History 
  We have to go back to the war of 1812 to find non-Indian settlers in what we considered to be futuristic Atlanta boundaries.  Ft. Gilmer was erected at the Indian Village of Standing Peachtree where Peachtree Creek joins the Chattahooche River.   It as one of several forts deemed to protect the frontier.  True settlement was not allowed until after the cessation of the Creek land to the State of Ga. 

Atlanta boundaries as we know them belonged to the Creek Indians.  The Chattahoochee River was the boundary between the Creeks and the Cherokees.  The Cherokees lived Northwest of the River. White settlement was not allowed in "future" Atlanta until after 1821.  The Creeks ceded their lands to the State of Georgia that were between the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers in 1821.  

From the ceding of the land to the State of Georgia, five counties were carved out of that land; Monroe, Houston, Dooly, Henry and Fayette.  Henry and Fayette became the "mother" counties of Dekalb, Fulton, Clayton and Rockdale.  In 1822 Dekalb was created with the majority of it coming from Henry and Fayette - the town of Decatur was laid out in 1823 and was to become the capitol of the Atlanta area for 30 years until 1853 when Fulton was created.   
  (Note:  Decatur was named for Stephen Decatur, a naval hero). 

FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT WRITE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON ATLANTA, THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO START.   You can write about the Creeks, Cherokees, the building of Atlanta, Standing Peachtree, Fort Gilmer, of the creation of the 5 counties carved from the Creek land.  Another project would be the Capitols.  Another great project is the Iron Horse and its progression and how it changed the area forever.