cutters, announced plans in October 2025 to open a Paulding County facility. Ground was broken on Union Park, Paulding County's next multi-use park adjacent to Scoggins Middle School, with pavilions, trails, streams, and community gardens planned. The City of Dallas is also advancing a new park and trail project that adds 2.5 miles of paved, ADA-compliant 10-foot sidewalks, a 210-foot wetland bridge, a four-acre lake view, a pavilion, and restrooms. New businesses celebrated ribbon cuttings through the Paulding Chamber, including Southern Peaches Market and Your Best Guest, and in September 2026 downtown Dallas welcomed Farm Dogs Grill & Tap at 214 Main Street, serving handcrafted burgers, gourmet hot dogs, tacos, cold beer, and ice cream. The Paulding County School District also approved a new FY2027 budget in June 2026 funding the new elementary school, school-safety enhancements, technology, and teacher raises.