One of the area's first permanent landmarks was the New Prospect Camp Ground (also known as the Methodist Camp Ground), beside a natural spring near what is now downtown Alpharetta.[6] It later served as a trading post for the exchanging of goods among settlers.[6]
Known as the town of Milton through July 1858, the city of Alpharetta was chartered on December 11, 1858, with boundaries extending in a 0.5-mile (0.8 km) radius from the city courthouse.[6] It served as the county seat of Milton County until 1931, when Milton County merged with Fulton County to avoid bankruptcy during the Great Depression.[6]
The city's name may be a variation of a fictional Indian girl, Alfarata, in the 19th-century song "The Blue Juniata"; it may also be derived from alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet.[7]
The inhabitants of the area, primarily Methodists and Baptists, engaged in various occupations such as farming, blacksmithing, milling, merchandising, carpentry, and ditching. A number of them possessed a small number of slaves. Throughout the American Civil War (1861-65), local men participated in combat or served in the home guard; however, Union forces did not advance north of Roswell, which is situated roughly six miles to the southwest.[9]
Geography
Downtown Alpharetta
Alpharetta is in northern Fulton County and is bordered to the southeast by Johns Creek, to the south and west by Roswell, to the north by Milton, and to the northeast by unincorporated land in Forsyth County. Downtown Alpharetta is 26 miles (42 km) north of downtown Atlanta.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Alpharetta has an area of 27.3 square miles (70.7 km2), of which 26.9 square miles (69.7 km2) is land and 0.39 square miles (1.0 km2), or 1.37%, is water.[4]
The Halcyon mixed residential-retail-entertainment-dining complex opened in 2019 in nearby Forsyth County has an Alpharetta postal address, but is not within the city limits or in the same county.
Tech Alpharetta
Tech Alpharetta (formerly known as the Alpharetta Technology Commission[22] or simply ATC) is an advisory organization established by the City of Alpharetta in 2012.[23] The organization is an independent, 501(c)(6)nonprofit organization[23] that aims to help Alpharetta lead in technology innovation.[24] Tech Alpharetta runs an advisory board of technology companies based in the city, holds monthly technology events for technology executives,[25] and operates the Tech Alpharetta Innovation Center, a technology startup incubator.[24][26] As of early 2020 about ten companies have "graduated" from Tech Alpharetta's incubator and were hiring employees in the North Fulton County region.[27]
The Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center is at 178 South Main Street and offers more than 200 complimentary brochures providing information on the surrounding area. The center is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a Virtual Information Kiosk is available on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.[29]
The Downtown Alpharetta Historic District is in the center of Alpharetta, at the intersection of North & South Streets with Milton Avenue and Academy Street. Around this area are several historic buildings from the late 19th century and earlier. The downtown area, providing dining and shopping, has been restored with widened brick sidewalks. Modern buildings have been replaced with period structures.[citation needed]
The Alpharetta Family Skate Center (aka The Cooler) is at 10800 Davis Drive. It is also home to the Atlanta Sparks special needs hockey team.[citation needed]
The Alpharetta Arboretum at Wills Park was established in September 2008 and includes 26 trees. A brochure about the arboretum guides readers through a walking tour of the trees and is available at the Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center.[30]
The Alpharetta Arboretum at Cogburn Road Park was established in December 2008 and showcases seven trees. A complimentary brochure for the arboretum is available at the Downtown Alpharetta Welcome Center and provides a starting point for a self-guided walking tour.[31]
The Alpharetta Farmers Market is a weekly farmers' market in the downtown area that opens every Saturday from 8 AM to 12:30 PM from April to October, and features farmers and gardeners from the surrounding area selling fresh vegetables, flowers, and edible goods such as jam. The market was named "Best Saturday Morning Excursion" in 2007 by Atlanta magazine.[32]
The Mansell House and Gardens is a 1912 Queen Anne style home that serves as a special event facility in Alpharetta. It is home to the Alpharetta Historical Society.[citation needed]
The Milton Log Cabin was built by Future Farmers of America students during the 1934–35 school year and resembles life during the late 19th century.[citation needed]
The Alpharetta Brew Moon Fest is held the first Saturday in October in downtown Alpharetta.[33]
The Scarecrow Harvest is held the first Saturday in October in downtown Alpharetta. The streets are lined with 100 scarecrows to celebrate its fall spirit.[citation needed]
North Point Community Church is based in Alpharetta. It is the main campus of North Point Ministries, the nation's largest church organization, run by evangelical preacher Andy Stanley. The campus welcomes more than 5,000 people every Sunday.[citation needed]
The Walk of Memories is at American Legion Post 201 and pays tribute to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, community and friends, with a brick walk inscribed with names of all Georgia residents killed in service during and after World War II. A separate section is reserved for survivors. A tank and helicopter are on display.[citation needed]
The Alpharetta Big Creek Greenway is a 6.1-mile-long (9.8 km), 12-foot-wide (3.7 m) concrete path that meanders through the woods along Big Creek, offering a place to walk, jog, inline skate and bike. The path includes additional mountain bike trails.[35]
The Taste of Alpharetta is an annual food festival featuring food from local restaurants, live music, and art exhibits during May. Admission is free; food ticket purchases are required. (Cash is not accepted.) Restaurants charge $2 to $8 per food sample.[36]
The Wire and Wood Alpharetta Songwriters Festival in downtown Alpharetta is held in October with free admission.[37]
Avalon is a multi-use development on the east side of downtown adjacent to State Route 400. It includes 500,000 square feet (46,000 m2) of retail space, a 12-screen Regal Cinemas theater, 105,000 square feet (9,800 m2) of office space over retail, 101 single-family residences and 250 luxury rental homes.[citation needed]
The Alpharetta Bulls Rugby Football Club is a Men's Division 3 Rugby Team competing in the Georgia Rugby Union and USA Rugby competitions.[citation needed]
North Park, Wills Park, and Webb Bridge Park feature 15 lighted tennis courts along with 8 asphalt pickleball courts at North Park.[38] Tennis lessons, clinics, camps, and leagues are available.[39]
There are plans for the creation of the Alpha Loop. The multi-use path will serve to connect residents of Alpharetta to activity centers, parks, and jobs by a network of multi-use trails providing safe alternatives to driving and offering recreational benefit.[52]
The Big Creek Greenway is a concrete multi-use trail that runs from Windward Parkway to Mansell Road. The concrete trail is approximately 8 miles (13 km) long and meanders along Big Creek parallel to North Point Parkway, from Windward Parkway at Marconi Drive on the north end to Mansell Road on the south end. A soft mulch trail encircles a large wetland between Haynes Bridge Road and Mansell Road. Wildlife such as blue heron, deer, ducks and Canada geese can be observed in this preserved water setting.[53] Future plans are to connect the trail to Cumming.
Mass transit
Alpharetta is not directly served by MARTA trains, but is connected by multiple bus routes. Connecting Alpharetta to the rest of Metro Atlanta via heavy rail has been studied.[54][55]
Bobbi Kristina Brown, reality television star, musician, and the daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, lived in her Alpharetta home and was found unconscious, ultimately leading to her death.[56]
^"Zoning Map"(PDF). Johns Creek. Retrieved May 8, 2020. - "Holy Redeemer Catholic School" indicated on the map. The school's address may be stated as being in "Alpharetta, GA" but the school is not in the Alpharetta city limits.