During the first decades of the 20th century, Atlanta enjoyed a period of unprecedented growth. In three decades' time, Atlanta's population tripled as the city limits expanded to include nearby streetcar suburbs. The city's skyline grew taller with the construction of the Equitable, Flatiron, Empire, and Candler buildings. Sweet Auburn emerged as a center of Black commerce. The period was also marked by strife and tragedy. Increased racial tensions led to the Atlanta Race Riot of 1906, when Whites attacked Blacks, leaving at least 27 people dead and over 70 injured, with extensive damage in Black neighborhoods. In 1913, Leo Frank, a Jewish-American factory superintendent, was convicted of the murder of a 13-year-old girl in a highly publicized trial. He was sentenced to death, but the governor commuted his sentence to life. An enraged and organized lynch mob took him from jail in 1915 and hanged him in Marietta. The Jewish community in Atlanta and across the country were horrified. On May 21, 1917, the Great Atlanta Fire destroyed 1,938 buildings in what is now the Old Fourth Ward, resulting in one fatality and the displacement of 10,000 people.
during the first decades of the 20th century atlanta enjoyed a period of unprecedented growth in three decades' time atlanta's population tripled as the city limits expanded to include nearby streetcar suburbs the city's skyline grew taller with the construction of the equitable flatiron empire and candler buildings sweet auburn emerged as a center of black commerce the period was also marked by strife and tragedy increased racial tensions led to the atlanta race riot of 1906 when whites attacked blacks leaving at least 27 people dead and over 70 injured with extensive damage in black neighborhoods in 1913 leo frank a jewish-american factory superintendent was convicted of the murder of a 13-year-old girl in a highly publicized trial he was sentenced to death but the governor commuted his sentence to life an enraged and organized lynch mob took him from jail in 1915 and hanged him in marietta the jewish community in atlanta and across the country were horrified on may 21 1917 the great atlanta fire destroyed 1938 buildings in what is now the old fourth ward resulting in one fatality and the displacement of 10000 people