If an effort to create a city out of communities in South Fulton County succeeds, Atlanta's boundaries could be locked in for good, terminating more than 160 years of geographical growth for the city.

Since Sandy Springs achieved cityhood in 2005, a slew of cities have been created, carving up the counties that make up the metro area. The continuation of the trend in the north Fulton area has left only a chunk south of the City of Atlanta unincorporated. According to Creative Loafing, a new city in South Fulton could encompass more than 87,000 residents, making it the ninth most populous municipality in the state and bringing to an end unincorporated Fulton County.

But beyond that, a vote to incorporate South Fulton could essentially curb annexation by the City of Atlanta that's been going strong since the 1800s.

Since its incorporation in 1847, the city has annexed land surrounding it no less than three dozen times, growing from just over three square miles to now more than 130 square miles.

And while the biggest gains came in the early- and mid-1900s (among them Buckhead), the city has gained a few small chunks of land in the last year, with Edmund Park near Emory becoming a part of Atlanta in November.

In fact, according to the city, there are at least five areas currently seeking annexation; all of which would fall into the new South Fulton County city. Arguments for and against the proposal abound.