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Terminus literally means "end of the line" and is where the Western and Atlantic railroad lines terminated. The settlement had six buildings and 30 residents by 1842. (Photo courtesy of Library of Congress)

What do Terminus, Marthasville and Atlantica-Pacifica all have in common? Believe it or not, they’re all former names for Atlanta.

In 1836, the Georgia General Assembly voted the Western and Atlantic Railroad into existence. The decision led to a series of events, including the Terminus settlement being built two to three blocks southeast of present day Five Points.

In 1842, Governor Wilson Lumpkin requested Terminus be renamed after his young daughter, and Terminus became Marthasville. Then in 1845, J. Edgar Thomson, chief engineer of the Georgia Railroad, suggested a change to Atlantica-Pacifica, which was quickly shortened to Atlanta.

– MaryGrace Williams, 360 Media, Inc.

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