Kennesaw, Georgia

Kennesaw, Georgia, is a city of over 33,000 residents located in Cobb County, roughly 25 miles northwest of Atlanta. Originally settled in the 1830s as Big Shanty, a railroad construction camp, the city was renamed Kennesaw in 1887 after the nearby Kennesaw Mountain. The name itself comes from the Cherokee word "gah-nee-sah," meaning cemetery or burial ground, a reference to the mountain's history as a Cherokee burial site.

Kennesaw holds a unique place in Civil War and railroad history. On April 12, 1862, Union spies led by James J. Andrews stole the Confederate locomotive "The General" from right under the noses of Confederate troops at Big Shanty. This daring raid became known as the Great Locomotive Chase, and the historic locomotive now resides at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, a must-visit destination downtown. Later, in 1864, the area witnessed the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, a major engagement during Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.

Today, Kennesaw is perhaps best known as the home of Kennesaw State University, one of the fastest-growing public research universities in the nation with over 45,000 students. The university brings cultural events, NCAA Division I athletics, and a youthful energy to the city. Kennesaw is also home to Truist Park, the spring-training and regular-season home of the Atlanta Braves, and The Battery Atlanta, a vibrant mixed-use entertainment district that has become a regional destination.

Kennesaw is in the midst of its most ambitious growth period in decades. The massive Eastpark Village project along the Cherokee Street corridor has assembled 65 parcels for 850 residential units and 300,000 square feet of commercial space, the largest land assemblage in city history. BRP, the maker of Can-Am and Ski-Doo vehicles, is relocating its U.S. headquarters from California to Kennesaw. KSU broke ground on the Summit II residence hall, adding 460 beds for students. The city also acquired a historic 10,000-square-foot building downtown for mixed-use redevelopment. New businesses continue to arrive: Raising Cane's, Smash Hit Burgers, Brown Dog Books, and Caribou Coffee all opened in late 2025 and early 2026. Prohibition Co., a speakeasy, opened in July 2026. Reformation Brewery opened a downtown taproom. Chamblee Tap and Market purchased a historic downtown building and plans to open in 2026. The Big Shanty Festival celebrated its 50th anniversary on April 18-19, 2026. The Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield gained 21 acres in June 2025 and closed Mountain Road to private vehicles on January 6, 2026, replacing car access with a free shuttle. The Northwest Georgia region expects 27,000 new jobs and $9 billion in capital investment in the coming years.