Fifty-two years ago, Tom and Corinne Samford were in need of a larger home and a good school district. When they looked in Avondale Estates, they discovered a community with schools, churches, parks and a hardware store, grocery, barbershop and drugstore within walking distance.

They bought two lots and built a two-bedroom ranch home, which they later enlarged. They raised six children in the community and still call it home.

"When we moved in, the city was almost completely surrounded by woods except for the eastern edge. There was a dairy farm at the corner of Memorial and Columbia drives, and the road to Stone Mountain was a two-lane asphalt road," said Tom Samford.

"But Avondale Estates had all the amenities you needed -- parks, churches and good neighbors. We have been very happy here," he added. "We looked around at other places when I retired 19 years ago, but we couldn't find any place better than this."

That is the opinion of many longtime and new residents of Avondale Estates. Although Atlanta has developed around and far beyond its boundaries, Avondale Estates retains its own small-town way of life, which keeps generations of families in the community and housing values escalating.

Housing ranges from about $225,000 to $325,000 for a 1950s bungalow or 1960s ranch and $400,000 to $1 million for some of the original 1920s Tudor homes. "People love the community and the location near Decatur and 20 minutes from downtown," said Carol Reimer, an agent with Alma Fuller Realty.

Reimer grew up in the neighborhood and graduated from Avondale High. After she married, she moved back with her sons, now ages 10 and 14. "I could never find a better neighborhood for raising a family. There is such a sense of community spirit and pride. It's a Norman Rockwell kind of place, with tree-lined streets with sidewalks and a variety of family-sized homes," she said.

Kids play in several parks. The neighborhood has a Labor Day Race, a fall art festival and a free-floating Christmas tree in the middle of Avondale Lake each year. There's an active swim/tennis club. The Avondale Community Club is home to garden, book and bridge groups.

People walk down to Skip's for a hot dog on Saturdays or meet at the new James Joyce Pub for dinner.

"When my son had an accident on his bike, an Avondale police officer picked him up, put his bike in the trunk and brought him home. It's easy to sell moms on this community. It's the closest thing they're going to find to Mayberry," Reimer added.

When Raymond and Phoebe Stephens moved from Dallas 30 years ago, they thought Avondale Estates was a garden spot in the city. "It still is a safe, quiet community. We have an extraordinary police department, and the sanitation department picks up garbage from your back yard twice a week. It's a unique kind of place," said Raymond Stephens.

The couple bought a four-bedroom bungalow with a large family room for their four teenagers, who jumped into community life.

"The kids had a great time here," said Stephens. "It's hard to find an audience for the Fourth of July parade because everyone wants to participate -- kazoo bands, moms pushing decorated strollers, clubs and organizations."

The day ends with a swing band at the gazebo across from the Community Club. The clubhouse dates back to the 1920s, and the members over the years have made improvements to it.

"There's a lot of volunteerism in this community, and so many young people moving in and renovating the older homes. We once thought we needed more kids, but that's not the case anymore. We'd like to see new growth in our business district, too," said Phoebe Stephens, a city commissioner. The City Council members and mayor are elected but not paid.

City officials recently toured thriving small towns in South Carolina to get new ideas. "Planned and calculated development of the business district is the main thing on our plate at the moment," said Mayor John Lawson.

Lawson moved to Avondale Estates in 1946 with his parents and grandmother. He and his wife, Nancy, moved back as soon as they could afford it in 1968 and raised their family here. Since 1980, the couple has lived in the cypress-shingled Cape Cod where John grew up. "Avondale Estates is a microcosm of just about every architectural style from the 1920s on. Tudor, bungalows, traditional, ranch -- no two houses are alike and having the historic preservation commission and architectural review committee has kept values up," said Lawson.

"There's so much variety in housing that it's hard to name an average price, but our sales have done better than more glamorous areas of the city," said Alma Fuller, resident since 1966 and owner of Alma Fuller Realty.

"People love being part of a small town with residents of all ages, the amenities and the city services. It's not uncommon for people to stay, renovate or buy a different house as their needs change."

Her daughter Carol moved back in 1988 and is in her second home. "I like being close to MARTA for the Braves and Falcons games," said Carol Fuller. "And it's great to have sidewalks and to feel safe walking anytime."

"We love being in a real community where people care about each other. I once had the chief of police change my flat tire in my driveway," said Susie Glenn. Her husband grew up in Avondale, and they bought 10 years ago after he finished his residency at Emory.

"I never wanted a ranch, but the price was right and it had a big back yard for kids," she said. Now, four kids later and with one on the way, the couple has bought another house on the lake. They've reconfigured the first floor and added a second story to make five bedrooms.

"The remodeling has been worth all the trouble and effort because we absolutely love it here," she said. "We see it as a good investment because Avondale will always attract the kinds of families who will invest in this community."