Cobb County, Georgia

Cobb County is the third most populous county in the State of Georgia, with an estimated population of approximately 770,000 residents. Located in the northwestern quadrant of the Atlanta metropolitan area, Cobb County is anchored by the city of Marietta and is home to a diverse economy that includes one of the world's most significant aerospace manufacturing facilities, a major professional sports venue, one of the largest universities in the state, and a rapidly diversifying suburban landscape that has evolved from a predominantly white bedroom community into one of the most ethnically and economically varied counties in Georgia.

Geography and Physical Setting

Cobb County encompasses approximately 345 square miles of Piedmont terrain northwest of downtown Atlanta. The Chattahoochee River forms the county's eastern and southern boundary, separating Cobb from Fulton County. The county is bounded by Cherokee County to the north, Bartow and Paulding counties to the west, and Douglas County to the southwest. The terrain consists of gently rolling hills and ridges, with Kennesaw Mountain -- the site of a significant Civil War battle and now a national battlefield park managed by the National Park Service -- rising to 1,808 feet as the most prominent geographic feature.

Interstate 75 runs through the eastern portion of the county in a north-south orientation, while I-285 clips the southeastern corner. The county is also served by U.S. Highway 41 (Cobb Parkway), one of the most heavily traveled commercial corridors in Metro Atlanta, and numerous state routes. Cobb County's proximity to downtown Atlanta (approximately 15 to 20 miles from Marietta to downtown) combined with its location outside the original MARTA tax district has historically made it heavily automobile-dependent, though the CobbLinc transit system provides bus service throughout the county.

Population and Demographics

Cobb County's population has grown steadily from approximately 297,000 in 1980 to 607,000 in 2000 and approximately 770,000 in the most recent estimates. Like Gwinnett County to the east, Cobb has undergone significant demographic diversification. The county's population has shifted from overwhelmingly white to a diverse community that is approximately 50 percent white (non-Hispanic), 28 percent Black or African American, 13 percent Hispanic or Latino, and 6 percent Asian. This diversification has been particularly pronounced in the southern and eastern portions of the county, closer to the City of Atlanta.

Median household income in Cobb County consistently exceeds both the state and national averages, reflecting a strong professional and technical workforce employed in aerospace, technology, healthcare, and corporate services. The county's educational attainment levels are among the highest in the state, with a significant percentage of residents holding bachelor's or advanced degrees.

County Government

Cobb County operates under a commission-chairman form of government with a five-member Board of Commissioners. The chairman is elected at-large by all county voters and serves as the chief executive. The four district commissioners are elected from single-member districts. An appointed County Manager handles day-to-day administration. The county seat is Marietta, where the Cobb County Courthouse and primary administrative offices are located at the historic Marietta Square.

Economy and Major Industries

Aerospace and Defense — Lockheed Martin's Aeronautics division operates its largest manufacturing facility in Marietta, where the company produces the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, the C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft, and other defense systems. The Marietta plant employs thousands of highly skilled engineers, technicians, and manufacturing workers and is one of the most significant defense manufacturing facilities in the United States. The plant's history extends back to World War II, when Bell Aircraft built B-29 Superfortress bombers at the site, and the facility has produced some of the most important military aircraft of the jet age, including the C-130 Hercules, C-5 Galaxy, F-22 Raptor, and now the F-35. The defense industry supports an extensive network of suppliers and subcontractors throughout Cobb County and the broader metro area.

Sports and Entertainment — Truist Park, the home stadium of the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball franchise, opened in the Cumberland area of Cobb County in 2017, replacing the former Turner Field in downtown Atlanta. The 41,084-seat ballpark is surrounded by The Battery Atlanta, a $1 billion mixed-use development that includes restaurants, retail, entertainment venues, a hotel, office space, and residential units. The Battery has become one of the most successful sports-anchored mixed-use developments in the United States, generating significant economic activity and transforming the Cumberland/Galleria area into a major entertainment and commercial district.

Technology and Corporate Services — The Cumberland/Galleria area and the I-75/I-285 interchange area have attracted numerous corporate offices and technology companies. The Home Depot's corporate headquarters campus is located at the Vinings/I-285 interchange in southeastern Cobb County. WellStar Health System, one of Georgia's largest health systems, is headquartered in Marietta and operates multiple hospitals and healthcare facilities in Cobb County. For contractor and HVAC services in Cobb County, see Atlanta Contractor Authority and Georgia HVAC Authority.

Education

The Cobb County School District is the second-largest school district in Georgia, educating approximately 107,000 students across more than 110 schools. The district has earned strong academic reputations for many of its schools, and Walton High School, Lassiter High School, and Wheeler High School are consistently ranked among the top public high schools in the state. The district also operates a system of magnet programs and career academies.

Kennesaw State University (KSU), the third-largest university in Georgia by enrollment with approximately 43,000 students, has its main campus in Kennesaw and a second major campus (the former Southern Polytechnic State University) in Marietta. KSU's growth from a small commuter college to a major comprehensive university has been one of the most significant developments in Georgia higher education. Chattahoochee Technical College provides career and technical education with multiple campuses in Cobb and neighboring counties. Life University, a private institution specializing in chiropractic education, is headquartered in Marietta.

Key Cities and Communities

Marietta — The county seat (population approximately 62,000), centered on the historic Marietta Square, which has been revitalized as a destination for dining, shopping, and community events. Marietta's history predates the Civil War, and the Marietta National Cemetery and Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park preserve the area's military heritage. Dobbins Air Reserve Base and the co-located Lockheed Martin facility are major employment centers.

Kennesaw — A city of approximately 35,000 known for Kennesaw State University, the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, and a small-town downtown atmosphere alongside substantial suburban growth. Kennesaw gained national attention for a 1982 city ordinance requiring every household to maintain a firearm (the ordinance includes numerous exemptions and is largely symbolic).

Acworth — A city of approximately 24,000 on the northern shore of Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona, known for its historic downtown, lakeside recreation, and family-oriented community character.

Smyrna — A city of approximately 57,000 adjacent to the City of Atlanta, known for its revitalized Market Village downtown area and the SunTrust Park/Battery Atlanta complex in its vicinity.

Powder Springs — A city of approximately 16,000 in the western portion of the county, growing as residential development expands westward. For roofing, electrical, and solar services in Cobb County, see Georgia Roof Authority, Georgia Electrical Authority, and Georgia Solar Authority.