Alpharetta, Georgia Explained

Official Name:Alpharetta, Georgia
Settlement Type:City
Flag Size:105px
Seal Size:87px
Image Blank Emblem:Alpharetta, Georgia.png
Blank Emblem Type:Logo
Blank Emblem Size:103px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Georgia
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Fulton
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Jim Gilvin (R)
Established Title:Incorporated
Established Date:December 11, 1858
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:70.62
Area Land Km2:69.67
Area Water Km2:0.95
Area Total Sq Mi:27.27
Area Land Sq Mi:26.90
Area Water Sq Mi:0.37
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:65818
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Density Km2:945
Population Density Sq Mi:2447
Timezone:EST
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:34.0753°N -84.2942°W
Elevation Ft:1135
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:30004, 30005, 30009, 30022
Area Codes:770, 404, 678
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:13-01696
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0310497

Alpharetta is a city in northern Fulton County, Georgia, United States, and part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. census, Alpharetta's population was 65,818;[3] [4] in 2010, the population had been 57,551.

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.[5]

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

Known as the town of Milton through July 1858, the city of Alpharetta was chartered on December 11, 1858, with boundaries extending in a 0.5miles radius from the city courthouse. It served as the county seat of Milton County until 1931, when Milton County merged with Fulton County to avoid bankruptcy during the Great Depression.

The city's name may be a variation of a fictional Indian girl, Alfarata, in the 19th-century song "The Blue Juniata"; it may also be derived from alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet.[6]

The Simeon and Jane Rucker Log House, built in 1833, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

The inhabitants of the area, primarily Methodists and Baptists, engaged in various occupations such as farming, blacksmithing, milling, merchandising, carpentry, and ditching. A number of them possessed a small number of slaves. Throughout the American Civil War (1861-65), local men participated in combat or served in the home guard; however, Union forces did not advance north of Roswell, which is situated roughly six miles to the southwest.[7]

Geography

Alpharetta is in northern Fulton County and 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 north of downtown Atlanta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Alpharetta has an area of 70.7sqkm, of which 69.7sqkm is land and 1sqkm, or 1.37%, is water.[3]

Climate

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

Demographics

Alpharetta racial composition as of 2020[8] !Race!!
White (non-Hispanic)36,47355.41%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)6,66710.13%
Native American1010.15%
Asian13,18120.03%
Pacific Islander220.03%
Other/Mixed3,2544.94%
Hispanic or Latino6,1209.3%
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 65,818 people, 25,391 households, and 18,167 families residing in the city.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[9] the city's top private sector employers were:

Employer
  1. of employees
1ADP, Inc.2,231
2Fiserv, Inc.2,088
3Equifax1,669
4LexisNexis1,384
5MCI Inc. (Verizon)1,095
6ET Securities, LLC878
7Ernst & Young806
8Hewlett Packard Enterprise738
9Synchrony Financial600
10LocumTenens.com496

Retail and mixed-use complexes

Complexes in the area include:

Data centers

Alpharetta invested in optical fibre since the 1980s and hosts multiple data centers.[10] In 2019, the fintech industry in the Atlanta area was a driver of data center expansion in Alpharetta.[11]

While supported by tax breaks from Fulton County authorities,[12] data center expansion run into limitations from state regulations[13] and local zoning authorities in 2024, as capacity in Atlanta tripled from 200 MW to over 700 MW in 2023.[14]

Tech Alpharetta

Tech Alpharetta (formerly known as the Alpharetta Technology Commission[15] or simply ATC) is an advisory organization established by the City of Alpharetta in 2012.[16] The organization is an independent, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that aims to help Alpharetta lead in technology innovation.[17] Tech Alpharetta runs an advisory board of technology companies based in the city, holds monthly technology events for technology executives,[18] and operates the Tech Alpharetta Innovation Center, a technology startup incubator.[19] As of early 2020 about ten companies have "graduated" from Tech Alpharetta's incubator and were hiring employees in the North Fulton County region.[20]

Major companies

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

Attractions and events

The Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center is at 178 South Main Street and offers more than 200 complimentary brochures providing information on the surrounding area. The center is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a Virtual Information Kiosk is available on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.[22]

The Downtown Alpharetta Historic District is in the center of Alpharetta, at the intersection of North & South Streets with Milton Avenue and Academy Street. Around this area are several historic buildings from the late 19th century and earlier. The downtown area, providing dining and shopping, has been restored with widened brick sidewalks. Modern buildings have been replaced with period structures.

The Alpharetta Family Skate Center (aka The Cooler) is at 10800 Davis Drive. It is also home to the Atlanta Sparks special needs hockey team.

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.[23]

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.[24]

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.[25]

The Mansell House and Gardens is a 1912 Queen Anne style home that serves as a special event facility in Alpharetta. It is home to the Alpharetta Historical Society.[26]

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.

The Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest is held the first Saturday in October in downtown Alpharetta.[27]

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.

Ameris Bank Amphitheatre is a 12,000-capacity outdoor venue that serves as the summer home of the Grammy Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and hosts acts like the Dave Matthews Band, Rod Stewart, Phish, Steve Miller Band and the Eagles.[28]

North Point Community Church is based in Alpharetta. It is the main campus of North Point Ministries, the nation's largest church organization, run by evangelical preacher Andy Stanley. The campus welcomes more than 5,000 people every Sunday.

The Alpharetta Symphony is an orchestra based in Alpharetta.

The Walk of Memories is at American Legion Post 201 and pays tribute to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, community and friends, with a brick walk inscribed with names of all Georgia residents killed in service during and after World War II. A separate section is reserved for survivors. A tank and helicopter are on display.

The Alpharetta Big Creek Greenway is a 6.1adj=midNaNadj=mid, 12adj=midNaNadj=mid 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.[29]

The Taste of Alpharetta is an annual food festival featuring food from local restaurants, live music, and art exhibits during May. Admission is free; food ticket purchases are required. (Cash is not accepted.) Restaurants charge $2 to $8 per food sample.[30]

The Wire and Wood Alpharetta Songwriters Festival in downtown Alpharetta is held in October with free admission.[31]

Avalon is a multi-use development on the east side of downtown adjacent to State Route 400. It includes of retail space, a 12-screen Regal Cinemas theater, of office space over retail, 101 single-family residences and 250 luxury rental homes.

The Exiles Rugby Football Club is based in Alpharetta. Exiles RFC Men's side compete in the Georgia Rugby Union. Having won the Union Championship's Redmond Cup in 2023 against the Gainesville Spartans Rugby Football Club in the state final. The Exiles RFC Women's side currently competes in Rugby Sevens tournaments across the southeastern United States. Both Exiles Men's and Women's sides have players who have been selected to compete on the Georgia Rugby Union's respective state representative Men's and Women's select sides of the Georgia Barbarians. Exiles Men's head coach, Richard Krueger, was selected and appointed as head coach of the Georgia Barbarians in 2023 by the Executive of the Georgia Rugby Union; to replace retiring Barbarians head coach Jesse Posnansky of High Country Rugby Football Club. In addition to adult rugby, the Exiles have a partnership with Rebels Rugby. Rebels Rugby are a local youth rugby club of U10 to U18 boys and girls sides who compete in both Rugby Sevens and Rugby XVs tournaments across the southeastern United States. The Exiles Rugby Football Club's training grounds are located at Innovation Academy in Alpharetta.

North Park, Wills Park, and Webb Bridge Park feature 15 lighted tennis courts along with 8 asphalt pickleball courts at North Park.[32] Tennis lessons, clinics, camps, and leagues are available.[33]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

The city is served by Fulton County Schools.[34]

Elementary schools[35]

Middle schools[36]

High schools[41]

Private schools

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta operates Holy Redeemer Catholic School (K-8). Although it is in Johns Creek, the school's location is often stated to be in Alpharetta.[42]

Higher education

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

Musical education

Public libraries

Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System operates the Alpharetta Branch.[43]

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[44]
PostCouncil memberTermNotes
Post 1Donald Mitchell2022–2025
Post 2Brian Will2022–2025
Post 3Douglas DeRito2022–2025
Post 4John Hipes2024–2027
Post 5Fergal Brady2024–2027
Post 6Dan Merkel2024–2027Mayor pro tem (2024)

Mayor

See also: List of mayors of Alpharetta, Georgia.

Transportation

Major highways

Pedestrians and cycling

Mass transit

Alpharetta is not directly served by MARTA trains, but is connected by multiple bus routes. Connecting Alpharetta to the rest of Metro Atlanta via heavy rail has been studied.[48] [49]

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. December 18, 2021.
  2. US 2020 Census Bureau report, Alpharetta ciy, Georgia
  3. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2069 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Alpharetta city, Georgia. U.S. Census Bureau. American FactFinder. April 28, 2016. https://archive.today/20200213061535/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1301696. February 13, 2020. dead.
  4. Web site: Alpharetta – Census Bureau Search – 2020 Decennial Census.
  5. Web site: City of Alpharetta website  - History . December 16, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131213221418/http://www.alpharetta.ga.us/index.php?p=73 . December 13, 2013 .
  6. Web site: Alpharetta entry at Georgia.gov . August 13, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150810025008/http://georgia.gov/cities-counties/alpharetta . August 10, 2015 . live .
  7. Web site: Alpharetta. Dillman. Caroline Matheny. December 6, 2002. New Georgia Encyclopedia. August 26, 2024.
  8. Web site: Explore Census Data. 2021-12-13. data.census.gov.
  9. Web site: City of Alpharetta ACFR . January 16, 2023 .
  10. Web site: Alpharetta, Georgia – North Fulton County – Technology hub of the South. 2022-07-08. Investors, seeing the potential of the city’s location just outside Atlanta, decided to install fiber optic cable in the area. What was once a primarily agricultural community quickly drew the attention of data centers and technology companies..
  11. Web site: Flexential boosts data center capacity in Atlanta to better serve fintech market. Atlanta and the surrounding "Transaction Alley" represent the third-largest fintech hub in the U.S., with more than 70% of all credit card transactions processed through the Atlanta metropolitan area, according to the Atlanta Small Business Network. All told, more 120 fintech firms are headquartered or have a significant presence in Georgia with the top-10 generating annual revenue of $72 billion..
  12. Web site: Details Emerge On Microsoft’s $1.8 Billion Investment In Atlanta Data Centers Amid Tax, Development Wrangles. 2024-07-18.
  13. Web site: Georgia Senate passes bill to suspend data center tax exemptions. 2024-03-18.
  14. Web site: Atlanta City Council passes rules limiting data center locations: Data centers cannot be built near the Beltline or MARTA rail stations. 2024-09-04. Officially approved on September 2, the regulations will prevent data centers from being built near the Beltline and within a half mile of MARTA rail stations, as reported by RoughDraft Atlanta. From the first to the second half of 2023, data center projects “skyrocketed from over 235MW to over 730MW, equivalent to the output of a typical natural gas plant,” the legislation said..
  15. News: Alpharetta technology panel gets new name. David. Ibata. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. en. 2020-03-17.
  16. Web site: History. Tech Alpharetta. en-US. 2020-02-28.
  17. Web site: Tech Alpharetta Appoints Six New Members to Its Strategic Board. 2019-12-19. www.businesswire.com. en. 2020-02-28.
  18. Web site: Upcoming Tech Alpharetta panel focused on 'technology's transformation of healthcare'. Moscarello. Lindsay. MDJOnline.com. January 7, 2019 . en. 2020-03-17.
  19. News: Alpharetta OKs $200K for city's technology incubator. David. Ibata. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. en. 2020-02-28.
  20. Web site: North Fulton taking aim at tech, health-care worker shortages. www.bizjournals.com. 2020-03-17.
  21. Web site: NetBank Royal Centre Three, Suite 100 11475 Great Oaks Way Alpharetta, GA 30022 . . January 11, 2001 . February 25, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20010111031900/http://www.netbank.com/contact.htm . January 11, 2001 .
  22. Web site: Alpharetta GA Visitor Bureau Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau . September 4, 2019 .
  23. Web site: Alpharetta Arboretum Inc. receiving state award . Northfulton.com . September 25, 2008 . October 8, 2012.
  24. Web site: Travelers Journal. Travelersjournal.com. October 8, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121024215713/http://travelersjournal.com/press2.php?ID=3253. October 24, 2012. live.
  25. Web site: Alpharetta Farmers' Market . Alpharettafarmersmarket.com . October 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120707114857/http://www.alpharettafarmersmarket.com/ . July 7, 2012 . live .
  26. Web site: Alpharetta & Old Milton County Historical Society Contact Us . 2024-08-10 . www.aomchs.org.
  27. Web site: Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest (Beer Festival) Awesome Alpharetta . 2024.
  28. Web site: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park . Vzwamp.com . October 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121012171630/http://www.vzwamp.com/ . October 12, 2012 . live .
  29. Web site: City of Alpharetta Website || Big Creek Greenway Trail . Alpharetta.ga.us . October 8, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121004030014/http://www.alpharetta.ga.us/index.php?p=136 . October 4, 2012 .
  30. Web site: Taste of Alpharetta (Annual Food Festival) Awesome Alpharetta . 2024.
  31. Web site: Wire and Wood Festival – Alpharetta, GA . 2024.
  32. Web site: Play Pickleball at Alpharetta North Park . pickleheads.com . April 7, 2023.
  33. Web site: Tennis and Pickleball . alpharetta.ga.us . April 7, 2023.
  34. Web site: Zoning Map : City of Alpharetta . Alpharetta.ga.us . October 26, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090320140348/http://www.alpharetta.ga.us/files/docs/HTML/City%20Zoning/Zoning_Map.pdf . March 20, 2009 .
  35. Web site: North Fulton Elementary Schools. Fulton County School System. April 17, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20140812171336/http://www.fultonschools.org/dept/studentAssignment/maps/LargeAreas/LargeMap_NF%26SS_ES.pdf. August 12, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
  36. Web site: North Fulton Middle Schools. Fulton County School System. April 17, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20140812064827/http://www.fultonschools.org/dept/studentAssignment/maps/LargeAreas/LargeMap_NF%26SS_MS.pdf. August 12, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
  37. Web site: Amanaacademy.org . Amanaacademy.org . December 31, 1999 . May 15, 2012 . https://archive.today/20120721003202/http://www.amanaacademy.org/ . July 21, 2012 . live .
  38. Web site: Amana Academy . Amana Academy . December 31, 1999 . October 8, 2012 . https://archive.today/20120721003202/http://www.amanaacademy.org/ . July 21, 2012 . live .
  39. Web site: Fultonscience.org . Fultonscience.org . May 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100926145119/http://www.fultonscience.org/ . September 26, 2010 . dead .
  40. Web site: FSA . Fultonscience.org . October 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100926145119/http://www.fultonscience.org/ . September 26, 2010 . dead .
  41. Web site: Highschool map. Fulton County School System. April 17, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20140812080519/http://www.fultonschools.org/dept/studentAssignment/maps/LargeAreas/LargeMap_NF%26SS_HS.pdf. August 12, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
  42. Web site: Zoning Map. Johns Creek. 2020-05-08. - "Holy Redeemer Catholic School" indicated on the map. The school's address may be stated as being in "Alpharetta, GA" but the school is not in the Alpharetta city limits.
  43. Web site: Alpharetta Branch . Afpls.org . August 11, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150820094903/http://www.afpls.org/alpharetta-branch . August 20, 2015 . live .
  44. Web site: Elected Officials. live. January 4, 2022. City of Alpharetta. https://web.archive.org/web/20150801180543/http://www.alpharetta.ga.us:80/government/elected-officials . August 1, 2015 .
  45. Web site: Northam . Mitchell . Gilvin is Alpharetta's new mayor; Richard, Hipes elected to council . . 24 September 2019 . May 23, 2018.
  46. Web site: Introducing Alpha Loop. December 3, 2017. Alpharetta.ga.us. December 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171204222921/http://www.alpharetta.ga.us/government/departments/recreation-parks/alpha-loop. December 4, 2017. live.
  47. Web site: Big Creek Greenway. December 3, 2017. Alpharetta.ga.us. December 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171206023430/http://www.alpharetta.ga.us/government/departments/recreation-parks/facilities/big-creek-greenway. December 6, 2017. live.
  48. Web site: Plans for MARTA Rail to Alpharetta are Taking Shape. April 27, 2015. December 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171204222859/https://atlanta.curbed.com/2015/4/27/9966942/plans-for-marta-rail-service-to-windward-take-shape. December 4, 2017. live.
  49. Web site: System Map 2017. itsmarta.com. 16 June 2023.
  50. Web site: France . Lisa Respers . Bobbi Kristina Brown dies at 22 . CNN . 20 December 2022 . en . 27 July 2015.

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