Suwanee is a city in the northern section of Gwinnett County in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,355; this had grown to an estimated 20,907 as of 2019. In 2020, its population was 20,786.

Portions of Forsyth and Fulton counties also have Suwanee and its ZIP code (30024) as a mailing address.

History Early history Suwanee, like many towns in Georgia, has its roots based in the name of Native American with this name being from the Shawnee and a former Shawnee area. Settlement always thrived along the Chattahoochee River, where various societies flourished. The city was officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1837, following the establishment of a post office. With the construction of the Georgia Air Line Railroad in 1871, and the Rhodes House hotel in 1880 to accommodate railroad passengers, Suwanee saw in influx of people and a boost in trade and economic activity. Suwanee Methodist Church was established in 1873, serving both the local Methodist and Baptist congregations. Although a devastating fire in 1881 spared only one building on Main Street, the town continued to persevere. From 1880 to 1920, the population remained relatively static, growing from 216 people to 241 over 40 years. , Suwanee's population had surged to over 18,000, reflecting its growth and development.

Recent history From 1933 to 1936, the now heavily traveled Buford Highway was constructed through Suwanee. In 1960, Interstate 85 was extended just south of Suwanee, where it ended at the time. Over the past century, several primary education schools have opened in Suwanee, including North Gwinnett High School and Suwanee Elementary School. Suwanee High School dates back to 1880, when it was a one-room schoolhouse. The first city hall was built in the early 1960s, with a second city hall constructed in 1997. In 2005, Town Center was built in 2005 and completed in 2009, at which time the city hall moved to its current location in Town Center. In 2003, Suwanee was named a City of Excellence by the Georgia Municipal Association and Trend Magazine. In 2017, Suwanee was recognized as a Green Community by the Atlanta Regional Commission, earning bronze-level certification for its commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership in sustainability practices.

Geography Suwanee is situated in northern Gwinnett County and southeastern Forsyth County. It is bordered to the northeast by the city of Sugar Hill, to the southwest by the city of Duluth, and on the west by the Chattahoochee River, which marks the Fulton County border. Across the river lies the city of Johns Creek.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Suwanee has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.70%, is water.

There are several areas with Suwanee postal addresses that lie in unincorporated Gwinnett County and unincorporated Forsyth County. Those areas are not within the Suwanee corporate limits.

Climate Suwanee experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Suwanee had a population of 20,786 and 5,235 families. The median age was 38.7 years. 25.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.3 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,506 households in Suwanee, of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.2% were married-couple households, 15.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 7,861 housing units, of which 4.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.

+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census Race Number Percent White 9,994 48.1% Black or African American 3,006 14.5% American Indian and Alaska Native 94 0.5% Asian 5,266 25.3% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 11 0.1% Some other race 672 3.2% Two or more races 1,743 8.4% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,832 8.8% Arts and culture Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Suwanee branch in Suwanee."Hours & Locations ." Gwinnett County Public Library. Retrieved on February 24, 2010.

Sports Suwanee was the practicing home of the Atlanta Falcons football team from 1979 to 2001.

Parks and recreation George Pierce Park is a park in Suwanee managed by Gwinnett County.City of Suwanee, Georgia, "Parks", retrieved from http://www.suwanee.com/cityservices.recreationparks.php The city itself manages several parks within the city limits, including Town Center on Main, a park that serves as a venue for special events. Suwanee Creek Greenway is a hard-surfaced multipurpose trail with wooded areas and wildlife habitat connected to several of the city's parks.

Each February, Suwanee hosts the annual Suwanee Half Marathon, a qualifier for the Peachtree Road Race.

In 2016, Suwanee unveiled the first bike share program in Gwinnett County.

Education Suwanee is within the Gwinnett County Public Schools district, - Text list and primarily served by Collins Hill High School, North Gwinnett High School, and Peachtree Ridge High School. The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's Georgia campus is also located in Suwanee.

Infrastructure Transportation Major roads and expressways Interstate 85 U.S. Route 23 State Route 317

Airport The nearest commercial air service is provided by Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is south of Atlanta. The nearest general aviation airport is Gwinnett County Airport.

Notable people Carolyn Bourdeaux, former U.S. representative Rich McCormick, U.S. representative Devin Vassell, NBA player

References

External links