Suwanee, Georgia

History

Early history

Suwanee, like many towns in Georgia, has its roots based in the name ofNative American with this name being from the Shawnee and a former Shawnee area. Settlment always thrived along the Chattahoochee River, where various societies flourished. The city was officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1837, following the establishment of a post office. With the construction of the Georgia Air Line Railroad in 1871, and the Rhodes House hotel in 1880 to accommodate railroad passengers, Suwanee saw in influx of people and a boost in trade and economic activity.

Recent history

From 1933 to 1936, the now heavily traveled Buford Highway was constructed through Suwanee. In 1960, Interstate 85 was extended just south of Suwanee, where it ended at the time. Over the past century, several primary education schools have opened in Suwanee, including North Gwinnett High School and Suwanee Elementary School. Suwanee High School dates back to 1880, when it was a one-room schoolhouse. The first city hall was built in the early 1960s, with a second city hall constructed in 1997. In 2005, Town Center was built in 2005 and completed in 2009, at which time the city hall moved to its current location in Town Center. In 2003, Suwanee was named a City of Excellence by the Georgia Municipal Association and Trend Magazine. In 2017, Suwanee was recognized as a Green Community by the Atlanta Regional Commission, earning bronze-level certification for its commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership in sustainability practices.

Geography

Suwanee is situated in northern Gwinnett County and southeastern Forsyth County. It is bordered to the northeast by the city of Sugar Hill, to the southwest by the city of Duluth, and on the west by the Chattahoochee River, which marks the Fulton County border. Across the river lies the city of Johns Creek.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Suwanee has a total area of 28.4 km2, of which 28.2 km2 is land and 0.2 km2, or 0.70%, is water.

There are several areas with Suwanee postal addresses that lie in unincorporated Gwinnett County and unincorporated Forsyth County. Those areas are not within the Suwanee corporate limits.

Climate

Suwanee experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,786 people, 7,012 households, and 5,235 families residing in the city.

Arts and culture

Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Suwanee Branch in Suwanee.

Sports

Suwanee was the practicing home of the Atlanta Falcons football team from 1979 to 2001.

Parks and recreation

• Town Center Park is a 10 acre park located at Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. It serves as the community's primary venue for special events and features an amphitheater that can accommodate up to 1,000 audience members for concerts and various performances. The park is also home to Gwinnett County's largest interactive fountain, known as the "Big Splash". The fountain boasts 43 jets and recycles 1400 gal of water per minute. Additionally, Town Center Park is situated next to the Suwanee Public Library.
• George Pierce Park is a 304 acres park, making it the largest in Suwanee. Amenities includes fields for football, baseball, soccer, and softball fields, a fishing pond, hard- and soft-surfaced trails, picnic areas, public restrooms, a playground, outdoor basketball courts, and a senior center.
• Suwanee Creek Greenway is a hard-surfaced multipurpose 4 mi trail with wooded areas and wildlife habitat. It is favored by walkers, joggers, and bikers. A spur trail is being added to connect to the Western Gwinnett Bikeway.
• Suwanee Creek Park is an 85 acre park commonly used for family picnics and other reunions. It is connected to the Suwanee Creek Greenway.
• Playtown Suwanee is a super playground built by 1,200 volunteers in 2004. It is known as "the playground my mommy and daddy built."
• Sims Lake Park was opened in 2008. It consists of a 7 acre lake with a looping trail surrounding it.
• Each February, Suwanee hosts the annual Suwanee Half Marathon. This is a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race.

Pedestrians and cycling

In 2016, Suwanee unveiled the first Bike Share program in Gwinnett County.

The city of Suwanee has released a master plan of existing and proposed trails and sidewalks to connect the community neighborhoods, schools and businesses. Major trails include:

• Brushy Creek Greenway
• George Pierce Park Red Trail
• George Pierce Park Yellow Trail
• Ivy Creek Greenway (under construction)
• Suwanee Creek Greenway (under construction)
• Western Gwinnett Bikeway (under construction)

Education

Suwanee is within the Gwinnett County Public Schools district, and primarily served by Collins Hill High School, North Gwinnett High School, and Peachtree Ridge High School. The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's Georgia campus is also located in Suwanee.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Major roads and expressways

• [[File:I-85.svg|25px]] Interstate 85
• [[File:US 23.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 23
• [[File:Georgia 317.svg|25px]] State Route 317

Airport

The nearest commercial air service is provided by Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is south of Atlanta. The nearest general aviation airport is Gwinnett County Airport.

Notable person

• Carolyn Bourdeaux, former U.S. representative
• Rich McCormick, U.S. representative

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. {{GNIS. 2405551
4. (April 2020}}{{cbignore). "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Suwanee city, Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau.
5. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates".
6. "Gwinnett County".
7. "Suwanee's History".
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015".
9. "Do I Live in the City of Suwanee?". City of Suwanee.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
11. "Explore Census Data".
12. "[http://www.gwinnettpl.org/AboutYourLibrary/HoursAndLocations/index.html Hours & Locations] {{Webarchive. link. (2010-07-26 ." [[Gwinnett County Public Library]]. Retrieved on February 24, 2010.)
13. City of Suwanee, Georgia, "Parks", retrieved from http://www.suwanee.com/cityservices.recreationparks.php
14. Shirreffs, Allison. (November 14, 2005). "Peachtree race director deflects praise to others". Atlanta Business Chronicle.
15. Yeomans, Curt. "Suwanee unveils new bike sharing stations".
16. "One Gwinnett city is getting the county's first bike share program".
17. (18 October 2016). "Suwanee To Roll Out Bike-Sharing Program".
18. "City of Suwanee, GA Open Space & Greenway Master Plan".
19. Croxton, Kate. "City of Suwanee opens Brushy Creek Greenway".
20. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gwinnett County, GA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
21. "Where Georgia U.S. House 7 candidates stand on the issues".