| Official Name: | Dacula, Georgia |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Motto: | "Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future "[1] |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Georgia |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Gwinnett |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Trey King |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 14.11 |
| Area Land Km2: | 14.03 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.08 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 5.45 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 5.42 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.03 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 6882 |
| Population Density Km2: | 490.65 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1270.68 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Coordinates: | 33.9814°N -83.8953°W |
| Elevation Ft: | 1122 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 30019 |
| Area Code: | 770 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 13-21184[3] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2404173 |
Dacula is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States, located approximately 37miles northeast of Atlanta. The population as of the 2010 census was 4,442,[4] and the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population to be 6,255 as of 2018.[5] In 2020, its population was 6,882. The Dacula area is home to some of the oldest buildings in northeast Georgia, such as the Elisha Winn House, which originally acted as the courthouse for Gwinnett County.
The Dacula area was originally within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Most of the land within the city's limits was ceded to the State of Georgia in the 1790 Treaty of New York after the Oconee Wars[6] https://native-land.ca/maps-old/treaties/cession-7/ The vicinity of Dacula was one of the first areas in northeast Georgia to be occupied by white European settlers (around the time of the War of 1812). The area remained mostly uncolonized until the late 20th century, in part, due to the remaining presence of the Cherokee Nation in portions of Gwinnett County. After settlers lobbied for the ethnic cleansing of the Nation, the Trail of Tears (through the Indian Removal Act) made it easier for Dacula and the unannexed portions of Gwinnett to be settled.https://www.gwinnettforum.com/2023/02/brack-cherokees-removal-in-trail-of-tears-has-ties-to-gwinnett/
Dacula itself began in the late 1800s under the name of Chinquapin Grove (Chinquapin was spelled several different ways), where Dacula Elementary now stands. Chinquapin comes from the indigenous Powhatan word for dwarf chestnut tree (Allegheny Chinkapin). The tree is no longer found in the area due to chestnut blight. An 1865 United States Coast Survey Map shows the town of Chinquepin Grove. An 1883 George Cram Map of Georgia shows the town of Chincapin Grove. The town was renamed named "Hoke",[7] in 1891 after a Seaboard Air Line Railroad executive, but that name was changed due to the Post Office Department's protest.[8] By 1895, maps of Georgia no longer showed the town of Chinquapin Grove and instead show the town of Dacula.[9]
Dacula's name is said to be formed from letters in Decatur and Atlanta by a postmaster.[10] The two cities to the west that were already prospering at the time of Dacula's founding. The New-Herald issue dated June 16, 1899 stated that Dacula would soon decide whether or not it wished to be incorporated; however, the town was not incorporated until 1905, because residents feared that incorporation would destroy business and industry.
Religion has and continues to be a driving force in Dacula. One of the first churches built in the town was a Methodist Church, founded by Rev. R. P. Jackson. A News-Herald issue dated January 25, 1912 describes the brick building was no larger than 40x60 ft.
The town was once home to a train station on a CSX line through northeast Georgia, although the station closed in the mid-1950s.
The City of Dacula is one of the final municipalities to develop in Gwinnett, County. In 2022, Gwinnett County broke ground on the Rowen Project, which seeks to bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, and other innovators, alongside more than 50 research and educational institutions across Georgia to expand the state's research triangle.[11] Since the project's approval, the Dacula area has seen an increase in both suburban residential and strip mall commercial changes, including the Harbins 316 development, which massively expanded food and amenity access to a portion of Gwinnett County that previously had to drive 30–40 minutes to a grocery store. https://www.constructionjournal.com/projects/details/0ba389d9b4be4050aa05ca85c78dc2cd.html As the town becomes home to an increasing number of national chains, residents are increasingly proud of their local gathering places and traditions. The town unveiled a new playground and workout area in Maple Creek Park in 2024, and continues its renowned Memorial Day Parade.[12] [13]
Dacula is located in eastern Gwinnett County, with U.S. Route 29 Business/Georgia State Route 8 (Winder Highway) the main road through the center of town. Business 29/SR 8 leads west 6miles to Lawrenceville, the county seat, and east to Winder. U.S. Route 29 (University Parkway) is a four-lane highway that bypasses Dacula to the south, with access from Harbins Road. University Parkway leads east to Athens and west to Interstate 85, which leads an additional southwest to Atlanta.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Dacula has a total area of 12.9km2, of which 0.08sqkm, or 0.59%, is water.[4]
The Dacula 30019 ZIP code goes well beyond the city limits, resulting in mail delivery as far north as the unincorporated community of Hamilton Mill, south of Interstate 85.
| White (non-Hispanic) | 2,942 | 42.75% | |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,922 | 27.93% | |
| Native American | 11 | 0.16% | |
| Asian | 296 | 4.3% | |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.01% | |
| Other/Mixed | 323 | 4.69% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 1,387 | 20.15% |
Previous Mayors:
The current mayor and council members are:[15]
The county operates Gwinnett County Public Schools.[17] The following GCPS schools have Dacula mail addresses:
Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Dacula and Hamilton Mill Branch in the nearby unincorporated area of Hamilton Mill.[18]
The town of Dacula is served by two newspapers: the Gwinnett Daily Post (based in nearby Lawrenceville) and the Hamilton Mill Neighborhood News.
The following parks are located in the town of Dacula:[19]