Kirkwood as a community began in the 1870’s. The land that the neighborhood sits on belonged to two different families; the Kirkpatricks and the Dunwoody family; hence the name Kirkwood is a combination of the two names. Like many of the historic neighborhoods of Atlanta, the neighborhood was originally considered a suburb but is now very much an urban neighborhood. Residents rode a trolley car that linked the suburban neighborhood to downtown Atlanta.

For many years, the commercial district in downtown Kirkwood had difficulty taking shape due to some inconsistent zoning that didn’t really define a contiguous commercial district. In 2003, this was all resolved and the main street area of Kirkwood received a major renovation to become the trendy destination full of coffee houses, bars, restaurants, and boutique shops that it is today. Homes in the Kirkwood area primarily one of 3 types: Victorian, Craftsman Bungalow, or infill new construction that is built to look old in the craftsman style. Homes are not cheap in Kirkwood; but it does provide a good value in terms of finding a decent sized home in an urban neighborhood of Atlanta that has been renovated and restored.