Running out of fuel, the pilot attempted an emergency landing but crashed, which killed four and injured several others.

The crash made national headlines and prompted Congress to commission the Copeland Committee report on air traffic safety.

Due to circumstances, the former Atlanta Methodist Church became available and was acquired by the city, where it remains to this day.

The former City Hall has since been converted into a local memorial to a previous mayor, Owen L. "Woody" Woodward.

U.S. Route 63 passes just east of the city limits, leading north 9 miles (14 km) to La Plata and south 11 miles (18 km) to Macon, the county seat.

Getting here: Atlanta is reachable by Amtrak to the nearby La Plata Station on the Southwest Chief, a line stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Flights to the area are available from Chicago's O'Hare to Kirksville on Contour Airlines or to Quincy on Southern Airways.

Longer commutes are available: Columbia, MO connects to Dallas Fort Worth and O'Hare.

[1] The city sits on a ridge which drains west toward Long Branch and east toward the Middle Fork of the Salt River.

[19] The community hosts the "Atlanta Homecoming" every last full weekend in June in the town center, Atterberry Park.

[20] Other downtown activities include the annual "Big Wheels" event hosted by the Atlanta PTO every September[21] and an egg hunt hosted by Crossroads Christian Church of Macon, the Saturday before Easter every year.

In 2007, the district was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education.

Visitors to the area include hunters seeking whitetail deer and turkey.