Gwinnett County, Georgia

History

Created in 1818 by an act of the Georgia General Assembly, Gwinnett County was formed from parts of Jackson County (formerly part of Franklin County) and from lands gained through the cession of Indian lands. Named for Button Gwinnett, one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, the first county court was held at the home of Elisha Winn, and the county seat was placed at Lawrenceville.

In 1861, all three of Gwinnett County’s representatives at the Georgia Constitutional Convention (1861) in Milledgeville voted against secession. Towards the end of the war, several skirmishes took place in Gwinnett County as part of the Atlanta Campaign.

The northeastern part of Gwinnett County was removed to form a part of the new Barrow County in 1914.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 437 square miles (1,130 km²), of which 430 square miles (1,100 km²) is land and 6.4 square miles (17 km²) (1.5%) is water.

It is located along the Eastern Continental Divide. A portion of the county to the northwest is a part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area chain.

The regional reservoir, Lake Lanier, at the extreme north of the county, is the central cause to the Tri-state water dispute.

The southern and central portions of Gwinnett County are located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. Most the county's northern edge, from south of Peachtree Corners to north of Buford, is located in the Upper Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin), while the county's eastern edge, north and south of Dacula, is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin.

Airport

The county maintains a regional airport under the name Gwinnett County Airport, formerly, Briscoe Field.

Transit Systems

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 805,321 people, 268,519 households, and 203,238 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,871.2 inhabitants per square mile (722.5/km²). There were 291,547 housing units at an average density of 677.4 per square mile (261.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 53.3% White, 23.6% black or African American, 10.6% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.8% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 20.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 8.3% were German, 7.8% were Irish, 7.7% were English, and 5.8% were American.

Of the 268,519 households, 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.3% were non-families, and 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.40. The median age was 33.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $63,219 and the median income for a family was $70,767. Males had a median income of $48,671 versus $39,540 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,901. About 8.7% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Government and politics

Under Georgia's "home rule" provision, county governments have free rein to legislate on all matters within the county, provided that such legislation does not conflict with state or federal law, or state or federal Constitutions.

Gwinnett County, Georgia is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, which exercises both legislative and executive authority within the county. The chairman of the Board is elected county-wide and serves full-time. The four other Commissioners are elected from single-member districts and serve part-time positions. The Board hires a County Administrator who oversees daily operations of the county's twelve executive departments. Gwinnett County has a police department that operates under the authority of the Board of Commissioners.

In addition to the Board of Commissioners, county residents also elect persons to the following positions: Sheriff, District Attorney, Probate Court Judge, Clerk of State/Superior Court, Tax Commissioner, State Court Solicitor, Chief Magistrate Judge (who appoints other Magistrate Court judges), Chief Superior Court Judge and Superior Court Judges, and Chief State Court Judge and State Court Judges.

Gwinnett County has the largest public school system in the State of Georgia. Members of the Board of Education are elected from special election districts in the county.

From 1980 until 2012, the county was a Republican stronghold in presidential elections. In 2016, it voted Democratic for the first time since 1976, when Georgia native Jimmy Carter won every county in the state.

Hospitals

Media

The main newspaper of Gwinnett County, Georgia is the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The Spanish language newspaper El Nuevo Georgia has its headquarters in unincorporated Gwinnett County, near Norcross.

Telemundo Atlanta and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution are both based out of Gwinnett.

Primary and secondary schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools operates the public schools for residents in Gwinnett County, with the exception of residents inside the Buford city limits, which are served by the Buford City School District.

Private education

Colleges and universities

Sports

Minor-league affiliates of the NHL Boston Bruins, and the MLB Atlanta Braves play home games and talent scout in the area.

Georgia Force of Arena Football League had also played at Arena at Gwinnett Center before the team folded in 2012.

Gwinnett also hosts the Gwinnett Rugby International Touring Squad, a Division 3 Men's Rugby Team.

On May 29, 2015, the Minnesota Swarm of the National Lacrosse League announced it was relocating, becoming the Georgia Swarm, and will play at The Arena at Gwinnett Center beginning with the 2016 season.

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

People

The rap group Migos hails from Gwinnett County. Migos won the 2015 YouTube Music Award, as well as several other notable entertainment television awards. Net worth in 2015 was reported to be 4.2 million (USD).

Strange Music artist Rittz also hails from Gwinnett County.