Forsyth County, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Forsyth County
U.S. county
Forsyth County Courthouse in Cumming
Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Founded	December 3, 1831; 194 years ago (1831)
Named for	John Forsyth
Seat	Cumming
Largest city	Big Creek CCD
Area
• Total	247 sq mi (640 km2)
• Land	224 sq mi (580 km2)
• Water	23 sq mi (60 km2)  9.4%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	251,283
• Estimate  (2023)	272,887
• Density	1,017.3/sq mi (392.8/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	30024, 30040, 30041, 30004, 30506, 30005, 30028
Congressional district	6th

Forsyth County (/fɔːrˈsaɪθ/ FOR-sythe or /ˈfɔːrsaɪθ/ FOR-sythe) is a county in the Northeast region of the U.S. state of Georgia. Suburban and exurban in character, Forsyth County lies within the Atlanta metropolitan area. The county's only incorporated city and county seat is Cumming. At the 2020 census, the population was 251,283. Forsyth was the fastest-growing county in Georgia and the 15th fastest-growing county in the United States between 2010 and 2019. Forsyth County's rapid population growth can be attributed to its proximity to high-income employment opportunities in nearby Alpharetta and northern Fulton County, its equidistant location between the big-city amenities of bustling Atlanta and the recreation offerings of the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, its plentiful supply of large, relatively affordable new-construction homes, and its highly ranked public school system. The influx of high-income professionals and their families has increased the county's median annual household income dramatically in recent years; at $104,687, Forsyth County was the wealthiest in Georgia and the 19th-wealthiest in the United States as of 2018 estimates.

In the 1980s, the county attracted national media attention as the site of large civil rights demonstrations and counter-demonstrations. Organizers hoped to dispel the county's image as a sundown county. During the 1987 Forsyth County protests officials kept peace with police officers and National Guard protecting the event as thousands of marchers protested the segregation in the county.

From 2007 to 2009, the county received national attention because of a severe drought. Water supplies for the Atlanta area and downstream areas of Alabama and Florida were threatened. This followed a more severe drought in 2007 and 2008, and flooding in 2009. Flooding occurred in 2013, and severe drought again in 2016. Georgia, Alabama and Florida have been in a tri-state water dispute since 1990 over apportionment of water flow from Lake Lanier, which forms the eastern border of the county and is regulated by the Army Corps of Engineers as a federal project.

History

For thousands of years, varying indigenous cultures lived in this area along the Etowah River. Starting near the end of the first millennium, Mound Builders of the Mississippian culture settled in this area; they built earthwork mound structures at nearby Etowah in present-day Bartow County, and large communities along the Etowah River in neighboring Cherokee County. They disappeared about 1500CE, before European encounter.

Members of the Iroquoian-speaking Cherokee Nation migrated into the area from the North, possibly from the Great Lakes area. They settled in the territory that would become Forsyth County and throughout upper Georgia and Alabama, also having settlements or towns in present-day Tennessee and western North Carolina.

After the discovery of gold by European Americans in the surrounding area in 1829, numerous settlers moved into the area. They increased the pressure on the state and federal government to have the Cherokee and other Native Americans removed to west of the Mississippi River, in order to extinguish their land claims and make land available for purchase. The Cherokee were forced to relocate during what was called the Trail of Tears.

Forsyth County was named after John Forsyth, Governor of Georgia from 1827–1829 and Secretary of State under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. For many years, much of this hill country was farmed by yeomen farmers, who did not own many slaves.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 247 square miles (640 km²), of which 224 square miles (580 km²) is land and 23 square miles (60 km²) (9.4%) is water.

The eastern two-thirds of Forsyth County are located in the Upper Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin), while the northwestern third of the county is located in the Etowah River sub-basin of the ACT River Basin (Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin).

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Dawson County - north
• Hall County - east
• Gwinnett County - southeast
• Fulton County - southwest
• Cherokee County - northwest

National protected areas

• Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (part)

Communities

City

• Cumming

Unincorporated communities

With only one officially incorporated city, the majority of Forsyth County citizens live in areas with zip codes assigned to cities in surrounding counties.

In addition, there are several unincorporated communities throughout the county.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 251,283 people, 81,765 households, and 66,802 families residing in the county.

Education

Higher education

The library at the University of North Georgia Cumming campus.

In 2012, the University of North Georgia established its Cumming campus.

Private K-12 education

• Cornerstone Schools
• Covenant Christian Academy
• Fideles Christian School
• Friendship Christian School
• Horizon Christian Academy
• Ivy League Montessori School
• Lakeview Academy
• McGinnis Woods Country Day School
• Montessori Academy at Sharon Springs
• Pinecrest Academy

Public K-12 education

Forsyth County is served by Forsyth County Schools. FCS serves over 51,000 students and is the largest employer in the county with over 8000 full-time employees and substitutes. Out of 180 school districts, FCS is the seventh largest school system in Georgia. FCS is home to 41 schools – twenty-two elementary, eleven middle, seven high schools, and one college and career high school, as well as the Academies for Creative Education (A.C.E) that houses one school, iAchieve Virtual Academy, FCS' 6–12 online school, and two programs, Gateway Academy (the alternative program for middle and high school students) and Forsyth Academy.

Elementary schools:

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

Middle schools:

• DeSana Middle School
• Hendricks Middle School
• Lakeside Middle School
• Liberty Middle School
• Little Mill Middle School
• North Forsyth Middle School
• Otwell Middle School
• Piney Grove Middle School
• Riverwatch Middle School
• South Forsyth Middle School
• Vickery Creek Middle School.

High schools:

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

Economy

Among the largest employers in the county are Northside Hospital, Koch Foods, Tyson Foods, Siemens, Scientific Games Corporation, Arris International, Baran Telecom, America BOA, Automation Direct, and L-3 Communications Display Systems.

An indicator that part of the county had reached the status of a mainstream suburban/exurban area and was starting to create new, positive history beyond its racist past, a mixed-use development Halcyon with residential, office, dining and entertainment facilities, opened in the southern part of the county near Alpharetta in summer 2019.

Recreation

One of the steam engines in the July 4, 2002 Parade in downtown Cumming

Lake Lanier, a 37,000-acre (150 km²) lake created and maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers in association with Buford Dam, is enjoyed by many residents and non-residents alike. Fishing, boating, tubing, wake boarding, and water skiing are common activities on the lake.

Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department maintains 25 parks and facilities in the county. Most notable are Sawnee Mountain Preserve, Central Park, Fowler Park, Poole's Mill Covered Bridge and the Big Creek Greenway. The Cumming Fairgrounds host many events throughout the year including a rodeo, The Cumming Country Fair, and a farmers' market. There is also the annual July 4 Steam Engine Parade.

Transportation

Major highways

Pedestrians and cycling

• Big Creek Greenway

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Forsyth (Georgia) para niños