Peachtree Corners, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peachtree Corners, Georgia
City
Entrance to Peachtree Corners at Peachtree Blvd and Peachtree Pkwy
Seal Official Logo
Nickname(s):  The Corners, PTC
Motto(s):  Innovative & Remarkable
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Gwinnett
Incorporated	July 1, 2012
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	16.23 sq mi (42.03 km2)
• Land	16.11 sq mi (41.71 km2)
• Water	0.12 sq mi (0.32 km2)
Elevation	994 ft (303 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	42,243
• Density	2,622.97/sq mi (1,012.75/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	30010, 30071, 30092, 30096, 30097
Area code(s)	770, 678, 404, 470
FIPS code	13-59735
GNIS feature ID	2710337

Peachtree Corners is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. It's part of the big Atlanta area. With over 42,000 people, it's the largest city in Gwinnett County, based on the 2020 U.S. census. This city is special because it's the only northern suburb of Atlanta that was built as a planned community. The Chattahoochee River forms its northern and western borders.

History of Peachtree Corners

Early Settlement and Growth

Before 1818, the land that is now Peachtree Corners was home to Creek and Cherokee Native American groups. It was against the law for white families to live there. However, some families, like Isham Medlock, settled in the area anyway. A road was built in the early 1800s, following an old Native American trail. A small farming town called "Pinckneyville" grew up along this road.

By 1827, Pinckneyville had the second school in Gwinnett County, called Washington Academy. The town also had a post office, a blacksmith shop, and an inn. But Pinckneyville's success didn't last long. In 1870, a railroad was built through nearby Norcross. Because it was easier to trade goods by train, many businesses and people moved from Pinckneyville to Norcross.

Developing a Planned Community

For the next 100 years, the area remained a quiet farming community. In the late 1960s, a man named Paul Duke had an idea. He wanted to create Peachtree Corners as a planned community in the old Pinckneyville area. In 1967, Duke started planning Technology Park Atlanta. This was a special area for high-tech companies. These companies would hire engineers and business people who graduated from universities like the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).

Early companies in the technology park included GE, Scientific Atlanta, and Hayes Microcomputer Products. In 1968, Duke created Peachtree Corners, Inc., a company to build the homes in the community. During the 1970s, Jim Cowart helped build the neighborhoods Duke had planned. These included Peachtree Station and Spalding Corners.

Becoming an Official City

In 1993, a group called the United Peachtree Corners Civic Association (UPCCA) was formed. They wanted to make sure new buildings and developments were planned well. In 1999, people first talked about making Peachtree Corners an official city. The idea came up again in 2005, but it didn't happen then.

In 2010, the UPCCA tried again to make Peachtree Corners a city. On November 8, 2011, the people living in Peachtree Corners voted to become a city. It became the 16th city in Gwinnett County. With over 43,000 people, it was the county's largest city. Peachtree Corners officially started operating as a city on July 1, 2012.

Geography and Location

The Chattahoochee River, seen here at Jones Bridge Park, flows through many of Peachtree Corners' neighborhoods.

Peachtree Corners is in the western part of Gwinnett County. It's about 21 miles (33 km) from downtown Atlanta. The Chattahoochee River forms 7 miles of its northern and western border.

The city is next to several other cities:

• To the west: Dunwoody, Doraville, and Sandy Springs.
• To the south: Buford Highway and Norcross.
• To the north (across the Chattahoochee River): Roswell and Johns Creek.
• To the east: Berkeley Lake and Duluth.

People and Population

Peachtree Corners is a diverse city. According to the 2020 United States census, there were 42,243 people living here. There were 16,905 households and 10,668 families. The average household income in 2019 was about $71,149.

Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Peachtree Corners as of 2020:

Most people (86.9%) have lived in the same house for more than a year. The average household has 2.62 people. About 94.1% of the population has a high school diploma or higher. Also, 52.6% have a Bachelor's degree or higher.

Economy and Businesses

A building on Triangle Parkway in Peachtree Corners.

Peachtree Corners has a strong economy. It's known for its many businesses, especially in technology. You'll find companies focused on engineering, logistics (moving goods), health technology, and information technology.

Big companies have chosen Peachtree Corners for their offices:

• In 2014, United Arab Shipping Company moved its North American headquarters here. It later merged with Hapag-Lloyd, one of the world's largest shipping companies. They invested more money and added many jobs.
• In 2016, Comcast Corporation, a huge telecommunications company, moved its Southeast Headquarters to Peachtree Corners.
• In 2021, Intuitive Surgical, a company known for medical robots, announced a big expansion. They are building a large, eco-friendly medical campus. This will create 1,200 new jobs.
• Soliant Health, a healthcare staffing company, also expanded its headquarters in the city.

Many other well-known companies have a presence here, including Amazon, CarMax, Honeywell, and Siemens. The Harlem Globetrotters basketball team also has its headquarters in Peachtree Corners. The Southern Section of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) is located here too. The city has 12 hotels for visitors and business travelers.

Curiosity Lab: A Smart City Hub

Peachtree Corners is home to Curiosity Lab, a special 5G technology center. It's part of a 500-acre "smart city" technology park. This lab is one of the first places in the country where companies can test new smart technologies. It has a 25,000-square-foot Innovation Center and a 3-mile track for testing self-driving cars.

Developers can use Curiosity Lab to test things like:

• Self-driving vehicles
• Robotics
• Industrial drones
• Virtual reality training
• Remote medical care
• Smart health devices

Companies like Jacobs Engineering Group, Delta Air Lines, Bosch, Cisco Systems, and Qualcomm are working with Peachtree Corners. They are developing smart systems that connect vehicles and city infrastructure. This helps with traffic management and road safety. Curiosity Lab has even won an award for its work in transportation.

The French-American Chamber of Commerce and La French Tech have also partnered with Curiosity Lab. This helps French tech companies grow and expand into North America. The city also funds a non-profit business incubator at Curiosity Lab. This helps new software and hardware tech companies get started.

Arts and Culture

Peachtree Corners has many fun events throughout the year:

• Summer Concert Series: Live music on the Town Green.
• Art on the Chattahoochee: An art festival by the Chattahoochee River at Jones Bridge Park. It features artists, live demonstrations, and a "Budding Artist Kid's Zone."
• Peachtree Corners Festival: A festival with arts, crafts, live music, and food.
• Holiday Glow on the Town Green: An evening event with choral performances and tree lighting.
• Atlanta Sci-Fi Film Festival: Supported by HBO, this festival is hosted in Peachtree Corners.

The Gwinnett County Public Library system has a branch in Peachtree Corners.

Parks and Recreation

Peachtree Corners offers many parks and outdoor spaces:

• Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: Along the Chattahoochee River.
• Medlock Bridge Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area: With river access.
• Holcomb Bridge Park: A 12-acre park with an amphitheater overlooking the river.
• Jones Bridge Park: A 30-acre park with pavilions, soccer fields, and river frontage.
• Pinckneyville Park: A large 93-acre park with many different facilities.
• Simpsonwood Park: A 227-acre park with over 2,000 feet of river frontage.

The Southern Section of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) has its headquarters here.

Shopping and Entertainment

Peachtree Corners has two main shopping and entertainment areas:

• The Forum on Peachtree Parkway: An outdoor mall with restaurants and unique shops.
• Peachtree Corners Town Center: Located across from The Forum, it has more restaurants, a movie theater, and an amphitheater. It also features a Veterans Monument.

A special 14-foot wide pedestrian bridge connects the Town Center and The Forum. It has elevators and stairs, making it easy for people to walk between the two areas. This bridge also connects to the Corners Connector Trail system. This trail system links office parks, restaurants, shops, and neighborhoods.

The city also holds public running events each year, like the "Light Up The Corners Glow Run" and the "Twilight Trot."

Education and Schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is the public school district for Peachtree Corners.

Some of the elementary schools that serve parts of Peachtree Corners include:

• Peachtree Elementary
• Simpson Elementary
• Stripling Elementary (in Norcross)
• Norcross Elementary (in Norcross)
• Berkeley Lake Elementary (in Berkeley Lake)

Most of these elementary schools feed into Pinckneyville Middle School. Norcross Elementary feeds into Summerour Middle School. All these areas then go to Norcross High School and Paul Duke STEM High School, both in Norcross. Norcross High School offers the IB Diploma Programme. Some areas also go to Duluth Middle School and Duluth High School.

Other public schools nearby include:

• Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology
• North Metro Academy of Performing Arts
• McClure Health Science High School

Private schools in Peachtree Corners are:

• Wesleyan School (Kindergarten to 12th grade)
• Cornerstone Christian Academy (Kindergarten to 8th grade)

There are also charter schools:

• International Charter Academy of Georgia: Opened in 2018, it offers a bilingual English and Japanese program for K-5th grade.
• New Life Academy of Excellence: Offers a bilingual English and Chinese program for K-8th grade.

The Gwinnett County Public Library has a branch in Peachtree Corners.

Media and Filming Locations

As part of the Metro Atlanta area, Peachtree Corners has access to many TV stations and radio stations. It is served by two daily newspapers, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The city also has its own ways to share news:

• City Website: Provides information and email updates.
• Peachtree Corners Magazine: A free magazine published every two months. It shares news about city events and topics.
• Peachtree Corners Business Newsletter: A monthly newsletter for the business community.

Peachtree Corners has been a filming location for movies and TV shows:

• The 2012 movie The Watch filmed at a former store.
• The 2015 movie Barely Lethal filmed at a home on Fitzpatrick Way.
• In 2021, season 4 of the Netflix show Ozark filmed at Jones Bridge Park and other areas in the city.

City Services and Transportation

Getting Around Peachtree Corners

Ga Route 141 - Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree Corners

Peachtree Corners is close to major highways like I-285 and I-85. Key roads within the city include GA 141 (Peachtree Parkway/Medlock Bridge Road), GA 140 (Holcomb Bridge Road), and Peachtree Corners Circle.

Electric Vehicles

The city supports electric vehicles. It has one of Georgia's largest free electric vehicle charging stations. It also has the country's first roadway surface solar panel system to power it. The city plans to add more solar power for other city structures.

Public Transportation

Gwinnett County Transit serves the city. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has train stations nearby. These stations connect to Atlanta, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and other places. The city also has a self-driving shuttle that operates on Technology Parkway.

Airports Near Peachtree Corners

• DeKalb–Peachtree Airport: About 7.9 miles (13 km) away, for smaller planes.
• Gwinnett County Airport: About 18 miles (29 km) away.
• Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport: A major airport for domestic and international flights, about 29 miles (46 km) south of the city.

Walking and Biking

The West Gwinnett Bikeway is a multi-use trail along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. It connects to neighboring Duluth and Norcross. Peachtree Corners has added many new sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and street lights. This makes the city safer and easier to walk around. The city also has a 14-foot wide pedestrian bridge over S.R. 141 (Peachtree Parkway). This bridge connects The Forum and the Town Center. The city is also building the Corners Connector Trail system. This system will link office parks, restaurants, shops, and neighborhoods. The city has also launched the world's first fleet of shared E-scooters that can be moved remotely.

City Software

Peachtree Corners has its own smartphone app called "CornersConnect." This app helps residents and visitors find events, dining, parks, bus routes, and city news. Users can also pay bills, register to vote, and report areas that need improvement.

Safety Services

Peachtree Corners is served by the Gwinnett County Fire and Rescue Department. The West Precinct of the Gwinnett Police Department covers the city. The city also has its own certified city marshals who help the police.

Famous People from Peachtree Corners

• David Andrews: NFL football player for the New England Patriots.
• Brice Butler: NFL wide receiver.
• Scott Hilton: American banker and politician.
• Chandler Massey: Actor, known for Days of Our Lives.
• Jodie Meeks: NBA shooting guard.
• James Ramsey: Major League Baseball player.
• Trey Thompkins: Basketball player.

Images for kids

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  Pedestrian bridge connecting The Forum with Town Center