Cumming, Georgia

Cumming, Georgia
City

Cumming City Hall
Motto: Gateway to Leisure Living

Location in Forsyth County and the state of Georgia
Cumming

Location of Cumming in Metro Atlanta

Coordinates: 34°12′30″N 84°8′15″W / 34.20833°N 84.13750°W / 34.20833; -84.13750Coordinates: 34°12′30″N 84°8′15″W / 34.20833°N 84.13750°W / 34.20833; -84.13750
Country United States
State Georgia
County Forsyth
Incorporated 1834
Chartered 1845[1]
Named for William Cumming
Government
 • Mayor H. Ford Gravitt
Area
 • Total 6.1 sq mi (15.9 km2)
 • Land 6.1 sq mi (15.8 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation 1,217 ft (371 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 5,430
 • Density 891/sq mi (344.2/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 30028, 30040, 30041
Area code(s) 770
FIPS code 13-20932[2]
GNIS feature ID 0331494[3]
Website www.cityofcumming.net

Cumming is a city in Forsyth County, Georgia, United States, and the sole incorporated area in the county. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Its population was 5,430 at the 2010 census,[4] up from 4,220 at the 2000 census. Surrounding unincorporated areas with a Cumming mailing address have a population of around 100,000. It is the county seat of Forsyth County.[5]

History

1830 map of Cherokee territory

The area now called Cumming is located west of the historic location of Vann's Ferry between Forsyth County and Hall County.

Early history

The area, now called Cumming, was first inhabited by Cherokee tribes. They came in 1755. The Cherokee and Creek people developed disputes over hunting land. After two years of fighting, the Cherokee won the land in the Battle of Taliwa. The Creek people were forced to move south of the Chattahoochee River.[6][7]

1834 map of counties created from Cherokee land. Cumming is shown in the middle of Forsyth County.

The Cherokee coexisted with white settlers until the discovery of gold in Georgia in 1828. Settlers that moved to the area to mine for gold pushed for the removal of the Cherokee. In 1835, the Treaty of New Echota was signed. The treaty stated that the Cherokee Nation must move to the Indian Territory, west of the Mississippi River. This resulted in the Trail of Tears. The Cherokee territory was then formed into Cherokee County in 1831. In 1832, the county was split into several counties including Forsyth County.[8]

In 1833, the town of Cumming was formed from two 40-acre (16 ha) land lots that had been issued as part of a Georgia State Land Lottery in 1832. The two lots designated as Land Lot 1269 and Land Lot 1270 were purchased by a couple of Forsyth County Inferior Court justices who realized that it was necessary to have a seat of government to conduct county business. The boundaries of the two lots ended at what is now Tolbert Street on the west side, Eastern Circle on the east side, Resthaven Street on the south side, and School Street on the north side. In 1834 the post office was established and began delivering mail. The justices of the Inferior Court divided the town land into smaller lots and began selling them to people over the next several years, reserving one lot for the county courthouse. During that same year, the Georgia State Legislature incorporated the town of Cumming into the City of Cumming and made it the official government seat of Forsyth County. Cumming was named after Colonel William Cumming.[9]

Modern history

During the 1830s and 1840s, Cumming benefited from the gold mining industry as many businesses were created to meet the needs of the miners. However, the California Gold Rush in 1849 put the city into an economic depression. Newly built railroads bypassed the city and took traffic from the Federal Road that ran near Cumming. The city was spared during the Civil War because William T. Sherman did not pass through the city during his March to the Sea. In 1900, the county courthouse was destroyed in a fire; it was rebuilt in 1905.[6][7]

In 1912, Governor Joseph M. Brown sent four companies of state militia to Cumming to prevent riots after several rapes of young white women by African-American men.

“ Ellen Grice was assaulted on Wednesday, September 4, 1912. Tony Howell was charged with "Assault with intent to Rape" (Book 4 p. 391). After several adjournments, the case was "nol prossed". Howell continued to live in Forsyth County until the 1940s, when according to a neighbor he moved to Alpharetta to reside with his daughter.

Mae Crow was assaulted on Sunday, September 8, 1912. She died Monday, September 23, 1912. Rob Edwards was indicted for the rape of Mae Crow. On Tuesday September 10, 1912, Edwards was shot, dragged from the Cumming jail and hung up on the telephone pole at the intersection of Main Street and Tribble Gap Road (the northwest corner of the Square). The coroner's inquest held Wednesday, September 18, 1912, found the cause of death to be a gunshot.[10]

 ”
— Donna Parrish, Shadow of 1912

The governor then declared martial law, but the effort did little to stop a month-long barrage of attacks by night riders on the African-American citizens. This led to the banishment of African-Americans, and the city had virtually no black population.[11]

Racial tensions were strained again in 1987 when a group of blacks were assaulted while camping at a park on Lake Lanier. This was widely reported by local newspapers and in Atlanta. As a result of this a local businessman decided to hold a "Peace March" the following week. Civil rights leader, the Reverend Hosea Williams joined the local businessman in a march along Bethelview and Castleberry Road in south Forsyth County into the City of Cumming, where they were assaulted by whites. The marchers retreated and vowed to return. During the following "Brotherhood March" on January 24, 1987, another racially mixed group returned to Forsyth County to complete the march the previous group had been unable to finish. March organizers estimated the number at 20,000, while police estimates ran from 12-14,000. Hosea Williams and former senator Gary Hart were in the demonstration. A group of the National Guard kept the opposition of about 1,000 in check. Oprah Winfrey featured Cumming and Forsyth County on her Oprah Winfrey Show. She formed a town hall meeting where one audience member said:

“ I'm afraid of [blacks] coming to Forsyth County," he said to Oprah at the meeting. "I was born in Atlanta, and in 1963, the first blacks were bussed to West Fulton High School. I go down there now and I see my neighborhood and my community, which was a nice community, and now it's nothing but a rat-infested slum area because they don't care.[12] ”
Buford Dam, impounding Lake Lanier on the Chattahoochee River southeast of Cumming

However, most of the audience members agreed that Forsyth County should integrate. Rev. Hosea Williams was excluded from Oprah's show and arrested for trespassing.

Today, the city is experiencing new growth. The completion of Georgia 400 has helped turn Cumming into a commuter town for Atlanta. The city holds the Cumming Country Fair & Festival every October. The Sawnee Mountain Preserve provides views of the city from the top of Sawnee Mountain.[6] In 1956, Buford Dam, along the Chattahoochee River, started operating. The reservoir that it created is called Lake Lanier.[7] The lake, a popular spot for boaters, has generated income from tourists for Cumming as well as provides a source of drinking water. However, because of rapid growth of the Atlanta area, drought, and mishandling of a stream gauge, Lake Lanier has seen record-low water levels. Moreover, the lake is involved in a longstanding lawsuit between Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. Because of a recent ruling, the city may not be able to withdraw its water.[13] However, the city is looking into different sources of water such as wells and various creeks.[14]

Geography

Cumming is located in the center of Forsyth County at 34°12′30″N 84°8′15″W / 34.20833°N 84.13750°W / 34.20833; -84.13750 (34.208464, -84.137575).[15] It is 39 miles (63 km) northeast of downtown Atlanta and 15 miles (24 km) northeast of Alpharetta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Cumming has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.9 km2), of which 6.1 square miles (15.8 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.58%, is water.[16]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1870267—
1880250−6.4%
189035642.4%
1900239−32.9%
191030527.6%
192060799.0%
19306486.8%
194095847.8%
19501,26431.9%
19601,56123.5%
19702,03130.1%
19802,0943.1%
19902,82835.1%
20004,22049.2%
20105,43028.7%
Est. 20145,615[17]3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 5,430 people, 1,893 households (of which 57.1% were families), and 1,081 families residing in the city. The population density was 787.0 people per square mile (276.6/km²). There were 2,037 housing units at an average density of 295.2 per square mile (98.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.6% White, 2.9% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 16.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.4% of the population.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,118, and the median income for a family was $48,947. Full-time, year-round male workers had a median income of $35,402 versus $31,892 for similarly situated females. The per capita income for the city was $18,326. About 27.9% of families and 22.0% of the adult population were below the poverty line.

Education

Cumming is served by Forsyth County Schools. The following schools are located in the county:

Elementary schools

Middle schools

High schools

Alternative schools

Notable people

July 4, 2002 Parade with Mayor Gravitt and City Council

In popular culture

References

  1. ↑ "City of Cumming, Ga "Gateway to Leisure Living"". Cityofcumming.net. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  2. 1 2 3 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  3. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ↑ http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/1320932.html
  5. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  6. 1 2 3 "New Georgia Encyclopedia: Cumming". Georgiaencyclopedia.org. 2006-06-22. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  7. 1 2 3 "Cumming GA History". Cumming.com. 1956-02-01. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  8. ↑ "Georgia Counties by Date of Creation". Georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  9. ↑ http://www.cumming.com/history.aspx. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ "Forsyth County GA 1912". Donnaparrish.com. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  11. ↑ "1912 September and October". Rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  12. ↑ "Memorable Guests". Oprah.com. 2006-01-01. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  13. ↑ Atlanta Business Chronicle - by Dave Williams (2009-07-17). "Federal Court ruling on Lake Lanier goes against Georgia | Atlanta Business Chronicle". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  14. ↑ "The Forsyth County News Archive". Forsythnews.com. 2010-10-08. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  15. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  16. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Cumming city, Georgia". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Skyler Day (Maggie from Gigantic) Interview!". TeenNick. November 17, 2010. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  20. ↑ "The #1 Most-Listened to Harry Potter Podcast". MuggleCast. Retrieved 2011-01-23.

External links

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