The City Of Clarkston owes much of its beginnings to the Georgia Railroad. Around the turn of the century, one colorful folktale mentions the early origination of "Goatsville" and "Angora Heights" as names bestowed on Clarkston. The City of Clarkston is centrally located in DeKalb County approximately 10 miles northeast of Atlanta and 5 miles east of Decatur and 5 miles west of Stone Mountain. Clarkston has remained a small city, encompasses approximately 700 acres or 1.1 square miles. The residents and elected officials of Clarkston have enjoyed the small town feel and have therefore never striven to greatly expand the boundaries of the City. Today the railroad still runs through Clarkston as a steadfast reminder of the cities historic beginning.