[DC-2017] NorthFulton CommunityProfiles-020317

Cities in North Fulton
Fulton County Population: 977,773 County Seat: Atlanta
Median Household Income: $57,582 Median Home Price: $250,300
Square Miles: 526.64 Millage Rate: 10.281
North Fulton Municipalities: Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park,
Roswell, Sandy Springs
Alpharetta
alpharetta.ga.us
(678) 297-6000
Like many cities in the metro
area, Alpharetta sprang out
of settlements that emerged
after the Cherokee Indians
were forcibly removed from
Georgia in the 1830s. First
known as the New Prospect
Camp Ground, present-day
Alpharetta is located near a
natural spring that became
a trading post for nearby
Photo courtesy of Alpharetta CVB
settlers. Alpharetta was chartered in 1858 and until 1931 was the county
seat of Milton County, which merged with Fulton County in order to avoid
bankruptcy during the Great Depression.
The city has changed a lot in the past 84 years. With an area of 21.4 square miles,
it is one of the largest—and wealthiest—municipalities in North Fulton County.
Known as “The Technology City of the South,” Alpharetta is home to countless
office parks and IT centers. It is also a hub for many well- known businesses
like ADP, LexisNexis, Comcast and E-Trade, among others. Alpharetta is a
shopper’s paradise, with NorthPoint Mall and its surrounding neighborhoods
housing many major retailers. Avalon, a new mixed-use development from
North American Properties, which owns the Atlantic Station development in
Midtown Atlanta, is scheduled to be opened later this year. With retailers like
Whole Foods, J. Crew and Road Runner Sports confirmed and dining concepts
from some of the area’s best chefs, the development is sure to up the ante on
shopping and dining in the area. Festivals and musical performances abound
both in the historic downtown area and at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at
Encore Park, the summer home of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
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Johns Creek
johnscreekga.gov (678) 512-3200
One of the newer municipalities in North Fulton, Johns Creek was incorporated
in 2006. It has quickly earned a reputation as a business-friendly and affluent
community. While it shares similar history to many of the area’s other cities,
first as a trading post in Cherokee Territory, then as a community in what used
to be Milton County, Johns Creek has set itself apart. Initially conceived as a
planned community and the second campus of a technology business park
founded by two Georgia Tech graduates, the 1,700 acres of rural land soon
grew to house more than 200 businesses and more than 11,000 people across
28
Photo courtesy of Johns Creek
6 million square feet of office, retail and industrial space. Money magazine
ranked the city the 13th highest-earning city in the U.S. It has a total population
of more than 76,000 people, and its schools, which are part of the Fulton
County system, are some of the best in the metro area. Johns Creek boasts
three National Blue Ribbon Schools: Chattahoochee High School, River Trail
Middle School and Dolvin Elementary. Additionally, Northview High School has
been awarded the Governor’s Cup for earning the state’s highest SAT scores
three times.
In addition to a strong educational base, Johns Creek also has many cultural and
entertainment options for both residents and visitors. It is home to five public
golf facilities and one private one. The renowned Atlanta Athletic Club hosted
the 2011 PGA Championship. Festivals, farmers markets and its location on the
banks of the Chattahoochee River make Johns Creek a great place to live.
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Photo courtesy of Milton
Milton
cityofmiltonga.us (678) 252-2400
Incorporated in 2006, the city of Milton is named after Revolutionary War hero
John Milton. Milton also served as Georgia’s Secretary of State from 1777 until
1799. The city wasted no time in catching up with some of its neighbors and
has already been recognized locally and nationally for its accomplishments.
In 2011, the Atlanta Business Chronicle ranked Milton as having the best
quality of life in the metro area. The same year, Milton was awarded the No.
9 spot in the South for quality of life by The Business Journals. Metrics for this
survey of more than 1,100 cities across the region included the percentage of
workers who either walk to work or telecommute (13.4 percent), adults with
advanced degrees (20.4 percent) and the homeownership rate (81 percent).
Its population of more than 33,000 residents also boasts a median household
income of about $99,000 per year. Milton also came in at No. 3 on home
security firm SafeWise’s list of the 50 safest cities in Georgia. For recreation,
Milton has partnered with Alpharetta for use of local parks.
Business has also thrived in Milton. In 2013, the city founded its economic
development department in an effort to meet goals set out in its strategic
plan. Considering the strides the city has made in the eight years since its
incorporation, the future looks bright for Milton and its residents.
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Mountain Park
mountainparkgov.com 770-993-4231
Bordered on three sides by Roswell and extending into Cherokee County by less
than 1,000 feet, Mountain Park, GA is the smallest of North Fulton’s cities with a
total area of less than a square mile and a population of only 547. Incorporated
in 1927, Mountain Park was originally a summer getaway for some of Atlanta’s
more elite citizens, with only three families living as permanent residents
including the mayor, who ran a small shop called “The Stand.”
While it has grown since then, Mountain Park remains an idyllic change of pace
for the Atlanta area. The city is zoned as a wildlife refuge, and many official
clubs are dedicated to maintaining its unique natural beauty, including the
Watershed Preservation Society, the Mountain Park Organic community garden
project, and the Green and Beautiful Program. The Arbor Day Foundation,
USDA Forest Service and Association of State Foresters recently awarded the
city the distinction of Tree City USA, which recognizes urban and community
forestry programs across the US. If you want the jobs of the Atlanta area but the
peace and quiet of a lakeside cabin, Mountain Park is an ideal spot, but hurry
-- at the time of this writing, there are only 10 houses for sale!
CommunityProfiles >> 2017