Alpharetta, Georgia

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.

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. 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 0.5-mile (0.80 km) radius from the city courthouse. 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.

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.

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.

Mayors:

Geography

Alpharetta is located in northern Fulton County at 34°4′24″N 84°16′52″W (34.073318, −84.281086). 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.

Major highways

Climate

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

Demographics

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.

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

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. 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 .3% of those under age 18 and .6% of those age 65 or over.

Major companies

When NetBank existed, its headquarters were in Alpharetta.

Top employers

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

Retail

Major retail complexes include North Point Mall. A 86-acre (35 ha) mixed-use development, Avalon, opened in 2014.

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 Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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.

The Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest is held the first Saturday in October on the streets of downtown Alpharetta.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park 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 and the Eagles.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Primary and secondary schools

The city is served by Fulton County Schools.

Elementary schools (Grades K-5)

Middle schools (Grades 6-8)

High schools (Grades 9-12)

Private schools

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.