33°47′N 84°28′W / 33.79°N 84.47°W / 33.79; -84.47
91-412: Sandy Springs is a city in northern Fulton County, Georgia , United States, and a suburb of Atlanta . The city's population was 108,080 at the 2020 census , making it Georgia 's 7th most populous city . It is the site of several corporate headquarters, including UPS , Newell Brands , Inspire Brands , Focus Brands , Cox Enterprises , and Mercedes-Benz USA 's corporate offices. Human settlement in
182-508: A 7% total sales tax , including 4% state, 1% SPLOST , 1% homestead exemption , and 1% MARTA . Sales taxes apply through the entire county and its cities, except for Atlanta's additional 1% Municipal Option Sales Tax to fund capital improvements to its combined wastewater sewer systems (laying new pipes to separate storm sewers from sanitary sewers ), and to its drinking water system. Fulton County has lowered its general fund millage rate by 26% over an eight-year period. In early 2017,
273-669: A city. Such a result would essentially eliminate the county's home rule powers (granted statewide by a constitutional amendment to the Georgia State Constitution in the 1960s) to act as a municipality in unincorporated areas, and return it to being entirely the local extension of state government. In 2006, the General Assembly approved creation of two new cities, Milton and Johns Creek , which completed municipalization of North Fulton. The charters of these two new cities were ratified overwhelmingly in
364-521: A direct result of possibly being permanently landlocked , many of the existing cities proposed annexations , while some communities drew-up incorporation plans. Voters in the area defined as the proposed city of South Fulton overwhelmingly rejected cityhood in September 2007. It was the only remaining unincorporated section of the county until the residents voted in November 2016 to incorporate as
455-536: A formal "downtown" for its residents. City leaders purchased the property in 2008, which was once the site of a former Target (formerly Richway) shopping center, located between Roswell Road, Johnson Ferry Road, and Mount Vernon Highway. Since then, the surrounding area in the district has become a center for urban renewal for the city, with many new mixed-use apartment developments being planned or built, primarily replacing old strip malls along Roswell Road . The City Springs center officially opened in 2018, 10 years after
546-585: A hybrid model, outsourcing projects to private companies as needed. The city estimates $ 14 million will be saved over the next five years from hiring full-time staff. The Sandy Springs Police Department (SSPD) is the city's police department and took over services from Fulton County on July 1, 2006, with 86 original police officers recruited from various police agencies from all over the State of Georgia. The department currently has an authorized staff of 149 full-time sworn officers and 11 part-time officers. Additionally,
637-530: A long-running battle to incorporate their community as a city, which would make it independent of county council control. They were repeatedly blocked in the state legislature by Atlanta Democrats, but when control of state government switched to suburban Republicans after the 2002 and 2004 elections, the movement to charter the city picked up steam. The General Assembly approved creation of the city in 2005, and for this case, it suspended an existing state law that prohibited new cities (the only type of municipality in
728-407: A nonprofit dedicated to building community through preserving and promoting the historic and cultural identity of Sandy Springs. Heritage Sandy Springs also maintains Heritage Green, a 4-acre (1.6 ha) park in the heart of Sandy Springs. The most recent festival was held September 19–20, 2015. The autumnal festival is typically the third weekend in September, but has been cancelled since 2020 due to
819-516: A political firestorm broke out in Atlanta when State Senator Sam Zamarripa (Democrat from Atlanta) suggested that the cities in North Fulton be allowed to secede and form Milton County in exchange for Atlanta and Fulton County consolidating their governments into a new "Atlanta County". South Fulton residents were strongly opposed to Fulton County's possible future division. Fulton County has
910-534: A referendum held July 18, 2006. Voters in the Chattahoochee Hills community of southwest Fulton (west of Cascade-Palmetto Highway) voted overwhelmingly to incorporate in June 2007. The city became incorporated on December 1, 2007. The General Assembly approved a proposal to form a new city called South Fulton . Its proposed boundaries were to include those areas still unincorporated on July 1, 2007. As
1001-640: A referendum on incorporation was introduced and passed as HB 37. The referendum initiative was approved by the Assembly and signed by Governor Sonny Perdue . Many residents expressed displeasure with county services, claiming, based upon financial information provided by the county, that the county was redistributing revenues to fund services in less financially stable areas of the county, ignoring local opposition to rezoning, and allowing excessive development. Many residents of unincorporated and less-developed south Fulton County strongly opposed incorporation, fearing
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#17327733735181092-672: A single county in Georgia. The demographic character of the Democratic Party has changed, as conservative whites, previously its chief members in the South, have mostly shifted to the Republican Party. In Fulton County, Democrats are composed primarily of liberal urbanites of various ethnicities and a growing contingent of suburban voters. Fulton is served by 4 Representatives in the U.S. House, with David Scott representing
1183-555: A total area of 534 square miles (1,380 km ), of which 527 square miles (1,360 km ) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km ) (1.4%) is water. The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north. The shape of the county resembles a sword with its handle at the northeastern part, and the tip at the southwestern portion. Going from north to south,
1274-704: Is an annual community fireworks display held over the July 4 holiday. The community previously gathered on the Concourse lawn for fireworks and live music, but in 2020 they moved the fireworks from the Concourse to City Springs. The annual Chattahoochee River Summer Splash, held in July, is a 6-mile (10 km) float along the Chattahoochee River , beginning at Morgan Falls Dam and finishing at Cochran Shoals-Powers Island National Recreation Area. After completing
1365-595: Is derived from the fact that it is wedged between the river and Dunwoody, forming a geographic panhandle. Major roads include Dunwoody Club Drive and Spalding Drive , and Interstate access is through the Northridge Road exit of Georgia 400. Many who lived in the neighborhood during Sandy Springs' incorporation considered themselves part of Dunwoody, and voiced their opposition to the installment of street sign toppers labelled "Sandy Springs". Then-mayor Eva Galambos stated that these new signs would do nothing to diminish
1456-734: Is located in the Middle Chattahoochee River - Lake Harding sub-basin of the larger ACF River Basin, with just the eastern edges of south Fulton, from Palmetto northeast through Union Hill to Hapeville , in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the same larger ACF River Basin. There are 15 cities within Fulton County. Four cities include land outside of the county (Atlanta, College Park, Palmetto, and Mountain Park) but still have their center of government and
1547-522: Is located in the Sandy Springs section of Perimeter Center, and is the largest medical center in Georgia. It includes Northside Hospital , St. Joseph's Hospital , and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta . More than 40% of the hospital beds in the metro area are located within Sandy Springs. Landmarks include Hammond Park, Concourse at Landmark Center , colloquially called the 'King' and 'Queen' buildings due to their distinct white crown architecture at
1638-453: Is the major highway through north Fulton, and Interstate 85 to the southwest. MARTA serves most of the county, and along with Clayton and Dekalb County, Fulton pays a 1% sales tax to fund it. MARTA train service in Fulton is currently limited to the cities of Atlanta, Sandy Springs, East Point, and College Park, as well as the airport . Bus service covers most of the remainder, except
1729-421: The 2000 U.S. census numbers are for Sandy Springs prior to incorporation, but cover the same area.) Sandy Springs was first listed as a census designated place in the 1980 U.S. census and incorporated prior to the 2010 U.S. census . According to the 2020 United States census , there were 108,080 people, 52,820 households, and 25,861 families residing in the city; this is up from a population of 93,853 at
1820-597: The Fulton County Board of Education are also found in this district. Many of the neighborhoods in this area derive their name from the river. The Dunwoody Panhandle, or just "The Panhandle" is a residential area bounded by the Dunwoody city limit to the south, the Chattahoochee River to the north, Georgia 400 to the west, and Peachtree Corners city limit to the east. The district's name
1911-497: The Great Depression , Fulton County annexed Milton County to the north and Campbell County to the southwest, to centralize administration. That resulted in the current long shape of the county along 80 miles (130 km) of the Chattahoochee River . On May 9 of that year, neighboring Cobb County ceded the city of Roswell and lands lying east of Willeo Creek to Fulton County so that it would be more contiguous with
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#17327733735182002-690: The Great Recession , allowed the city to leverage a cheaper contract due to the economic downturn. In 2010, the city became the first jurisdiction in Georgia to successfully "bail out" from the preclearance requirements of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act . In 2019, the Sandy Springs City Council moved to scale back the PPP model, directly hiring 183 contract employees, leaving only 15 outsourced full-time workers by
2093-431: The Great Recession . The city regularly hosted delegations from other governments that were interested in the model. Services not outsourced include police, fire-rescue, and city management. The city moved away from the private-public partnership model in 2019 when it was realized how much money was lost to private contractors and hired 184 full-time city staff that work at the new City Springs development. It now operates as
2184-657: The Republican Party gained a majority in both houses of the Georgia General Assembly in 2005, the procedural rules previously used to prevent a vote by the full chamber were changed so that the bill was handled as a state bill and not as a local bill. The assembly also repealed the requirement that new cities must be at least 3 miles (4.8 km) from existing cities that had stymied previous attempts to incorporate due to Sandy Springs directly bordering both Roswell and Atlanta. The bill allowing for
2275-476: The 2010 census, and 85,781 at the 2000 census. When it was first listed as a census designated place in 1980, its population was 46,877. According to a 2008 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $ 106,240, and the median income for a family was $ 129,810. The average income for a household was $ 116,406 and the average income for a family was $ 169,815. Males had a median income of $ 60,053 versus $ 50,030 for females. About 3.1% of families and 7.9% of
2366-411: The Atlanta area, including Sandy Springs, experienced a severe snow storm and a severe ice storm , both of which left much of the region without power, caused major travel disruptions, and the former storm forced people to take shelter in cars and schools as the city was underprepared for the black ice that prevented transport. City Springs, the downtown district of Sandy Springs, is usually defined as
2457-470: The Board of Commissioners is elected at-large for the county-wide position. The vice chairman is elected by peers on a yearly basis. Atlanta is the largest city in Fulton County, occupying the county's narrow center section and thus geographically dividing the county's northern and southern portions. Atlanta's last major annexation in 1952 brought over 118 square miles (310 km ) into the city, including
2548-771: The Fulton County Sheriff's Office include process serving , providing security at county buildings, courtrooms, jail and other public areas, and administration of the Fulton County Jail . In 1992 Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett was elected Sheriff, making her the first African-American woman to serve as Sheriff in the United States. However, Barrett was suspended from office in 2004 by governor Sonny Perdue . Almost every major highway, and every major Interstate highway , in metro Atlanta passes through Fulton County. Outside Atlanta proper, Georgia 400
2639-544: The Georgia Lynching Project, 24 were killed in 1906. This was the highest total in the state. With a total of 589, Georgia was second to Mississippi in its total number of lynchings in this period. In addition to individual lynchings, during the Atlanta Race Riot of 1906, whites killed at least 25 African Americans; the number may have been considerably higher. Two white persons died during
2730-487: The Georgia state government determined that Sandy Springs, along with other wealthier, and predominantly white, communities in Fulton County was being taxed below statewide minimums, resulting in an increase in taxes for the area. Some Sandy Springs residents, including Mitch Skandalakis , launched a number of campaigns against the taxes, and launched an unsuccessful lawsuit against the state. On January 16, 1997, Eric Rudolph bombed an abortion clinic in Sandy Springs. When
2821-512: The Library System, a new Central library was opened to the public in May 1988. The building was designed by Marcel Breuer, a participant in the innovative Bauhaus movement, working side by side with his associate Hamilton Smith. The Central Library was dedicated on May 25, 1980, and Breuer would die a year later in July 1981 at the age of 81. In 2002 after a hundred years of library service to
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2912-740: The SSPD also employs 23 civilian staff members who handle duties such as records, permits, GCIC, and fleet maintenance. The current Executive Officer is Chief Kenneth DeSimone, who assumed the position in 2013 from Terry Sult, who replaced Gene Wilson in 2008 as the department's first chief. The department answered 124,374 calls for service and made 3,390 arrests in 2020. Dedicated units of the SSPD include Uniform Patrol, Bike Unit, Community Affairs, Crime Scene Investigations, Criminal Investigation Division, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Crisis Negotiation Team, Honor Guard, K-9 Unit, Quick Response Force, Special Investigation Unit, Swift Water Rescue Team, Traffic Unit, and
3003-836: The Training Unit. Further, the SSPD is a member of the North Metro SWAT Team, consisting of officers from Sandy Springs Police Department, Dunwoody Police Department, Johns Creek Police Department, and the Brookhaven Police Department. The SSPD headquarters is located at 7840 Roswell Road, Suite 301, within the Morgan Falls Office Park. The city's fire department began operations in December 2006. The department consists of 97 full-time firefighters. Chief Jack McElfish headed
3094-476: The affluent areas of North Fulton have increasingly complained that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners has ignored their needs, taking taxes collected in North Fulton, and spending them on programs and services in less wealthy South Fulton. In 2005, responding to pressure from North Fulton, the Georgia General Assembly directed Fulton County, alone among all the counties in the state, to limit
3185-509: The affluent suburb of Buckhead . The movement to create a city of Sandy Springs , launched in the early 1970s and reaching fruition in 2005, was largely an effort to prevent additional annexations by the city of Atlanta, and later to wrest local control from the county commission . Fulton County is one of the most reliably Democratic counties in the entire nation. It has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1876 except those of 1928 and in 1972, when George McGovern could not win
3276-417: The annexation of the Sandy Springs area. Spokesmen for Sandy Springs promised residents to "build up a city separate from Atlanta and your Negroes and forbid any Negroes to buy, or own, or live within our limits" should they reject annexation. In 1966, annexation by Atlanta was defeated in a referendum, with two-thirds voting against. Efforts to incorporate Sandy Springs began in 1966 in response to attempts by
3367-448: The annual festival celebrated its 30th year in 2015. The festival features a juried artist's market, civic and business expo, performances by regional acts and community bands, a children's area with crafts and activities, a teen territory with bungee jumps and inflatables, the annual Kiwanis Pet Parade, the annual Doug Kessler Lighting 10K/5K race, and a food court. The festival serves as the primary fundraiser for Heritage Sandy Springs,
3458-476: The area can be traced back to approximately 400 CE, when Native Americans forged three trails to better access the area's freshwater springs. In the 16th century, the Creek Muskogee tribe settled the area, where they remained until the early 1800s, when they were forced out of the area due to the discovery of gold . In 1821, the federal government held a number of land lotteries in the area, resulting in
3549-400: The area introduced a bill in the Georgia General Assembly to authorize a referendum on incorporation. Legislators representing Atlanta and southwestern Fulton County, who feared that tax revenue would be lost from incorporation, blocked the bills, using the procedural requirement that all local legislation be approved first by a delegation of representatives from the affected area. In 1991,
3640-405: The area to the south and east of Sandy Springs Circle, to the north of Interstate 285 , and to the west of Boylston Drive. It is located approximately 12 miles directly north of Downtown Atlanta . In the absence of a traditional downtown, city leaders created City Springs, a multi-use development containing municipal offices, residential, retail, green space and a performing arts center, landmarking
3731-534: The area would have better firefighting protection. Community opposition killed the proposal. In the early 1960s, Georgia 400 and Interstate 285 were constructed, connecting Sandy Springs to metro Atlanta and initiating a housing boom that brought new residents and major land development as part of the white flight from Atlanta after the Civil Rights Movement won greater racial integration within Atlanta. In 1965, Hartsfield once again proposed
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3822-560: The city limits of Atlanta are served by the Fulton County School System . All portions within Atlanta are served by Atlanta Public Schools . The Atlanta-Fulton County Library system began in 1902 as the Carnegie Library of Atlanta, one of the first public libraries in the United States. In 1935, the city of Atlanta and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners signed a contract under which library service
3913-406: The city of Sandy Springs stimulated the founding of two additional cities, resulting in no unincorporated areas remaining in north Fulton. In a domino effect , the residents of southwest Fulton voted in referendums to create additional cities. In 2007, one of these two referendums passed and the other was defeated, but later passed in 2016. Since the 1970s, residents of Sandy Springs had waged
4004-433: The city of South Fulton, Georgia . Prior to that vote North Fulton, which is overwhelmingly Republican, and members of the state legislature, had discussed forcing South Fulton residents to incorporate as a city in order to force Fulton County out of the municipal services business. Some residents of suburban north Fulton have advocated since the early 2000's that they be allowed to secede and re-form Milton County , after
4095-768: The city of Atlanta to annex this unincorporated area of north Fulton County . In the early 1970s, the city of Atlanta attempted to use a state law to force annexation of Sandy Springs, which failed after the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that the law was unconstitutional . In response, a group of residents formed the Committee for Sandy Springs 1975 to lobby for the incorporation of Sandy Springs. During this time, proponents for an incorporated Sandy Springs argued that their taxes were disproportionately going to other, largely non-white, communities in Fulton County. In every legislative session, state legislators representing
4186-740: The city, and is generally defined as the area west of the Dunwoody/DeKalb County border, east of Brandon Mill Road, north of Abernathy Road, and south of Dalrymple Road and Spalding Drive. The North Springs MARTA station, the terminus of the MARTA Red Line , serves the district. Five of Sandy Springs' public schools are in this area, including the newest Ison Springs Elementary School, Woodland Elementary School, Spalding Drive Charter Elementary School, Sandy Springs Charter Middle School, and North Springs Charter High School . South Springs or Sandy Springs ITP, an acronym for "inside
4277-565: The county comes from the residents of south Fulton County, who say that the proposed separation is racially motivated. State Senator Vincent Fort , an Atlanta Democrat and a member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, very strongly opposes the plan to split the county. "If it gets to the floor, there will be blood on the walls", Fort stated. "As much as you would like to think it's not racial, it's difficult to draw any other conclusion", he later added. In 2006
4368-728: The county lived at or below the poverty line. Companies headquartered in Fulton County include AFC Enterprises (Popeyes Chicken/Cinnabon), AT&T Mobility , Chick-fil-A , Children's Healthcare of Atlanta , Church's Texas Chicken , The Coca-Cola Company , Cox Enterprises , Delta Air Lines , Earthlink , Equifax , First Data , Georgia-Pacific , Global Payments, Inc. , InterContinental Hotels Group , IBM Internet Security Systems, Mirant Corp., Newell Rubbermaid , Northside Hospital, Piedmont Healthcare, Porsche Cars North America, Saint Joseph's Hospital, Southern Company , United Parcel Service , are based in various cities throughout Fulton County. All portions of Fulton County outside of
4459-422: The county that was absorbed into Fulton County in 1932 during the Great Depression . Fulton County, in comparison to the state's other counties, is physically large. Its population is greater than that of each of the six smallest U.S. states . The demographic make-up of Fulton County has changed considerably in recent decades. The northern portion of the county, a suburban area, is among the most affluent areas in
4550-427: The county was $ 37,211. About 12.0% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over. At the 2022 American Community Survey , its median household income grew to $ 90,346 with a per capita income of $ 59,689. Among its population, 53% earned from $ 50,000 to $ 200,000 annually, and 28% earned less than $ 50,000. Approximately 12.7% of
4641-469: The county, reflecting the county's historically positive population growth with exception to the 1980 U.S. census . In 2020, the county had a racial and ethnic makeup of 42.07% Black or African Americans, 37.95% non-Hispanic whites, 0.15% American Indians and Alaska Natives, 7.56% Asian Americans, 0.04% Pacific Islander Americans, 0.60% some other race, 3.54% multiracial Americans, and 8.09% Hispanic or Latinos of any race. In 2010, its racial and ethnic makeup
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#17327733735184732-414: The end of 2019. The city will still outsource a number of services, including the city attorney's office, as well as security, street sweeping and ambulance services. The move was expected to save $ 2.7 million in the next year and more than $ 14 million over 5 years. The boundaries of Sandy Springs are Atlanta to the south, Cobb County (at the Chattahoochee River ) to the west and north, Roswell (also at
4823-590: The expenditure of funds to the geographic region of the county where they were collected. The Fulton County Commission contested this law, known as the "Shafer Amendment" after Sen. David Shafer ( Republican from Duluth ), in a lawsuit that went to the Georgia Supreme Court . On June 19, 2006, the Court upheld the law, ruling that the Shafer Amendment was constitutional. The creation of
4914-400: The fire department from 2005 to 2014. The fire department is today led by Chief Keith Sanders. It is staffed by 113 full-time firefighters. The fire department handled 17,000 responses to 8,205 calls for service The city of Sandy Springs has purchased the old Target Corporation building (originally Richway ) located on the corner of Sandy Springs Circle and Johnson Ferry Road . In May 2018,
5005-404: The float, participants can enjoy an afternoon of live music, food and fun during festivities at Powers Island. Guests can bring their own kayaks, canoes, or rafts, or rent them from several local outfitters. Morgan Falls Park is the hub for paddleboard and raft rentals in Sandy Springs. Sandy Springs' sixteen parks and greenspaces offer more than 950 acres (380 ha) of parkland. Sandy Springs
5096-445: The home of Native Americans, rural farmers, and modern suburbanites; and "A Land Nearby", which features a collection of 20 photographs of Georgia's Barrier Island taken by Dr. Curt Hames Jr. Sandy Springs also has a museum devoted to Anne Frank . Sandy Springs offers a host of annual events each year. The Sandy Springs Festival is the largest community event in Sandy Springs, with approximately 30,000 attendees. Established in 1984,
5187-432: The lands ceded from Milton County. In the second half of the 20th century, Atlanta and Fulton county became the location of numerous national and international headquarters for leading companies, attracting highly skilled employees from around the country. This led to the city and county becoming more cosmopolitan and diverse. In 1992, Fulton County elected the first African-American woman, Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett , to
5278-551: The loss of tax revenues which fund county services. County residents outside Sandy Springs were not allowed to vote on the matter. Efforts such as requesting the Justice Department to reject the plan were unsuccessful. The referendum was held on June 21, 2005, and residents voted 94% in favor of incorporation. In November 2005, voters returned to the polls to elect a mayor and six city council members. Formal incorporation occurred on December 1, making Sandy Springs
5369-502: The majority of their land within Fulton County. After the formation of South Fulton in 2017, the only unincorporated part of the county is Fulton Industrial Boulevard, from roughly Fulton Brown Airport (Brown's Field) down to Fairburn Rd. (concurrent with GA-158 and GA-166) This led to Fulton County becoming the first county in Georgia to suspend all city services. According to the 2020 United States census , there were 1,066,710 people, 439,578 households, and 238,444 families residing in
5460-449: The nation and is majority white. It was formerly a Republican stronghold, but has seen a shift toward the Democratic Party since the early 2010s. In 2018, Lucy McBath won the 6th Congressional District, the majority of which is in North Fulton. The central and southern portion of the county, which includes the city of Atlanta and its core satellite cities to the south, is overwhelmingly Democratic and majority black. It contains some of
5551-574: The neighborhood's identity. Some residents still consider the area to be "Dunwoody in Sandy Springs", similar to the Buckhead Community district of Atlanta. Perimeter Center is a commercial edge city and business district surrounding Perimeter Mall . Although about 40% of Perimeter Center, including the mall, is located in Dunwoody, the western 60%, including most of the area's office towers , are located in Sandy Springs. Pill Hill
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#17327733735185642-773: The new city hall opened after years of construction. Public schools are operated by the Fulton County School System . Elementary schools serving sections of Sandy Springs include Dunwoody Springs Charter Elementary School, Heards Ferry Elementary School, High Point Elementary School, Ison Springs Elementary School, Lake Forest Elementary School, Spalding Drive Charter Elementary School, and Woodland Charter Elementary School. Two middle schools, Sandy Springs Middle School and Ridgeview Charter Middle School, and two high schools, North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences and Riverwood High School , are in and serve Sandy Springs. Private schools located in Sandy Springs include: The initial campus of Sophia Academy , which opened in 1999,
5733-717: The northernmost portion of Fulton County, encompassing Milton and northern Alpharetta , is located in the Etowah River sub-basin of the ACT River Basin (Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin). The rest of north and central Fulton, to downtown Atlanta , is located in the Upper Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The bulk of south Fulton County, from Atlanta to Palmetto ,
5824-542: The northernmost portion of the city, and is generally defined as the area to the west of GA400 , to the south and east of the Chattahoochee River, and to the north of Dalrymple Road. It is accessible via GA400 at Northridge Road, and contains the Northridge business area and the North River Village community. The Huntcliff community is located west of the district, on a panhandle to the northwest. (Note:
5915-475: The original site purchase. The official address for the complex is on Galambos Way, named after the city's first mayor, Eva Galambos . Within the City Springs district is Heritage Green, which is home to the spring which spurred the name of the city. Riverside is the western district of the city, located south of Dalyrmple Road and west of Roswell Road, bordering the Chattahoochee River to the west, forming
6006-830: The perimeter", refers to a portion of the city which extends south of Interstate 285, colloquially referred to as "the perimeter". It is located north of the City of Atlanta border, east of the Riverside district, south of Interstate 285, and west of the Brookhaven /DeKalb County border. The southern area of this district is considered to be a part of the greater Chastain Park community of Buckhead . The public schools in this area include Ridgeview Charter School and High Point Elementary School. The popular Atlanta radio station 99X broadcasts on 98.9 from here. The business district just east of
6097-469: The poorest sections in the metropolitan area, but also has wealthy sections, particularly in Midtown Atlanta, many east Atlanta neighborhoods, and in the suburban neighborhoods along Cascade Road beyond I-285. Cascade Heights and Sandtown , located in the southwest region of Fulton County, are predominantly affluent African American in population. The chief opponents to the proposed division of
6188-535: The population was 1,066,710, making it the state's most populous county. Its county seat and most populous city is Atlanta , the state capital. About 90% of the city of Atlanta is within Fulton County; the remaining portion is in DeKalb County . Fulton County is the principal county of the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell metropolitan statistical area . Fulton County was created in 1853 from
6279-423: The population were below the poverty line , including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over. The Heritage Sandy Springs Museum opened on March 20, 2010. It is dedicated to the history of the Sandy Springs community and is located in the repurposed Williams-Payne house at Heritage Green. Two notable exhibits are "Sandy Springs: Land and People", which tells the changing story of Sandy Springs as
6370-458: The position of Sheriff in the history of the United States. In 2023, Fulton County received news for the arrest of rapper and Fulton County native Playboi Carti and for the indictment of former President Donald Trump by Fani Willis in the Georgia election interference case , along with other Trump associates such as Rudy Giuliani . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has
6461-465: The public, a major renovation of the Central Library was completed. Fulton County is governed by a seven-member board of commissioners , whose members are elected from single-member districts . They serve staggered four-year terms. The county has a county manager system of government, in which day-to-day operation of the county is handled by a manager appointed by the board. The chairman of
6552-464: The purchase of land in present-day Sandy Springs and its subsequent settlement. The Austin-Johnson House, the oldest existing unaltered house, was built in 1842 on what is now Johnson Ferry Road. In 1851, Wilson Spruill donated 5 acres (2.0 ha) of land for the founding of Sandy Springs United Methodist Church , near the natural spring for which the city is named. In 1905, the Hammond School
6643-438: The riot; one a woman who died of a heart attack. The violence affected black residential and business development in the city afterward. The Georgia legislature effectively completed disenfranchisement of African Americans in 1908, with constitutional amendments that raised barriers to voter registration and voting, excluding them from the political system . At the beginning of 1932, as an austerity measure to save money during
6734-411: The river crossing is called Powers Ferry Landing, located where Northside Drive crosses the road, just east of the former landing. This provides freeway access at Northside Drive (west ramps) and New Northside Drive (east ramps, road and ramps built in a 1990s reconstruction). Signage on the freeway indicates Powers Ferry Road, Northside Drive, and New Northside Drive. The North End is a large district in
6825-446: The river) to the north, and Dunwoody and Brookhaven , at the DeKalb County line, to the east. A small panhandle in the northeast extends between the Chattahoochee River to the north and Dunwoody to the south, ending in a very small border with Peachtree Corners in the extreme western edge of Gwinnett County . Sandy Springs has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ). During January and February 2014,
6916-521: The rural areas in the far southwest and Johns Creek. North Fulton residents have been asking for service, to extend the North Line ten miles (16 km) up the Georgia 400 corridor , from Perimeter Center to the fellow edge city of Alpharetta. However, as the only major transit system in the country that its state government will not fund, there is no money to expand the system. Sales taxes now go entirely to operating, maintaining , and refurbishing
7007-445: The southern suburbs, Lucy McBath representing Johns Creek , and John Lewis representing the core of Atlanta until his death on July 17, 2020. Lewis was succeeded by Nikema Williams . Republican Rich McCormick represents most of North Fulton. Geographically remote from each other, the northern and southern sections of the county have grown increasingly at odds over issues related to taxes and distribution of services. Residents of
7098-420: The state's first (and so far only) fractional-percent sales taxes took effect in Fulton. Atlanta added an additional 0.5% for MARTA and 0.4% T SPLOST for other transportation projects, while anti- transit Republican legislators from north Fulton blocked a countywide referendum on improving and extending MARTA, and instead allowed only a vote on a 0.75% TSPLOST for more roads in the areas outside Atlanta. This puts
7189-435: The state) from being within three miles (4.8 km) of an existing one. The citizens of Sandy Springs voted 94% in favor of ratifying the city charter in a referendum held on June 21, 2005. The new city was officially incorporated later that year at midnight on December 1. Creation of Sandy Springs was a catalyst for municipalization of the entire county, in which local groups would attempt to incorporate every area into
7280-409: The system. Xpress GA / RTA provides commuter bus service from the outer suburbs of Fulton County, the city of Sandy Springs to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport straddles the border with Clayton County to the south and is the busiest airport in the world. The Fulton County Airport , often called Charlie Brown Field after politician Charles M. Brown ,
7371-454: The third-largest city ever to incorporate in the U.S. The city's police force and fire department began service in 2006. Upon incorporation, Sandy Springs initiated a nontraditional approach by operating as a public-private partnership (PPP), with all but six full-time employees being contracted. In 2010, the city undertook a procurement process to rebid all general city services, which was won by CH2M Hill . The timing of this contract, during
7462-466: The top of each tower, as well as two MARTA stations, the Sandy Springs and Medical Center MARTA stations . The area also includes the 400-285 highway interchange, which is currently undergoing major construction. The top three tallest suburban buildings in the country are found here, the 'King' and 'Queen', and nearby Park Towers at #3. North Springs is located in the northern portion of
7553-652: The total sales tax at 8.9% in Atlanta and 7.75% in the rest of the county, with 4% less on groceries . Fulton County's budget of $ 1.2 billion funds an array of resident services. With 34 branches, the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is one of the largest library systems in Georgia. Human services programs include one of the strongest senior center networks in metro Atlanta, including four multi-purpose senior facilities. The county also provides funding to nonprofits with FRESH and Human Services grants . The responsibilities of
7644-464: The western border with Cobb County. It is a high-income, residential area marked by winding, hilly roads and old growth forest. The main roads are Heards Ferry Road and Riverside Drive, and it is located off the Riverside Drive exit of I-285. Two of the public schools within Sandy Springs are located here, Heards Ferry Elementary and Riverwood International Charter School . The headquarters for
7735-597: The western half of DeKalb County . It was named in honor of Robert Fulton , the man who created the first commercially successful steamboat in 1807. After the American Civil War , there was considerable violence against freedmen in the county. During the post-Reconstruction period, violence and the number of lynchings of blacks increased in the late 19th century, as whites exercised terrorism to re-establish and maintain white supremacy . Whites lynched 35 African Americans here from 1877 to 1950; according to
7826-495: The worldwide Coronavirus pandemic . Sandy Springs Artsapalooza is a free fine arts festival held each year in Sandy Springs. Each year 125 to 150 notable artists from across the country have the opportunity to participate. Organizers of the event include the Georgia Foundation for Public Spaces and ArtsSpring, two groups that are dedicated to bringing free arts programs to the community. Stars and Stripes Celebration
7917-436: Was 43.50% Black or African American, 40.85% non-Hispanic white, 0.17% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% some other race, 1.71% multiracial, and 7.88% Hispanic or Latino of any race. In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $ 56,709 and the median income for a family was $ 75,579. Males had a median income of $ 56,439 versus $ 42,697 for females. The per capita income for
8008-579: Was built at Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway, across the street from the church. In 1950, the state legislature blocked Atlanta from annexing the community, which remained rural until the Interstate Highway System was authorized by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. In 1959, after a fire at Hammond Elementary School, William Hartsfield , the mayor of Atlanta, urged residents to support annexation so that
8099-572: Was extended to all of Fulton County. Then in 1982, Georgia voters passed a constitutional Amendment authorizing the transfer of responsibility for the Library system from the city of Atlanta to the county. On July 1, 1983, the transfer finally became official, and the system was renamed the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System. Under the leadership of Ella Gaines Yates , who was the first African American director of
8190-437: Was noted for contracting private companies to perform the majority of its services in a public-private partnership model of government at the beginning of its incorporation in 2005. While many governments contract with private-sector companies on a per-project basis, Sandy Springs is believed to be the first American city to outsource its services for the majority of ongoing operations. They chose to do so as an economic response to
8281-478: Was on a rental property, in what became Sandy Springs. Construction on its new campus on what later became Chamblee began circa 2007. Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System operates the Sandy Springs Branch located near City Springs. Fulton County, Georgia Fulton County is a county in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia . As of the 2020 United States census ,
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