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Alpharetta, Georgia
Alpharetta City Hall
Alpharetta City Hall
Flag of Alpharetta, Georgia
Flag
Official seal of Alpharetta, Georgia
Seal
Official logo of Alpharetta, Georgia
Logo
Country United States
State Georgia
County Fulton
Incorporated December 11, 1858
Area
 • Total 27.27 sq mi (70.62 km2)
 • Land 26.90 sq mi (69.67 km2)
 • Water 0.37 sq mi (0.95 km2)
Elevation
1,135 ft (346 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 65,818
 • Density 2,447/sq mi (945/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
30004, 30005, 30009, 30022
Area codes 770, 404, 678
FIPS code 13-01696
GNIS feature ID 0310497

Alpharetta is a city in northern Fulton County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the larger Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2020, Alpharetta had a population of 65,818 people.

History of Alpharetta

Early Days and Cherokee Lands

In the 1830s, the Cherokee people, who lived in Georgia and other parts of the Southern United States, were forced to move. They were relocated to an area called the Indian Territory, which is now Oklahoma. This happened because of a law called the Indian Removal Act. After the Cherokee people left, new settlers and farmers moved onto the land. This land was along an old Cherokee trail that went from the North Georgia mountains to the Chattahoochee River.

First Landmarks and Trading Posts

One of the first important places in the area was the New Prospect Camp Ground. This was a Methodist camp located near a natural spring, close to where downtown Alpharetta is today. This camp later became a trading post. Here, settlers could exchange goods with each other.

Becoming a City

The area was known as the town of Milton until July 1858. On December 11, 1858, the city of Alpharetta officially became a city with its own municipal charter. Its boundaries stretched about half a mile from the city courthouse. Alpharetta was the main town, or county seat, for Milton County. However, in 1931, Milton County joined with Fulton County. This happened during the Great Depression because Milton County was facing bankruptcy.

What's in a Name?

The name "Alpharetta" might come from a fictional Indian girl named Alfarata. She was in a popular 19th-century song called "The Blue Juniata". Another idea is that the name comes from "alpha", which is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.

Old Buildings and the Civil War

The Simeon and Jane Rucker Log House was built in 1833. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

During the American Civil War (1861-1865), people in Alpharetta worked as farmers, blacksmiths, and merchants. Some also owned a small number of slaves. Local men joined the fighting or helped protect their homes. However, the Union army did not come as far north as Alpharetta.

Geography of Alpharetta

Downtown Alpharetta, Georgia
Downtown Alpharetta

Alpharetta is located in northern Fulton County. It shares borders with Johns Creek to the southeast, Roswell to the south and west, and Milton to the north. Part of its northeast border is with land in Forsyth County. Downtown Alpharetta is about 26 miles (42 km) north of downtown Atlanta.

The United States Census Bureau says that Alpharetta covers an area of about 27.3 square miles (70.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 26.9 square miles (69.7 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.37 square miles (1.0 square kilometer), is water.

Alpharetta's Climate

Alpharetta has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. It is part of USDA hardiness zone 7b, which helps gardeners know which plants can grow there.

People in Alpharetta (Demographics)

The word "demographics" describes the different groups of people living in a place. Here's a look at Alpharetta's population over the years and its racial makeup.

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 261
1870 126 −51.7%
1880 164 30.2%
1890 256 56.1%
1900 310 21.1%
1910 356 14.8%
1920 379 6.5%
1930 477 25.9%
1940 647 35.6%
1950 917 41.7%
1960 1,349 47.1%
1970 2,455 82.0%
1980 3,128 27.4%
1990 13,002 315.7%
2000 34,854 168.1%
2010 57,551 65.1%
2020 65,818 14.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850-1870 1870-1880
1890-1910 1920-1930
1940 1950 1960
1970 1980 1990
2000 2010
Alpharetta racial composition as of 2020
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 36,473 55.41%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 6,667 10.13%
Native American 101 0.15%
Asian 13,181 20.03%
Pacific Islander 22 0.03%
Other/Mixed 3,254 4.94%
Hispanic or Latino 6,120 9.3%

In 2020, there were 65,818 people living in Alpharetta. These people lived in 25,391 households, and 18,167 of these were families.

Alpharetta's Economy

Top Employers

Many companies have offices in Alpharetta, providing jobs for many people. Here are some of the largest private employers in the city as of 2022:

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

Shopping and Entertainment Areas

Alpharetta has several large shopping and entertainment areas:

  • North Point Mall: A traditional mall that is being updated.
  • Avalon: A large area with shops, restaurants, and homes that opened in 2014.
  • The Maxwell: A retail space in Downtown Alpharetta with entertainment, restaurants, and health businesses. Downtown Alpharetta also has over 600 businesses, including hotels, boutiques, and coffee shops.

Data Centers

Alpharetta has invested in optical fiber technology since the 1980s. This means it has many data centers, which are places that store and manage large amounts of computer data. The city's technology industry, especially in finance (fintech), has helped these data centers grow.

Tech Alpharetta

Tech Alpharetta is an organization started by the city in 2012. It is a nonprofit organization that helps Alpharetta become a leader in technology and innovation. Tech Alpharetta works with local tech companies and holds events for technology leaders. It also runs the Tech Alpharetta Innovation Center, which helps new technology startups grow.

Major Companies in Alpharetta

5995 Windward Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA March 2017
McKesson Corporation offices
1000 Windward Concourse, Alpharetta, Georgia March 2017
Travelers Insurance offices

Some companies like Cynergy Data have their main offices in Alpharetta.

Attractions and Events in Alpharetta

Parks and Green Spaces

Willspark00342
Wills Park
  • The Alpharetta Arboretum at Wills Park was created in 2008. It has 26 different types of trees. You can get a brochure at the Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center to take a walking tour of the trees.
  • The Alpharetta Arboretum at Cogburn Road Park also has a collection of trees.
  • The Alpharetta Big Creek Greenway is a 6.1-mile (9.8 km) long concrete path. It winds through the woods along Big Creek. It's a great place for walking, jogging, inline skating, and biking. There are also extra trails for mountain biking.

Fun Festivals and Markets

  • The Alpharetta Farmers Market is held every week in downtown Alpharetta from April to October. It was named "Best Saturday Morning Excursion" by Atlanta magazine in 2007.
  • The Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest happens on the first Saturday in October in downtown Alpharetta.
  • The Taste of Alpharetta is a yearly food festival in May. It features food from local restaurants, live music, and art.
  • The Wire and Wood Alpharetta Songwriters Festival is held in downtown Alpharetta in October.

Entertainment and Sports

  • Ameris Bank Amphitheatre is a large outdoor concert venue that can hold 12,000 people. It is the summer home of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and hosts many famous bands and musicians.
  • The Exiles Rugby Football Club is based in Alpharetta. Both the men's and women's teams play in rugby tournaments. They also work with Rebels Rugby, a local youth rugby club for boys and girls aged 10 to 18.
  • North Park, Wills Park, and Webb Bridge Park have 15 lighted tennis courts and 8 pickleball courts. You can take lessons, join clinics, or play in leagues.

Historical Sites

  • The Mansell House and Gardens is a beautiful 1912 home built in the Queen Anne style. It is used for special events and is also home to the Alpharetta Historical Society.

Education in Alpharetta

Schools for Kids

The schools in Alpharetta are part of the Fulton County Schools system.

Elementary Schools

  • Abbotts Hill Elementary School
  • Alpharetta Elementary School
  • Birmingham Falls Elementary School in Milton
  • Cogburn Woods Elementary School in Milton
  • Crabapple Crossing Elementary School in Milton
  • Creek View Elementary School
  • Dolvin Elementary School
  • F.A.S.T. k-8
  • Hembree Springs Elementary School in Roswell
  • Lake Windward Elementary School
  • Manning Oaks Elementary School
  • Mimosa Elementary School in Roswell
  • New Prospect Elementary School
  • Ocee Elementary School in Johns Creek
  • Summit Hill Elementary School in Milton

Middle Schools

  • Autrey Mill Middle School in Johns Creek
  • Elkins Pointe Middle School in Roswell
  • Haynes Bridge Middle School
  • Holcomb Bridge Middle School
  • Hopewell Middle School in Milton
  • Northwestern Middle School in Milton
  • Taylor Road Middle School in Johns Creek
  • Webb Bridge Middle School
  • Amana Academy, a public charter school in Alpharetta for students in Kindergarten to 8th grade
  • Fulton Science Academy (FSA), a private school in Roswell for students in 6th to 8th grade

High Schools

  • Alpharetta High School serves most of Alpharetta
  • Cambridge High School in Milton
  • Centennial High School in Roswell
  • Chattahoochee High School in Johns Creek
  • Johns Creek High School in Johns Creek
  • Milton High School in Milton
  • Northview High School
  • Roswell High School in Roswell
  • Independence High School, an alternative school
  • Fulton Science Academy High School (formerly T. E. A. C. H.), a public charter school in Alpharetta for students in 9th to 12th grade.

Private Schools

  • The Lionheart School
  • St. Francis Schools
  • Mount Pisgah Christian School

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta also runs Holy Redeemer Catholic School (for grades K-8).

Colleges and Universities

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

Music Education

  • Alpharetta Symphony Youth Orchestra (ASYO)

Public Libraries

The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System operates the Alpharetta Branch, where you can find books and other resources.

Transportation in Alpharetta

Main Roads

Alpharetta is connected by several important state routes:

  • Georgia 9.svg State Route 9
  • Georgia 120.svg State Route 120
  • Georgia 140.svg State Route 140
  • Georgia 372.svg State Route 372
  • Georgia 400.svg State Route 400
  • US 19.svg U.S. Route 19

Walking and Biking Paths

  • There are plans to create the Alpha Loop, a path that will connect people in Alpharetta to parks, jobs, and other places. It will offer a safe way to get around without driving and is great for recreation.
  • The Big Creek Greenway is an 8-mile (13 km) concrete path. It runs along Big Creek and is perfect for walking, jogging, and biking. You might even see wildlife like blue herons and deer there!

Public Transportation

Alpharetta does not have direct MARTA train service. However, it is connected to the rest of Metro Atlanta by several bus routes. There have been studies about connecting Alpharetta to the train system in the future.

Notable People from Alpharetta

  • Auzoyah Alufohai, football player
  • Devontae Cacok, basketball player
  • Joshua Dobbs, football player
  • Anthony Fisher, basketball player
  • Jaycee Horn, football player
  • Ariana Savalas, performer
  • Dorothy Norwood, gospel singer
  • Lisa Wu, actress and former cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta
  • C. J. Abrams, baseball player
  • Brandon Beach, politician serving as a member of the Georgia State Senate
  • Malik Beasley, basketball player
  • Jaron Blossomgame, basketball player
  • Clint Boling, football player
  • Trey Britton, basketball player
  • Bobbi Kristina Brown, reality television star, musician, and the daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown
  • Lee Chapple, football player
  • CJ Cochran, soccer player
  • Kaiser Gates, basketball player
  • Cullen Harper, football player
  • Peyton Barber, football player
  • Marjorie Taylor Greene, politician and businesswoman
  • Courtney Jaye, singer and songwriter
  • Carl Lawson, football player
  • Brandon Leibrandt, baseball player
  • Madison Lintz, actress known for her roles as Sophia Peletier in The Walking Dead and Madeline "Maddie" Bosch in Bosch
  • Ken Flach, tennis player
  • Jack McInerney, soccer player
  • James Ramsey (baseball), college baseball coach and former professional baseball player
  • Ryann Redmond, actress and singer
  • Alex Ross, football player
  • Ryan Roushandel, soccer player and coach
  • Tyler Ruthven, soccer player
  • Marcus Sayles, football player
  • Shannon Scott, basketball player
  • Heath Slocum, professional golfer
  • Tanner Smith, basketball player and coach
  • Andy Stanley, founder and senior pastor of North Point Ministries
  • Maria Taylor, sportscaster for NBC Sports
  • Ty Toney, basketball player
  • Justin Tuggle, football player
  • Charlie Whitehurst, football player
  • Julie Aigner-Clark, former teacher, known for founding Baby Einstein

See Also

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