Located only two miles from downtown Atlanta, East Atlanta has its own distinct history and identity. Over the decades, this area has impacted the development of Atlanta and the nation. The Battle of Atlanta, fought on East Atlanta ground in 1864, changed the course of the Civil War. The battlefield grew into a suburban community of Victorian homes, Craftsman bungalows, and thriving businesses throughout the early and mid-1900s. Beginning in the 1960s, the civil rights movement in Atlanta actively challenged and transformed the community. Often compared to an early Greenwich Village, East Atlanta is known today as a progressive, friendly, and diverse community and destination. This diversity reflects the pioneering and creative spirit of those who came before, including farmers and dairymen, hard-working neighbors, an Atlanta mayor, a Georgia sports legend, an Indianapolis race-car builder, the first broadcast country music star, and multiple civil rights leaders.