Kennesaw Apartments and Rentals

Kennesaw, Georgia, located 20 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta, is a one of the fastest growing communities in the Peach State. Kennesaw is an educated and flourishing town, with nearly all of its residents having a high school diploma and close to half with a college degree, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. With nearly 30 percent of residents under the age of 18 in the area, it is clear that Kennesaw is also a thriving community for families, so if you are a young couple looking to move into a quaint suburb close to the amenities of Atlanta, there are plenty of Kennesaw apartments for rent that are perfect for you.

When the Georgia Legislature gave the green light on the construction of the Western and Atlantic Railroad from Atlanta to Cartersville in the 1830s and 1840s, many workers began to build shanties near present day Kennesaw, which was known as "Big Shanty Grade." During the Civil War, this area was a training camp for Confederate soldiers due to accessible transportation and fresh water, and several battles and skirmishes happened in Big Shanty as a result. Once General William T. Sherman made his famous march across Georgia, most of the town was burned to the ground and like many cities in the South, the community was forced to rebuild.

It took several decades, but eventually the city changed its name to Kennesaw to move forward from its harrowing past. The railroad and cotton production remained the main source of employment in area until the Great Depression, which was a trying time for the community. The cotton gin and banks were closed and the community did not fully recover until the 1980s when Atlanta began to sprawl and the city of Kennesaw was incorporated into Metropolitan Atlanta because of the rapid construction of shopping malls and businesses in the area.

One of the reasons the city gets so much buzz is because of Kennesaw State University. The third largest university in the state, the school sees more than 24,000 students come here for a first-rate education every year. The college's nursing program is one of the largest in the country, making the school popular among young people looking to enter the medical community. If you plan on moving to the area in the summer, you may want to find rentals in Kennesaw before the student body begins classes in August, because apartments are usually hard to come by during the school year.

The major industries providing employment in Kennesaw are in the scientific, management and administrative waste management industries, according to the city's website. Major corporations in the community include Lockheed Martin, The Home Depot and IBM. Even though Kennesaw is building a thriving business community, only 13.6 percent of those employed in Cobb County work in Kennesaw because of close proximity to Interstate 75 and job opportunities in Atlanta.

Even though Kennesaw has a median household income that is nearly $12,000 more than the state's average, the cost of living here is nearly 5 points below the national average, according to statistics from city-data.com. With a 2009 median gross rent of $1,059 per month, Kennesaw is a very affordable and attractive place to live, work and raise a family.

One of attractions that put Kennesaw on the map is Smith-Gilbert Gardens. A popular venue for weddings, the gardens are a botanical paradise with 3,000 species of plants. Popular with locals, these grounds have more than eight gardens, including a Japanese bonsai grove.

Kennesaw lives up to its proud Southern tradition each year with the Pigs and Peaches BBQ Festival. Complete with $14,000 in cash and prizes, Georgia residents come to Kennesaw every year with their best char-grilled meats and delectable desserts to have their cuisine deemed the best in the state.

To find a Kennesaw apartment or rental, check out our apartment listings. Rent.com® is happy to help you find your next home.