Sandy Springs, Georgia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sandy Springs, Georgia | |
 |
|
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Georgia |
| County | Fulton County |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Eva Galambos |
| Area | |
| - City | 39 sq mi (101.0 km²) |
| - Land | 37.7 sq mi (97.7 km²) |
| - Water | 1.2 sq mi (3.2 km²) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - City | 85,781 |
| - Density | 2,274.3/sq mi (878.1/km²) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC) |
| Website: http://www.sandyspringsga.org | |
Sandy Springs (once known as Hammond) is a newly incorporated city (as of December 2005) in Fulton County, Georgia, north of Atlanta and south of Roswell. It is named for the sandy springs which still exist in the city today as a protected historic site. With an estimated population of more than 85,000 (2006), Sandy Springs is Georgia's seventh-largest city. It is the second largest of three principal cities (by population) of and is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, Georgia-Alabama (part) Combined Statistical Area.
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[edit] History
In 1851, Wilson Spruill donated five acres (two hectares) of land for the founding of the Sandy Springs United Methodist Church near the sandy spring for which the city is named. Later, in 1905 the Hammond School was built at Johnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway, across the street from the church.
After World War II, Sandy Springs experienced a housing boom, bringing new residents and major land development. In the 1960s and 1970s Georgia 400 and Interstate 285 connected Sandy Springs to metro Atlanta.
[edit] Debate over incorporation
Debate over incorporation began in the 1970s when the city of Atlanta attempted to use a state law to force annexation of Sandy Springs. (Buckhead had joined in 1952.) The attempt failed when the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that the law was unconstitutional. In response, the Committee for Sandy Springs was formed in 1975. In every legislative session since 1989, state legislators representing the area introduced a bill in the Georgia General Assembly to authorize a referendum on incorporation. Legislators representing the city of Atlanta and southwestern Fulton County, who feared for the tax revenue that would be lost, blocked the bills using the procedural requirement that all local legislation be approved first by a delegation of representatives from the affected area.
[edit] Referendum
When the Republican Party gained a majority in both houses of the General Assembly in early 2005, the Democratic Party rules were thrown out. The referendum initiative was approved by the Assembly and signed by Governor Sonny Purdue. The Assembly also temporarily repealed the 1995 law that all Georgia cities must provide at least three municipal services on their own or have their cityhood revoked, because the new city will need time to start up and will be contracting most of its services from the county through the end of 2006. The assembly also repealed the requirement that new cities must be at least three miles (4.8km) from existing cities, because the new city limit borders both Roswell and Atlanta.
The referendum was held on June 21, 2005, and residents voted overwhelmingly – 94% to 6% – for incorporation. Many locals expressed displeasure with county services, claiming that the county was redistributing revenues to fund services in poorer areas (South Fulton), ignoring local opposition to rezoning, and allowing excessive development. Many residents of unincorporated and less-developed south Fulton County strongly opposed incorporation, fearing the loss of tax revenues which run county services. County residents outside Sandy Springs were not allowed to vote on the matter. Efforts such as requesting the U.S. Justice Department to reject the plan were unsuccessful.
[edit] Interim government
As provided for by law, Governor Sonny Perdue named five citizens to an interim government committee for the city, called the Governor's Commission On Sandy Springs. In five years (2010), the charter drawn up by the legislature will have to be reviewed for any proposed or necessary changes.
[edit] Elections and formal incorporation
A mayor and six city council members were elected in early November 2005, and formal incorporation occurred on December 1, making it the third-largest city ever to incorporate in the U.S. (Centennial, Colorado, Miami Gardens, Florida, and Spokane Valley, Washington, did the same in 2001, February 2003, and March 2003, respectively, making them first, second, and fourth). The six city council districts are roughly northwest (along the Chattahoochee River), northeast (north of Dunwoody), southwest, southeast, east (along Georgia 400), and central.
[edit] Timeline
- In 1950, the state legislature blocked Atlanta from annexing the area.
- In 1952, the Buckhead area north of Atlanta and south of Sandy Springs was annexed.
- In 1959, mayor of Atlanta William Hartsfield urged residents to support annexation after a fire at Hammond Elementary School, so that the area would have better firefighting protection.
- In 1966, annexation was defeated in a referendum, with two-thirds voting against.
- In 1975 and 1976, the Committee For Sandy Springs was created and efforts in the legislature began.
- In 1989, a new push was made, this time to join neighboring Chattahoochee Plantation in Cobb County. This move was blocked by Speaker of the House Tom Murphy.
- In July 2005, residents voted 94% for incorporation in a referendum.
- In November 2005, Sandy Springs residents elected the city's first mayor and city council. Eva Galambos, who had initiated and led the charge for incorporation, won the mayor's office with a landslide vote. All city officials took office when the city was incorporated on December 1.
- In 2006, the city's police force begins service on July 1.
- In 2006, the city's fire department was lauched on December 29.
[edit] Population history
- 1980: 46,877
- 1990: 67,842
- 2000: 85,781
- 2005: More than 87,000
[edit] Geography
The boundaries of Sandy Springs are Atlanta to the south, Cobb County (at the Chattahoochee River) to the west and north, Roswell (also at the river) to the north, and unincorporated Dunwoody (at the DeKalb County line) to the east. A small panhandle in the northeast extends between the Chattahoochee River to the north and Dunwoody to the south, ending in a very small border with Gwinnett County.
In the 1880s, this panhandle was part of DeKalb, but it was later ceded to the former Milton County. Some residents of this area consider themselves to be part of the Dunwoody community, and were promised by the leaders of the incorporation movement that they would be allowed to maintain this identity. A few months later however, the new city took down street sign toppers which proclaimed the community's Dunwoody identity. The city later offered new ones, but only with the Sandy Springs name.
Panhandle residents were not allowed to vote separately on whether to join Sandy Springs in 2005. Legislation to incorporate the city of Dunwoody is expected in 2007, but there have been no statements regarding whether those in the Dunwoody-in-Sandy-Springs area would have their right of self-determination honored, after now-Mayor Eva Galambos invoked the same principle in the creation of Sandy Springs.
[edit] Transportation
Because of the rapid growth Sandy Springs has experienced in recent years and an absence of local government, traffic is a major challenge. City planning and efforts to improve traffic flow are high priority issues to the community.
[edit] Roads
Sandy Springs is served by two major limited-access highways, Georgia 400 – which runs north-south – and I-285 – which runs east-west. Major surface streets include Roswell Road (U.S. 19/Ga. 9), Johnson Ferry Road, Abernathy Road, Glenridge Drive, and Dunwoody Club Drive.
The new city's public works department has made significant improvements in the conditions of roads and traffic signals since incorporation in December 2005. The department has cleaned 1,000 catch basins, striped 30 miles of roadway, Responded to more than 2,000 calls for repair and service, and retimed hundreds of traffic signals to help improve flow of traffic and reduce idling.
The GDOT is currently planning to widen Abernathy Road between Johnson Ferry and Roswell Roads from two lanes to four plus a road median, and the city is planning the development of a linear park with sidewalks and walking trails to add greenspace and improve connectivity in the city. The western intersection will be reconfigured so that traffic to and from Johnson Ferry Road – which now carries heavy loads of Cobb County commuters across the Chattahoochee River at rush hour – will flow directly with Abernathy. It will be given a temporary state highway number which will not be put on signs.
[edit] Mass transportation
The major provider of mass transit is MARTA, which operates a heavy rail rapid transit line and several bus lines through Sandy Springs. Sandy Springs is served by the Medical Center, Sandy Springs and North Springs stations. The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority also operates express buses from the North Springs station to other counties.
[edit] Government
[edit] Officials
- Mayor: Eva Galambos
- District 1: Dave Greenspan
- District 2: Dianne Fries
- District 3: Rusty Paul
- District 4: Ashley Jenkins
- District 5: Tiberio "Tibby" DeJulio
- District 6: Karen Meinzen McEnerny
[edit] Services
The new city is a bold experiment in privatization. Most services are being handled by the engineering and operations firm CH2M HILL OMI, although public safety is not outsourced. Sandy Springs, at first glance, appears to be run just like other similarly-sized cities, with a council-manager form of government. However, it is the first city to outsource services to such as great extent to a private sector company.
The city's new police department took over services from the county on July 1. The city's fire department began operation in December 2006.
[edit] Disputes with Fulton County
During the transition period, the city has had some disputes with the county. Most notable is a recent issue over theparks now within the city. The county commission voted to sell them on the "open market", but later the Commissioner At-Large, Rob Pitts, clarified that there was no intent to sell for land development. As of July 2006, there was still harsh debate over whether to sell the parks for $5,000 each, $1 per acre, or at market value, or to lease them for 50 years for one dollar each annually. Under state law, the county cannot legally give the parks away, nor can any parks be used for development. In late 2006, Sandy Springs finally purchased 11 parks and greenspace areas from the county.
The newly-purchased facilities include:[1]
- Abernathy Park
- Allen Road Park
- Big Trees Forest Preserve
- East Conway Drive Park
- Ed Morey Pocket Park
- Hammond Park
- Island Ford Park
- Johnson Ferry Road Greenspace
- Morgan Falls Park
- North Fulton Tennis Center
- Ridgeview Park
- Sandy Springs Historic Site
[edit] Economy
The City of Sandy Springs is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including UPS, Mirant, Beazer Homes, and Newell Rubbermaid. Spectrum Brands, the Fortune 1000 company that manufactures Rayovac and Remington brand batteries and personal grooming products, is also based in the city. Due to its position as a large business base, the population of the city can swell to 125,000 during peak business hours, when several thousand workers commute into the city.
The city's largest business district is the Roswell Road corridor and the Perimeter Center (although Perimeter Mall itself resides in adjacent DeKalb County). Perimeter Center includes many high-rise buildings, including the 570-foot Concourse Towers (a.k.a. "the King and Queen towers"). Just south of this business district, across I-285, is a major medical center, anchored by Northside Hospital, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and Saint Joseph's Hospital.
Sandy Springs is one of metro Atlanta's most affluent residential communities. The city, and the area surrounding the city, is experiencing rapid residential development. Particularly, the trend of luxury high-rise condominium development has expanded past Atlanta's Midtown, Buckhead, and Olympic Park neighborhoods and is now in Sandy Springs.
[edit] Schools
Public schools continue to be operated by the Fulton County School System, which groups schools into clusters.
North Springs cluster:
- North Springs High School
- Sandy Springs Middle School
- Woodland Charter Elementary School
- Dunwoody Springs Charter Elementary School
- Spalding Drive Charter Elementary School
Riverwood cluster:
- Riverwood High School
- High Point Elementary School
- Ridgeview Middle School
- Heards Ferry Elementary School
There is one private school located in Sandy Springs.
- Holy Innocents' Episcopal School (Preschool - High School)
[edit] Demographics
(Note: the 2000 census numbers are for Sandy Springs prior to incorporation, but cover the same area.)
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 85,781 people, 39,288 households, and 19,683 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 878.1/km² (2,274.1/mi²). There were 42,794 housing units at an average density of 438.0/km² (1,134.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 77.55% White, 12.04% African American, 0.18% Native American, 3.29% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.94% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.93% of the population. According to a 2006 report by the Atlanta Jewish Federation, 15,300 Jews reside in Sandy Springs and the adjacent community of Dunwoody. [1]
There were 39,288 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.9% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 17.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 40.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $60,428, and the median income for a family was $85,146. Males had a median income of $51,002 versus $36,493 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $45,494. About 3.9% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] External links
- City of Sandy Springs
- Sandy Springs community site
- Heritage Sandy Springs
- Leadership Sandy Springs
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
Incorporated places: Atlanta (County seat) • Alpharetta • College Park • East Point • Fairburn • Hapeville • Johns Creek • Milton • Mountain Park • Palmetto • Roswell • Sandy Springs • Union City
Census-designated places: Campbellton • Red Oak • Rico • Birmingham • Shakerag • Crabapple • Sandtown • Chattahoochee Hill Country • South Fulton
