Gwinnett County, Georgia

"Gwinnett" redirects here. For other uses, see Gwinnett (disambiguation).
Gwinnett County, Georgia

Gwinnett Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville
Map of Georgia highlighting Gwinnett County
Location in the state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location in the U.S.
Founded December 15, 1818
Named for Button Gwinnett
Seat Lawrenceville
Largest city Lawrenceville
Area
  Total 437 sq mi (1,132 km2)
  Land 430 sq mi (1,114 km2)
  Water 6.4 sq mi (17 km2), 1.5%
Population (est.)
  (2013) 859,304
  Density 1,871/sq mi (722/km²)
Congressional districts 4th, 7th, 10th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.gwinnettcounty.com

Gwinnett County is a county in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 859,304,[1] making it the second-most populous county in Georgia. Its county seat is Lawrenceville.[2] The county is named for Button Gwinnett, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.[3]

Gwinnett County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Created in 1818 by an act of the Georgia General Assembly, Gwinnett County was formed from parts of Jackson County (formerly part of Franklin County) and from lands gained through the cession of Indian lands. Named for Button Gwinnett, one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, the first county court was held at the home of Elisha Winn, and the county seat was placed at Lawrenceville.[4]

In 1861, all three of Gwinnett County’s representatives at the Georgia Constitutional Convention (1861) in Milledgeville voted against secession. Towards the end of the war, several skirmishes took place in Gwinnett County as part of the Atlanta Campaign.

The northeastern part of Gwinnett County was removed to form a part of the new Barrow County in 1914.

Geography

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The Elisha Winn House served as Gwinnett County's first courthouse

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 437 square miles (1,130 km2), of which 430 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 6.4 square miles (17 km2) (1.5%) is water.[5]

It is located along the Eastern Continental Divide. A portion of the county to the northwest is a part of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area chain.

The regional reservoir, Lake Lanier, at the extreme north of the county, is the central cause to the Tri-state water dispute.

The southern and central portions of Gwinnett County are located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. Most the county's northern edge, from south of Peachtree Corners to north of Buford, is located in the Upper Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin), while the county's eastern edge, north and south of Dacula, is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin.[6]

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Airport

The county maintains a regional airport under the name Gwinnett County Airport, formerly, Briscoe Field.

Major highways

Ronald Reagan Parkway

Main article: Ronald Reagan Parkway

Transit Systems

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
18204,589
183013,289189.6%
184010,804−18.7%
185011,2574.2%
186012,94015.0%
187012,431−3.9%
188019,53157.1%
189019,8991.9%
190025,58528.6%
191028,82412.7%
192030,3275.2%
193027,853−8.2%
194029,0874.4%
195032,32011.1%
196043,54134.7%
197072,34966.2%
1980166,903130.7%
1990352,910111.4%
2000588,44866.7%
2010805,32136.9%
Est. 2015895,823[7]11.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 805,321 people, 268,519 households, and 203,238 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 1,871.2 inhabitants per square mile (722.5/km2). There were 291,547 housing units at an average density of 677.4 per square mile (261.5/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 53.3% White, 23.6% black or African American, 10.6% Asian, 0.5% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.8% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 20.1% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 8.3% were German, 7.8% were Irish, 7.7% were English, and 5.8% were American.[14]

Of the 268,519 households, 45.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.2% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.3% were non-families, and 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.40. The median age was 33.7 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $63,219 and the median income for a family was $70,767. Males had a median income of $48,671 versus $39,540 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,901. About 8.7% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Economy

Government and politics

Under Georgia's "home rule" provision, county governments have free rein to legislate on all matters within the county, provided that such legislation does not conflict with state or federal law, or state or federal Constitutions.

Gwinnett County, Georgia is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, which exercises both legislative and executive authority within the county. The chairman of the Board is elected county-wide and serves full-time. The four other Commissioners are elected from single-member districts and serve part-time positions. The Board hires a County Administrator who oversees daily operations of the county's twelve executive departments. Gwinnett County has a police department that operates under the authority of the Board of Commissioners.

In addition to the Board of Commissioners, county residents also elect persons to the following positions: Sheriff, District Attorney, Probate Court Judge, Clerk of State/Superior Court, Tax Commissioner, State Court Solicitor, Chief Magistrate Judge (who appoints other Magistrate Court judges), Chief Superior Court Judge and Superior Court Judges, and Chief State Court Judge and State Court Judges.

Gwinnett County has the largest public school system in the State of Georgia. Members of the Board of Education are elected from special election districts in the county.

Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners

District Name Party First elected Area(s) of Gwinnett County Represented
  At-Large (Chair) Charlotte J. Nash Republican 2011 All
  1 Jace Brooks Duluth, Suwanee
  2 Lynette Howard Republican 2010 Berkeley Lake, Lilburn, Norcross
  3 Tommy Hunter Republican 2012 Auburn, Dacula, Grayson, Loganville, Snellville
  4 John Heard Republican 2010 Braselton, Buford, Lawrenceville, Rest Haven, Sugar Hill

United States Congress

Senators Name Party First Elected Level
  Senate Class 2 Johnny Isakson Republican 2004 Senior Senator
  Senate Class 3 David Perdue Republican 2014 Junior Senator
Representatives Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Gwinnett County Represented
  District 4 Hank Johnson Democratic 2006 Lilburn, Norcross
  District 7 Rob Woodall Republican 2010 Lilburn, Duluth, Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Buford, Snellville
  District 10 Jody Hice Republican 2015 Dacula, Loganville

Georgia General Assembly

Georgia State Senate

District Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Gwinnett County Represented
  5 Curt Thompson Democratic 2004 Norcross, Lilburn, Tucker
  9 P.K. Martin Republican 2015 Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Mountain Park, Snellville
  41 Steve Henson Democratic 2002 Lilburn, Tucker
  45 Renee Unterman Republican 2002 Buford, Dacula, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Loganville, Sugar Hill, Suwanee
  48 David Shafer Republican 2001 Berkeley Lake, Duluth, Peachtree Corners
  55 Gloria Butler Democratic 1999 Centerville, Stone Mountain

Georgia House of Representatives

District Name Party First Elected Area(s) of Gwinnett County Represented
  51 Tom Rice Republican 1996 Berkeley Lake and Peachtree Corners
  95 Toney Collins Democratic 2008 Centerville and Stone Mountain
  96 Pedro Marin Democratic 2002 Norcross
  97 Brooks Coleman Republican 1992 Duluth
  98 Bobby Reese Republican 2004 Buford, Rest Haven, Sugar Hill, Suwanee
  99 Hugh Floyd Democratic 2002 Lilburn and Norcross
  100 Dewey McClain Democratic 2004 Duluth, Lawrenceville, Lilburn
  101 Mike Coan Republican 1996 Lawrenceville
  102 Buzz Brockway Republican 2011 Lawrenceville, Suwanee,
  103 David Casas Republican 2002 Five Forks, Lawrenceville, Lilburn
  104 Valerie Clark Republican 2010 Lawrenceville
  105 Donna Sheldon Republican 2002 Braselton, Dacula, Hamilton Mill, Hog Mountain
  106 Melvin Everson Republican 2005 Five Forks, Lilburn, Snellville
  108 B.J. Pak Republican 2011 Lilburn, Snellville
  107 Len Walker Republican 1994 Snellville and Loganville

Hospitals

Media

The main newspaper of Gwinnett County, Georgia is the Gwinnett Daily Post.

The Spanish language newspaper El Nuevo Georgia has its headquarters in unincorporated Gwinnett County, near Norcross.[22][23]

Telemundo Atlanta and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution are both based out of Gwinnett.

The rap group Migos hails from Gwinnett County. Migos won the 2015 YouTube Music Award, as well as several other notable entertainment television awards. Net worth in 2015 was reported to be 4.2 million (USD).

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools operates the public schools for residents in Gwinnett County, with the exception of residents inside the Buford city limits, which are served by the Buford City School District.

Private education

Colleges and universities

Sports

Minor-league affiliates of the NHL Boston Bruins, and the MLB Atlanta Braves play home games and talent scout in the area.

Georgia Force of Arena Football League had also played at Arena at Gwinnett Center before the team folded in 2012.

Club Sport League Venue
Atlanta Gladiators Ice hockey ECHL Infinite Energy Arena
Gwinnett Braves Baseball International League Coolray Field

Gwinnett also hosts the Gwinnett Rugby International Touring Squad, a Division 3 Men's Rugby Team.

On May 29, 2015, the Minnesota Swarm of the National Lacrosse League announced it was relocating, becoming the Georgia Swarm, and will play at The Arena at Gwinnett Center beginning with the 2016 season.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Template:City web
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 146.
  4. "History of Gwinnett County". www.gwinnetths.org. Gwinnett Historical SOciety. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  14. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  15. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  16. "Contact Us." American Megatrends. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  17. "Contact NCR." NCR Corporation. Retrieved on November 29, 2009.
  18. "OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF NORCROSS." City of Norcross. Retrieved on May 29, 2011.
  19. "Contact Us." Primerica. Retrieved on January 5, 2010.
  20. "Contact Us." Waffle House.that doesent make sense Retrieved on May 19, 2009.
  21. Woods, Mark. "If this is what it gets to, it's bad." The Florida Times-Union. May 3, 2009. Retrieved on May 19, 2009.
  22. "Contáctenos." El Nuevo Georgia. Retrieved on September 18, 2012.
  23. "Media Kit 2011." (English) (Archive) El Nuevo Georgia. p. 7. Retrieved on September 18, 2012. "5855 Jimmy Carter Blvd. Norcross, GA 30071"
  24. "Map" (Map). Seigakuin Atlanta International School. Retrieved on January 11, 2012. "5505 Winters Chapel Road, Atlanta, GA 30360 USA"
  25. "Relocating school has Japan ties." Atlanta Journal-Constitution. September 29, 2002. JJ1. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.
  26. "History." Seigakuin Atlanta International School. Retrieved on January 11, 2012.

External links

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Coordinates: 33°58′N 84°02′W / 33.96°N 84.03°W / 33.96; -84.03

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