Installation Summary - FORT GILLEM Page: 1 of 2
This text is part of the collection entitled: Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
DCN: 9189
FORT GILLEM
GEORGIA
LOCATION
Fort Gillem is located within the City limits of Forest Park, Georgia, two miles south of the
City limits of Atlanta, Ga., in Clayton County. Situated three miles to the east of Hartsfield-
Jackson International Airport the Fort is easily accessed by Hwy 285, 1-675 and Jonesboro
Road. Fulton County is to the north and west; DeKalb County is to the north and Henry
County to the east and south. Forest Park is the primary metropolitan area with Lake City to
the south. Fort McPherson lies about five miles, (line of sight), to the northwest. Lightly
populated with a tight central core of administrative and warehouse space situated along an
East-West main corridor, Fort Gillem offers space to expand within an urban setting.
Situated near a large metropolitan area, the fort's boundary is adjacent to mixed-use
residential, industrial, and commercial areas with sparsely populated areas to the east.
Topographically the fort is located within the Piedmont Plains region and is situated on
gently rolling hills. Subject to all four seasons, the weather conditions are generally mild
with minimum exposure to harsh conditions.
SIZE
Acres: 1,531
Square Footage of Buildings: 5,233,863 SF
Plant Replacement Value: $727,989,500
HISTORY
In 1940, Congress authorized approximately $ 1.3 million for the purchase of land to
allow construction of a new quartermaster depot. The purchase was required to increase
the capacity and support a growing depot mission responsibility that could not be met by
the Candler Warehouse in southwest Atlanta. Congress also approved an additional $20
million for the construction of the new depot facilities. In 1941, a 1,500-acre tract of
farmland in Forest Park was selected to be the site of what is known today as Fort Gillem.
The property was officially known as the Atlanta General Depot, a subcommand of the
Army Material Command. During World War II the Atlanta General Depot played a key
role supplying much-needed equipment to the troops overseas. It was also the site of an
Ordinance Automotive School, which trained thousands of auto technicians until the
school was discontinued in 1956. The installation provided vital mission support
throughout World War II and the Korean War by repairing and rebuilding engineer and
ordnance equipment. In late 1956 a transportation supply section was established to
provide field maintenance back up support and supplies to the Army aircraft in the Third
Army area of operations. In 1962 the depot was transferred from the Quartermasters
Corps to U.S. Army Supply and Maintenance Command, a major subordinate command
of the U.S. Army Material Command and changed its name from Atlanta General Depot
to the Atlanta Army Depot. In 1970 the Depot was deactivated from the Army Material
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This text can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Text.
United States. Department of Defense. Installation Summary - FORT GILLEM, text, September 8, 2005; (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc21438/m1/1/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.