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Mountain Park, Gwinnett County, Georgia

Mountain Park is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. The population was 11,554 at the 2010 census. The older name for the area is Trickum, which is reflected in Five Forks-Trickum Road which bisects the community. The older community was centered on Five Forks and Rockbridge Roads.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.8 sqmi, of which 5.8 sqmi is land and 0.17% is water.

Demographics
Mountain Park first appeared as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. Census.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,089 people, 4,516 households, and 3,559 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,753 people, 4,282 households, and 3,378 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,025.4 PD/sqmi. There were 4,444 housing units at an average density of 765.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 82.15% White, 5.96% African American, 0.23% Native American, 9.10% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.66% of the population.

There were 4,282 households, out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.1% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $62,892, and the median income for a family was $70,768. Males had a median income of $47,436 versus $31,608 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $28,454. About 2.2% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The county operates Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Mountain Park Branch.

title: Mountain Park, Gwinnett County, Georgia


text:
Norcross, Georgia

Norcross is a city located in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population was 9,116, while in 2020, the population increased to 17,209. Norcross is part of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta metropolitan statistical area.

History
Norcross was chartered as a town on October 26, 1870. The community was named for Jonathan Norcross, a former Atlanta Mayor and railroad official.

Geography
Norcross is bordered to the north by the city of Peachtree Corners. The southern boundary of the city is formed by Interstate 85, with access available from Exits 99 (Jimmy Carter Boulevard), 101 (Indian Trail Lilburn Road), and 102 (Georgia State Route 378). Downtown Atlanta is located approximately 20 mi to the southwest, accessible via I-85.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Norcross has a total area of 12.05 km2, of which 12.02 km2 is land and 0.03 sqkm, or 0.25%, is water.

Major roads

 * US 23.svg U.S. Route 23
 * I-85.svg Interstate 85
 * Georgia 140.svg State Route 140
 * Georgia 141.svg State Route 141
 * I-285.svg Interstate 285 (about 1.5 miles from Gwinnett Village)
 * Georgia 378.svg State Route 378

Transit systems

 * Gwinnett County Transit serve the city.
 * Norcross Greyhound Bus Terminal, 2105 Norcross Pkwy, Norcross, GA 30071

Pedestrians and cycling
The Western Gwinnett Bikeway, is a multi-use trail along the Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. It is a shared use path, cycle track, and bike lane that connects Norcross to neighboring Duluth.

In September 2015, the Norcross City Council approved plans to do a concept study on developing the Beaver Ruin Creek Greenway. The greenway could serve to connect Norcross residents to the Peachtree Creek Greenway that is being developed in Atlanta, Brookhaven, Chamblee and Doraville.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,209 people, 5,087 households, and 3,674 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of 2010, Norcross had a population of 9,116. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 40.8% white, 19.8% black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 10.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race and 4.3% reporting two or more races. 39.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 8,410 people, 2,644 households and 1,768 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,050.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,750 housing units at an average density of 670.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 53.50% White, 20.82% African American, 0.54% Native American, 6.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 15.39% from other races, and 3.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40.93% of the population.

There were 2,644 households, of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.35.

Age distribution was 22.7% under the age of 18, 14.8% from 18 to 24, 40.9% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 130.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.8 males.

The median household income was $44,728 and the median family income was $42,893. Males had a median income of $26,485 versus $27,347 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,573. About 11.8% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Jake Camarda, NFL punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Jason Croom, NFL tight end
 * Chris Herndon, NFL tight end for the New Orleans Saints
 * Alvin Kamara, NFL running back for the New Orleans Saints
 * Davis Mills, NFL quarterback for the Houston Texans
 * Malcolm Brogdon, NBA player, Portland Trail Blazers
 * Brandon Boston, NBA player, Los Angeles Clippers

Primary and secondary schools
Gwinnett County Public Schools serves Norcross. Each school's respective cluster is listed following its name.

Elementary schools
 * Susan O. Stripling Elementary School (Norcross)
 * Beaver Ridge Elementary School (Norcross)
 * Meadowcreek Elementary School (Meadowcreek)
 * Nesbit Elementary School (Meadowcreek)
 * Norcross Elementary School (Norcross)
 * Rockbridge Elementary School (Meadowcreek)
 * Baldwin Elementary School (Norcross)

Middle schools
 * Pinckneyville Middle School (Norcross)
 * Summerour Middle School (Norcross)

High schools
 * Meadowcreek High School (Meadowcreek)
 * Norcross High School (Norcross)
 * Paul Duke STEM High School (Alternative school for Norcross)
 * McClure Health Science High School (Alternative school for Meadowcreek)

Other
 * Brenau University Atlanta Campus (Private College)
 * Greater Atlanta Christian School (Private School)
 * GIVE Center West (Alternative School)
 * Ashworth College (Online/Correspondence University)

Public libraries
Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Norcross Branch in Norcross.

Local companies

 * RentPath, a large apartment guide company
 * Institute of Industrial Engineers, a professional society for industrial engineers
 * LSI Corporation, which designs semiconductors and software that accelerate storage and networking in datacenters and mobile networks
 * EMS Technologies, specializing in wireless communications
 * Waffle House, headquartered in Norcross
 * NanoLumens, designer and manufacturer of digital LED displays

Media
The main newspaper of Greater Atlanta is the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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

Filming
The ABC Studios television show Resurrection was filmed in the town square and all around Norcross.

All Elite Wrestling conducted their television tapings at The Nightmare Factory training facility operated by one of their coach/wrestlers, Q. T. Marshall, in Norcross in March 2020 during the COVID-19 epidemic.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Norcross, Georgia


text:
Rest Haven, Georgia

Rest Haven is a town primarily in northern Gwinnett and partly in southern Hall counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, it had a total population of 62.

Rest Haven is located along Georgia State Route 13, a highway from Atlanta to Gainesville that is immediately west of Interstate 985. The Gwinnett County portion of Rest Haven is part of the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Marietta, GA-AL Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Hall County portion is part of the Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The town was granted a municipal charter in 1938.

It was announced on September 19, 2005, that the town leaders wished to be annexed into Buford, a much larger city which surrounds Rest Haven except on the north. A previous attempt to do so in 2001 ended in a lawsuit and a judge ordered Rest Haven to remain a city. Some property owners have already de-annexed from the town and annexed into Buford.

State law prohibits annexation of one city into another, so the town would first have to vote in a referendum to dissolve. It would then go through the annexation process, requiring approval of the Buford city council and a second referendum of the former Rest Haven residents.

Additional legal battles ensued in 2015 by some local residents' request to be annexed by Buford, which was granted.

As of 2022, the city of Rest Haven still exists with Mayor Kenneth Waycaster. All planning, zoning, utilities, and permitting are completed by Buford.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 151 people, 57 households, and 42 families residing in the town. The population density was 145.8/km$2$ (373.5/mi.²). There were 67 housing units at an average density of 64.7/km$2$ (165.7/mi.²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.07% White, 2.65% African American, 0.66% Asian, 3.97% from other races, and 2.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.97% of the population.

There were 57 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,156, and the median income for a family was $51,250. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $25,781 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,275. There were 11.8% of families and 12.9% of the population living below the poverty line, including 13.5% of under eighteens and 14.3% of those over 64.

title: Rest Haven, Georgia


text:
Snellville, Georgia

Snellville is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States, east of Atlanta. Its population was 20,573 at the 2020 census. It is a developed suburb of Atlanta and a part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, and is located roughly 33 miles east of downtown Atlanta via US 78 and Interstate 285.

English settlers
In 1874, Thomas Snell and James Sawyer, 17-year-old friends from London, secretly planned a voyage to the New World. On March 18, James Sawyer and his brother, Charles, left England. However, Snell's parents, having learned of the plan, would not allow him to leave, thus delaying his departure. The Sawyer brothers arrived in New York City on April 1, and after a few weeks, headed toward Athens, Georgia, and then to Madison County, where they stayed and worked on a farm for $10 a month. Snell did eventually follow his friends to New York and made his way south to meet them. The three then made their way through Jefferson and Lawrenceville. Shortly after Snell's arrival, Charles left for Pennsylvania, later returning to the South and settling in Alabama, where he went into the turpentine business. James had gone also, in search of his brother, leaving Snell to work on the farm of A. A. Dyer.

Unable to find his brother, James Sawyer returned to New York and began work on a farm near the Hudson River area until his 21st birthday in 1878, when he returned to England to claim his inheritance. Shortly following, in August 1879, he returned to Americus, Georgia, and then Gwinnett County. Once in Gwinnett County, Sawyer found Snell in the small settlement then known as New London, near Stone Mountain. In the homestead that Snell now referred to as Snellville, the two built a small wood-frame building and started a business together, Snell and Sawyer's Store, similar to the one in which they were employed in London. As was common in small mill towns of the time, they printed store money with the trade value and Snell's likeness on the front that regular customers could use to purchase goods. By the end of 1879, the business was prospering and catering to customers from the neighboring towns of Lawrenceville and Loganville. Travelers bought supplies at "Snell and Sawyer's" and often spent the night in the nearby oak groves, as the trip was too great for one day's travel. When New London officially became Snellville is unknown, but the location of the partners' store was referred to as Snellville in their advertising, and the young town began to show a promising future.

The partnership later dissolved, and Sawyer kept the old store, building granite stone above and around the old frame and then disassembling the wood frame from within. Snell built a new store of granite. In 1883, Sawyer built a home and married Emma Webb, of the historic Snellville Webb family, on November 15. Sawyer opened Snellville's first post office in 1885 and served as postmaster from the back of his store.

Snell died at age 39 in 1896 due to complications following an appendicitis operation. He was buried in Brownlee Mountain, presently known as Nob Hill, and was later reburied in nearby Lithonia.

Initially forced into partial retirement due to failing eyesight, Sawyer later lost his sight completely. After that time, the store was owned and operated by various merchants. It was eventually destroyed in 1960 and replaced by a service station. James Sawyer died in 1948 at age 91 and is buried in the Baptist Cemetery (now Snellville Historical Cemetery).

City beginnings
The City of Snellville received its charter from the General Assembly of the State of Georgia in 1923.

Recent times
As of the 2020 census, Snellville's population was 20,573 Snellville's political system now includes a mayor and five council members. There are over 100 employees working for the city of Snellville, which operates from five departments: Administration, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Development, Public Safety, and Public Works. The city limits have grown to 27.4 km2, and 14 houses of worship are located within the city limits.

City land swap
In early November 2000, then-Mayor Brett Harrell began negotiating a land swap to transform an abandoned supermarket into a municipal complex and the now-former City Hall into part of a church campus. The old Kroger in the Oakland Village Shopping Center on US 78 across from Snellville United Methodist Church and City Hall was just one of several dead or dying shopping centers plaguing Snellville. Abandoned big-box stores had become enough of an eyesore to make them a major issue in the 1999 city elections. Harrell had campaigned on a platform that included efforts to revitalize vacant retail space.

The project was not without its opponents. Among the concerned were tenants of the half-occupied Oakland Village Shopping Center that the city would take over, and who would be forced to relocate. The city council voted unanimously that November to proceed with the exploration of a potential land swap. There was concern that timing could become an issue and kill the deal in the early stages. The owner of the shopping center wanted to sell his property by the end of 2000, while the city council decided to take no action for a six-month period. Some citizens expressed concerns about the project at the city council meeting and asked for the deal to be put to a referendum.

On March 5, 2001, the city held its first public hearing on the land swap. Over 100 citizens attended the meeting to support the idea, while more than a dozen showed up to oppose it. A few cited a recent $79,000 roof job on City Hall, and the fact that the swap would benefit the church more than the city, as reasons to back out of the deal.

On March 26, 2001, the city council met to vote on the land swap proposal. At this meeting, the citizens were given a few specifics of the deal. According to the council, the Oakland Village Shopping Center was worth $2,700,000, and the current City Hall was worth $2,300,000. Councilman Jerry Oberholtzer estimated that renovation of the shopping center for city use would be in the $2,500,000 range. He also estimated that to renovate City Hall for future needs would run the city the same cost. More opponents than supporters spoke at the meeting, and a few senior citizens presented a petition against relocating their center which was part of the land swap plan. The City Council voted 3–1 in favor of the swap; Councilman Troy Carter was the only dissenting vote.

As preparation for the swap began, the city hit a snag in June 2001, when a possibility arose of perchloroethylene soil contamination from an old dry cleaner site in the Oakland Village Shopping Center. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division responded that even in the event of contamination, a clean-up may not be required if no one lives close enough to the site or no one is using the ground water in the area. The city did discover the use of a well by a private citizen within a one-mile (1.6 km) radius of the site. This citizen, Harold "Cotton" Willams, refused a $25,000 deal from the Methodist Church to cap the well. In response, the city began exploring a local ordinance banning the construction of new wells and closing any existing ones. The city council voted on June 25 to adopt the ordinance but still allow the use of the well for irrigation. The city council also decided to include the realignment of Oak Road and Henry Clower Boulevard at U.S. 78 in the land swap project.

In July 2001, the land swap hit another snag. A lawyer representing the Nash family of Snellville filed a lawsuit claiming the city could not trade one of the parcels because the city did not own it. The Nash family contended it owned the approximately 1 acre tract and the unused building sitting on it. In 1935, Horace J. Nash deeded the building to the Georgia Rural Rehabilitation Corporation for use as a vocational center. The building was used to train unemployed workers during and after the Great Depression. Later, the city used the site for a jail, a senior center and an agricultural building. Most recently, the building housed Recorder's Court. Attorney Bill Crecelius said the Nash family had let Snellville use the building for decades without complaint. This issue was resolved when the city presented documents verifying its ownership of the title to the building as well as title insurance.

In July 2003, the last piece of a $6,700,000 building plan for the project fell into place. The Snellville City Council approved funding for a multipurpose complex combining municipal functions and police services, plus offering a public gathering spot. In a 4–2 vote, the council approved certificates of participation, a series of leases that are to be renewed annually until they are paid off in 20 years. In the final plan, the land swap would include an 8 acre project encompassing a new City Hall, police department, senior center and public forum area.

Groundbreaking for the new city hall began in March 2004 with the demolition of the Oakland Village Shopping Center. Hogan Construction Group of Norcross was awarded the $7,400,000 contract to construct both the new City Hall and new Senior Center. The original completion date was pushed back because of poor weather conditions. Crews also had to blast granite under the building foundation, further delaying the project and adding $200,000 to the cost.

On March 12, 2006, the city officially dedicated the new City Hall, located at the corner of Oak Road and Main Street East (US 78). Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer was quoted that arriving at the dedication day took "five years, four elections, three architectural firms, and two lawsuits". The city hopes to one day expand the complex by adding a parking deck and a new public safety annex.

On August 13, 2007, the city council awarded a $52,000 contract to Smithco Construction of Gainesville to demolish and remove the remaining piece of the old Oakland Village Shopping Center. The area has now been converted into an open green space.

2017-2018 City funds misuse controversy
Former Mayor Tom Witts had been under close watch since 2013 for alleged tax evasion, owing tens of thousands of dollars in state taxes. On September 7, 2017, Witts was indicted on 66 counts, included allegations that he “consistently underreported income and over-reported deductions” on tax returns; that he used more than half of his 2015 mayoral campaign funds on expenses like cruises, plane tickets, and adult-entertainment websites, and that Witts’ company completed multiple jobs for the city of Snellville, a violation of state law. Witts' original sentence was reduced due to poor health, reducing any jail time to house arrest. Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Bender was to be sworn in as mayor until an election can be called.

Towne Center
In February 2011, the City of Snellville hired engineering firm Clark, Patterson and Lee in conjunction with renowned urban-planning firm Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company to begin the process of planning a new town center for the suburban community. A weekend-long design charrette was held to engage the community in the process. The plan that emerged from this visioning process provides a new town green and shopping district, bordered by neighborhoods that incorporate a variety of housing types. The plan takes into account the Continuous Flow Intersection that had previously been planned by the Georgia Department of Transportation. A key element of the new town design is a system of bridges and tunnels that create a more walkable city.

Government and politics
The City of Snellville operates under a council-manager form of government. The city manager is appointed by the council and works with them on policy creation and then manages staff concerning implementation. Comparing this form of government to a private business, the mayor acts as chairman of the board and the city council acts as the board of directors. The city manager, under the direction of the city council, manages the day-to-day functions of the city. The city's mayor, Tom Witts, was elected to a four-year term in 2015. In late 2018, Mayor Witts was suspended (following his 2017 indictment) due to misuse of funds, spending them on travel and adult websites.

Elections
Every two years, half of the elected council is up for election. In 2017, three city council seats will be up for election.

Unlike the county, state, and national elections, where voting is done by precinct, all city elections take place at City Hall.

Major roads

 * US 78.svg U.S. Route 78
 * Georgia 84.svg State Route 84
 * Georgia 124.svg State Route 124
 * Ronald Reagan Parkway

Pedestrians and cycling

 * Ivy Creek-Snellville Trail (Proposed)

Public transportation
Route 418 of the Xpress bus service, a joint venture between Gwinnett County Transit and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA), provides commuter bus service to downtown Atlanta from Snellville in the morning, and vice versa in the afternoon. Seven departure times are available in the morning and seven in the afternoon, Monday-Friday, via Stone Mountain Freeway (U.S. 78) to I-285 and I-20. The morning westbound route terminates at the Civic Center MARTA Station. The afternoon eastbound route terminates at the First Baptist Church of Snellville, with a stop at the Hewatt Road Park&Ride.

Gwinnett County Transit is also testing a micro-transit service in the Snellville area.

History
Buses first ran on the morning of April 2, 2007. In that first month, the route had a total of 1,783 riders. In May, a 40% increase to 2,520 occurred. On many mornings, the bus is standing room only. On August 21, 2007, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with GRTA to add five new Motor Coach Industries D4500CL buses to the route.

Medical centers
Snellville has one major hospital, Eastside Medical Center, formerly Emory Eastside Medical Center, which serves the southern Gwinnett County Region.

Newspapers

 * Atlanta Journal-Constitution (major regional paper)
 * Gwinnett Daily Post

Geography
Snellville is located in southern Gwinnett County. U.S. Route 78 runs through the center of the city, leading west 25 mi to downtown Atlanta and east 19 mi to Monroe. Georgia State Route 124 crosses US 78 in the center of Snellville, leading north 7 mi to Lawrenceville and south 13 mi to Lithonia. Some unincorporated areas in the eastern edge of DeKalb County and western Rockdale County have a Snellville mailing address, but are not a part of the City of Snellville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Snellville has a total area of 27.4 sqkm, of which 27.1 sqkm is land and 0.3 sqkm, or 1.22%, is water.

Climate
Snellville (along with the rest of the Atlanta metropolitan area) has a humid subtropical climate according to the Köppen classification, with generally hot, humid summers and mild winters by the standards of most of the U.S.

Compared to most large cities around the world at approximately the same latitude (33°39'), such as Beirut, Casablanca, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, Snellville has lower average winter temperatures. The primary reason for this is that the North American continent extends into high latitudes that allows systems to form and move eastward and southward without obstruction by major mountain ranges. Other factors include Snellville's distance from large bodies of water; its higher elevation, which can lead to rapid weather changes; prevailing wind patterns; and extensive tree cover, which reduces the urban heat island effect (an advantage during summer).

In the winter, weather systems sweeping south from Canada, through the Midwest, bring temperatures that can reach below 25 °Fahrenheit (−3.9 °Celsius) a few times a year. The lowest temperature recorded in the city is −9 °F (−22 °C), reached on February 13, 1899. It also reached -7 °F twice and -8 °F once in Atlanta in the 1980s and 1990s. An average year sees frost on 48 days; snowfall, which occurs most years, averages 2 inches (5 centimeters) annually. The greatest single accumulation of snow was 10 inches (25 centimeters), on January 23, 1940. A more prominent issue in winter are the frequent ice storms that can cause more problems than snow; the most severe such storm may have occurred on January 7, 1973. Also during winter, warm air sometimes flows from the Gulf of Mexico, raising temperatures as high as 75 °F (24 °C).

Though summers are humid, actual temperatures are lower than they may feel, with afternoon highs peaking at about 90 °F (32 °C) in late July. Temperatures rarely reach 100 °F (38 °C), which, during the last 30 years, was recorded in 1980, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1995, 2000, and 2007. The highest temperature recorded in the city is 105 °F (40.6 °C), reached on July 13 and 17, 1980.

Like the rest of the Southeastern U.S., the Atlanta metropolitan area experiences abundant rainfall, which is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year. Average annual rainfall is 50.5 inches (127 centimeters); the only other major U.S. cities with greater rainfall are Miami, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Parks
Thomas W. Briscoe Park consists of 87 developed acres (100 total acres), just south of the city center on Lenora Church Road. The park hosts numerous activities for youth and seniors including summer camp, swim lessons, soccer and senior trips.

Lenora Park and Disc Golf Course encompasses 112 acre of land on Lenora Church Road.

South Gwinnett Athletic Association consists of six baseball and softball fields, one football field, and 40,000 square feet of indoor sporting rink use for roller hockey, volleyball, indoor soccer, and lacrosse.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,573 people, 6,093 households, and 4,853 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of 2010 Snellville had a population of 18,242. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 61.0% white, 30.0% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.5% Asian Indian, 0.01% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from some other race and 2.6% reporting two or more races. 7.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,351 people, 5,256 households, and 4,315 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,589.1 PD/sqmi. There were 5,391 housing units at an average density of 558.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 89.64% White, 5.39% African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.09% of the population.

There were 5,256 households, out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $62,537, and the median income for a family was $68,341. Males had a median income of $52,340 versus $41,587 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,131. About 2.1% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Slogan
In 2010, the city leaders of Snellville voted to adopt a new slogan for the city. The previous slogan, "Snellville, where everybody is somebody," had been established 30 years prior. The current (new) slogan is an evolution of the old and is "Snellville, where everybody is proud to be somebody."

Snellville Days Festival
The Snellville Days Festival is a two-day event held annually that draws crowds from all over the Southeast. The annual celebration is touted as being one of the top 20 tourism events in May according to the Southeastern Tourism Society, but still has a small-town flavor.

Public schools
The following schools serve the Snellville area and are part of the Gwinnett County Public Schools:
 * Brookwood High School
 * Alton C. Crews Middle School
 * Brookwood Elementary School
 * Craig Elementary School
 * Five Forks Middle School
 * Gwinn Oaks Elementary School
 * R. D. Head Elementary School
 * Grayson High School
 * J. P. McConnell Middle School
 * Pharr Elementary School
 * W. J. Cooper Elementary School
 * Bay Creek Middle School
 * Grayson Elementary
 * Trip Elementary
 * Shiloh High School
 * Shiloh Middle School
 * Anderson-Livsey Elementary School
 * Annistown Elementary School
 * Centerville Elementary School
 * Shiloh Elementary School
 * Henry Partee Elementary School
 * South Gwinnett High School
 * Grace Snell Middle School
 * J.C. Magill Elementary School
 * Rosebud Elementary School
 * Snellville Middle School
 * R. L. Norton Elementary School
 * W. C. Britt Elementary School

Private schools

 * Evergreen Montessori School
 * Gwinnett Christian Academy, grades K5–12
 * Harbour Oaks Montessori School, grades K2–12

Public libraries
Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Elizabeth H. Williams Branch in Snellville.

Notable people

 * Matt Beaty, baseball player
 * Clay Cook, singer/songwriter, member of the Zac Brown Band, writer of songs for John Mayer
 * Rennie Curran, football player for the Tennessee Titans
 * Diana DeGarmo, 2004 American Idol runner-up
 * David Greene, football player for the New England Patriots
 * Kyle Lewis, baseball player
 * Josh Okogie, professional basketball player
 * Melissa Ordway, actress; plays Abby Newman on The Young and the Restless
 * David Pollack, football player for the Cincinnati Bengals
 * Amy Robach, Good Morning America news anchor
 * Cameron Sample, professional football player for the Cincinnati Bengals
 * Nakia Sanford (1995), former forward/center in the WNBA
 * Eric Shanteau, member of USA swim team, 2008 Summer Olympics
 * Jada Stevens, American pornstar
 * Sound Tribe Sector 9, band now located in the Bay Area of California
 * Lou Williams, former basketball player
 * Garrett Whitlock, American professional baseball player
 * Tyler Wolff, professional soccer player

title: Snellville, Georgia


text:
Sugar Hill, Georgia

Sugar Hill is a city in northern Gwinnett County in the U.S. state of Georgia, included within the Metro Atlanta area. The population was 25,076 as of the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Gwinnett County. It is in close proximity to Lake Lanier and the foothills of the North Georgia mountains.

History
Sugar Hill was established through a charter by the Georgia state assembly in 1939 as the Town of Sugar Hill and officially incorporated on March 24, 1939. The town was renamed the City of Sugar Hill in 1975. Before the city was incorporated, the area was part of a route from the railroad in Buford to the city of Cumming. According to local tradition, the town was named after an incident where a large shipment of sugar spilled and the area became known as "the hill where the sugar spilled" or "the sugar hill".

In 2001, a drastic increase in natural gas prices, disproportionate to the cost of natural gas outside of Sugar Hill, resulted in residents forming "The Committee to Dissolve Sugar Hill", with over 1,600 residents signing a petition calling for a referendum to abolish both the municipal utility and the city itself. State senator Billy Ray proposed a bill asking for a non-binding referendum. The bill was passed in the state senate but failed to pass in the House, and the effort to revoke the city's charter was unsuccessful. The city council responded to this effort by reducing the utility's prices to be comparable to those in the surrounding area.

Geography
Sugar Hill is located in northern Gwinnett County in northern Georgia. It is bordered to the northeast by the city of Buford and to the southwest by the city of Suwanee. Georgia State Route 20 is the main highway through the center of Sugar Hill, leading northwest 11 mi to Cumming and south 12 mi to Lawrenceville, the Gwinnett County seat. U.S. Route 23 runs along the southern edge of Sugar Hill, leading southwest 5 mi to Suwanee and 10 mi to Duluth. US 23 turns southeast at the Sugar Hill–Buford border and runs 1 mi with SR 20 to Interstate 985, which in turn leads northeast 19 mi to Gainesville and southwest 36 mi to downtown Atlanta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2010 the city of Sugar Hill had a total land area of 27.5 km2, of which 0.1 sqkm, or 0.33%, was water. The U.S. Geological Survey lists the city's elevation as 1149 ft.

Climate
The climate of Sugar Hill, as with most of the southeastern United States, is humid subtropical (Cfa) according to the Köppen classification with four seasons, including hot, humid summers and cool winters.

July is generally the warmest month of the year with an average high of around 87 °F. The coldest month is January which has an average high of around 50 °F. The highest recorded temperature was 107 °F in 1952, while the lowest recorded temperature was -8 °F in 1985.

Sugar Hill receives abundant rainfall distributed fairly evenly throughout the year, as is typical of southeastern cities, with February on average having the highest average precipitation at 5.3 in, and April typically being the driest month with 3.7 in.

Demographics
Sugar Hill is Gwinnett County's fourth-largest city by population. The city was previously the third-largest city in Gwinnett County until Peachtree Corners became a city on July 1, 2012. After the 2000 census the city's growth was ranked 75 out of the 100 highest growing cities in the nation, and one of the 20 fastest growing in the state of Georgia The population growth from 2010 to 2020 was an increase of 35.4%.

2020 census
In the 2020 census Sugar Hill had a population of 25,076, with 8,271 households in the city. The population density was 2,253.8 PD/sqmi. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 62.7% white, 12.4% black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 11.4% Asian, and 6.9% from two or more races. 19.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

27.4% of people were under 18. The median income for a household in the city was $89,583, and the median income for a family was $75,473. Males had a median income of $53,890 versus $37,991 for females. The per capita income for the city was $35,990. 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of 2010 Sugar Hill had a population of 18,522, with 6,114 households. The population density was 1,748 PD/sqmi. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 72.4% white, 9.8% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.3% Asian Indian, 5.0% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.6% from some other race and 2.5% from two or more races. 19.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the city's 6,114 households, 45.2%% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9%% were married couples living together, 13.2%% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-familie households. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.46.

The median income for a household in the city was $70,106, and the median income for a family was $75,473. Males had a median income of $53,890 versus $37,991 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,119. About 9.3% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Sugar Hill, as with the rest of Gwinnett County, has a sales tax of 6%, which comprises the 4% state sales tax and a 2% local tax.

On April 28, 2011, Governor Nathan Deal signed legislation that allowed individual local communities to vote on whether to allow alcohol sales on Sundays, which had previously been prohibited by the Georgia General Assembly since the 1800s. Supporters of the proposal to allow Sunday sales of alcohol argued that doing so would help the economy. A total of 97 cities and counties in Georgia held referendums on November 8, 2011, including Sugar Hill. The Sugar Hill city council voted to allow Sugar Hill residents vote on the issue and on November 15, 2011, Sugar Hill became one of several cities that voted to allow Sunday sales of alcohol. In 2012, the remaining areas of Gwinnett County that did not hold November 8 referendums voted to allow Sunday sales.

Government
The City of Sugar Hill is governed by a mayor and five member city council.

When Sugar Hill was established in 1939, the town charter called for a mayor and five city councilmen, and that these elected officials were to be elected every two years. An amendment to the town's charter in 1952 changed the election process so that the mayor and three members of the town council are elected on even years for a term of two years, and two other members of the council are elected on odd years for a term of two years. In 1975, when the new charter was enacted that reincorporated the Town of Sugar Hill as the City of Sugar Hill, it added the requirement that a councilmen be appointed as mayor pro tempore, and retained the election method established in 1952.

The city's budget in 2012 was $28.2 million, and in 2013 was $19.4 million. In 2010 Sugar Hill approved the process of constructing a larger city hall to accommodate for the city's increase in population. The new city hall was completed and opened in January 2013.

Sugar Hill is part of Georgia's 7th congressional district  The city is part of the Georgia State Senate's 45th district, and the 97th, 98th, and 102nd districts for the Georgia House of Representatives.

Education
Gwinnett county operates Gwinnett County Public Schools for K-12 students living in Sugar Hill. Sugar Hill Elementary, White Oak Elementary, Sycamore Elementary, Lanier Middle School and Lanier High School are the public schools serving the city of Sugar Hill residents. Portions of Sugar Hill also fall under the North Gwinnett district, encompassing Riverside Elementary, North Gwinnett Middle School, and North Gwinnett High School.

Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Buford-Sugar Hill Branch in Buford.

Media
As part of the Metro Atlanta area, Sugar Hill's primary network-affiliated television stations are WXIA-TV (NBC), WANF (CBS), WSB-TV (ABC), and WAGA-TV (Fox). WGTV is the local station of the statewide Georgia Public Television network and is a PBS member station.

Sugar Hill is served by the Gwinnett Daily Post, which is the most widely distributed newspaper in Sugar Hill as well as Gwinnett county's legal organ. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is also distributed in Sugar Hill. The weekly Gwinnett Herald served Sugar Hill from 1871 until 1885.

Roads and freeways
Sugar Hill's major road is State Route 20, which travels through Sugar Hill in a general northwest-southeast direction, going southeast into the adjoining city of Buford and northwest into Forsyth County. The nearest interstates are I-985 and I-85, which are both accessible via State Route 20 in Buford.

Pedestrians and cycling

 * Sugar Hill Greenway (Under construction)
 * Western Gwinnett Bikeway (Under construction)

Utilities
The city is a member of the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia and manages the Sugar Hill Gas Department, which provides natural gas for the city's residents.

Notable people

 * Derrick Brown, NFL football player
 * Zach Calzada, College football player
 * Kurt Johnson, former NHRA pro stock driver
 * Warren Johnson, former NHRA pro stock driver
 * Daryl Mitchell, television and movie actor

title: Sugar Hill, Georgia


text:
Suwanee, Georgia

Suwanee is a city in Gwinnett County and a part of the Atlanta metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,355; this had grown to an estimated 20,907 as of 2019.

Portions of Forsyth and Fulton counties also have Suwanee and its ZIP Code (30024) as a mailing address.

Early history
Suwanee, like most towns in Georgia, started out as a Native American village. It was built on the Chattahoochee River, where societies flourished. The city of Suwanee itself was established and officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1837 upon the erection of a post office. In 1871, the Georgia Air Line Railroad was built through Suwanee, and in 1880 the Rhodes House hotel was built to house passengers of the railroad. This was instrumental in bringing people through the town and helped to generate trade and economic activity. In 1881, a fire burned down all of the buildings on Main Street except for one. From 1880 to 1920, the population saw almost no increase, shifting from 216 people to 241 over the course of 40 years. , the population of Suwanee was over 18,000.

Recent history
Beginning in 1933 and ending in 1936, the now heavily traveled Buford Highway was constructed through Suwanee. In 1960, Interstate 85 was built to extend to just south of Suwanee, where it ended at the time. Throughout the last 100 years, several primary education schools have opened in Suwanee, including North Gwinnett High School and Suwanee Elementary School. The first known date for Suwanee High School was 1880, when it was a one-room school house. The first city hall was built in the early 1960s, and the second city hall was built in 1997. In 2005, Town Center was constructed and finished in 2009, at which time the city hall moved to it, where it currently resides. In 2003, Suwanee was named a City of Excellence by the Georgia Municipal Association and Trend Magazine. In 2017, Suwanee was recognized as a Green Community by the Atlanta Regional Commission, certified at the bronze level for the city's commitment to environmental stewardship and their leadership in sustainability practices.

Geography
Suwanee is located in northern Gwinnett County and southeastern Forsyth County. It is bordered to the northeast by the city of Sugar Hill, to the southwest by the city of Duluth, and on the west by the Chattahoochee River, which serves as the Fulton County border, and across which is the city of Johns Creek.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Suwanee has a total area of 28.4 km2, of which 28.2 km2 is land and 0.2 km2, or 0.70%, is water.

There are multiple areas with Suwanee postal addresses that are in unincorporated Gwinnett County and in unincorporated Forsyth County; those areas are not in the Suwanee corporate limits.

Climate
Suwanee has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with mild winters and hot, humid summers.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,786 people, 7,012 households, and 5,235 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of 2010, Suwanee had a population of 15,355. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 67.4% white, 10.8% black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 18.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.3% reporting some other race, and 2.3% reporting two or more races. 6.75% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,725 people, 2,947 households, and 2,375 families residing in the city. The population density was 889.5 PD/sqmi. There were 3,144 housing units at an average density of 320.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 84.49% White, 6.38% African American, 0.13% Native American, 6.84% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.16% of the population.

There were 2,947 households, out of which 46.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.8% were married couples living together, 6.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 1.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 29.5% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 39.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $84,038, and the median income for a family was $91,519. Males had a median income of $60,147 versus $40,650 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,712. About 1.5% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture
Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Suwanee Branch in Suwanee.

Sports
Suwanee was the practicing home of the Atlanta Falcons football team from 1979 to 2001.

Parks and recreation

 * Town Center Park is a 10 acre park on Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. It is the venue for the community's special events, and contains an amphitheater that holds up to 1,000 audience members where numerous concerts and other various performances are held. Town Center Park has Gwinnett County's largest interactive fountain called the "Big Splash". The fountain has 43 jets and uses 1400 gal of water each minute. The water is recycled. The park lies next to the Suwanee Public Library.
 * George Pierce Park is a 304 acres park, making it the largest in Suwanee. Amenities includes fields for football, baseball, soccer, and softball fields, a fishing pond, hard- and soft-surfaced trails, picnic areas, public restrooms, a playground, outdoor basketball courts, and a senior center.
 * Suwanee Creek Greenway is a hard-surfaced multipurpose 4 mi trail with wooded areas and wildlife habitat. It is favored by walkers, joggers, and bikers. A spur trail is being added to connect to the Western Gwinnett Bikeway.
 * Suwanee Creek Park is an 85 acre park commonly used for family picnics and other reunions. It is connected to the Suwanee Creek Greenway.
 * Playtown Suwanee is a super playground built by 1,200 volunteers in 2004. It is known as "the playground my mommy and daddy built."
 * Sims Lake Park was opened in 2008. It consists of a 7 acre lake with a looping trail surrounding it.
 * Each February, Suwanee hosts the annual Suwanee Half Marathon. This is a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race.

Pedestrians and cycling
In 2016, Suwanee unveiled the first Bike Share program in Gwinnett County.

The city of Suwanee has released a master plan of existing and proposed trails and sidewalks to connect the community neighborhoods, schools and businesses. Major trails include:

 * Brushy Creek Greenway
 * George Pierce Park Red Trail
 * George Pierce Park Yellow Trail
 * Ivy Creek Greenway (under construction)
 * Suwanee Creek Greenway (under construction)
 * Western Gwinnett Bikeway (under construction)

Education
Suwanee is operated under Gwinnett County Public Schools and primarily served by Collins Hill High School, North Gwinnett High School, and Peachtree Ridge High School. The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's Georgia campus is also located in Suwanee.

Major roads and expressways

 * I-85.svg Interstate 85
 * US 23.svg U.S. Route 23
 * Georgia 317.svg State Route 317

Airport
The nearest air service is provided by Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is south of Atlanta. The nearest regional airport is Gwinnett County Airport.

title: Suwanee, Georgia


text:
Clarkesville, Georgia

Clarkesville is a city that is the county seat of Habersham County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 1,911, up from the 2010 census population of 1,733, up from 1,248 at the 2000 census.

History
Originally the city was Native American, and was called Sak-yi. Later, the name was used for the Soque River, originally called “So-Kee”. The city was established along the route of the Unicoi Turnpike, a 1,000-year-old Native American trail. In the early 18th century, deerskins and furs were transported along the route from Tennessee to Savannah and Charleston for shipping to Europe.

Clarkesville was founded in 1821 as the seat of Habersham County. The community was named after John Clark.

Geography
Clarkesville is located in central Habersham County on the south side of the Soquee River, a southwest-flowing tributary of the Chattahoochee River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.45 km2, of which 6.37 sqkm are land and 0.08 sqkm, or 1.20%, are water.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 1,911 people, 709 households, and 402 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,248 people, 580 households, and 335 families residing in the city. The population density was 670.6 PD/sqmi. There were 639 housing units at an average density of 343.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 90.06% White, 7.77% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.

There were 580 households, out of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 27.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,880, and the median income for a family was $39,148. Males had a median income of $26,316 versus $23,977 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,265. About 9.9% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 16.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The current mayor is Barrie Aycock, the second female mayor in Clarkesville's history. In 2016 she replaced previous mayor, Terry Greene.

Education
The Habersham County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and two high schools. The district has 367 full-time teachers and over 5,955 students. North Georgia Technical College is located in Clarkesville.

Notable people

 * Linda Anderson, according to NPR considered "one of the foremost living memory painters".
 * Red Barron, football and baseball player
 * McKenzie Coan, 2016 Paralympic gold medalist
 * Oliver Clyde Fuller, banker, financier, and golfer
 * April Masini, advice columnist, relationship expert and entertainment industry executive
 * Benjamin Purcell, U.S. Army officer and state legislator

title: Clarkesville, Georgia


text:
Cornelia, Georgia

Cornelia is a city in Habersham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,160 at the 2010 census, up from 3,674 at the 2000 census. It is home to one of the world's largest apple sculptures, which is displayed on top of an obelisk-shaped monument. Cornelia was the retirement home of baseball legend Ty Cobb who was born nearby, and was a base of operation for production of the 1956 Disney film The Great Locomotive Chase that was filmed along the Tallulah Falls Railway that ran from Cornelia northward along the rim of Tallulah Gorge to Franklin, North Carolina.

Geography
Cornelia is located in southern Habersham County and is bordered to the east by Mount Airy and to the southwest by Baldwin.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.3 km2, of which 0.1 sqkm, or 1.06%, are water.

History
Cornelia was originally called "Blaine", and under the latter name had its start in the early 1870s when the Charlotte Airline Railroad was extended to that point. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the place in 1887 as the "Town of Cornelia".

Lore
Cornelia abounds in historical lore. Near the city is the Wofford Trail, on which many stagecoach robberies occurred. The last railroad holdup in Georgia took place at Cagle's Crossing, which is a few miles south of Cornelia. The whole of Habersham County was extremely loyal to the Confederacy and was known, along with the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and countless other fertile, out-of-the-way places as the "breadbasket of the Confederacy", as thousands of bushels of wheat and corn were supplied to the troops from this area alone. After the Fall of Atlanta, a detachment of William Tecumseh Sherman's cavalry was sent to raid the county; but the Confederate Home Guard, made up of men too old for military duty, left the mountains on which Cornelia is situated and met the Union soldiers at a narrow pass about four miles east of the town. By making considerable noise and stirring up clouds of smoke, they scared off the Union soldiers and saved the area from complete devastation. Today this skirmish is remembered as "The Battle of the Narrows".

Education
Cornelia has been helped in its growth by its good schools. In the early days, the school system was owned and operated by the town of Cornelia. Each student provided their books and paid a tuition fee, half payable before Christmas, with the balance due after Christmas. The school principal would determine what books would be needed and would then send someone to Atlanta to order books and supplies personally from the publishers (Maxwell, p. 4). Among the first schools was the Kimsey Institute, located on land given by T.J. Kimsey. The First Baptist Church was organized there; for many years it was used for both school and church. Willie Grant and J.T. Wise were two of the early teachers. After attendance outgrew the early frame building in 1897, another school was built with Professor A.E. Booth elected as principal. According to the document published by the Habersham County Department of Education in 1937, Professor Booth added a training course for teachers, and students were attracted to this school from all sections of northeast Georgia (p. 21). Cornelia Normal Institute was chartered on May 27, 1901. In 1952, the schools in Habersham were consolidated. The elementary schools had been kept in each town but two high schools were built, one to serve each end of the county. Prior to 1952, Cornelia Public School served all the students residing in Cornelia. The high school curriculum included college preparatory and business classes, athletics for both males and females, music, and "expression" (speech classes). The school's first graduates were in the Class of 1899 and included Martin L. York, Charles Crunkleton, Calvania T. York, Albert N. McConnell, Wylie G. Light, and Ida K. Baugh.

German and Swiss immigrants used their wine-making skills to create an industry in the 1880s that flourished until a prohibition law stopped it. Cotton, timber and lumber products, and the apple and peach industries were also important to the success of the area. Riegel Textile built one of the region's first major industrial facilities in 1966 with what was then an ultra-modern, cutting edge textile mill designed by Bill Pittendreigh in the neighboring community of Alto. As with any city, there were a number of businesses, but hotels contributed greatly to the growth and development of the city in its early history.

The Big Red Apple
Cornelia's Big Red Apple, located at the old train depot in downtown, pays homage to the apple and apple growers of the county. Built of steel and concrete in 1925, the statue, according to Habersham County, weighs 5200 lb and is 7 ft high.

Towards the end of World War I, "extension agents" began to play a very important role in northeast Georgia. These people, as a group, supported the end of the one-crop (cotton) economy. Throughout the state they began to educate farmers in crop diversification so that if one crop failed income from other crops could support the family. In Gwinnett, Cherokee and Hall counties, farmers increased production of dairy products. The peach crop in Bartow County was expanded. In Habersham and Gilmer counties farmers increased production of apples and peaches.

The extension agents' push for this diversity seemed almost prescient, for in 1922 the boll weevil began the systematic destruction of cotton crops in the state of Georgia. By 1924 cotton output had dropped to 50% of earlier levels. In 1925 the people of Cornelia realized that the apple had been a key in preventing the scourge that destroyed other counties and drove rural families to cities like Atlanta and Macon. The concept for the statue was born, thanks in part to the newly formed Kiwanis Club.

At the dedication on June 4, 1926, many notables attended, including Senator Walter F. George. Because apple sales were off dramatically, in 1932 local farmers decided to put them in cold storage until the following spring, but the sales did not materialize, so the farmers were not only out the cost of raising the crop, they were also out the cost of storing the crop. By the summer of 1933, the apples that had saved the county less than 10 years earlier nearly destroyed it.

Through the years downtown Cornelia changed dramatically. As the railroad era passed the old depot was closed and boarded up, and the once central location was only a side street. A recent renovation has brought the depot back to life, and the quiet Big Red Apple is the focal point of a yearly festival held the first week in October and a 5K road race held at the end of October.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 4,503 people, 1,365 households, and 871 families residing in the city.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 4,160 people, 1,495 households, and 1,495 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,071.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,728 housing units at an average density of 469.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 67.7% White, 5.7% African American, 0.9% Native American, 4.2% Asian (3.0% Laotian), 0.6% Pacific Islander, 16.5% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.8% of the population (26.7% Mexican).

There were 1,016 households, out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.4% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,111, and the median income for a family was $42,041. Males had a median income of $25,505 versus $20,404 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,701. About 8.8% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.

title: Cornelia, Georgia


text:
Demorest, Georgia

Demorest is a city in Habersham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,022 at the 2020 census, up from 1,823 at the 2010 census, and 1,465 at the 2000 census. It is the home of Piedmont University.

Geography
Demorest is located in south-central Habersham County. U.S. Route 441 Business (signed "U.S. 441 Historic Route") runs through the center of town as Central Avenue, leading north 4 mi to Clarkesville, the county seat, and south 4 miles to Cornelia.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Demorest has a total area of 5.9 km2, of which 5.8 km2 are land and 0.1 km2, or 1.28%, are water.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 2,022 people, 664 households, and 395 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 1,465 people, 498 households, and 292 families residing in the city. The population density was 644.4 PD/sqmi. There were 564 housing units at an average density of 248.1 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 92.70% White, 3.96% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.

There were 498 households, out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.2% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 15.1% under the age of 18, 28.6% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,382, and the median income for a family was $39,917. Males had a median income of $29,485 versus $24,861 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,981. About 7.8% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

History
The land where Demorest is now located was given by the State of Georgia to W. Stripling in 1829. Stripling did little with the land aside from maintaining a family farm. In 1840, the land was transferred to Dr. Paul Rossignol who built a summer home on the west side of Lake Demorest. That house became significant to the history of Demorest. Among other things, it was one of the first buildings used by Piedmont College, now Piedmont University, which was established in 1897.

Demorest was platted in 1890 as a temperance town, and named after William Jennings Demorest, a prohibition advocate. Georgia General Assembly incorporated the place as the "City of Demorest" in 1889.

Notable landmarks
Notable landmarks in the city include Demorest Springs Park, the Old Demorest Train Depot, Demorest Women's Club and the former Lake Demorest.

One of Demorest's most popular landmarks is the Johnny Mize Athletic Center and Museum. The museum is owned by Piedmont University and is named for Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize. Mize was born in Demorest, and played baseball at Piedmont. The museum houses Mize memorabilia from his time at Piedmont as well as from his professional baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants and the New York Yankees. In addition to the museum, Mize's childhood home is a Georgia Historical site with a private owner.

The most recent landmark is the new addition of the pedestrian bridge over a span of Historic U.S. 441 in front of the Piedmont University campus. The new bridge was assembled off-site and lowered into place by crane. The bridge was modeled after the Vanderbilt University 21st Avenue Pedestrian Bridge. The installation of the bridge was a joint project of the Georgia Department of Transportation, Piedmont College and the city of Demorest.

title: Demorest, Georgia


text:
Mount Airy, Georgia

Mount Airy is a town in Habersham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,284 at the 2010 census, up from 604 at the 2000 census.

History
The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Mount Airy as a town in 1874. The town's name may be descriptive or a transfer from Mount Airy, North Carolina.

Lawton Place, a historic house once lived in by Ty Cobb, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
Mount Airy is located in southern Habersham County and is bordered to the west by the city of Cornelia and to the south by Chattahoochee National Forest. The town sits on top of the Eastern Continental Divide, with Camp Creek, draining the northern half of town, flowing north to Hazel Creek and the Soquee River, a tributary of the Chattahoochee River, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico, while the southern half of town drains to Nancy Town Creek, then the Middle Fork of the Broad River and eventually the Savannah River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.7 sqkm, of which 0.02 sqkm, or 0.31%, are water.

At 1539 ft above sea level, Mount Airy is the highest point on the Southern Railway line between New Orleans and Washington, D.C. This is confirmed by a US Geological survey marker located on the tracks just behind the City Hall.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 604 people, 235 households, and 179 families residing in the town. The population density was 323.3 PD/sqmi. There were 256 housing units at an average density of 137 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 92.38% White, 2.32% African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.81% Asian, 0.99% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.65% of the population.

There were 235 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,813, and the median income for a family was $45,375. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $23,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,493. About 3.5% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

title: Mount Airy, Georgia


text:
Raoul, Georgia

Raoul is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Habersham County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a population of 2,558, up from 1,816 at the 2000 census.

Geography
Raoul is located in the southwest corner of Habersham County and is bordered to the northeast by the town of Alto and to the southeast by Banks County. Georgia State Route 13 (Gainesville Highway) forms the Banks County line at Raoul, and four-lane U.S. Route 23 (Tommy Irwin Parkway) forms the northwest edge of the community. Cornelia is 6 mi to the northeast, and Gainesville is 18 mi to the southwest.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Raoul CDP has a total area of 5.2 sqkm, of which 0.02 sqkm, or 0.33%, are water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,558 people, 348 households, and 262 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1266.3 PD/sqmi. There were 405 housing units at an average density of 200.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 66.8% White, 24.6% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 6.0% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.2% of the population.

There were 405 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.36.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 13.1% under the age of 20, 8.83% from 20 to 24, 49.2% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.1 years. Raoul has the highest percentage of females found in any U.S. city. Females made up 80.6% of the population, and 86.9% of the population from ages 20 to 64 were female. This imbalance is caused by there being over a thousand women at Lee Arrendale State Prison, an all women's prison (since 2005) whose address although listed as Alto, GA actually is within the limits of Raoul.

As of the 2000 census, $35,192, and the median income for a family was $36,538. Males had a median income of $25,313 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $6,871. About 14.4% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 15.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure
Georgia Department of Corrections Lee Arrendale State Prison is in Raoul.

Education
All of Habersham County is served by the Habersham County School District.

title: Raoul, Georgia


text:
Tallulah Falls, Georgia

Tallulah Falls is a town in Habersham and Rabun counties in the U.S. state of Georgia near the Tallulah River. The population was 199 at the 2020 census.

History
The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Tallulah Falls as a town in 1885. The community took its name from a nearby waterfall, which today is submerged beneath the waters of Tallulah Falls Lake.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.1 km$2$), of which 8.1 square miles (21.1 km$2$) is land and 0.4 square mile (1.0 km$2$) (4.68%) is water. U.S. Highway 23-441, one of the principal thoroughfares into the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains, bisects the town.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 164 people, 71 households, and 47 families residing in the town. The population density was 20.1 people per square mile (7.8/km$2$). There were 106 housing units at an average density of 13.0 per square mile (5.0/km$2$). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White.

There were 71 households, out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.0% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 31.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,833, and the median income for a family was $52,500. Males had a median income of $43,750 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,663. About 4.2% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 34.4% of those 65 or over.

In the media
Tallulah Falls was the filming location for portions of the 1972 film Deliverance.

Hollywood actress Tallulah Bankhead was named after her paternal grandmother, who in turn was named after Tallulah Falls.

title: Tallulah Falls, Georgia


text:
Clermont, Georgia

Clermont is a town in Hall County, Georgia, United States. The population was 875 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Gainesville, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
An early variant name was "Dip". A post office called Dip was established in 1892, and the name was changed to Clermont in 1905. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the place in 1913 as the "Town of Clermont", with municipal corporate limits extending in a one-mile radius from the intersection of King and Main streets.

Geography
Clermont is located in northern Hall County and U.S. Route 129 passes through the town, leading north 9 mi to Cleveland and south 15 mi to Gainesville, the county seat. Georgia State Route 283 and Georgia State Route 284 intersect in Clermont.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.7 km2, of which 0.04 sqkm, or 0.46%, are water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 419 people, 161 households, and 124 families residing in the town. The population density was 434.5 PD/sqmi. There were 170 housing units at an average density of 176.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.18% White, 0.95% African American, 1.43% Native American, 0.24% Asian, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.

There were 161 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,333, and the median income for a family was $46,000. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,558. About 4.8% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.

title: Clermont, Georgia


text:
Flowery Branch, Georgia

Flowery Branch is a city in Hall County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 9,391. It is part of the Gainesville, Georgia metropolitan area, and lies on the shores of Lake Lanier.

History
Flowery Branch was established in 1874, one year after the Richmond and Danville Air-Line Railroad Railway System built a rail line through the city connecting Charlotte to Atlanta. The city hosts the Historic Caboose exhibit and the Historic Train Depot museum.

Flowery Branch was originally named Anaguluskee, a Cherokee Indian word meaning "flowers on the branch". Other sources claim the original name was Nattagasska ("Blossom Creek"), which long-term residents recall as an alternative nickname for the town.

Andrew Jackson passed through Flowery Branch on his way to the First Seminole War in 1818. The historic Bowman-Pirkle House, built that same year, was originally located on the border of Flowery Branch and Buford.

Part of the historic Old Federal Road is in Flowery Branch. It was an important route through northern Georgia in the early to mid-1800s. Its most obvious significance lay in four issues: the early history of Cherokee-U.S. social, economic, and cultural relations in the early 1800s, the eventual use of the Road as part of the Trail of Tears, use of the Road during the Georgia Gold Rush, and Union and Confederate use of the Road during the campaigns for Chickamauga in 1863 and Atlanta in 1864.

Ferdinand de Soto entered Hall County in March 1540 in transit between Stone Mountain and the Conasauga River.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.32 sqmi, of which, 6.32 sqmi is land and 0.40% is water.

Flowery Branch is within the Brevard Fault zone.

Natural resources in the Flowery Branch area include: gray marble, marble, clay, granite, graphite, limestone, iron ore, manganese, pegmatite, mica, beryl, quartzite, zircon, lead, copper, silver, and gold as known by the local Gold Hill Mine and regional popularity of The Hall County Gold Belt prospected during the Georgia Gold Rush. Pyrite is also abundant in the region. Other resources located within the near vicinity of Flowery Branch include: asbestos, corundum, sand, and precious gems such as diamond and ruby.

Flowery Branch borders Chestnut Mountain and Oakwood. City limits are 1 mi from Gainesville and Braselton. Flowery Branch is on the shores of Lake Lanier.

2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,391 people, 2,976 households, and 1,862 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,806 people, 706 households, and 475 families residing in the town. The population density was 725.3 PD/sqmi. There were 820 housing units at an average density of 329.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 80.22% White, 10.18% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 2.21% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 9.69% of the population.

There were 706 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 23.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 25.7% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,478, and the median income for a family was $38,500. Males had a median income of $29,572 versus $21,382 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,970. About 9.5% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and 21.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
The Atlanta Falcons football team's training camp has been located in Flowery Branch since the start of the 2005 season.

King's Hawaiian operates a 116,000-sq ft bakery and distribution center in Flowery Branch.

Wrigley's, a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, manufactures chewing gum products including Juicy Fruit, Orbit, Extra, and 5 in Flowery Branch.

Education
Public education in Flowery Branch is served by Hall County Schools. Part of the city is zoned to Flowery Branch Elementary School, West Hall Middle School, and West Hall High School. Another part is zoned to Spout Springs Elementary School, Davis Middle School, and Flowery Branch High School.

Popular culture
Films and movies filmed in Flowery Branch include Ozark and Blended.

Notable people

 * Andrew Jannakos, singer-songwriter, known for "Gone Too Soon"
 * Brad Keller, baseball player
 * Phil Niekro, pitcher, MLB Hall of Fame
 * Connor Shaw, football player
 * John-Allison Weiss, singer/songwriter

title: Flowery Branch, Georgia