Demographics

Alpharetta is located in Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, and is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county population has grown from 816,000 as of the 2000 Census to 960,000 according to 2006 Census estimates. In comparison, the City of Alpharetta's estimated population was almost 38,000 as of April 2005. The estimated population by July 2006 is nearly 54,000 people, with about 5,700 residents added due to annexation since January 1, 2006. In 2008, Alpharetta's Sesquicentennial celebration marks the 150th birthday of the city.

Lifestyle

Alpharetta is one of the fastest growing cities in the larger Atlanta metropolitan area. Just a 30-minute drive from Downtown Atlanta, Alpharetta affords its residents all the benefits of living in a suburb outside a large metropolitan area. As growth from the Atlanta metro area has spread farther north, ten, high-tech companies have moved into multi-rise buildings in Alpharetta. In 2007, the city breaks ground on its downtown revitalization project; Alpharetta City Center will include dining, shopping, entertainment and residential space within the heart of Downtown Alpharetta.

Home values in the city have recently climbed; the median sale price of a home in Alpharetta climbed from $226,300 in 2000 to $299,119 in June 2006. More than 67% or 10,203 of Alpharetta's total households are single-family residential units. According to the 2000 Census, the average household income in Alpharetta is $71,209.

Overall, the residents of Alpharetta are well-educated. Over 63% of Alpharetta residents have earned a college degree, with approximately 13% holding graduate degrees. Over 92% of Alpharetta residents age 25 and older have at least a high school diploma. Public schools serving the city are among the best in the nation. With approximately 89% of area high school graduates taking the SAT, as compared to 48% nationally, the average SAT score for Alpharetta schools is 1092, which exceeds the national average of 1026.

Weather in the area is moderate with average temperatures of 88° /67° in July and 50° /29° in January. In the area, 48-50 inches of rain falls annually.

History

What was once a tiny village along a Cherokee Indian trail, made up of tents, a log school and arbor became a trading post where Indians and white settlers could trade their goods. When it was chartered in 1858, the village named New Prospect Camp Ground was renamed Alpharetta (from the Greek words ? alpha? meaning first and ?retta? meaning town) and became the county seat of Milton County.

Alpharetta and Milton County can trace their history to the resettlement of the Cherokee Indian Nation in the 1830s. The first pioneers were enticed by the promise of free Indian lands. Soon after came the farmers and merchants who were the fortunate winners of the land lotteries of the early 1830s.

By the Civil War era, Alpharetta had grown to a fair-sized town with three hotels, several mercantile shops, numerous churches and a school. The majority of the farms were small family farms whose farmers did not own slaves. Because of this, the collapse of the ?Plantation economy? had nowhere near the impact on Alpharetta that it had on other communities.

For several decades, growth in Milton County was slow, hampered by the fact that it was not on the railway. When the depression hit in the early 30s, Milton County found itself near bankruptcy. As a solution to the problem, Milton County merged with Fulton County. After the merger, the counties began paving the first roads.

Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping

With almost 200 restaurants, Alpharetta diners can locate almost every cuisine they desire. Evening entertainment includes live music from jazz to rock, multiplex movie theaters, coffee houses and dessert shops.

Historic Downtown Alpharetta Square features antiques, gifts, specialty shops and dining. Downtown closes its streets for the Alpharetta Arts StreetFest, held in the spring and fall with juried fine arts, crafts, children's activities, performances and musical entertainment. The Crabapple Community in Alpharetta has been known as an antique haven since 1969. Once used as Cherokee Indian paths, Crabapple is home to the Shops of Crabapple, a cluster of boutique shops and restaurants. The nearby North Point Mall, with over 1.3 million square feet inside, offers many more retail and dining spots, two movie theater complexes and an ice and roller skating facility.

Things to See

Tour the Historic Mansell House and Gardens. This 1912 Queen Anne style house is home to the Alpharetta Historical Society.

The Walk of Memories pays tribute to the veterans of U.S. Armed Forces, community and friends with a brick walk inscribed with the names of all Georgia residents killed in service including and following WWII. A separate section honors those who served in the military and survived. A tank and helicopter remain on display.

Recreation and Sports

The Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department is nationally-accredited and recognized for its outstanding programs for children, adults, and seniors. Alpharetta boasts many award winning parks and nature trails. Walk or bike ride down the Big Creek Greenway, a six-mile-long, paved path winding through wooded wetlands. At Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center, enjoy 1.5 miles of scenic hiking trails and historic, cotton plantation buildings from the late 1800s. Special programs and events at the Center include Open Music Invitations, trail walks, Young Artist Days and other environmental activities.

Wills Park provides eight baseball fields, two tee ball fields, picnic pavilions, playgrounds, disc golf course, tennis courts and 1.5 mile walking trail. Wills Park Equestrian Center hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year, including local horse shows, dog agility trials, bull riding, rodeo, symphony and arena polo.

The Cooler Family Skate Center features two 85-foot x 200-foot ice arenas and one 85-foot x 185-foot roller arena to support figure skating, ice hocker, roller hockey and public skating.

On its own, Alpharetta is a good-sized, small city with a charming, downtown district, plenty of dining establishments, a large shopping mall, and award-winning parks and recreation trails. For those seeking more high-brow arts and culture, or major-league sports, Atlanta is a short trip down the road. Looking for a new home in a small city or in the suburbs of a larger metropolitan area? Alpharetta may be the place!