Lithonia, Georgia

Lithonia, Georgia
Welcome sign on Main Street in Lithonia
Motto: 
City of Granite
Location in DeKalb County and the state of Georgia
Lithonia, Georgia
Coordinates: 33°42′46″N 84°6′21″W / 33.71278°N 84.10583°W / 33.71278; -84.10583
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyDeKalb
Government
  MayorShameka Reynolds
  DeKalb County CEOMichael L. Thurmond
Area
  Total
0.93 sq mi (2.41 km2)
  Land0.93 sq mi (2.40 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
925 ft (282 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
2,662
  Density2,868.53/sq mi (1,107.78/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
30038, 30058
Area code(s)770, [678]
FIPS code13-46860
GNIS feature ID0325978
Websitewww.lithoniacity.org

Lithonia (/lɪˈθniə/ lih-THOH-nee-ə, AAVE: /l-/ ly-) is a city in eastern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The city's population was 2,662 at the 2020 census. Lithonia is in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

"Lithonia" means "city/town of stone". Lithonia is in the heart of the Georgian granite-quarrying and viewing region, hence the name of the town, from the Greek lithos, for “stone”. The huge nearby Stone Mountain is composed of granite, while the Lithonia gneiss is a form of metamorphic rock. The Stone Mountain granite is younger than, and has intruded the Lithonia gneiss. The area has a history of rock quarries. The mines were served by the Georgia Railroad and Atlanta, Stone Mountain & Lithonia Railway. Some of the rock quarries have been converted to parkland, and the rail lines to rail-trail.

Lithonia is one of the gateways to the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area, which is largely contained inside Stonecrest, Georgia.