City of WOODSTOCK

TheCity of Woodstock is a city unexpected. The past two decades have seen Woodstock transformed from a sleepy 19th century railroad stop into a thriving tourism destination ranking among the largest cities in the state of Georgia. With a vibrant arts scene, best-in-class attractions, and a growing business community, it remains the largest city and the economic center of Cherokee County.

Woodstock is a community that doesn’t believe in strangers. Its people enjoy a sense of place and a sense of belonging that is fleeting in the modern day. In recent years, Homes.com has named Woodstock the third best suburb to move to in the United States and Money Magazine named the city one of the fifty best places to live in America for the third time, while Safewise.com recognized it as one of the fifty safest cities in Georgia. At a time when storefronts in other states remain shuttered, when cities and businesses throughout the country search for answers and recovery, the unemployment rate in Woodstock is at a historic low.

The City of Woodstock’s revenues outpace projections and expenses, and the reserves are growing. The city has maintained a tremendously responsible, low debt ratio while maintaining some of the lowest property taxes in Georgia. Thanks to fiscally responsible council members, Woodstock has lowered the millage rate each year for six years in a row, ensuring homeowners don’t see back-door tax increases as a result of rising home values. Woodstock is strong and growing stronger.

The first twenty-one years of this century have seen tremendous growth, opportunity, and prosperity for Woodstock. In nearly every way, the quality of life for a citizen of Woodstock has improved. Home values have climbed, businesses have thrived, and the city is an example of downtown revitalization inspiring cities nationwide. “We’ve built a place that people want to be,” said Mayor Michael Caldwell. “Our calling now is to build a place that is meant to last.”

In 2021, Woodstock saw over three million visitors to its downtown shopping district, ranking downtown Woodstock as the No. 1 destination in Cherokee County. Downtown Woodstock’s restaurants and bars, stores and small businesses are experiencing record sales. That includes Made Mercantile, a project of the Woodstock Downtown Development Authority that is a “makerspace,” with 13 member companies, which serves as a low-overhead route to market for creatives looking to start a business in Woodstock.

The center of downtown Woodstock is set for major transformation. Preparation of the site at Main Street and Arnold Mill Road is underway, and the City of Woodstock is working with development partner Morris and Fellows on Woodstock City Center. A parking deck will be central to the project, along with office space, a boutique hotel with a rooftop bar and a conference center, and more outstanding restaurants and retailers.

Woodstock celebrated its 125th birthday in 2022. Although the city has changed significantly—the city’s story has not. Amid a rapidly changing world and a rapidly changing city, community remains. Woodstock has been built into something special and it will be built into something lasting. It will be a community worth passing on to the next generation. •

Woodstock has become a destination city and continues to evolve. The newest addition to downtown is expected to be completed in 2023.

Woodstock

• Population: 35,730

• Median Age: 35.9

Woodstock Arts has been supplying worldclass performing arts productions, concerts, visual arts, and educational programs to north Georgia since 2002.

• Labor Force: 19,799 (52.66% have an Associate’s degree or higher)

• Median Household Income: $80,199 Median Household Expenditures: $69,005

• Housing: 70% of households own their homes

• Transportation: Residents spend an average of 33 minutes commuting to work