Gwinnett County, Georgia
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| Gwinnett County, Georgia | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Georgia |
|
| Statistics | |
| Formed | |
|---|---|
| Seat | Lawrenceville |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,131 km² (437 mi²) 1,121 km² (433 mi²) 10 km² (4 mi²), 0.91% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
588,448 525/km² |
| Time zone | Eastern : UTC-5/-4 |
| Website: www.co.gwinnett.ga.us | |
Gwinnett County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818. As of the 2000 census, the population is 588,448. The county's growth is evident with a population of 726,273 according to the 2005 U.S. Census Estimate. The county seat is Lawrenceville6. The county was named for Button Gwinnett, one of the delegates to have signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence on behalf of Georgia.
This county is a part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area (Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area). It contains many important suburbs of Atlanta, many of whose residents commute using Interstate 85. The county also has become widely known as the poster-child of suburban sprawl in America. Gwinnett is dominated by car-dependent strip malls, mega malls (Mall of Georgia), car dealerships, industrial warehouses, country clubs, and miles of low-density single family residential housing, all connected via an extensive network of surface streets and superhighways. Despite recent efforts of forming a public bus system, the average commute time in Gwinnett County is 30.8 minutes, ranking it the highest in metro Atlanta and 18th highest nationwide (2003 census).
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,131 km² (437 mi²). 1,121 km² (433 mi²) of it is land and 10 km² (4 mi²) of it (0.91%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Forsyth County, Georgia - north
- Hall County, Georgia - northeast
- Jackson County, Georgia - northeast
- Barrow County, Georgia - east
- Walton County, Georgia - southeast
- DeKalb County, Georgia - southwest
- Rockdale County, Georgia - south
- Fulton County, Georgia - west
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 588,448 people, 202,317 households, and 152,344 families residing in the county. The population density was 525/km² (1,360/mi²). There were 209,682 housing units at an average density of 187/km² (485/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.71% White, 13.29% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 7.20% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.32% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. 10.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Gwinnett County has the largest Latino and Asian populations in the state of Georgia.
There were 202,317 households out of which 42.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.70% were non-families. 18.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.20% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 37.50% from 25 to 44, 20.30% from 45 to 64, and 5.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $60,537, and the median income for a family was $66,693. Males had a median income of $42,343 versus $31,772 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,006. About 3.80% of families and 5.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.90% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over.
Gwinnett is home of a large conservative Christian population as well as the home of the Baptist Convention of Georgia, the Church of Christ in the Americas, and the Presbyterian Church of the Americas. Many of these churches are based in the western part of the county near Sugarloaf Country Club and State Route 120 (Duluth Highway) in Duluth. Similarly, many historic buildings still regularly used for religious services are located within city centers, such as the First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville, and the United Methodist Church of Snellville.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] By Road
Gwinnett County is accessible by major interstates as well as several US Highways. Interstate 85 runs through Gwinnett from DeKalb County at its southwestern entry point, and Barrow County in the northeast. Interstate 985 branches off as an auxiliary route of Interstate 85 at Exit 113 near Suwanee.
Several U.S. Highways run through Gwinnett County as well. US Route 23 runs through Duluth and Suwanee. US Route 29 runs through Central Gwinnett through Lawrenceville. US Route 78 runs through the Southern portion of Gwinnett County. All of the U.S. Highways are east-west throughout Gwinnett County (although U.S. Routes 23 and 29 run north-south throughout most of its route).
Gwinnett County is served by several Georgia State Routes. Georgia Route 316 branches off of Interstate 85 at Exit 106 after the Pleasant Hill Exit 104. This highway connects metropolitan Atlanta with Athens, where the University of Georgia is located. A second route is State Route 124, also known as Scenic Highway. This serves as the main route between Lawrenceville and Snellville. A third highly used route is Georgia Route 120, which runs from Tallapoosa, Georgia (west of Atlanta) to Lawrenceville. A fourth major route is Georgia Route 20, which runs Northwest to Southeast in Gwinnett County through Grayson, Lawrenceville, Buford, Sugar Hill, and Cumming (in Forsyth County). And a fifth major route is State Route 8, which parallels Georgia Route 316, connects East to West between Auburn, Dacula, Lawrenceville (where it merges with US Route 29) and continues through Lilburn and eventually into Atlanta and Austell.
[edit] By Air
Gwinnett County is primarily reached through Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The county also has its own airport, the Gwinnett County Briscoe Field. This is Gwinnett's municipal airport near Lawrenceville, accessible by GA Route 316.
[edit] Public Transportation
Gwinnett also operates its own public transportation. The Gwinnett County Transit (GCT), formed in 2000 and starting local service in 2002, serves much of central and north Gwinnett, and provides easy access to the Doraville MARTA station in northeastern DeKalb County, as well as transportation between major commercial and residential areas.
At present, Gwinnett County is not connected to the Atlanta Area's MARTA rail system. Several proposals have been made regarding rail transit that would pass through Gwinnett, most recently a "university link" system that would link Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and the University of Georgia in Athens. Potential stops within Gwinnett County include Lilburn, Lawrenceville and Dacula, among other possibilities.
[edit] Government and Elections
Under Georgia's "home rule" provision, county governments have free reign to legislate on all matters within the county, provided that such legislation does not conflict with state or federal law, or the state or federal Constitutions.
Gwinnett County is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, which has both legislative and executive authority within the county. The chairman of the Board is elected county-wide and serves in a full-time position. The other four Commissioners are elected from single-member districts and serve in part-time positions. The Board hires a County Administrator who oversees day-to-day operations of the county's 11 executive departments. Gwinnett County also has a separate police department under the authority of the Board of Commissioners.
In addition to the Board of Commissioners, county residents also elect a Sheriff, District Attorney, Probate Court Judge, Clerk of State/Superior Court,Tax Commissioner, State Court Solicitor, Chief Magistrate Judge (who then appoints other Magistrate Court judges), Chief Superior Court Judge and Superior Court Judges, and a Chief State Court Judge and State Court Judges.
Gwinnett County has the largest public school system in the State of Georgia.
[edit] Libraries
The Gwinnett County Public Library system has 13 branch locations spread throughout Gwinnett County. The newest branch library opened April 15, 2006, in Dacula, Georgia. The library system was named Library of the Year in 2000 by Library Journal magazine.
[edit] Sports
Gwinnett County is the home of the Gwinnett Gladiators (hockey team) of the ECHL, who play in Duluth at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The mascot of the Gladiators is a lion. The Arena at Gwinnett Center is also the former home of the Georgia Force from the Arena Football League, for the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
The county is also home to a large number of high school sports teams.
[edit] Cities and towns
- Auburn
- Berkeley Lake
- Braselton
- Buford
- Centerville (unincorporated)
- Dacula
- Duluth
- Five Forks (unincorporated)
- Grayson
- Harbins (unincorporated)
- Hog Mountain (unincorporated)
- Lawrenceville
- Lenora (unincorporated)
- Lilburn
- Loganville
- Mountain Park (unincorporated)
- Norcross
- Peachtree Corners (unincorporated)
- Rest Haven
- Rosebud (unincorporated)
- Snellville
- Sugar Hill
- Suwanee
[edit] See also
- Gwinnett County Public Schools
- North Gwinnett High School
- Peachtree Ridge High School
- Duluth High School
- Collins Hill High School
- Brookwood High School
[edit] External links
- Official Web site of Gwinnett County Government
- Web site of the Sheriff of Gwinnett County
- Web site of the Courts of Gwinnett County
- Gwinnett County Transit web site (public transportation agency)
- Gwinnett County Public Schools
- Gwinnett County Public Library
- Listen to Gwinnett County Police and Fire radio
Incorporated places: Lawrenceville (County seat) • Auburn • Berkeley Lake • Braselton • Buford • Dacula • Duluth • Grayson • Lilburn • Loganville • Norcross • Rest Haven • Snellville • Sugar Hill • Suwanee
Census-designated places: Centerville • Five Forks • Harbins • Hog Mountain • Lenora • Mountain Park • Peachtree Corners • Rosebud • Rhodes Jordan
