Cumming, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cumming, Georgia
City
Cumming City Hall
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  Gateway to Leisure Living
Cumming, Georgia Location in Georgia (U.S. state) Show map of Georgia (U.S. state) Cumming, Georgia Location in the United States Show map of the United States Cumming, Georgia Location in Metro Atlanta Show map of Metro Atlanta
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Forsyth
Incorporated	1834
Chartered	1845
Named for	William Cumming
Area
• Total	7.23 sq mi (18.73 km2)
• Land	7.19 sq mi (18.62 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation	1,217 ft (371 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,318
• Density	1,017.80/sq mi (393.00/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	30028, 30040, 30041
Area code(s)	770
FIPS code	13-20932
GNIS feature ID	0331494

Cumming is a city in Georgia, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Forsyth County. Cumming is a suburban city, meaning it's a smaller community near a larger city, and it's part of the big Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2020, about 7,318 people lived in Cumming. Many more people (around 100,000) live in the areas just outside the city but still use a Cumming mailing address.

History of Cumming

The area where Cumming is now located was once west of a historic ferry crossing between Forsyth County and Hall County.

Early History of Cumming

1830 map showing Cherokee territory

The land that is now Cumming was first home to the Cherokee people. They arrived in 1755. The Cherokee and Creek people had disagreements over hunting grounds. After two years of fighting, the Cherokee won the land in the Battle of Taliwa. The Creek people then had to move south of the Chattahoochee River.

1834 map showing counties created from Cherokee land. Cumming is in the middle of Forsyth County.

The Cherokee lived alongside white settlers until gold was found in Georgia in 1828. Many settlers moved to the area to mine for gold. They wanted the Cherokee people to be moved away. In 1835, a special agreement called the Treaty of New Echota was signed. This treaty said the Cherokee Nation had to move to new lands in the west, beyond the Mississippi River. This forced journey is known as the Trail of Tears.

The Cherokee territory was then divided into new counties in 1831, including Cherokee County. In 1832, Cherokee County was split into several smaller counties, one of which was Forsyth County.

In 1833, the town of Cumming was created from two pieces of land. These lands were given out in a Georgia State Land Lottery in 1832. Two judges from Forsyth County bought these lands because they knew the county needed a central place for its government. The town's first boundaries were Tolbert Street to the west, Eastern Circle to the east, Resthaven Street to the south, and School Street to the north.

In 1834, a post office was opened, and mail delivery began. The judges divided the town land into smaller lots and sold them. They saved one lot for the county courthouse. In the same year, the Georgia State Legislature officially made Cumming a city and the government center of Forsyth County. The city was named after Colonel William Cumming.

Modern History of Cumming

In the 1830s and 1840s, Cumming grew because of the gold mining industry. Many businesses opened to serve the miners. However, when the California Gold Rush started in 1849, many people left, and Cumming's economy slowed down. New railroads were built that did not pass through Cumming, which also reduced visitors.

During the Civil War, Cumming was saved from damage. General William Tecumseh Sherman did not march through the city during his famous Sherman's March to the Sea. In 1900, the county courthouse was destroyed in a fire, but it was rebuilt in 1905.

Geography of Cumming

Cumming is located in the middle of Forsyth County. Its coordinates are 34°12′30″N 84°8′15″W / 34.20833°N 84.13750°W / 34.20833; -84.13750. It is about 39 miles (63 km) northeast of downtown Atlanta and 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Alpharetta.

The United States Census Bureau says that Cumming has a total area of 7.23 square miles (18.73 km²). Most of this area, 7.19 square miles (18.62 km²), is land. Only a small part, 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²), is water.

Population and Demographics

The population of Cumming has grown a lot over the years. In 1870, there were only 267 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 7,318 people.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,318 people living in Cumming. These people lived in 2,480 households, and 1,368 of these were families.

Education in Cumming

Cumming is part of the Forsyth County Schools district. Many schools are located in this district.

Elementary Schools

• Big Creek Elementary
• Brandywine Elementary
• Brookwood Elementary
• Chattahoochee Elementary
• Chestatee Elementary
• Coal Mountain Elementary
• Cumming Elementary
• Daves Creek Elementary
• Haw Creek Elementary
• Johns Creek Elementary
• Kelly Mill Elementary
• Mashburn Elementary
• Matt Elementary
• Midway Elementary
• Poole's Mill Elementary
• Sawnee Elementary
• Settles Bridge Elementary
• Sharon Elementary
• Shiloh Point Elementary
• Silver City Elementary
• Vickery Creek Elementary
• Whitlow Elementary

Middle Schools

• Veritas Classical Schools
• DeSana Middle
• Hendricks Middle
• Lakeside Middle
• Liberty Middle
• Little Mill Middle
• North Forsyth Middle
• Otwell Middle
• Piney Grove Middle
• Riverwatch Middle
• South Forsyth Middle
• Vickery Creek Middle

High Schools

• Alliance Academy for Innovation
• Denmark High School
• East Forsyth High School
• Forsyth Central High School
• Lambert High School
• North Forsyth High School
• Pinecrest Academy
• South Forsyth High School
• West Forsyth High School

Alternative Schools

• Creative Montessori School
• Forsyth Academy
• Forsyth Virtual Academy
• Gateway Academy

Higher Education

The library at the University of North Georgia Cumming campus.

In 2012, the University of North Georgia opened a campus in Cumming. This means students can attend college classes right in the city.

• Montessori Academy at Sharon Springs
• Mountain Education

Transportation in Cumming

Major Highways

Walking and Biking Paths

• Big Creek Greenway

Notable People from Cumming

Many interesting people have connections to Cumming:

• Luke Appling: A famous Major League Baseball player who is in the Hall of Fame.
• Zac Brown: The lead singer of the Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band was born here.
• Col. William Cumming: A respected officer from the War of 1812, the town is likely named after him.
• Skyler Day: An actress born in Cumming.
• Geoff Duncan: A businessman who served as the Lieutenant Governor of Georgia.
• Kelli Giddish: An actress who was born and grew up in Cumming.
• Colby Gossett: An NFL player who was born and grew up in Cumming.
• Wynn Everett: An actress who grew up in Cumming.
• Ethan Hankins: A baseball player for the Cleveland Guardians.
• R. J. Helton: A Christian music artist who was a finalist on the first season of American Idol.
• Rachael Kirkconnell: The winner of The Bachelor season 25, born and raised in Cumming.
• Billy Magnussen: An actor nominated for a Tony Award.
• Ron Reis: A former professional wrestler known as The Yeti, who lives in Cumming.
• Junior Samples: A comedian from the TV show Hee Haw.
• Glenn Sutko: A former catcher for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team.
• Roger L. Worsley: A college administrator who used to live in Cumming.

See also

In Spanish: Cumming (Georgia) para niños