In the 1820s, land in north central Georgia, along Peachtree Ridge near the headwaters of Nancy Creek, featured substantial water and timber resources to fuel the agricultural settlement that would become Doraville. During the Civil War, Doraville survived Sherman's wrath to prosper and became an official city in 1871. For years, it maintained a charm and quiet quality of life that personified small-town America. Construction of a major water-supply system by 1947 enticed auto giant General Motors to build a major manufacturing factory there, and the city blossomed. Over the next half century, Doraville flourished, producing citizens accomplished in the arts, a space shuttle
astronaut, pop music's Atlanta Rhythm Section, Golden Glove boxing champions, and even the first McDonald's restaurant in Georgia.