Gwinnett Cities 101

gwinnett cities

FROM BUFORD TO BRASELTON, SNELLVILLE TO SUWANEE… LOVE OUR CITIES. LOVE GWINNETT!

You don't have to sell Gwinnettians on Gwinnett! Nationally recognized schools, a vibrant economy, affordable housing, diverse cultures, a thriving arts community, and pro sports barely scratch the surface of the many reasons why we love Gwinnett. Each of our unique cities offers residents and visitors something different, from Buford's charming Main Street to

Suwanee's lively Town Center. Lawrenceville's iconic courthouse is instantly recognizable. Norcross's historic train depot is a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike. There's The Bowl in Sugar Hill, the Town Green in Duluth, and the lake in Berkeley Lake. Every city in Gwinnett has its own subculture and unique expression of it. Our diverse cities and neighborhoods are home to the people that make Gwinnett so special: over 900,000 exceptional individuals united by an equally exceptional sense of community. We speak scores of languages and celebrate a variety of cultures, but all find commonality in this place we call home. At the heart of Gwinnett is a rare spirit. It’s that spirit that drives the world's largest Relay For Life, the people’s caring nature that propels Gwinnett Great Days of Service, and the people’s giving attitude that flourishes in our churches, nonprofits, and community organizations. And that's what we all love about Gwinnett! #LoveOurCities #LoveGwinnett

auburn

AUBURN

Haven’t you always wondered

why a small town in Georgia was named Auburn? It has nothing to do with that Alabama village on the plains, rather our Auburn was named for something distinctly Georgian – the famous red clay that was once used to dye cloth auburn-red.

Founded in 1892, Auburn now counts over 7,000 residents and has retained its small-town atmosphere while focused on increasing businesses and boosting quality of life factors for residents. The city’s planned green spaces along with a mix of single-family homes, townhomes and apartments make Auburn an attractive place for folks looking for a place to call home.

Auburn is known for a familyfriendly atmosphere reflected in events like its annual Auburn Ever After, Auburn Fest, weekly farmer’s markets and movies in Whistlestop Park – a unique shopping district. The city has five beautiful parks and a family sports complex. On the economic front, Auburn is a certified Main Street Community, has an active Downtown Development Authority and welcomes new businesses with incentives through its Opportunity Zone. Oh... and one more thing that’s uniquely Auburn? The town is shared by Gwinnett and Barrow counties. Told you they were friendly.

BERKELEY LAKE

Named for its beautiful 88-

acre lake, Berkeley Lake was first developed in the 1940's and was for many years primarily a summer retreat of fishing cottages with a slowly growing number of permanent homes. The city was incorporated in 1956.

A small, tenacious core of residents has always been devoted to the care and health of the lake and has kept the city’s namesake first and foremost in this Gwinnett city. City residents have acted consistently to protect the character and tranquility of the community and are guided by a comprehensive Master Plan for future land use and growth.

Livability is a major point of pride for Berkeley Lake, and rightfully so. They have been a Tree City USA® since 1999 and are an Urban Wildlife Sanctuary, too. Just last year, the city was named among the Top 10 Best Suburbs to Live in Georgia.

The Berkeley Lake Chapel, City Hall and surrounding grounds and green space are popular gathering places for the 2,000+ residents and the locale for events like the Sunday Kind of Groove Concert Series, the annual Independence Day Celebration, and others.

berkeley lake

braselton

BRASELTON

Driving north on I-85, you know you’re in Braselton when the stunning vineyard of Château Élan Winery & Resort rises into view. The resort has set the tone for top-quality development, which can be seen in every detail of the surrounding town.

Braselton's population has tripled since 2000 to more than 12,000 residents. People are flocking to Braselton because they can find beautiful neighborhoods tucked into the countryside with access to major state highways, a thriving medical community, walking trails, restaurants, and a historic downtown.

It’s easy to get around Braselton. Residents ride the free trolley to local restaurants and the winery. Golf carts buzz along the LifePath, a multi-use sidewalk that connects residents with shopping and dining. A downtown parking deck makes it easy to visit the farmers market, boutiques, antique shops, lunch spots and nightlife, and seasonal festivals and concerts.

Braselton is at the crossroads of several transportation corridors that lead to Atlanta, Athens and Greenville, which has proven to be a logistical advantage for industrial warehouses and major companies along GA 124 and GA 53. In addition, Northeast Georgia Medical Center opened a first-class hospital in Braselton in 2015, spurring extensive growth of healthcare services along the GA 347 corridor. These developments have provided thousands of jobs for Braselton and the surrounding area.

Though Braselton is growing rapidly, the Town Council has taken steps to manage growth in a way that fosters the small-town feel and history that makes Braselton unique.

BUFORD

Buford never cultivated that sleepy Southern town vibe. In fact, in 1902, as the 20th Century was beginning, Buford was referred to as the “New York City of Gwinnett,” for its industry and activity. Even back in the day, this city that started in 1872 as a depot on the railway line between Atlanta and Charlotte was known for being progressive in business and education.

Buford was the home of the county’s first bank and was widely recognized for its quality schools, and students from adjoining counties came to acquire the prestigious diploma from Buford High School. (No change there, Buford City Schools are still great and attract many non-residents.)

Today, with more than 15,000 citizens, Buford is a city that has it all – a charming main street with retailers and restaurants and one of the Southeast’s destination shopping areas with the Mall of Georgia. The Buford Dam is a major power source for the state and Lake Lanier Islands is recognized as a premier recreation development... and a favorite summer-day destination for Gwinnettians. The Buford Community Center is another jewel for the city – including a theater, conference center and meeting space, the Buford Museum, and the popular Town Park that hosts entertainment for all ages.

And here’s a little Buford trivia for you...Whose statue is located on West Main Street? Roy Rogers, whose horse Trigger had a saddle made at Buford’s famous Bona Allen Tanners.

buford

dacula

DACULA

Ever wonder how Dacula

(and that’s pronounced duhcue-la) was named? Founded in 1905, Dacula originated from the letters found in Decatur and Atlanta.

Today, with a growing population over 6,000, Dacula provides a unique smalltown experience to residents and visitors alike and prides itself on being an inclusive community. Dacula’s location provides residents many advantages, particularly for employment and education opportunities. In fact, Dacula is located at the center of Georgia’s Innovation Crescent, a 15-county economic development hub focused on life sciences and technology that includes Gwinnett.

Other bragging rights for Dacula? Its influence on blue grass and other music genres. Little known fact — Dacula is the home of Gid Tanner and his 1920's and 1930's Skillet Lickers string band. The string band is still going strong with the Tanner family and performs in Dacula and around the area regularly.

DULUTH

Have you been to Duluth lately?

Don’t miss out — Gwinnett’s third largest city (pop. 28,500+) is on list after list of great places to live and visit. Duluth was ranked in the TOP 25 Places to Visit in Georgia by Vacation Idea Magazine, one of the Top 10 Most Beautiful Towns in Georgia by Culture Trip, and number four in the 10 Best Atlanta Suburbs by Movoto.

The city that once boasted of three cotton gins, 10 cotton buyers, several warehouses, three mule trading barns, and three blacksmith shops is today a thriving community with outstanding quality of life. While committed to keeping its “Old Town Pride,” Duluth has developed its Town Green and Parsons Alley (another award-winning development) area into a hub for shopping, dining and entertainment. Duluth is known for some of the area’s most popular events, including the Duluth Fall Festival, Fridays N Duluth, Howl on the Green, and its annual July 3rd celebration. With sidewalks and bikeways that connect all areas of the city, Duluth is an active community where residents enjoy everything from Food Truck Friday to Yoga on the Green. Duluth leaders are committed to offering residents the best of big-city amenities coupled with small-town ambiance.

duluth

grayson

GRAYSON

Today, Grayson is a

sought-after address, a city with loads of Southern charm and livability. In fact, the city has received a Live, Work, Play City Award presented by the Georgia Municipal Association. Grayson gets high marks for excellent schools, sports programs, parks, restaurants and shopping. With the town’s new Ampavilion, Grayson hosts the Gimme Shelter Benefit Concert, Grayson Brew and Que and a number of family- friendly community events throughout the year, including, free concerts, movies, Shakespeare in the Park and more. The Grayson Day Parade is a particularly popular event among the town’s 4,400+ residents.

LAWRENCEVILLE

Named for naval commander Captain James

Lawrence and incorporated in 1821, Lawrenceville has impressive credentials as the county seat and the second oldest city in Metro Atlanta. Lawrenceville’s original town square remains the heart of downtown and the iconic courthouse is a landmark recognized throughout the county. In the early days, it was a great challenge to keep livestock from trampling the courthouse lawn. Today, the courthouse and its grounds are the site for weddings, special events and community gatherings.

Lawrenceville’s downtown, referred to as The DTL, continues to grow and develop as a destination for shopping, dining and entertainment – and more than a few film and TV productions. (We see you Ozark!) This vibrant area includes the Aurora Theatre, an ever-growing list of locally owned restaurants, and Slow Pour Brewing Company, Gwinnett’s first craft beer brewery, and the Depot District’s latest addition, Ironshield Brewing, Georgia’s fifth largest brewery. The downtown square is the site of a range of popular events and festivals, including, St. Paddy’s on Perry, Octoberfest, Free Comic Book Day, the Hometown Christmas Parade and the Lawrenceville Ghost tours. In late 2020, the City added permanent lighting to the trees surrounding the historic square.

The Lawrenceville Lawn, just a block off the square, is the site of the annual Concerts on the Lawn and a host of other events throughout the year. The Lawn recently underwent a $1.8 million renovation to add a permanent amphitheater, arbor shades and tables, additional bathrooms and parking.

In 2021, the City of Lawrenceville will celebrate its bicentennial year. Gwinnett’s County Seat has accomplished a great deal in 200 years. Enhancing quality of life for visitors and its some 30,000 residents remains a constant priority for city leaders – the city is currently constructing a $35 million arts complex, expanding the current home of the Aurora Theatre. Completion is expected in 2021. A boutique hotel and conference center, along with a City Parking Deck are also planned for the downtown area and will be complete in late 2020 (parking deck) and mid 2021 (hotel). The SouthLawn, a 35-acre development including residential and retail, began leasing in 2019 and is the new home of hometown favorite, The Peachtree Café. The College Corridor, a 2.2. mile linear park connecting Georgia Gwinnett College with the downtown area will be complete in early 2021. For more information, visit downtownlawrencevillega.com or lawrencevillega.org.

lawrenceville

lilburn

LILBURN

Like many Georgia cities, Lilburn’s development was rooted in the railroad. First incorporated in 1910, the town was named for Lilburn Trigg Myers, the railroad superintendent for the Seaboard Air Line Railway, and trains still run hourly through Old Town.

Today, Old Town Lilburn is a growing downtown neighborhood that reflects small town charm with treelined streets and sidewalks. Downtown development is thriving as businesses and homes are springing up, and nearby Lilburn City Park is the site of endless community activities and the start of the four-mile Camp Creek Greenway trail.

Concerts, Sparkle in the Park, Lilburn Daze, and the annual Christmas Parade are just a few of the events that draw visitors in to join the more than 13,500 residents that call Lilburn home. They must be smart folks – the Summer 2019 issue of Newcomer magazine listed Lilburn as one of Atlanta’s most popular communities.

LOGANVILLE

Land Lot No. 186, you’ve come a long way! James Harvie Logan purchased that lot, which became the first 62.5 acres of Loganville, for only $150. Loganville was first incorporated in 1887, and around the turn of the century would become the last stop on the railroad from Atlanta to Lawrenceville.

Today, Loganville’s city limits are split between Gwinnett and Walton counties. (We don’t mind sharing.) The town “Where People Matter” counts more than 12,500 residents, and couples growth and progress with a warm community atmosphere. The Loganville Town Green draws folks to the city center for a busy calendar of events that includes AutumnFest, the Groovin’ on the Green concert series, an annual Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade.

With three state highways traversing the city, Loganville offers a unique business climate that includes large retail and restaurant chains combined with small and locally owned niche shopping and dining experiences.

loganville

norcross

NORCROSS

Once known as “Atlanta’s Favorite

Summer Resort,” Norcross was named for Jonathan Norcross, Atlanta’s fourth mayor. Today’s residents, some 16,000+, would have no trouble believing that Norcross has been a favorite destination for much of its 150-year existence.

Norcross, Gwinnett’s second oldest city, was the county’s first to be placed on the Register of Historic Places. With a rich variety of well-preserved historic homes and an authentic turn-of-the-century downtown district, Norcross leaders have sought to blend old and new with great vision. The area has even been the backdrop for several film projects.

The historic downtown area is full of shopping, dining and entertainment options for residents and visitors alike. The Norcross Downtown Development Authority is focused on fostering a strong and progressive business climate. Two new modern apartment communities, The Brunswick and Broadstone Junction, are now leasing near downtown Norcross. The city is also looking forward to the opening a new hotel and new library this year.

Thrasher Park and Lillian Webb Park are the site of scores of family events. Norcross has a thriving arts community and its own Lionheart Theatre community theater company. There’s even a Norcross Walking Group for residents with a pep in their step.

Norcross is well known for their bold sustainability initiatives and accomplishments in adopting and developing green living programs. The city is proud to be recognized as a Platinum Green Community – the highest rating possible -- by the Atlanta Regional Commission. Norcross is one of only three cities to achieve this rating and is dedicated to continuing this action for the betterment of their community and the environment.

PEACHTREE CORNERS

Let’s test your Gwinnett

County knowledge — name our newest city and our biggest city. Peachtree Corners takes both honors. Incorporated in 2012, Peachtree Corners has more than 43,000 residents. But while Peachtree Corners is young as an official city, the community was actually planned in the late 1960s and 70s. Businessman Paul Duke envisioned a place where residents could live, work and play without long commutes, placing Technology Park, a campus of high- technology buildings, at its heart. Today, Peachtree Corners continues to emphasize business innovation as home of Curiosity Lab, a city-owned and operated living lab designed to advance intelligent mobility and smart city technology, as well as the city’s startup incubator, originally called Prototype Prime and now operating under the Curiosity Lab brand.

Town Center adds another dimension to the city’s glowing reputation. The 21-acre mixed use development was unveiled in April 2019 and serves as a downtown for the city. Town Center instantly became a community gathering place where friends and family meet to attend concerts and signature events like Derby Party, Bark in the Park, Flicks on the Green and Harvest Fest, just to name a few.

peachtree corners

peachtree corners

snellville

SNELLVILLE

Big things are on the horizon for the city “Where Everybody is Proud to be Somebody.” The city’s U.S. Post Office has been moved to a brand-new facility to make way for an expansive new development, The Grove at Towne Center. The Grove at Town Center will bring 250 luxury apartments, a 750-space public parking garage, several thousand square feet of retail/office space and a unique City Market. It will also have a new Gwinnett County library where the current Elizabeth Williams branch will be relocated to. All of these exciting amenities at The Grove at Town Center will help to create a lively new city center and downtown for Snellville.

A greenway is being built which will connect The Grove with T.W. Briscoe Park and nearby cities such as Stone Mountain and Lawrenceville. Stay tuned…you are going to love what you see.

SUGAR HILL

You knew there had to be a “sweet”

story behind the naming of Sugar Hill. (Oh yeah, we’re going there.) Local legend says that a freight wagon traveling from the railroad in Buford to Cumming broke a wheel while traversing a steep hill, spilling sugar over one of the highest points in Gwinnett County. From a sleepy bedroom community to a vibrant and quaint downtown, there’s always something fun to see and do in Sugar Hill.

The thriving city is poised for a bright future while keeping a deep-rooted appreciation for the past. A beautiful mural in the downtown area depicts the rich and colorful history of Sugar Hill and an active historic preservation society tells the story of this growing community’s past. But city leaders and residents alike are focused on building for the future in Sugar Hill. The city already has lots of positive livability factors – a great city hall, a unique community plaza, a splash park, great parks, a community garden, a performing arts theatre, and the award-winning outdoor amphitheater The Bowl at Sugar Hill.

Added to that mix is the E Center, a live, work, play development. The E Center boasts a 406-seat performing arts center, The Eagle Theatre, as well as a community gymnasium, local restaurants, and retail, office, and meeting space. All of these attractions are located just steps from The Bowl.

Sugar Hill’s nearly 24,000 residents enjoy a variety of events and activities throughout the year including the lively concert season at The Bowl, various live performances at The Eagle Theatre, and annual Sugar Rush fall arts festival. Visitors from all walks of life and all ages will surely enjoy the “sweet life” in Sugar Hill.

sugar hill

suwanee

SUWANEE

Suwanee is a progressive,

friendly community known for preserving greenspace and creating new parks. The city has more than 500 acres of parkland and miles of walking and biking trails, including Suwanee Town Center and the Suwanee Creek Greenway.

The city began as a Shawnee Indian village where the Suwanee Creek runs into the Chattahoochee River. First recognized as a town in 1838, Suwanee was also a railroad stop and grew around the railroad depot.

Today, Suwanee has been recognized by several national publications as “best place” to live and raise families. More than 19,000 residents enjoy over 40 community events every year with the Town Center hosting a wide range of popular festivals that range from the Taste of Suwanee to the Suwanee Jazz Festival to the Suwanee Wine Festival.

Suwanee is also committed to supporting public art. The Suwanee SculpTour brings a variety of sculptures to downtown Suwanee on a rotating basis for residents and visitors to enjoy.