When Jane Pillow moved to metro Atlanta from Ocean City, N.J., a few years ago to be near her children and grandchildren, she ended up living in Austell in Cobb County.

"I love this area," the 65-year-old retiree said. "Where I live, it's so nice and it's clean, and I feel safe here."

Two of Pillow's daughters also live in Cobb -- in Marietta and Powder Springs. The other two are in other Atlanta suburbs, in Stone Mountain in DeKalb County and Buford in Gwinnett County.

All are part of a growing demographic of African-Americans who choose to live in suburbia. From 1990 to 2000, the black population in suburban and exurban neighborhoods increased by about 70 percent, according to the Census Bureau.

African-Americans from across the nation have long been attracted to Atlanta, drawn by its mild climate, affordable housing, career opportunities, cultural amenities and reputation as a "black mecca." Many settled in traditional African-American strongholds, such as southwest Atlanta.

More recently, they are choosing to live in the suburbs, establishing new chapters of networking and social organizations like Jack & Jill and the 100 Black Men and 100 Black Women.

Former Olympic basketball player Katrina Johnson, 37, lives with her husband, Kacy, and their two sons in Fairburn, south of Atlanta. Former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield's palatial estate is nearby, but that's not why they chose the area.

"We just liked it because it's quiet," Katrina Johnson said. "It's not in a lot of traffic, but it's right near the airport, so it's convenient."

The increasing presence of black suburbanites is being felt in politics, business, religion, housing and other facets of their communities.

Charismatic pastors such as Bishop Eddie Long of the 25,000-member New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in south DeKalb County preside over black congregations that number in the tens of thousands.

Black economic power has helped boost sales at major shopping centers like the Mall at Stonecrest, which lies on the border of DeKalb and Rockdale counties.

And African-Americans are prospering as owners of suburban businesses with a growing black clientele.

African-Americans have become a majority on the DeKalb County Commission and the Clayton County school board.

Vernon Jones was elected as DeKalb County's first black chief executive officer. Alisha Thomas, a 24-year-old black woman and Spelman College graduate, is a state House member from Cobb County.

Jane Pillow's daughter Janice Mosley is a 1986 graduate of Spelman. After graduating, Mosley decided to remain in Atlanta. She and her husband, John, live in Marietta with their three children.

They chose Cobb County, Mosley said, because it's quiet and has excellent schools. Also, their reasonably priced home had lots of yard space.

Asked whether she would ever consider moving back into the city of Atlanta, Mosley said, "It probably wouldn't be affordable."

That draw -- new homes at affordable prices, along with good schools and places to shop -- will likely continue to draw African-Americans to Atlanta's growing suburbs.