Norcross, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norcross, Georgia
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Downtown Norcross
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| Motto(s):
"A place to Imagine"
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Location in Gwinnett County and the state of Georgia
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 Norcross, Georgia
Location in Metro Atlanta
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Gwinnett |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.17 sq mi (15.99 km2) |
| • Land | 6.15 sq mi (15.93 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,047 ft (319 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 17,209 |
| • Density | 2,797.76/sq mi (1,080.18/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
30003, 30010, 30071, 30091, 30093, 30097
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| Area code(s) | 770, 678, 470 |
| FIPS code | 13-55776 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0319621 |
Norcross is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. The population as of the 2010 census was 9,116, while in 2018 the estimated population was 16,563. It is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta metropolitan statistical area.
Contents
History
Named for former Atlanta Mayor Jonathan Norcross, it was chartered as a town on October 26, 1870.
The city sits along the Eastern Continental Divide. Streams to the west of the city center travel to the Chattahoochee River and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico, while streams to the east flow to the Yellow River, a tributary of the Ocmulgee River, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean north of Brunswick. This divide, or ridge, played a significant role in the early settlement of the area. Originally, the Creek and Cherokee people occupied this land, and the ridgeline was used as a major transportation route. Two American forts were established in the early 19th century due to the War of 1812: Fort Daniel (at Hog Mountain) and Peachtree Fort (in Atlanta). These two forts were connected by this old Indian trail which became known as the original Peachtree Road. By around 1840, this trail had evolved into a stagecoach route connecting South Carolina and Alabama through Georgia. The surrounding area became populated, and the small communities of Pinckneyville and Flint Hill prospered.
This all changed with the creation of the Richmond-Danville Railroad, designed to open up the wilderness areas of northeast Georgia. The railroad was proposed in 1856 by Jonathan Norcross (a former Atlanta mayor) and was subsequently approved. Construction was delayed, however, until 1866 because of the Civil War. On September 12, 1869, the first 20 miles (32 km) were completed. On October 16, 1889, John J. Thrasher bought the 250 acres (1.0 km2) surrounding the terminal for $1,650, and a town was born – named for Thrasher's good friend, Jonathan Norcross. The Brunswick Hotel was built in 1870, and Norcross quickly became known as a resort area, much like East Lake, for Atlantans wanting to escape the rapidly growing city. The new town also meant the demise of the surrounding communities of Pinckneyville and Flint Hill, as people migrated in to build houses, churches, schools, and to be near the railroad.
Norcross, Gwinnett County's second oldest city, saw new roads and highways which were later built by-pass the city, preserving its historic center as a 19th-century railroad town. The Norcross Historic District, comprising the center of town, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
As of 2016, the town has had an influx of Hispanic immigration, leading the white non-Hispanic population to shrink from 95% to 20% in a generation.
Geography
Norcross is located in western Gwinnett County at 33°56′N 84°13′W / 33.933°N 84.217°W (33.9386, -84.2086). It is bordered to the north by the city of Peachtree Corners. Interstate 85 forms the southern boundary of the city, with access from Exits 99 (Jimmy Carter Boulevard), 101 (Indian Trail Lilburn Road), and 102 (Georgia State Route 378). Downtown Atlanta is 20 miles (32 km) to the southwest via I-85.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Norcross has a total area of 4.65 square miles (12.05 km2), of which 4.64 square miles (12.02 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2), or 0.25%, is water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 500 | — | |
| 1890 | 713 | 42.6% | |
| 1900 | 797 | 11.8% | |
| 1910 | 968 | 21.5% | |
| 1920 | 993 | 2.6% | |
| 1930 | 892 | −10.2% | |
| 1940 | 979 | 9.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,340 | 36.9% | |
| 1960 | 1,605 | 19.8% | |
| 1970 | 2,755 | 71.7% | |
| 1980 | 3,363 | 22.1% | |
| 1990 | 5,947 | 76.8% | |
| 2000 | 8,410 | 41.4% | |
| 2010 | 9,116 | 8.4% | |
| 2020 | 17,209 | 88.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 3,342 | 19.42% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 3,370 | 19.58% |
| Native American | 26 | 0.15% |
| Asian | 1,920 | 11.16% |
| Pacific Islander | 15 | 0.09% |
| Other/Mixed | 603 | 3.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7,933 | 46.1% |
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.
Filming
The ABC Studios television show Resurrection was filmed in the town square and all around Norcross.
Education
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 (McClure)
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.
Transportation
Major roads
U.S. Route 23
Interstate 85
State Route 140
State Route 141
Interstate 285 (about 1.5 miles from city line)
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.
Notable people
- Alvin Kamara, NFL running back for the New Orleans Saints
- Chris Herndon, NFL tight end for the New York Jets
- Jason Croom, NFL tight end for the Buffalo Bills
- Davis Mills, NFL quarterback for the Houston Texans
See also
In Spanish: Norcross (Georgia) para niños
