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date: 
source: 2026-03-31_Work_Session_Meeting/PowerPoint_Presentation_for_Lee_Street_Renaming;_03-31-26
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RE-NAMING OF MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR. WAY:                            Ryan Anderson, MPPA, CPM
STREET RENAMING                     Director, Community Development
OF NORTH LEE STREET AND SOUTH LEE
 Stockbridge City Work Session Meeting
STREET
 March 31, 2026
 Genealogy of Street Naming
Concept                                                                 Common Sources of Street Names
• Street names reflect a community’s history, land ownership,           • Individuals & Leaders: Landowners, families, civic or national figures
   geography, and culture
 • Geographical Features: Hills, rivers, and natural landscape
• Serve as a “genealogy” of how a town developed over time
 • Trades & Occupations: Reflect historical economic activity
Provide insight into the people and features that shaped early growth
 • Developers: Names assigned during subdivision and platting
How Street Names Developed
 • Trees & Natural Elements: Common in residential areas
• Often emerged organically through local use
 • Historical & Cultural Landmarks: Churches, mills, community features
• Not always established through formal government action
 Researching Street Name Origins
• Later adopted into maps, legal descriptions, and official records
 • Local archives, newspapers, and historical societies
 • Historic maps (e.g., Sanborn maps, early atlases)
 • City directories and land ownership records
 • Tax assessor data and official municipal records
 • Supplemental sources (e.g., cemetery or genealogical records)
 Purpose And Rationale
• PURPOSE: The City of Stockbridge proposes to rename North Lee Street and South Lee Street to
  Martin Luther King, Jr. Way to honor his legacy and contributions to the City, State of Georgia, and the
  nation.
• REQUEST: City Council is requested to consider adoption of a resolution to rename the subject corridor.
• RATIONALE: Recognize the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; Provide a unifying and recognizable
  name within the downtown area; Align with common municipal practices honoring nationally
  significant figures
• PLANNING CONTEXT: Corridor located within historic downtown Stockbridge; Provides connectivity
  between residential, commercial, and civic uses; Functions as a key north–south route in the City’s
  street network
• ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS: Due to community discussion regarding the origin of “Lee Street,” the City
  conducted additional historical research to provide a fact-based foundation for Council consideration.
 North Lee Street and South Lee Street
 Today
LOCATION
North Lee Street and South Lee Street are located in historic downtown Stockbridge and function as a key north–south connector
across North Henry Boulevard (U.S. 23).
CORRIDOR FUNCTION
The corridor connects residential, commercial, and civic areas while serving as a central spine that provides access to key
community destinations, extending from North Henry Boulevard north to Ceresea Drive and south to Rock Quarry Road.
KEY DESTINATIONS
Key destinations along the corridor include Stockbridge City Hall, the Stockbridge Amphitheater, First Baptist Church of
Stockbridge, Stockbridge Elementary School, and Patrick Henry educational facilities.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The corridor developed in the late 1800s to early 1900s, influenced by railroad expansion and early town growth, with evidence
confirming Lee Street as an established route by the early twentieth century.
DEVELOPMENT PATTERN
The corridor features a mix of residential and institutional uses, including an early structure at 108 South Lee Street (c. 1900), with
irregular lot patterns reflecting historic land division practices.


 4
PARCEL MAP FOR
NORTH LEE STREET
AND SOUTH LEE
STREET




 6
PARCEL
SPREADSHEET
FOR
 NORTH LEE
STREET AND
SOUTH LEE
STREET




 7
Historical Context
Early Development of Stockbridge
• Settlement began in 1826 with the establishment of Concord Methodist Church, forming the nucleus of the community
• Early village development included homes, general stores, and essential services, supporting a growing rural population
• Stockbridge functioned as a key crossroads along regional routes, including the corridor now known as U.S. Highway 23
• The arrival of the railroad in 1881–1882 shifted development southward and accelerated growth around the new town
  center
• By the late 1800s, Stockbridge emerged as a local commercial and civic hub within Henry County
• The town was incorporated in 1895 and later incorporated as a city in 1920
• Early street patterns developed organically, with roadways following land ownership and settlement patterns
• By the early 20th century, Stockbridge was a small but established community with civic institutions, businesses, and
  approximately 400 residents
• Historical maps and census data reflect steady, incremental growth centered around transportation corridors
    Early Cartographic References to Stockbridge
• Stockbridge appears on 1863 and 1865 historical maps, confirming its
  presence as an established settlement prior to incorporation
• Early maps identify Stockbridge as a recognized rural center and transportation
  node within Henry County
• The community was positioned along key regional routes connecting Atlanta,
  McDonough, Jonesboro, and surrounding areas
• Nineteenth-century maps typically documented active settlements, crossroads,
  and economic centers, reinforcing Stockbridge’s early significance
• Early transportation routes developed organically, following travel patterns,
  property lines, and natural features
• These routes formed the foundation for later street alignments and
  development patterns
• Streets such as Lee Street likely originated from these early travel corridors
  and land divisions, rather than formal planning actions
• Cartographic evidence shows that the framework for street development
  existed well before 1918, when Lee Street appears in documented records
Early Lee Family References in Henry County
• A 1879 public notice in The Henry County Weekly references the
  estate of Samuel Lee, including a property known as “Lee’s Mill”
• The property was located within the 12th Land District of Henry
  County, an area tied to early settlement patterns
• Mill properties were typically economic and community hubs,
  indicating the Lee family’s role in local commerce
• This record confirms the Lee family’s presence in the region
  decades before Lee Street is documented (1918)
• In rural communities, roads and corridors were often named after
  landowners, families, or landmarks such as mills
• The reference to Lee’s Mill suggests an established geographic
  association with the Lee name
• Estate documentation indicates significant land ownership,
  contributing to early parcel and roadway formation
Census Documentation (1880–1950)
•Federal census records confirm the long-term presence of the Lee family in Henry
County and the Stockbridge area
•1880 Census: Samuel Lee listed as head of household; Robert E. Lee recorded
as a child
•1910 Census: Robert E. Lee documented as an independent adult resident,
showing continuity in the community
•1920 Census: Lee family present at the time of Stockbridge’s incorporation as a
city
•1930 Census: Continued residency reflects long-term community establishment
•1950 Census: Robert E. Lee remains a resident, demonstrating multi-decade
continuity (approx. 70 years)
Documented Existence
of Lee Street (1918)
The earliest confirmed reference to Lee Street appears
in a 1918 legal notice published in The Henry County
Weekly

Notice dates:
     • October 11, 1918
     • October 25, 1918
     • November 8, 1918

Property description includes:
• “…bounded north by J. T. Mays, east by Thurman
  Askew, south by Mrs. Sallie Lee, west by Lee
  Street.”
   Early Development
    Along Lee Street
Key Evidence
• Structure at 108 South Lee Street (c. 1900)
  confirms early development along the corridor
• Property size (~3 acres) reflects significant early
  landholding
• Development patterns indicate buildings were
  constructed along existing roadways
• Suggests Lee Street was established by the early
  1900s


Lee Family Connection
• Property and deed records link land ownership to
  the Lee family
• Location aligns with 1918 legal references to
  adjacent Lee-owned parcels
• Demonstrates a direct geographic relationship
  between the Lee family and the corridor
• Deed and ownership records confirm Lee family
  land ownership, including William Jackson Lee
   Mayoral History
Mayoral History
• Joseph Mann served as mayor (1925–1926) during early municipal growth
• R. E. Lee served as mayor in the late 1940s–early 1950s and was a long-time resident and community leader
• His son, William Jackson “Dub” Lee, later served on City Council (1958) and as mayor in the early 1960s
• Both were associated with the Southern Railway System and active in civic and community organizations
Community Contributions
• Expansion of electric service and utility systems
• Improvements to road paving and transportation infrastructure
• Development of the municipal water system
• Supported Stockbridge’s transition to a modernized municipality
Key Finding
• Lee Street is documented as existing by 1918, prior to R. E. Lee’s mayoral service
• Indicates the street predates mid-20th century leadership
• Suggests the name was not derived from a commemorative naming action
   Municipal Records
   and Mapping
Municipal Records and Mapping
• 1948 City Council minutes note that Stockbridge did not have an official
  municipal map
• City Clerk was directed to coordinate with the U.S. Census Bureau to
  provide mapping at a later date
Planning Context
• Early streets and layouts were often not formally documented in small
  municipalities
• Roadways developed through customary use, property boundaries, and
  travel routes
• Street names were commonly based on local landowners, families, or
  landmarks
Key Implication
• The absence of a formal record does not indicate a lack of origin
• Instead, it reflects limited recordkeeping practices during early
  development
• Helps explain why no official naming record for Lee Street exists
Later Documentation of Lee Street
Planning & Mapping Records
• 1962 Zoning Map identifies Lee Street as part of the City’s established urban framework
• 1978 Real Estate Atlas confirms roadway location through mapped and aerial data
• 2004 aerial imagery and parcel maps show continued development along the corridor


Key Findings
• Lee Street is consistently documented across multiple decades of mapping
• The roadway maintained its alignment, name, and function over time
• Recognized in both public planning documents and private mapping resources
• Demonstrates Lee Street as a stable and integrated component of the City’s network
Historical Timeline                                                     The Henry
 County Weekly

of Stockbridge &                                                        publishes notice
 of estate sale for
 Samuel Lee,
Lee Street            Concord
 Methodist
 Church
 Civil War activity
 in Stockbridge
 referencing Lee’s
 Mill in the 12th
 Southern
 Railroad

Development
 Land District            constructed
 established




 1863                        1865                    1880               1895


 1826                       1864                   1879                   1881–1882



 Johnson’s               Lindenkohl Map          U.S. Census            Stockbridge
 Georgia and             (U.S.                   documents              incorporated as
 Alabama Map             Government)             Samuel Lee             a town
 (A.J. Johnson);         (Stockbridge            household
 Stockbridge             shown within            (Robert E. Lee
 identified as a         regional                listed as a child)
 recognized              transportation
 settlement              network)
Historical Timeline
of Stockbridge &
 Early residence
 established                               Stockbridge
 along Lee                                 incorporated as

Lee Street            Street,
 confirming
 corridor
 Stockbridge
 Baptist Church
 a city;
 Population
 ~386 residents
 Population
 ~392 residents
 (Henry County
Development           development          established          (U.S. Census)        District 775)




 1910                1918                  1927                1939


 ~1900                     1917                1920                1930



 Stockbridge not      Lee Street          Robert E. Lee
 documented in                            Henry County
 listed as                                begins service
 legal notices;                           Highway
 separate                                 as Mayor
 Established                              Planning Map;
 municipality
 roadway used                             Population
 (Census);
 in property                              ~443 residents;
 Reflects pre-
 descriptions                             Development
 incorporation
 centered on
 rural status
 transportation
 routes
Historical Timeline
of Stockbridge &      U.S. Census confirms
Lee Street            continued residency
 of Robert E. Lee
 William Jackson “Dub”
 Lee serves as Mayor
Development

 1952                           1962

 ~1950                      1958–1960s


 Stockbridge Urban
 Death of R.E.Lee           Area Zoning District
 Map (Lee Street
 formally recognized in
 zoning framework)
 Established Early
 • Lee Street existed by at least 1918, confirmed by legal notices
 • Referenced as a defined boundary, indicating active use
 Consistent Documentation
 • Appears in legal records, property data, and mapping over time
 • Maintained name, alignment, and function for decades
 Lee Family Connection
 • Lee family owned land along or near the corridor
 • Records confirm presence of individuals such as William Jackson
 Lee
Summary of Findings
 • Establishes a direct geographic and historical link


 Not Named After Mayors
 • Street predates R. E. Lee and William “Dub” Lee
 • Name existed decades before their public service
 Historical Naming Pattern
 • Streets commonly named after landowners or local families
 • Naming often occurred informally, not by ordinance
 Early Origin & Development
 • Lee Street likely originated during early town development (late
 1800s–early 1900s)
 • Established through organic growth patterns, not formal
 designation
 Land Ownership Connection
 • Lee family owned property along or near the corridor
 • Records reference individuals such as Sallie Lee and Martin Parks
 Lee
 • Strong evidence linking the street name to local landholding
 patterns


Analysis   Common Historical Practice
 • Streets were typically named after:
 • Adjacent landowners
 • Local families
 • Recognizable landmarks (mills, churches, etc.)
 • Naming was often informal and community-based
 Limitations in Documentation
 • Early records (maps, ordinances) were not consistently preserved
 • No definitive record identifying who the street was named after
 Key Determination
 • Lee Street predates mid-20th century civic leaders
 • Unlikely named for R. E. Lee or William “Dub” Lee
 Contact the U.S. Postal Service to notify the Addressing
 Office of the new street name so that it can update its
 addressing system.


United States
Postal Service
 Notification      Notify the property owners of the sixteen (16) properties
Requirements     along North Lee Street and South Lee Street so that they can
 change their home and business addresses.




 Residents may also report their new addresses to the
 Stockbridge Post Office, or they may submit “Growth
 Management Assistance Request Forms.”
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON
THE M.L.K. FAMILY
MARTIN LUTHER KING, SENIOR
Life in Stockbridge
He was born and raised in Stockbridge, and he preached at the historic Floyd
Chapel Baptist Church at 104 First Street.
Commemorative Street Plaque
Placed at Floyd Baptist Church in his honor.
Street Named in His Honor
The City of Stockbridge renamed three streets in his honor in Downtown
Stockbridge, located along the railroad tracks (North Berry Street, South Berry
Street, and Railroad Street) to “Martin Luther King, Sr. Heritage Trail” on
September 14, 2025.
Commemorative Statue
Proposed by the Downtown Development Authority to be located in a City-owned
park at 102 South Lee Street, adjacent to the Stockbridge police headquarters.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE M.L.K. FAMILY

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR:


~ Led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955--This was a pivotal event in the civil
 rights movement in the U.S.
~ Co-Founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957—This
 organization played a significant role in the civil rights movement.
~ Delivered the “I Have a Dream” Speech in 1963—This speech during the March on
 Washington advocated for civil rights.
~ Was Instrumental in the Civil Rights Act of 1964—His efforts contributed to the
 passage of this landmark legislation to outlaw discrimination based on race, color,
 religion, sex, or national origin.
~ Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964—He was honored for his non-violent
 struggle for civil rights for the African American population.
 Policy Consideration                   Council Consideration

 • Council is requested to review       • Alignment with:
 the historical findings and               • Community identity
 analysis                                  • Historical recognition
 • Provide policy direction on the           • Cultural significance
 proposed renaming                    Recommended Action (If
 Key Context                              Approved)
 • Approve resolution to rename:
     Staff       • Lee Street originated from early
 development patterns                   North & South Lee Street →
Recommendation   • Likely tied to local land
 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
 ownership—not formal naming          • Direct staff to proceed with:
 action                                   • Interagency coordination
 • Name predates later civic                   (County, USPS, emergency
 leaders associated with the Lee             services)
 family                                   • Property owner notification
 Important Distinction                      • Updates to City records,
 GIS, and mapping systems
 • Proposed renaming is a policy            • Installation of new signage
 decision
 • Not a correction of the historical
 record
 Ryan Anderson, MPPA,
 CPM
 Director, Community
 Development

Thank You   Randerson@stockbridg
 ega.org
