The City Of Atlanta. Name Source?

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

Where did the American city of Atlanta get its name?

It cannot be from Atlantic, as it is not a coastal city. Similarly, Atlantis is out of the question, for the same reasons.

Does it derive from the name of the Greek Heroine, Atalanta? If so, why the change?

If not, what is its source?

[ArmenE]

@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

Where did the American city of Atlanta get its name?

It cannot be from Atlantic, as it is not a coastal city. Similarly, Atlantis is out of the question, for the same reasons.

Does it derive from the name of the Greek Heroine, Atalanta? If so, why the change?

If not, what is its source?

According to Wikipedia,

Marthasville was renamed Atlanta in 1845 (a feminized version of Atlantic suggested by J. Edgar Thomson) and was incorporated as such in 1847.

No cite is provided at wikipedia.

[JohnT]

It sounded better than Terminus, I guess.

Actually, the name reflects its railroad origins. In 1845, John Thompson of Georgia Railroad suggested that the city of Marthasville (formerly Terminus) rename itself “Atlantica-Pacifica”, to highlight and promote the railroad. A shortened version of the name, “Atlanta” became popular with residents, with the name change being voted for later that same year.

http://www.city-book.com/Overview/history/history1.htm

[JohnT]

However, this site says:

Daughter of railroad proponent and former governor Wilson Lumpkin, Martha Atalanta Lumpkin had the town named in her honor in 1843 (Marthasville). Whitehall, along Sandtown Road, became known as West End, and both the post office and election district became Marthasville.

Over the next two years the country suffered through one of the worst economic times of our history and growth in Atlanta came to a standstill. Work on the Georgia Railroad continued west from the coast, but the Western and Atlantic Railroad struggled to lay rails. 1844 saw the arrival of Jonathan Norcross. His sawmill and lumber yard gave Marthasville one of its earliest non-railroad related businesses.

John E. Thomson, Chief Engineer of Georgia Railroad proposed Atlanta as a suitable name for the new town and in 1845 the name was changed. Mr. Thomson told varying stories as to how he came up with the name; our favorite is that he altered Martha Lumpkin’s middle name Atalanta.

[Spoke]

@JohnT

It sounded better than Terminus, I guess.

I dunno. I think “Terminus” is kind of a cool name. I wish we’d kept it.

[ShibbOleth]

@spoke-

I dunno. I think “Terminus” is kind of a cool name. I wish we’d kept it.

We can still use that name for one of the final planets once we colonize.

[Gary_T]

@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

It cannot be from Atlantic, as it is not a coastal city. Similarly, Atlantis is out of the question, for the same reasons.

With all due respect, yes it can be from Atlantic, and no Atlantis is not out of the question. Unless you know some enforceable laws about naming stuff of which I’m unaware.

[Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor]

@Gary T

With all due respect, yes it can be from Atlantic, and no Atlantis is not out of the question. Unless you know some enforceable laws about naming stuff of which I’m unaware.

My-my-my…somebody got up on the wrong side of the cave today, didn’t he? :dubious:
I was attempting to apply a liitle common sense–inland cities are rarely given nautical names.

[ftg]

@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

I was attempting to apply a liitle common sense–inland cities are rarely given nautical names.

You mean like using an ocean name for a town in Missouri? (Note also that a railroad line was involved in the naming.)

[DSYoungEsq]

@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor

I was attempting to apply a liitle common sense–inland cities are rarely given nautical names.

NEVER attempt to apply “common sense” to naming of people or things. Rarely does it apply.

[tanstaafl]

@ShibbOleth

We can still use that name for one of the final planets once we colonize.

The one on the opposite end of the galaxy from Star’s End, right?