Alpharetta, Georgia

Alpharetta, Georgia
City
Alpharetta City Hall
Location in Fulton County and the state of Georgia
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Coordinates: 34°04′24″N 84°16′52″W / 34.07333°N 84.28111°W / 34.07333; -84.28111Coordinates: 34°04′24″N 84°16′52″W / 34.07333°N 84.28111°W / 34.07333; -84.28111
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Fulton
Incorporated	December 11, 1858
Government
• Mayor
Area [1]
• Total	27.27 sq mi (70.62 km2)
• Land	26.90 sq mi (69.68 km2)
• Water	0.37 sq mi (0.95 km2)
Elevation	1,135 ft (346 m)
Population  (2010)	57,551
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	65,800
• Density	2,498.44/sq mi (964.66/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	30004, 30005, 30009, 30022
Area codes	770, 404, 678
FIPS code	13-01696
GNIS feature ID	0310497[2]
Website	www.alpharetta.ga.us

Alpharetta is a city located in northern Fulton County, Georgia, United States and is a suburb north of Atlanta. It lies within the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Alpharetta's population was 57,551.^[4] The estimated population in 2019 was 67,213.^[5]

History[]

In the 1830s, the Cherokee people in Georgia and elsewhere in the South were forcibly relocated to the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) under the Indian Removal Act. Pioneers and farmers later settled on the newly vacated land, situated along a former Cherokee trail stretching from the North Georgia mountains to the Chattahoochee River.^[6]

One of the first permanent landmarks in the area was the New Prospect Camp Ground (also known as the Methodist Camp Ground), located beside a natural spring near what is now downtown Alpharetta.^[6] It later served as a trading post for the exchanging of goods among settlers.^[6]

Known as the town of Milton through July 1858, the city of Alpharetta was chartered on December 11, 1858, with boundaries extending in a 0.5-mile (0.80 km) radius from the city courthouse.^[6] It served as the county seat of Milton County until 1931, when Milton County was merged with Fulton County to avoid bankruptcy during the Great Depression.^[6]

The city's name is a variation of a fictional Indian girl, Alfarata, in a 19th-century song, "The Blue Juniata". The name of the city is also believed to have been derived from the first letter of the Greek alphabet.^[7]

The , built in 1833 in what is now Alpharetta, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.^[8]

Government[]

Alpharetta is governed by a city council composed of six members and a mayor. The mayor and council members serve staggered four-year terms.

City council[9]
Post	Council member	Term	Notes
Post 1	Donald Mitchell	2018–2021	Mayor pro tem
Post 2	Ben Burnett	2018–2021
Post 3	Karen Richard	2018–2021
Post 4	John Hipes	2020–2023
Post 5	Jason Binder	2020–2023
Post 6	Dan Merkel	2020–2023

Mayors[]

• Jim Gilvin, 2018–present^[10]
• David Belle Isle (R), 2012–2018
• Arthur Letchas (R), 2001–2011
• Chuck Martin (R) 1995–2002
• Jimmy Phillips, 1979–1994
• George Wills
• Randall Moore
• Sindey Dees^[11]

Geography[]

Alpharetta is located in northern Fulton County at

34°4′24″N 84°16′52″W / 34.07333°N 84.28111°W / 34.07333; -84.28111 (34.073318, −84.281086).^[12] It is bordered to the southeast by Johns Creek, to the south and west by Roswell, to the north by Milton, and to the northeast by unincorporated land in Forsyth County. Downtown Alpharetta is 26 miles (42 km) north of downtown Atlanta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Alpharetta has a total area of 27.3 square miles (70.7 km²), of which 26.9 square miles (69.7 km²) is land and 0.39 square miles (1.0 km²), or 1.37%, is water.^[4]

Climate[]

Alpharetta has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) and is part of USDA hardiness zone 7b.

Transportation[]

Major highways[]

• State Route 9
• State Route 120
• State Route 140
• State Route 372
• State Route 400
• U.S. Route 19

Pedestrians and cycling[]

• There are plans for the creation of the Alpha Loop. The multi-use path will serve to connect residents of Alpharetta to activity centers, parks, and jobs by a network of multi-use trails providing safe alternatives to driving and offering recreational benefit.^[14]
• The Big Creek Greenway is a concrete multi-use trail that runs from Windward Parkway to Mansell Road. The concrete trail is approximately 8 miles and meanders along Big Creek parallel to North Point Parkway, from Windward Parkway at Marconi Drive on the north end to Mansell Road on the south end. A soft mulch trail encircles a large wetland between Haynes Bridge Road and Mansell Road. Wildlife such as blue heron, deer, ducks and Canada geese can be observed in this preserved water setting.^[15] Future plans are to connect the trail to Cumming.

Mass transit[]

Alpharetta is not directly served by MARTA trains, but is by multiple bus routes. Currently, there have only been plans to connect Alpharetta to the rest of Metro Atlanta via heavy rail.^[16][17]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	261		—
1870	126		−51.7%
1880	164		30.2%
1890	256		56.1%
1900	310		21.1%
1910	356		14.8%
1920	379		6.5%
1930	477		25.9%
1940	647		35.6%
1950	917		41.7%
1960	1,349		47.1%
1970	2,455		82.0%
1980	3,128		27.4%
1990	13,002		315.7%
2000	34,854		168.1%
2010	57,551		65.1%
2019 (est.)	67,213	[3]	16.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,854 people, 13,911 households, and 8,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile (630.0/km²). There were 14,670 housing units at an average density of 686.7 per square mile (265.2/km²). The population has been gradually increasing over the last decade. During the workday, the city swells to more than 120,000 residents, workers, and visitors, due to the more than 3,600 businesses that are located in the city.^[19]

According to the 2010 census, the racial composition of the city of Alpharetta was as follows:

• White: 72.0%
• Asian: 13.7%
• Black or African American: 11.2%
• Hispanic or Latino : 8.7%
• Other: 2.9%
• Two or more races: 2.8%
• Native American: 0.2%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.1%

There were 13,911 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the city, 27.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 40.5% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33. For every 100 females, there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $95,888, and the median income for a family was $111,918. The per capita income for the city was $42,431.^[20] Males had a median income of $79,275 versus $59,935 for females. About 2.9% of families and 1.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.3% of those under age 18 and 0.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy[]

Major companies[]

Cynergy Data is headquartered in Alpharetta, as was NetBank when it existed.^[21]

Top employers[]

According to the City's 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,^[22] the top private sector employers in the city are:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	McKesson	2,050
2	ADP	1,463
3	LexisNexis	1,289
4	Comcast	1,000
5	UPS	941
6	Hewlett-Packard	906
7	Verizon Wireless	3,598[23]
8	E-Trade	765
9	Cox Communications	726
10	RedPrairie	672
11	Hexaware Technologies	600

Retail and mixed-use complexes[]

Complexes in the area include:

• North Point Mall, a traditional mall set for redevelopment
• An 86-acre (35 ha) mixed-use development, Avalon, opened in 2014.
• The Halcyon mixed residential-retail-entertainment-dining complex opened in 2019 in nearby Forsyth County, has an Alpharetta postal address, but in not within the city limits or in the same county.

Tech Alpharetta[]

Tech Alpharetta (formerly known as the Alpharetta Technology Commission^[24] or simply ATC) is an advisory organization established by the City of Alpharetta in 2012.^[25] The organization is an independent, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization^[25] which aims to help the City of Alpharetta lead in technology innovation.^[26] Tech Alpharetta runs an advisory board of technology companies based in the city, holds monthly technology events for technology executives,^[27] and operates the Tech Alpharetta Innovation Center, a technology startup incubator.^[26][28] As of early 2020 about ten companies have "graduated" from Tech Alpharetta's incubator and were hiring employees in the North Fulton County region.^[29]

Attractions and events[]

The Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center is located at 178 South Main Street and has more than 200 complimentary brochures providing information on the surrounding area. The center is open Monday — Friday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and a Virtual Information Kiosk is available on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.^[30]

The Alpharetta Family Skate Center (aka The Cooler) is on 10800 Davis Drive. It is also home to the Atlanta Sparks special needs hockey team.^{[citation needed]}

The Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest is held the first Saturday in October on the streets of downtown Alpharetta.^{[citation needed]}

The Scarecrow Harvest is held the first Saturday in October in downtown Alpharetta. The streets are lined with 100 scarecrows to celebrate its fall spirit.^{[citation needed]}

The Alpharetta Arboretum at Wills Park was established in September 2008 and includes 26 trees. A brochure about the arboretum guides readers through a walking tour of the trees and is available at the Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center.^[31]

The Alpharetta Arboretum at Cogburn Road Park was established in December 2008 and showcases seven trees. A complimentary brochure for the arboretum is available at the Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center and provides a starting point for a self-guided walking tour.^[32]

The Alpharetta Farmers Market is a weekly farmers' market in the downtown area that opens every Saturday from 8 AM to 12:30 PM from April to October, and features farmers and gardeners from the surrounding area selling fresh vegetables, flowers, and edible goods such as jam. The market was named "Best Saturday Morning Excursion" in 2007 by Atlanta magazine.^[33]

The Downtown Alpharetta Historic District is located in the center of Alpharetta at the intersection of North Main Street, South Main Street, Milton Avenue, and Academy Street. Around this area are several historic buildings dating from the late 19th century and older. The downtown area has been restored, replacing more modern buildings with period structures, and includes dining, shopping, and widened brick sidewalks.^{[citation needed]}

The Mansell House and Gardens is a 1912 Queen Anne style home that serves as a special event facility in Alpharetta. It also serves as home to the Alpharetta Historical Society.^{[citation needed]}

The Milton Log Cabin was built by Future Farmers of America students during the 1934–35 school year and resembles life during the late 19th century.^{[citation needed]}

Ameris Bank Amphitheatre is a 12,000-capacity outdoor venue that serves as the summer home to the Grammy Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and plays host to acts like the Dave Matthews Band, Rod Stewart, Steve Miller Band and the Eagles.^[34]

North Point Community Church is based in Alpharetta, Georgia. It is the main campus of North Point Ministries, the largest church organization in the United States, run by evangelical preacher Andy Stanley. The campus welcomes more than 5,000 people every Sunday.^{[citation needed]}

The Walk of Memories is located at American Legion Post 201 and pays tribute to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, community and friends, through a brick walk inscribed with the names of all Georgia residents killed in service including and following World War II. A separate section is reserved for those who served in the military and survived. A tank and helicopter are on display.^{[citation needed]}

The Alpharetta Big Creek Greenway is a 6.1-mile-long (9.8 km), 12-foot-wide (3.7 m) concrete path that meanders through the woods along Big Creek, offering a place to walk, jog, inline skate and bike. The path includes additional mountain bike trails.^[35]

The Taste of Alpharetta is an annual food festival featuring food from local restaurants, live music, and art exhibits.^{[citation needed]}

The Wire and Wood Alpharetta Songwriters Festival in downtown Alpharetta is held in October.^{[citation needed]}

Avalon is a multi-use development on the east side of downtown adjacent to State Route 400. It includes 500,000 square feet (46,000 m²) of retail space, a 12-screen Regal Cinemas theater, 105,000 square feet (9,800 m²) of office space over retail, 101 single-family residences and 250 luxury rental homes.^{[citation needed]}

The Alpharetta Bulls Rugby Football Club is a Men's Division 3 Rugby Team competing in the Georgia Rugby Union and USA Rugby competitions.^{[citation needed]}

Education[]

Primary and secondary schools[]

The city is served by Fulton County Schools.^[36]

Elementary schools (Grades K-5)^[37]

• Abbotts Hill Elementary School
• Alpharetta Elementary School
• Birmingham Falls Elementary School in Milton
• Cogburn Woods Elementary School in Milton
• Crabapple Crossing Elementary School in Milton
• Creek View Elementary School
• F.A.S.T. k-8
• Hembree Springs Elementary School in Roswell
• Lake Windward Elementary School
• Manning Oaks Elementary School
• Mimosa Elementary School in Roswell
• New Prospect Elementary School
• Ocee Elementary School in Johns Creek
• Summit Hill Elementary School in Milton

Middle schools (Grades 6-8)^[38]

• Autrey Mill Middle School in Johns Creek
• Elkins Pointe Middle School in Roswell
• Haynes Bridge Middle School
• Holcomb Bridge Middle School
• Hopewell Middle School in Milton
• Northwestern Middle School in Milton
• Taylor Road Middle School in Johns Creek
• Webb Bridge Middle School
• Amana Academy,^[39] a public charter school in Alpharetta for students in Kindergarten to 8th grade^[40]
• Fulton Science Academy^[41] (FSA), a private school in Roswell for students in 6th to 8th grade^[42]

High schools (Grades 9-12)^[43]

• Alpharetta High School serves most of Alpharetta
• Cambridge High School in Milton
• Centennial High School in Roswell
• Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek
• Johns Creek High School in Johns Creek
• Milton High School in Milton
• Northview High School
• Roswell High School in Roswell
• Independence High School, an alternative school located on the old Milton High School campus.
• Fulton Science Academy High School (formerly T. E. A. C. H.), a public charter school in Alpharetta for students in 9th to 12th grade.

Private schools[]

• The Lionheart School
• St. Francis Schools
• Mount Pisgah Christian School

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta operates Holy Redeemer Catholic School (K-8) in Johns Creek; the school's address is often stated as being in "Alpharetta, GA".^[44]

Higher education[]

Georgia State University, Gwinnett Technical College and Reinhardt University have campuses located in Alpharetta.

Public libraries[]

Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System operates the Alpharetta Branch.^[45]

Notable people[]

• Anthony Fisher (born 1986), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Marjorie Taylor Greene (born 1974), member of the United States House of Representatives from Georgia
• Jaycee Horn Professional Football player for the Carolina Panthers
• Lisa Wu, actress and former cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta

References[]

External links[]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Alpharetta.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alpharetta, Georgia.

• Official website
• Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau home page