about alpharetta

ALPHARETTA

Located approximately 25 miles north of the City of Atlanta, Alpharetta occupies a land area of roughly 27 square miles and serves and estimated 122,000 (daytime) and 65,799 (nighttime) populations. The 164-year-old municipality, one of the fastest growing cities in the nation, has experienced tremendous growth that is fueled by its exceptional quality of life, diverse population, and a strong economic base that is led by Fortune 500 corporations and nearly 700 technology businesses. From trails to fiber, innovation to investment, Alpharetta is creating the connections that drive the modern economy and fuel diverse, rewarding lifestyles. Alpharetta is a community where vibrant culture, dynamic businesses and a thriving Main Street combine with forest paths and inviting neighbors to create a place where businesses and people can flourish.

Alpharetta became an official town in 1858 after pioneers settled on what was originally Cherokee Indian land. Where once just a few small buildings stood, including a grocery store, a courthouse and a jail, now a thriving city lives. The 2010 U.S. Census Bureau report revealed Alpharetta as the 6th-fastest growing city in the nation, which is no wonder when you consider the high-quality education and the number of businesses choosing to relocate to Alpharetta. Known as the “technology city of the south,” Alpharetta has paved its way for high tech companies like McKesson, ADP and Hewlett-Packard to establish regional headquarters within the city. The city has won numerous financial awards, and has been named one of the safest cities in Georgia, according to SafeWise. In 2021, Newsweek awarded Alpharetta as one of the “Best Places to Live on the East Coast” along with Niche 2020 as one of the “Best Places to Live in Georgia”. Residents, business owners and visitors agree there is always an excuse to have a celebration, whether movies at a park, food truck gatherings, parades, art or music festivals, races or holiday gatherings. No matter what time of year, there is some kind of upcoming event that excites the Alpharetta community. Alpharetta benefits from a transportation network that drives business, fuels economic engines, and connects people. Highway access to Alpharetta includes four interchanges within the city limits to GA 400, with construction soon to begin on a fifth. Public transit connectivity is provided by the Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transit Authority (MARTA) which plans to expand its service to Alpharetta via Bus Rapid Transit and dedicated transit infrastructure in the median of GA 400. This will further improve Alpharetta’s connectivity to the Atlanta Region and to the world via Hartsfield – Jackson International Airport. A city cannot be a leader in the innovation and technology economies without a world-class education system. Alpharetta is a leader with some of the top-performing public schools in the nation, outstanding private school opportunities and strong connections to universities and technical colleges. The graduation rate for Alpharetta’s public high schools is 94.4%, with students boasting an

average ACT score of 24.5 and 70 percent of students participating in AP courses. Georgia State University operates one of its campuses here, and Alpharetta also benefits from the presence of other post-secondary education providers such as Georgia Perimeter College, Reinhardt University, Troy University, Gwinnett Technical College and DeVry. High school students in Alpharetta and surrounding areas can opt to attend a STEM-focused campus called Innovation Academy built at the old Milton High School site. This is one of two Fulton County STEMfocused campuses being offered in Fulton County. See accompanying article on page 30. There are also plenty of shopping and dining opportunities, which seem to be expanding at a rapid pace. New developments are constantly popping up around the city, providing residents and visitors with new restaurants, retail shops and entertainment venues. Avalon, since its opening in October 2014, has brought 86 acres of dining, shopping, small businesses and residences to downtown Alpharetta. In January 2018, The Hotel at Avalon and Alpharetta Conference Center officially opened. The Hotel at Avalon features 330 guestrooms and suites, 44,000 square feet of event space, Starbucks, chefdriven icon South City Kitchen and many other enticing places to visit. The Alpharetta Conference Center features lofty spaces, bright design, and with Alpharetta serving as the first Gigabit community in Atlanta, brilliantly modern Fiber hood technology. Each of the spaces are sized from grand to intimate, creating the perfect venue to host gatherings of all sizes. The Hotel at Avalon is being touted as one of North Georgia’s hottest resort enclave, giving both business executives and leisure travelers the unique opportunity to experience the meaning of graceful, modern Southern hospitality. Just down the street from the Avalon where Main Street intersects with Academy Street is the Alpharetta City Center. The city hall, county library, town green and city park are all conveniently situated on over 26 lush acres including retail stores, restaurants, office and residence elements in the heart of Downtown Alpharetta. The development is configured to encourage successful street-level retail, service, and restaurant uses that will enhance and expand the quality of businesses in Downtown Alpharetta. North Point Mall is currently undergoing a major facelift that will provide the residents and visitors of Alpharetta to yet another exciting place to dine and play. The Alpha Loop, is an innovative and efficient way to connect people to activity centers, parks, and jobs by a network of multi-use trails that provides safe alternatives to driving as well as other recreational benefits. These multi-use paths connecting Avalon to Downtown Alpharetta, currently involves two interconnected routes including a three-mile inner loop and a five-mile outer loop that will link Downtown Alpharetta, DISCOVER ALPHARETTA