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Alpharetta, Georgia

Coordinates: 34°04′31″N 84°17′39″W / 34.07528°N 84.29417°W / 34.07528; -84.29417
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Alpharetta, Georgia
City
Alpharetta City Hall
Alpharetta City Hall
Flag of Alpharetta, Georgia
Flag
Official seal of Alpharetta, Georgia
Seal
Official logo of Alpharetta, Georgia
Logo
Map
Map
Map
Map
Coordinates: 34°04′31″N 84°17′39″W / 34.07528°N 84.29417°W / 34.07528; -84.29417[1]
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyFulton
IncorporatedDecember 11, 1858
Government
 • MayorJim Gilvin (R)
Area
[2]
 • Total
27.27 sq mi (70.62 km2)
 • Land26.90 sq mi (69.67 km2)
 • Water0.37 sq mi (0.95 km2)
Elevation
[1]
1,135 ft (346 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total
65,818
 • Density2,447/sq mi (945/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
30004, 30005, 30009, 30022
Area codes770, 404, 678
FIPS code13-01696
GNIS feature ID0310497[1]
Websitealpharetta.ga.us

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;[4][5] in 2010, the population had been 57,551.

History

[edit]

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 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.[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 (0.8 km) radius from the city courthouse.[6] 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.[6]

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.[7]

The Simeon and Jane Rucker Log House, built in 1833, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.[8]

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.[9]

Geography

[edit]
Downtown Alpharetta

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 26 miles (42 km) north of downtown Atlanta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Alpharetta has an 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

[edit]

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

Climate data for Alpharetta, GA
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 50.4
(10.2) 		54.7
(12.6) 		63.4
(17.4) 		71.5
(21.9) 		77.9
(25.5) 		85.0
(29.4) 		87.1
(30.6) 		86.6
(30.3) 		80.9
(27.2) 		71.6
(22.0) 		62.0
(16.7) 		52.9
(11.6) 		70.3
(21.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 29.6
(−1.3) 		32.1
(0.1) 		38.6
(3.7) 		45.5
(7.5) 		54.6
(12.6) 		63.6
(17.6) 		67.0
(19.4) 		66.8
(19.3) 		59.5
(15.3) 		48.1
(8.9) 		38.1
(3.4) 		32.0
(0.0) 		48.0
(8.9)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.96
(101) 		5.08
(129) 		4.54
(115) 		3.63
(92) 		4.28
(109) 		3.91
(99) 		4.84
(123) 		4.54
(115) 		4.38
(111) 		3.52
(89) 		4.15
(105) 		4.58
(116) 		51.41
(1,304)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.6
(1.5) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.1
(0.25) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0.9
(2.26)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.8 9.5 9.0 8.0 9.0 8.5 10.2 8.7 6.4 6.4 7.8 9.6 102.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.4 0.4 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 1.0
Source: NOAA[10]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1860261—
1870126−51.7%
188016430.2%
189025656.1%
190031021.1%
191035614.8%
19203796.5%
193047725.9%
194064735.6%
195091741.7%
19601,34947.1%
19702,45582.0%
19803,12827.4%
199013,002315.7%
200034,854168.1%
201057,55165.1%
202065,81814.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1850-1870[12] 1870-1880[13]
1890-1910[14] 1920-1930[15]
1940[16] 1950[17] 1960[18]
1970[19] 1980[20] 1990[21]
2000[22] 2010[23]
Alpharetta racial composition as of 2020[24]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 36,473 55.41%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 6,667 10.13%
Native American 101 0.15%
Asian 13,181 20.03%
Pacific Islander 22 0.03%
Other/Mixed 3,254 4.94%
Hispanic or Latino 6,120 9.3%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 65,818 people, 25,391 households, and 18,167 families residing in the city.

Economy

[edit]

Top employers

[edit]

According to the city's 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[25] the city's top private sector employers were:

# Employer # of employees
1 ADP, Inc. 2,231
2 Fiserv, Inc. 2,088
3 Equifax 1,669
4 LexisNexis 1,384
5 MCI Inc. (Verizon) 1,095
6 ET Securities, LLC 878
7 Ernst & Young 806
8 Hewlett Packard Enterprise 738
9 Synchrony Financial 600
10 LocumTenens.com 496

Retail and mixed-use complexes

[edit]

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 is not within the city limits or in the same county.
  • The Maxwell, a 37,000-square-foot retail space in Downtown Alpharetta with a variety of entertainment, restaurants, and health and wellness companies. Downtown Alpharetta also consists of over 600 businesses including The Hamilton Alpharetta hotel, specialty boutiques, restaurants, fitness studios, and coffee shops. [26]

Data centers

[edit]

Alpharetta invested in optical fibre since the 1980s and hosts multiple data centers.[27] In 2019, the fintech industry in the Atlanta area was a driver of data center expansion in Alpharetta.[28]

While supported by tax breaks from Fulton County authorities,[29] data center expansion run into limitations from state regulations[30] and local zoning authorities in 2024, as capacity in Atlanta tripled from 200 MW to over 700 MW in 2023.[31]

Tech Alpharetta

[edit]

Tech Alpharetta (formerly known as the Alpharetta Technology Commission[32] or simply ATC) is an advisory organization established by the City of Alpharetta in 2012.[33] The organization is an independent, 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization[33] that aims to help Alpharetta lead in technology innovation.[34] Tech Alpharetta runs an advisory board of technology companies based in the city, holds monthly technology events for technology executives,[35] and operates the Tech Alpharetta Innovation Center, a technology startup incubator.[34][36] As of early 2020 about ten companies have "graduated" from Tech Alpharetta's incubator and were hiring employees in the North Fulton County region.[37]

Major companies

[edit]
McKesson Corporation offices
Travelers Insurance offices

Cynergy Data is headquartered in Alpharetta, as was NetBank when it existed.[38]

Attractions and events

[edit]
Wills Park

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.[39]

The Alpharetta Arboretum at Cogburn Road Park was established in December 2008 and showcases seven trees.[40]

The Alpharetta Farmers Market is a weekly farmers' market in the downtown area from April to October. The market was named "Best Saturday Morning Excursion" in 2007 by Atlanta magazine.[41]

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.[42]

The Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest is held the first Saturday in October in downtown Alpharetta.[43]

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.[44]

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.[45]

The Taste of Alpharetta is an annual food festival featuring food from local restaurants, live music, and art exhibits during May.[46]

The Wire and Wood Alpharetta Songwriters Festival in downtown Alpharetta is held in October.[47]

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.[48] Tennis lessons, clinics, camps, and leagues are available.[49]

Education

[edit]

Primary and secondary schools

[edit]

The city is served by Fulton County Schools.[50]

Elementary schools[51]

[edit]
  • 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
  • Dolvin 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[52]

[edit]

High schools[57]

[edit]

Private schools

[edit]

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.[58]

Higher education

[edit]

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

Musical education

[edit]
  • Alpharetta Symphony Youth orchestra (ASYO)

Public libraries

[edit]

Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System operates the Alpharetta Branch.[59]

Government

[edit]

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[60]
Post Council member Term Notes
Post 1 Donald Mitchell 2022–2025
Post 2 Brian Will 2022–2025
Post 3 Douglas DeRito 2022–2025
Post 4 John Hipes 2024–2027
Post 5 Fergal Brady 2024–2027
Post 6 Dan Merkel 2024–2027 Mayor pro tem (2024)

Mayor

[edit]
See also: List of mayors of Alpharetta, Georgia
  • Jim Gilvin, 2018–present[61]

Transportation

[edit]

Major highways

[edit]

Pedestrians and cycling

[edit]
  • 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.[62]
  • 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 (13 km) long 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.[63] Future plans are to connect the trail to Cumming.

Mass transit

[edit]

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.[64][65]

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Alpharetta, Georgia
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. ^ US 2020 Census Bureau report, Alpharetta ciy, Georgia
  4. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2069 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Alpharetta city, Georgia". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  5. ^ "Alpharetta – Census Bureau Search – 2020 Decennial Census".
  6. ^ a b c d e "City of Alpharetta website – History". Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  7. ^ "Alpharetta entry at Georgia.gov". Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  8. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  9. ^ Dillman, Caroline Matheny (December 6, 2002). "Alpharetta". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  10. ^ "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  11. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1870.
  13. ^ "1880 Census of Population - Georgia - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  14. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  15. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930. pp. 251–256.
  16. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  17. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  18. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1960.
  19. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Population of County Subdivisions - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1970.
  20. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  21. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1990.
  22. ^ "2000 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  23. ^ "2010 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2010.
  24. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  25. ^ "City of Alpharetta ACFR" (PDF). Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  26. ^ "Downtown Alpharetta". Alpharetta.com. October 29, 2024.
  27. ^ "Alpharetta, Georgia – North Fulton County – Technology hub of the South". July 8, 2022. 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.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ "Details Emerge On Microsoft's $1.8 Billion Investment In Atlanta Data Centers Amid Tax, Development Wrangles". July 18, 2024.
  30. ^ "Georgia Senate passes bill to suspend data center tax exemptions". March 18, 2024.
  31. ^ "Atlanta City Council passes rules limiting data center locations: Data centers cannot be built near the Beltline or MARTA rail stations". September 4, 2024. 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.
  32. ^ Ibata, David. "Alpharetta technology panel gets new name". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  33. ^ a b "History". Tech Alpharetta. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  34. ^ a b "Tech Alpharetta Appoints Six New Members to Its Strategic Board". www.businesswire.com. December 19, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  35. ^ Moscarello, Lindsay (January 7, 2019). "Upcoming Tech Alpharetta panel focused on 'technology's transformation of healthcare'". MDJOnline.com. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  36. ^ Ibata, David. "Alpharetta OKs $200K for city's technology incubator". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  37. ^ "North Fulton taking aim at tech, health-care worker shortages". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  38. ^ NetBank (January 11, 2001). "NetBank Royal Centre Three, Suite 100 11475 Great Oaks Way Alpharetta, GA 30022". Archived from the original on January 11, 2001. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  39. ^ "Alpharetta Arboretum Inc. receiving state award". Northfulton.com. September 25, 2008. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  40. ^ "Travelers Journal". Travelersjournal.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  41. ^ "Alpharetta Farmers' Market". Alpharettafarmersmarket.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  42. ^ "Alpharetta & Old Milton County Historical Society Contact Us". www.aomchs.org. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  43. ^ "Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest (Beer Festival) Awesome Alpharetta". 2024.
  44. ^ "Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park". Vzwamp.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  45. ^ "City of Alpharetta Website || Big Creek Greenway Trail". Alpharetta.ga.us. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  46. ^ "Taste of Alpharetta (Annual Food Festival) Awesome Alpharetta". 2024.
  47. ^ "Wire and Wood Festival – Alpharetta, GA". 2024.
  48. ^ "Play Pickleball at Alpharetta North Park". pickleheads.com. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  49. ^ "Tennis and Pickleball". alpharetta.ga.us. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  50. ^ "Zoning Map : City of Alpharetta" (PDF). Alpharetta.ga.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2009. Retrieved October 26, 2008.
  51. ^ "North Fulton Elementary Schools" (PDF). Fulton County School System. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  52. ^ "North Fulton Middle Schools" (PDF). Fulton County School System. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  53. ^ "Amanaacademy.org". Amanaacademy.org. December 31, 1999. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  54. ^ "Amana Academy". Amana Academy. December 31, 1999. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  55. ^ "Fultonscience.org". Fultonscience.org. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2012.
  56. ^ "FSA". Fultonscience.org. Archived from the original on September 26, 2010. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  57. ^ "Highschool map" (PDF). Fulton County School System. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 12, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2010.
  58. ^ "Zoning Map" (PDF). Johns Creek. Retrieved May 8, 2020. - "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.
  59. ^ "Alpharetta Branch". Afpls.org. Archived from the original on August 20, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  60. ^ "Elected Officials". City of Alpharetta. Archived from the original on August 1, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  61. ^ Northam, Mitchell (May 23, 2018). "Gilvin is Alpharetta's new mayor; Richard, Hipes elected to council". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  62. ^ "Introducing Alpha Loop". Alpharetta.ga.us. December 3, 2017. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  63. ^ "Big Creek Greenway". Alpharetta.ga.us. December 3, 2017. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  64. ^ "Plans for MARTA Rail to Alpharetta are Taking Shape". April 27, 2015. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  65. ^ "System Map 2017" (PDF). itsmarta.com. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  66. ^ France, Lisa Respers (July 27, 2015). "Bobbi Kristina Brown dies at 22". CNN. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Alpharetta.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alpharetta, Georgia.
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