The Nine Mile Trolley used to run from Atlanta to the Virginia Highlands neighborhood in 1888 from 1888 until automobiles became common place in the 20th century. Many historians believe that the trolley that was original meant to allow city dwellers to visit the “countryside” was a catalyst that led to initial development of the area as residents would live there and commute on the trolley into work. Just as most of Atlanta’s urban neighborhoods, the 1960’s were a rough time as many moved out to the suburbs to take advantage of the highways and fast, affordable automobiles that allowed for the suburban lifestyle. However, VA highlands was one of the first neighborhoods to revive when the trend of urban living started to come back into style.
The Virginia Highlands area of Atlanta is one of the night life centers with a strip of bars and restaurants that are very popular. People come from all over the Atlanta Metropolitan Area to go out for dinner and night life that Virginia Highlands has to offer. Subsequently, the neighborhood has become one of the most expensive of the in-town neighborhoods. Homes are mostly 1920’s and 30’s bungalow style homes. During the period of economic distress the area experienced in the 1960’s, some of the larger homes were subdivided as apartments which remain as apartments or condominiums to this day.