Jump to content

Fulton County, Georgia: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 33°47′N 84°28′W / 33.79°N 84.47°W / 33.79; -84.47
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Emories (talk | contribs)
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
(871 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|County in Georgia, United States}}
{{Infobox U.S. County
{{Refimprove|date=July 2024}}
| county = Fulton County
{{Infobox U.S. county
| state = Georgia
| county = Fulton County
| seal =
| state = Georgia
| seallink =
| type = [[County (United States)|County]]
| map = Fulton County Georgia.png
| ex image = Fulton County Courthouse, Atlanta, GA (47474766621).jpg
| map size = 225
| ex image cap = Atlanta's Fulton County Courthouse in 2019
| founded = [[1853]]
| flag = Flag of Fulton County, Georgia.svg
| seat = Atlanta
| flag size =
| largest city = Atlanta
| seal =
| area mi = 535
| logo = Fulton County, GA Logo.png
| area km = 1,385
| logo size = 110px
| area land mi = 529
| founded year = {{start date and age|1853}}
| area land km = 1,369
| founded date = December 20
| area water mi = 6
| seat wl = Atlanta
| area water km = 16
| largest city wl = Atlanta
| area percentage = 1.11%
| area_total_sq_mi = 534
| census estimate yr = 2006
| area_land_sq_mi = 527
| pop = 960,009
| area_water_sq_mi = 7.7
| density mi = 1,544
| area percentage = 1.4%
| density km = 596
| census yr = 2020
| time zone = Eastern
| pop = 1066710
| UTC offset = -5
| pop_est_as_of = 2023
| DST offset = -4
| population_est = 1079105 {{gain}}
| web = www.fultoncountyga.gov
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| time zone = Eastern
| district = 5th
| district2 = 6th
| district3 = 11th
| district4 = 13th
| website = {{URL|www.fultoncountyga.gov/|fultoncountyga.gov}}
| named for = [[Robert Fulton]]
}}{{Coord|33.79|-84.47|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-GA_source:UScensus1990}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

'''Fulton County''' is a county in the north-central portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 1,066,710,<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Population and Housing State Data |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html |access-date=August 12, 2021 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> making it the state's most populous county.<ref name="QG2">{{cite web |title=2020 County Metro Population Estimates |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates/2020-evaluation-estimates/2010s-counties-total.html |access-date=May 5, 2021 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] and most populous city is [[Atlanta]],<ref name="GR62">{{cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> the state capital. About 90% of the city of Atlanta is within Fulton County; the remaining portion is in [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]]. Fulton County is the principal county of the [[Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area|Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell metropolitan statistical area]].

==History==
[[File:Bright Atlanta.jpg|thumb|[[Midtown Atlanta]] and the [[Downtown Connector]]]]
Fulton County was created in 1853 from the western half of [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]]. It was named in honor of [[Robert Fulton]], the man who created the first commercially successful steamboat in 1807.<ref>[https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/about-fulton-county#:~:text=Fulton%20County%20was%20formed%20from,the%20144th%20to%20be%20created. ''About Fulton County'']</ref>

After the [[American Civil War]], there was considerable violence against [[freedmen]] in the county. During the post-Reconstruction period, violence and the number of [[Lynching in the United States|lynchings]] of blacks increased in the late 19th century, as whites exercised terrorism to re-establish and maintain [[white supremacy]]. Whites [[Lynchings in the United States|lynched]] 35 African Americans here from 1877 to 1950; according to the Georgia Lynching Project, 24 were killed in 1906. This was the highest total in the state.<ref>[https://eji.org/sites/default/files/lynching-in-america-third-edition-supplement-by-county.pdf ''Lynching in America''/ Supplement: Lynchings by County]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, 3rd Edition, 2015, p. 4</ref> With a total of 589, Georgia was second to Mississippi in its total number of lynchings in this period.<ref name="eji">[https://www.ajc.com/news/local/hundreds-more-were-lynched-the-south-than-previously-known-report/gOEGtsSud4utD6Uiqkx1LN/ AJC Staff, "Hundreds more were lynched in the South than previously known: report"], ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', June 14, 2017; accessed March 26, 2018</ref>

In addition to individual lynchings, during the [[Atlanta Race Riot]] of 1906, whites killed at least 25 African Americans; the number may have been considerably higher. Two white persons died during the riot; one a woman who died of a heart attack. The violence affected black residential and business development in the city afterward. The Georgia legislature effectively completed [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era|disenfranchisement of African Americans]] in 1908, with constitutional amendments that raised barriers to voter registration and voting, excluding them from the political system{{Citation needed|reason=specific dates given but no specific legislation. Should be easy to clarify|date=April 2023}}.

At the beginning of 1932, as an [[austerity]] measure to save money during the [[Great Depression]], Fulton County annexed [[Milton County, Georgia|Milton County]] to the north and [[Campbell County, Georgia|Campbell County]] to the southwest, to centralize administration. That resulted in the current long shape of the county along {{convert|80|mi|km}} of the [[Chattahoochee River]]. On May 9 of that year, neighboring [[Cobb County]] [[cession|ceded]] the city of Roswell and lands lying east of [[Willeo Creek]] to Fulton County so that it would be more contiguous with the lands ceded from Milton County.

In the second half of the 20th century, Atlanta and Fulton county became the location of numerous national and international headquarters for leading companies, attracting highly skilled employees from around the country. This led to the city and county becoming more cosmopolitan and diverse.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

In 1992, Fulton County elected the first African-American woman, [[Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett]], to the position of Sheriff in the history of the United States.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

In 2023, Fulton County received news for the arrest of rapper and Fulton County native [[Playboi Carti]] and for the indictment of former [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]] by [[Fani Willis]] in the [[Georgia election racketeering prosecution|Georgia election interference case]], along with other Trump associates such as [[Rudy Giuliani]].{{cn|date=July 2024}}

==Geography==
[[File:Garrett Lake, Mountain Park, Fulton County, Georgia.JPG|thumb|Garrett Lake, [[Mountain Park, Fulton County, Georgia|Mountain Park]]|left]]
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|534|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|527|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.7|sqmi}} (1.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> The county is located in the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] region of the state in the foothills of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] to the north. The shape of the county resembles a sword with its handle at the northeastern part, and the tip at the southwestern portion.

Going from north to south, the northernmost portion of Fulton County, encompassing [[Milton, Georgia|Milton]] and northern [[Alpharetta, Georgia|Alpharetta]], is located in the [[Etowah River]] sub-basin of the [[ACT River Basin]] (Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin). The rest of north and central Fulton, to downtown [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], is located in the Upper [[Chattahoochee River]] sub-basin of the [[ACF River Basin]] (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The bulk of south Fulton County, from Atlanta to [[Palmetto, Georgia|Palmetto]], is located in the Middle [[Chattahoochee River]]-[[Lake Harding]] sub-basin of the larger ACF River Basin, with just the eastern edges of south Fulton, from Palmetto northeast through [[Union Hill, Georgia|Union Hill]] to [[Hapeville, Georgia|Hapeville]], in the Upper [[Flint River (Georgia)|Flint River]] sub-basin of the same larger ACF River Basin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |title=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience |publisher=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission |access-date=November 18, 2015 |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003004639/http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Cherokee County, Georgia|Cherokee County]] – northwest
* [[Forsyth County, Georgia|Forsyth County]] – northeast
* [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett County]] – east
* [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]] – east
* [[Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton County]] – south
* [[Fayette County, Georgia|Fayette County]] – south
* [[Coweta County, Georgia|Coweta County]] – southwest
* [[Carroll County, Georgia|Carroll County]] – west
* [[Douglas County, Georgia|Douglas County]] – west
* [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb County]] – west
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
* [[Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area]] (part)
* [[Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site]]

==Communities==
[[File:Fulton County Cities.png|221x221px|A map of all the cities within Fulton County, Georgia|alt=A map of all the cities within Fulton County, Georgia|thumb]]

There are 15 cities within Fulton County. Four cities include land outside of the county (Atlanta, College Park, Palmetto, and Mountain Park) but still have their center of government and the majority of their land within Fulton County. After the formation of South Fulton in 2017, the only unincorporated part of the county is Fulton Industrial Boulevard, from roughly [[Fulton County Airport (Georgia)|Fulton Brown Airport (Brown's Field)]] down to Fairburn Rd. (concurrent with GA-158 and GA-166)<ref>{{cite web |title=Printable Maps |website=www.fultoncountyga.gov |publisher=Fulton County |url=https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/-/media/Departments/IT_GIS/Printable-Maps/CityLimits_35X44.ashx }}</ref> This led to Fulton County becoming the first county in Georgia to suspend all city services.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kass |first1=Arielle |title=Fulton County first in Georgia to relinquish city services |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/fulton-county-first-georgia-relinquish-city-services/8A57EbG5UYNTjrFttyVcCK/ |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Cox Enterprises |access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref>

===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Alpharetta, Georgia|Alpharetta]]
* [[Atlanta]]
* [[Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia|Chattahoochee Hills]]
* [[College Park, Georgia|College Park]]
* [[East Point, Georgia|East Point]]
* [[Fairburn, Georgia|Fairburn]]
* [[Hapeville, Georgia|Hapeville]]
* [[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]]
* [[Milton, Georgia|Milton]]
* [[Mountain Park, Fulton County, Georgia|Mountain Park]]
* [[Palmetto, Georgia|Palmetto]]
* [[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]]
* [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]]
* [[South Fulton, Georgia|South Fulton]]
* [[Union City, Georgia|Union City]]
{{div col end}}

===Former unincorporated communities===
* [[Campbellton, Georgia|Campbellton]] (now within South Fulton)
* [[Ocee, Georgia|Ocee]] (now within Johns Creek)
* [[Red Oak, Georgia|Red Oak]] (now within South Fulton)
* [[Sandtown, Georgia|Sandtown]] (now within South Fulton)
* [[Serenbe]] (village within Chattahoochee Hills)
* [[Shake Rag, Georgia|Shake Rag]] (within Johns Creek)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1860 = 14427
| 1870 = 33446
| 1880 = 49137
| 1890 = 84655
| 1900 = 117363
| 1910 = 177733
| 1920 = 232606
| 1930 = 318587
| 1940 = 392886
| 1950 = 473572
| 1960 = 556326
| 1970 = 607592
| 1980 = 589904
| 1990 = 648951
| 2000 = 816006
| 2010 = 920581
| 2020 = 1066710
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 1079105
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/counties/totals/co-est2023-pop.xlsx| title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 14, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref><br>1790-1880<ref name=1880CensusGACty>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800 |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1880|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1880/vol-01-population/1880_v1-08.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1890-1910<ref name=1910CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1910 Census of Population - Georgia |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1910|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref><br> 1920-1930<ref name=1930CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1930 Census of Population - Georgia |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1930-1940<ref name=1940CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1940 Census of Population - Georgia |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1940|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1940-1950<ref name=1950CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1950 Census of Population - Georgia - |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1950|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-2/37779083v2p11ch2.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1960-1980<ref name=1980CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_gaABC-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1980-2000<ref name=2000CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink= |title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 2000|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-12.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Fulton County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the U.S. Census Bureau treats Hispanic and Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics and Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fulton County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=050XX00US13121|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fulton County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US13121&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fulton County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US13121&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|369,997
|376,014
|style='background: #ffffe6; |404,793
|45.34%
|40.85%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37.95%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|361,018
|400,457
|style='background: #ffffe6; |448,803
|44.24%
|43.50%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |42.07%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|1,148
|1,586
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,558
|0.14%
|0.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.15%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|24,635
|51,304
|style='background: #ffffe6; |80,632
|3.02%
|5.57%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.56%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|261
|287
|style='background: #ffffe6; |381
|0.03%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|1,599
|2,582
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,444
|0.20%
|0.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.60%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|9,292
|15,785
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37,797
|1.14%
|1.71%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.54%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|48,056
|72,566
|style='background: #ffffe6; |86,302
|5.89%
|7.88%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.09%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''816,006'''
|'''920,581'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''1,066,710'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}


According to the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,066,710 people, 439,578 households, and 238,444 families residing in the county, reflecting the county's historically positive population growth with exception to the [[1980 United States census|1980 U.S. census]].
'''Fulton County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. Its [[county seat]] is [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]][[Geographic references|<sup>6</sup>]], the principal city of the [[Atlanta metropolitan area]]. As of the [[2000]] [[census]], the [[population]] was 816,006. The [[2006]] Census Estimate placed the population at 960,009 [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2006-01-13.xls].


In 2020, the county had a racial and ethnic makeup of 42.07% Black or African Americans, 37.95% non-Hispanic whites, 0.15% American Indians and Alaska Natives, 7.56% Asian Americans, 0.04% Pacific Islander Americans, 0.60% some other race, 3.54% multiracial Americans, and 8.09% Hispanic or Latinos of any race. In 2010, its racial and ethnic makeup was 43.50% Black or African American, 40.85% non-Hispanic white, 0.17% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% some other race, 1.71% multiracial, and 7.88% Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Fulton County is the most populous county in Georgia and is included in the [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]-[[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]]-[[Marietta, Georgia]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]].


In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $56,709 and the median income for a family was $75,579. Males had a median income of $56,439 versus $42,697 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,211. About 12.0% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
==History==
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13121
Fulton County was created from the western half of [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]] in [[1853]]. This occurred when, during the [[1840s]], that county's seat of [[Decatur, Georgia|Decatur]] refused to allow a [[railroad terminal]] to be built due to [[noise]] concerns. A new point was selected a few [[mile]]s west, and was later incorporated as '''Terminus'''. The town was renamed twice; first as [[Marthasville, Georgia|Marthasville]], and finally as [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]].
|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
|access-date=December 29, 2015
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213015019/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13121
|archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> At the 2022 [[American Community Survey]], its median household income grew to $90,346 with a per capita income of $59,689. Among its population, 53% earned from $50,000 to $200,000 annually, and 28% earned less than $50,000. Approximately 12.7% of the county lived at or below the poverty line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census profile: Fulton County, GA |url=http://censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US13121-fulton-county-ga/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref>


==Economy==
During [[Sherman's March to the Sea|William T. Sherman's March to the Sea]] during the [[American Civil War]], Sherman spared [[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]] because he had a cousin who lived there. As a result, Roswell has more pre-Civil War historical buildings up than anywhere else in North Georgia.
[[File:Centennial Tower Atlanta 1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Centennial Tower (Atlanta)|Centennial Tower]]]]


Companies headquartered in Fulton County include [[AFC Enterprises]] (Popeyes Chicken/Cinnabon), [[AT&T Mobility]], [[Chick-fil-A]], [[Children's Healthcare of Atlanta]], [[Church's Texas Chicken]], [[The Coca-Cola Company]], [[Cox Enterprises]], [[Delta Air Lines]], [[Earthlink]], [[Equifax]], [[First Data]], [[Georgia-Pacific]], [[Global Payments|Global Payments, Inc.]], [[InterContinental Hotels Group]], IBM Internet Security Systems, [[Mirant]] Corp., [[Newell Rubbermaid]], Northside Hospital, Piedmont Healthcare, [[Porsche]] Cars North America, Saint Joseph's Hospital, [[Southern Company]], [[United Parcel Service]], are based in various cities throughout Fulton County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fulton County's Strong Economy {{!}} FULTON COUNTY |url=https://www.fultoncountyny.gov/fulton-countys-strong-economy#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways-,Fulton%20County%20has%20a%20diversified%20economy%20featuring%20companies%20like%20FAGE,Products,%20EPIMED%20and%20many%20others. |access-date=October 31, 2023 |website=www.fultoncountyny.gov}}</ref>
The name is often assumed to be in honor of inventor [[Robert Fulton]], who (among many other inventions) built a [[steamboat]] in [[1807]]. This assumption is likely because this [[steam engine]] was the predecessor to the [[steam locomotives]] which built Atlanta. However, some [[research]] now indicates that it may have been in honor of [[Hamilton Fulton]], a [[Surveyor (surveying)|surveyor]] for the [[Western and Atlantic Railroad]]. Nonetheless the County itself claims to be named after Robert Fulton [http://ww2.co.fulton.ga.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=213&Itemid=72].


==Education==
At the beginning of [[1932]], [[Milton County]] to the north and [[Campbell County, Georgia|Campbell County]] to the southwest became part of Fulton County, to save money during the [[Great Depression]]. This gave the county its current awkward and long shape along 70 miles or 113 kilometers of the [[Chattahoochee River]]. Neighboring [[Cobb County]] [[cession|ceded]] the city of [[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]] to Fulton to make it contiguous with Milton, including everything east of [[Willeo Creek]]. Additionally, parts of [[Gwinnett County]] and [[Cherokee County, Georgia|Cherokee County]] were swept in.
{{see also|Atlanta#Education}}
All portions of Fulton County outside of the city limits of Atlanta are served by the [[Fulton County School System]]. All portions within Atlanta are served by [[Atlanta Public Schools]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13121_fulton/DC20SD_C13121.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722214221/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13121_fulton/DC20SD_C13121.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Fulton County, GA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13121_fulton/DC20SD_C13121_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>


==Governance==
===Libraries===
====History====
Fulton County is governed by a seven-member [[Board of Commissioners]], who hold concurrent four year terms. The most recent election was held in November, 2006. Fulton County has a county manager system of government, in which day-to-day operation of the County is handled by a manager appointed by the Board of Commissioners.
The Atlanta-Fulton County Library system began in 1902 as the Carnegie Library of Atlanta, one of the first public libraries in the United States. In 1935, the city of Atlanta and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners signed a contract under which library service was extended to all of Fulton County. Then in 1982, Georgia voters passed a constitutional Amendment authorizing the transfer of responsibility for the Library system from the city of Atlanta to the county. On July 1, 1983, the transfer finally became official, and the system was renamed the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System.


Under the leadership of [[Ella Gaines Yates]], who was the first African American director of the Library System, a new Central library was opened to the public in May 1988. The building was designed by Marcel Breuer, a participant in the innovative Bauhaus movement, working side by side with his associate Hamilton Smith. The Central Library was dedicated on May 25, 1980, and Breuer would die a year later in July 1981 at the age of 81.
==Politics==


In 2002 after a hundred years of library service to the public, a major renovation of the Central Library was completed.
Atlanta is the dominant city of Fulton County, occupying the county's narrow center section and thus geographically dividing the county's northern and southern portions. Atlanta's last major annexation in 1952 brought over 118 square miles into the city, including the affluent suburb of Buckhead, and was motivated in part to maintain a majority of white voters in the city. The movement to create a [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|City of Sandy Springs]], launched in the early 1970s and reaching fruition in 2005, was largely an effort to prevent additional annexations by the City of Atlanta.


===Taxation===
==Government==
Fulton County is governed by a seven-member [[board of commissioners]], whose members are elected from [[single-member district]]s. They serve staggered four-year terms. The county has a [[County manager (United States)|county manager]] system of government, in which day-to-day operation of the county is handled by a manager appointed by the board. The chairman of the Board of Commissioners is elected [[at-large]] for the county-wide position. The vice chairman is elected by peers on a yearly basis.
Geographically remote from each other because of Atlanta's annexations, the northern and southern sections of the county have grown increasingly at odds over the collection of taxes and distribution of services. Residents of the [[affluent]] areas of North Fulton have increasingly complained that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners have ignored their needs, taking taxes collected in North Fulton and spending it on programs in services in South Fulton. In [[2005]], the [[Georgia General Assembly]] directed Fulton County, alone among all the counties in the state, to limit the expenditure of funds to the geographic region of the county where they were collected. Fulton County contested this law, known as the "Shafer Amendment" after Sen. [[David Shafer]] (R-Duluth), in a lawsuit that went to the Georgia Supreme Court. On June 19, 2006, the Court handed down a decision upholding the legality of the Shafer Amendment.


{|class=wikitable
The creation of the City of Sandy Springs left fewer residents in unincorporated North Fulton to subsidize the programs and services in South Fulton, prompting a move to create two additional cities that would completely "[[municipalization|municipalize]]" North Fulton. In a [[domino effect]], the residents of South Fulton then moved to create additional cities as well.
|-
!colspan=3| Board of Commissioners
|-
! District
! Commissioner
!Party
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 7 (at-large)
| Robb Pitts (chairman)
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| District 1
| Bridget Thorne
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| District 2
| Bob Ellis
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 3
| Dana Barrett
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 4
| Mo Ivory
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 5
| Marvin S. Arrington, Jr.
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 6
| Khadijah Abdur-Rahman
|Democratic
|}


{| class=wikitable
===Municipalization===
|-
Since the [[1970s]], residents of [[Sandy Springs]] had waged a long-running battle to incorporate their own city. They were repeatedly foiled by the Democrats, but when control of state government switched to the Republicans after the 2002 and 2004 election, the movement to create the city picked up steam.
! colspan=2| Board of Commissioners Appointees
|-
! Position held
! Name
|-
| County Manager
| Dick Anderson
|-
| Clerk to the Commission
| Tonya Grier (interim)
|-
| County Attorney
| Soo Jo<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/executive-leadership/county-attorney
|title=County Attorney |website=Fulton Country |access-date=January 19, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| Chief Financial Officer
| Sharon Whitmore
|-
| Chief Operating Officer
| Anna Roach
|}


===United States Congress===
The General Assembly approved creation of the city in 2005. The citizens of Sandy Springs voted 94% in favor of ratifying the charter in a [[referendum]] held on [[June 21]], 2005. The new city was officially incorporated on [[December 1]], [[2005]], though the county will continue to provide most services under [[contract]] through sometime in [[2006]].
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Senators'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Assumed office'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Level'''
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| Senate Class 2
| [[Jon Ossoff]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2021
| Senior Senator
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| Senate Class 3
| [[Raphael Warnock]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2021
| Junior Senator
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Representatives'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Assumed office'''
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| District 4
| [[Hank Johnson]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2007
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| District 5
| [[Nikema Williams]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2021
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| District 6
| [[Rich McCormick]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|District 7
|[[Lucy McBath]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2019
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|District 13
|[[David Scott (Georgia politician)|David Scott]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2003
|}


===Georgia General Assembly===
Creation of Sandy Springs spurried a movement toward [[municipalization]] of the entire county, which would incorporate every area into a city. This would essentially eliminate the county's [[home rule]] powers (granted in the [[1960s]]) to act as a [[municipality]] in unincorporated areas, and return it to being entirely a local extension of state government.


==== Georgia State Senate ====
In 2006, the General Assembly approved creation of two new cities, [[Milton, Georgia|Milton]] and [[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]], that would completely municipalize North Fulton. The charters of these two new cities were ratified in a [[referendum]] held July 18, 2006.


{| class=wikitable
The General Assembly also approved a proposal to form a new city called South Fulton. Its proposed boundaries will include those areas still unincorporated on July 1, 2007. As a direct result, many of the existing cities are proposing [[annexation]]s while some communities are drawing up [[Incorporation (municipal government)|incorporation]] plans [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/us/13secede.html?_r=1&oref=slogin].
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''District'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Assumed office'''
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 6
| [[Jason Esteves]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 14
| [[Josh McLaurin]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 21
| [[Brandon Beach]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2013
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 28
| [[Matt Brass]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2017
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 35
| [[Donzella James]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2009
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 36
| [[Nan Orrock]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2007
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 38
| [[Horacena Tate]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1999
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|39
|[[Sonya Halpern]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2021
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
|48
|[[Shawn Still]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2023
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
|56
|[[John Albers]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2011
|}


====Georgia House of Representatives====
=== Secession ===
{| class=wikitable
Residents of suburban North Fulton have long advocated that they be allowed to [[secede]] and form a new county, called [[Milton County, Georgia|Milton County]], after the county that was absorbed into Fulton County during the [[Great Depression]]. Milton County was absorbed into Fulton County in 1932 but was said it would be restored if the proposal came forth.
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''District'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Assumed office'''
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 25
| [[Todd Jones (politician)|Todd Jones]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2017
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 47
| [[Jan Jones (Georgia politician)|Jan Jones]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2003
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
|48
|[[Scott Hilton (politician)|Scott Hilton]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2023
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 49
| [[Chuck Martin (politician)|Chuck Martin]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2003
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 50
| [[Michelle Au]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 51
| [[Esther Panitch|Ester Panitch]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 52
| [[Shea Roberts]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2021
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 53
| [[Deborah Silcox]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 54
| [[Betsy Holland]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2019
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 55
| Inga Willis
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 56
| [[Mesha Mainor]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2021
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 57
| [[Stacey Evans]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2021
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 58
| [[Park Cannon]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2016
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 59
| [[Phil Olaleye]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 60
| [[Sheila Jones]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 61
| [[Roger Bruce]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2013
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|62
|Tanya Miller
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2023
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|63
|[[Kim Schofield]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2023
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|65
|[[Mandisha Thomas]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2021
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|67
|Lydia Glaize
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2023
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|68
|[[Derrick Jackson (politician)|Derrick Jackson]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2023
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|69
|Deborah Bazemore
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2023
|}


===Politics===
North Fulton County is a very affluent (one of the most affluent areas in the nation), suburban, predominantly [[white people|white]] area that is overwhelmingly [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. South Fulton County is almost the exact opposite, mostly located in very urban inner-city [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], that are predominantly [[black people|black]] and very heavily [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]. This does not include for the most part the former [[Campbell County, Georgia|Campbell County]] area which is still a quiet, largely rural and unpopulated area located southwest of the city of Atlanta. The only major city of the former Campbell County area is [[Palmetto, Georgia|Palmetto]], which is on the Fulton-Coweta County line.
[[Atlanta]] is the largest city in Fulton County, occupying the county's narrow center section and thus geographically dividing the county's northern and southern portions. Atlanta's last major annexation in 1952 brought over {{convert|118|sqmi|km2}} into the city, including the affluent suburb of [[Buckhead, Atlanta|Buckhead]].
The movement to create a city of [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]], launched in the early 1970s and reaching fruition in 2005, was largely an effort to prevent additional annexations by the city of Atlanta, and later to wrest local control from the [[county commission]].


Fulton County is one of the most reliably Democratic counties in the entire nation. It has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1876 except those of 1928 and in 1972, when [[George McGovern]] did not win a single county in Georgia. The demographic character of the Democratic Party has changed, as conservative whites, previously its chief members in the South, have mostly shifted to the Republican Party. In Fulton County, Democrats are composed primarily of liberal urbanites of various ethnicities and a growing contingent of suburban voters. Fulton is served by 4 Representatives in the U.S. House, with [[David Scott (Georgia politician)|David Scott]] representing the southern suburbs, [[Lucy McBath]] representing [[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]], and [[John Lewis]] representing the core of Atlanta until his death on July 17, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Lewis, Georgia Congressman and Civil Rights Icon, Dies at 80|url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/national-international/rep-john-lewis-dies-at-80/2161514/|access-date=September 20, 2021|website=NBC Boston|date=July 18, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> Lewis was succeeded by [[Nikema Williams]]. Republican [[Rich McCormick]] represents most of North Fulton.
The major reasoning behind the push for the succession from Fulton County and the recreation of the former Milton County is that Fulton County is a very physically large county with a population larger than that of six other states, and the new government could be more responsive to the needs of proposed Milton County area. However there are more reasons than that. Even though northern Fulton County residents represent only 29% of Fulton County's total population, they pay a highly unbalanced 42% of property taxes. A separation of the county would put those taxes to better use for the northern Fulton County area but would lead to the loss of $193-million in property taxes alone for the rest of Fulton County.


{{PresHead|place=Fulton County, Georgia|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
The main opposition to the separation comes from the residents of south Fulton County who say that the proposed separation is racially based, said to keep the rich white residents separated from the black residents. Senator [[Vincent Fort]], an Atlanta Democrat and member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Committee, very strongly opposes the plan to split the county. "If it gets to the floor, there will be blood on the walls," Fort stated "As much as you would like to think it's not racial, it's difficult to draw any other conclusion." he would later add.
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|144,655|384,752|10,290|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|137,247|380,212|6,472|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|117,783|297,051|23,917|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|137,124|255,470|5,752|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|130,136|272,000|3,489|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|134,372|199,436|2,933|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|104,870|152,039|6,303|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|89,809|143,306|10,053|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|85,451|147,459|24,499|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|91,785|120,752|2,152|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|95,149|125,567|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|64,909|118,748|9,066|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|61,552|129,849|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|96,256|74,329|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|64,153|77,920|36,995|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|73,205|93,540|11|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|53,940|55,803|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|37,326|51,098|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|35,197|52,459|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|14,976|29,318|6,760|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|7,687|37,161|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|6,033|31,311|122|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,552|27,183|94|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,063|20,137|253|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|9,368|8,872|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|3,229|7,830|1,579|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|3,336|6,635|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,040|8,945|1,311|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,688|7,313|507|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,906|4,790|438|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|1,766|5,781|301|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,676|5,075|75|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|3,005|4,504|391|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,364|4,663|223|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|2,164|2,750|233|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|925|1,939|0|Georgia}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Democratic|2,229|3,045|0|Georgia}}


===Taxation===
A [[firestorm]] broke out in Atlanta in 2006, most likely caused by disgruntled south Fulton County residents opposed to Fulton County's possible future separation, when Senator [[Sam Zamarripa]] (D-Atlanta) suggested that the cities in North Fulton be allowed to secede and form Milton County in exchange for Atlanta and Fulton County consolidating their governments into a new "Atlanta County."
Geographically remote from each other, the northern and southern sections of the county have grown increasingly at odds over issues related to taxes and distribution of services. Residents of the affluent areas of North Fulton have increasingly complained that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners has ignored their needs, taking taxes collected in North Fulton, and spending them on programs and services in less wealthy South Fulton. In 2005, responding to pressure from North Fulton, the [[Georgia General Assembly]] directed Fulton County, alone among all the counties in the state, to limit the expenditure of funds to the geographic region of the county where they were collected. The Fulton County Commission contested this law, known as the "Shafer Amendment" after Sen. [[David Shafer (politician)|David Shafer]] ([[Republican (US)|Republican]] from [[Duluth, Georgia|Duluth]]), in a [[lawsuit]] that went to the [[Supreme Court of Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia Supreme Court]]. On June 19, 2006, the Court upheld the law, ruling that the Shafer Amendment was constitutional.


The creation of the city of [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]] stimulated the founding of two additional cities, resulting in [[municipalization|no unincorporated areas]] remaining in north Fulton. In a [[domino effect]], the residents of southwest Fulton voted in referendums to create additional cities. In 2007, one of these two referendums passed and the other was defeated, but later passed in 2016.
North Fulton County is home to many of the owners of the businesses located in the city of Atlanta. Its economic strength, like many major American city suburbs, is due to the racially motivated [[white flight]] of the late 60s and 70s. Milton County was originally annexed into Fulton County during the great depression of the late 1920s and early 30s because it was economically unable to exist on its own. As history shows, now that times have changed and the new generation of wealthy, predominantly white north Fulton county residents have had a shift in economic and social growth they want to be defined as separate from the likes of the percieved and waning disparities faced by South Fulton county residents today.


===Municipalization===
Many proponents of the proposed Milton County did not previously take into account the cost of creating a new county. For instance, any Fulton County Debts from that region or that apply to the entire county as well as any standing contracts must still be honored by any new county.
[[File: Rico Road, Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia.JPG|thumb|Road in [[Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia|Chattahoochee Hills]]]]
Since the 1970s, residents of [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]] had waged a long-running battle to incorporate their community as a city, which would make it independent of county council control. They were repeatedly blocked in the state legislature by Atlanta Democrats, but when control of state government switched to suburban Republicans after the 2002 and 2004 elections, the movement to charter the city picked up steam.


[[File:Pill hill, atlanta.jpg|thumb|[[Pill Hill (Atlanta)|Pill Hill]], [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]]]]
==Taxes==
The General Assembly approved creation of the city in 2005, and for this case, it suspended an existing state law that prohibited new cities (the only type of municipality in the state) from being within {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} of an existing one. The citizens of Sandy Springs voted 94% in favor of ratifying the [[city charter]] in a [[referendum]] held on June 21, 2005. The new city was officially incorporated later that year at midnight on December 1.
Fulton County has an 7% total [[sales tax]], including 4% state, 1% [[SPLOST]], 1% [[homestead exemption]], and 1% MARTA. Sales taxes apply through the entire county and its cities, except for Atlanta's additional 1% Municipal Option Sales Tax to fund capital improvements to its combined and separate wastewater sewer systems and its drinking water system. [http://apps.atlantaga.gov/most/disclaimer.htm]


[[File:Johns Creek Georgia City Hall.JPG|thumb|[[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]] city hall]]
==Transportation==
Creation of Sandy Springs was a catalyst for [[municipalization]] of the entire county, in which local groups would attempt to incorporate every area into a city. Such a result would essentially eliminate the county's [[home rule]] powers (granted statewide by a [[constitutional amendment]] to the [[Georgia State Constitution]] in the 1960s) to act as a [[municipality]] in unincorporated areas, and return it to being entirely the local extension of state government.
Almost every major highway (and every major [[Interstate highway]]) in metro Atlanta passes through Fulton County at some point, as it contains the bulk of Atlanta and all of its [[downtown]]. Outside Atlanta proper, [[Georgia 400]] is the major highway through north Fulton, and [[Interstate 85]] to the southwest.


In 2006, the General Assembly approved creation of two new cities, [[Milton, Georgia|Milton]] and [[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]], which completed municipalization of North Fulton. The charters of these two new cities were ratified overwhelmingly in a referendum held July 18, 2006.
[[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]] serves most of the county, and along with Dekalb County pays a 1% sales tax to fund it. MARTA [[train]] service in Fulton is currently limited to the cities of Atlanta, Sandy Springs, East Point, and College Park, along with the [[airport]]. [[Bus]] service covers most of the remainder, except the rural areas far southwest.


Voters in the [[Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia|Chattahoochee Hills]] community of southwest Fulton (west of Cascade-Palmetto Highway) voted overwhelmingly to incorporate in June 2007. The city became incorporated on December 1, 2007.
[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]] straddles the line with [[Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton County]] to the south. The [[Fulton County Airport (Georgia)|Fulton County Airport]], often called [[Charlie Brown Field]] (after [[aviator]] [[Charles Brown (aviator)|Charles Brown]]) or informally West Atlanta airport, is located just west-southwest of Atlanta's [[city limits|city limit]]. It is run by the county as a municipal or [[general aviation]] airport, serving [[business jet]]s and private aircraft.


The General Assembly approved a proposal to form a new city called [[South Fulton, Georgia|South Fulton]]. Its proposed boundaries were to include those areas still unincorporated on July 1, 2007. As a direct result of possibly being permanently [[landlock]]ed, many of the existing cities proposed [[annexation]]s, while some communities drew-up [[incorporation (municipal government)|incorporation]] plans.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/us/13secede.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | work=The New York Times | first=Shaila | last=Dewan | title=In Georgia County, Divisions of North and South Play Out in Drives to Form New Cities | date=July 13, 2006}}</ref>
==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of 1,385 [[km²]] (535 [[square mile|mi²]]). 1,369 km² (529 mi²) of it is land and 15 km² (6 mi²) of it (1.11%) is water.


Voters in the area defined as the proposed city of South Fulton overwhelmingly rejected cityhood in September 2007. It was the only remaining unincorporated section of the county until the residents voted in November 2016 to incorporate as the city of [[South Fulton, Georgia]]. Prior to that vote North Fulton, which is overwhelmingly Republican, and members of the state legislature, had discussed forcing South Fulton residents to incorporate as a city in order to force Fulton County out of the municipal services business.
===Major Highways===


===Secession===
*[[Image:I-20.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 20]]
Some residents of suburban north Fulton have advocated since the early 2000's that they be allowed to [[List of U.S. county secession proposals|secede]] and re-form [[Milton County, Georgia|Milton County]], after the county that was absorbed into Fulton County in 1932 during the [[Great Depression]]. Fulton County, in comparison to the state's other counties, is physically large. Its population is greater than that of each of the six smallest [[U.S. state]]s.
*[[Image:I-75.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 75]]
*[[Image:I-85.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 85]]
*[[Image:I-285.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 285]]
*[[Image:US 19.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 19]]
*[[Image:US 23.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 23]]
*[[Image:US 29.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 29]]
*[[Image:US 41.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 41]]
*[[Image:US 78.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 78]]
*[[Image:US 278.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 278]]
*[[Image:Georgia 3.svg|20px]] [[State Route 3 (Georgia)|State Route 3]]
*[[Image:Georgia 6.svg|20px]] [[State Route 6 (Georgia)|State Route 6]]
*[[Image:Georgia 9.svg|20px]] [[State Route 9 (Georgia)|State Route 9]]
*[[Image:Georgia 10.svg|20px]] [[State Route 10 (Georgia)|State Route 10]]
*[[Image:Georgia 13.svg|20px]] [[State Route 13 (Georgia)|State Route 13]]
*[[Image:Georgia 14.svg|20px]] [[State Route 14 (Georgia)|State Route 14]]
*[[Image:Georgia 42.svg|20px]] [[State Route 42 (Georgia)|State Route 42]]
*[[Image:Georgia 54.svg|20px]] [[State Route 54 (Georgia)|State Route 54]]
*[[Image:Georgia 70.svg|20px]] [[State Route 70 (Georgia)|State Route 70]]
*[[Image:Georgia 74.svg|20px]] [[State Route 74 (Georgia)|State Route 74]]
*[[Image:Georgia 92.svg|20px]] [[State Route 92 (Georgia)|State Route 92]]
*[[Image:Georgia 120.svg|25px]] [[State Route 120 (Georgia)|State Route 120]]
*[[Image:Georgia 138.svg|25px]] [[State Route 138 (Georgia)|State Route 138]]
*[[Image:Georgia 139.svg|25px]] [[State Route 139 (Georgia)|State Route 139]]
*[[Image:Georgia 140.svg|25px]] [[State Route 140 (Georgia)|State Route 140]]
*[[Image:Georgia 141.svg|25px]] [[State Route 141 (Georgia)|State Route 141]]
*[[Image:Georgia 154.svg|25px]] [[State Route 154 (Georgia)|State Route 154]]
*[[Image:Georgia 400.svg|25px]] [[State Route 400 (Georgia)|State Route 400]]


The demographic make-up of Fulton County has changed considerably in recent decades. The northern portion of the county, a suburban area, is among the most affluent areas in the nation and is majority white. It was formerly a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] stronghold, but has seen a shift toward the Democratic Party since the early 2010s. In 2018, [[Lucy McBath]] won the 6th Congressional District, the majority of which is in North Fulton. The central and southern portion of the county, which includes the city of Atlanta and its core [[satellite cities]] to the south, is overwhelmingly [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] and majority black. It contains some of the poorest sections in the metropolitan area, but also has wealthy sections, particularly in Midtown Atlanta, many east Atlanta neighborhoods, and in the suburban neighborhoods along Cascade Road beyond I-285. [[Cascade Heights]] and [[Sandtown, Georgia|Sandtown]], located in the southwest region of Fulton County, are predominantly affluent African American in population.<ref>Census tracts 78.05, 103.01, 103.03 and 103.04</ref>
=== Adjacent Counties ===
*[[Cherokee County, Georgia]] - north
*[[Forsyth County, Georgia]] - northeast
*[[DeKalb County, Georgia]] - east
*[[Gwinnett County, Georgia]] - east
*[[Fayette County, Georgia]] - south
*[[Clayton County, Georgia]] - south
*[[Coweta County, Georgia]] - southwest
*[[Cobb County, Georgia]] - west
*[[Douglas County, Georgia]] - west
*[[Carroll County, Georgia]] - west


The chief opponents to the proposed division of the county comes from the residents of south Fulton County, who say that the proposed separation is [[Race (classification of human beings)|racially]] motivated. State Senator [[Vincent Fort]], an Atlanta Democrat and a member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, very strongly opposed the plan to split the county. "If it gets to the floor, there will be blood on the walls", Fort stated. "As much as you would like to think it's not racial, it's difficult to draw any other conclusion", he later added.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web | title=Plan to split county hints at racial divide| url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/01/24/Worldandnation/Plan_to_split_county_.shtml | access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref>
Fulton County, Georgia, is one of the few counties in the United States to border as many as 10 counties.


In 2006 a political firestorm broke out in Atlanta when State Senator [[Sam Zamarripa]] (Democrat from Atlanta) suggested that the cities in North Fulton be allowed to secede and form Milton County in exchange for Atlanta and Fulton County consolidating their governments into a new "Atlanta County". South Fulton residents were strongly opposed to Fulton County's possible future division.
==Demographics==
{{USCensusPop
|1860= 14427
|1870= 33446
|1880= 49137
|1890= 84655
|1900= 117363
|1910= 177733
|1920= 232606
|1930= 318587
|1940= 392886
|1950= 473572
|1960= 556326
|1970= 607592
|1980= 589904
|1990= 648951
|2000= 816006
}}
As of the [[census]][[Geographic references#2|²]] of 2000, there were 816,006 people, 321,242 households, and 185,677 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was 596/km² (1,544/mi²). There were 348,632 housing units at an average density of 255/km² (660/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 48.11% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 44.57% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.19% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 3.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.60% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.45% from two or more races. 5.89% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.


===Taxes===
There were 321,242 households out of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.30% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.20% were non-families. 32.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.15.
Fulton County has a 7% total [[sales tax]], including 4% state, 1% [[SPLOST]], 1% [[homestead exemption]], and 1% [[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]]. Sales taxes apply through the entire county and its cities, except for Atlanta's additional 1% Municipal Option Sales Tax to fund capital improvements to its combined [[wastewater]] [[sanitary sewer|sewer systems]] (laying new pipes to separate [[storm sewer]]s from [[sanitary sewer]]s), and to its [[drinking water]] system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.atlantaga.gov/most/disclaimer.htm |title=City of Atlanta Municipal Option Sales Tax |access-date=February 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202075331/http://apps.atlantaga.gov/most/disclaimer.htm |archive-date=February 2, 2007 }}</ref> Fulton County has lowered its general fund millage rate by 26% over an eight-year period.


In early 2017, the state's first (and so far only) fractional-percent sales taxes took effect in Fulton. Atlanta added an additional 0.5% for MARTA and 0.4% T[[SPLOST]] for other transportation projects, while anti-[[public transportation|transit]] Republican legislators from north Fulton blocked a countywide referendum on improving and extending MARTA, and instead allowed only a vote on a 0.75% TSPLOST for more roads in the areas outside Atlanta. This puts the total sales tax at 8.9% in Atlanta and 7.75% in the rest of the county, with 4% less on [[groceries]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://irs-offices.com/georgia/fulton-county/ | title=✔ Fulton County (GA) sales tax rate by zip-code or city }}</ref>
In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 35.50% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 8.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.00 males.


===Services===
The median income for a household in the county was $49,321, and the median income for a family was $58,143. Males had a median income of $43,495 versus $32,122 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $30,003. About 12.40% of families and 15.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.60% of those under age 18 and 15.20% of those age 65 or over.
Fulton County's budget of $1.2&nbsp;billion funds an array of resident services. With 34 branches, the [[Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System]] is one of the largest library systems in Georgia. [[Human services]] programs include one of the strongest [[senior center]] networks in metro Atlanta, including four multi-purpose senior facilities. The county also provides funding to [[nonprofit]]s with FRESH and Human Services [[Grant (money)|grants]].


===Law enforcement===
== Incorporated cities and towns ==
The responsibilities of the Fulton County Sheriff's Office include [[process serving]], providing security at county buildings, courtrooms, jail and other public areas, and administration of the [[Fulton County Jail]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheriff's Office |url=https://fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/fulton-county-departments/sheriff |access-date=March 21, 2022 |website=fultoncountyga.gov}}</ref> In 1992 [[Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett]] was elected Sheriff, making her the first African-American woman to serve as Sheriff in the United States. However, Barrett was suspended from office in 2004 by governor [[Sonny Perdue]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Ariel |date=July 24, 2004 |title=County Sheriff Is Suspended in Georgia |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/24/national/county-sheriff-is-suspended-in-georgia.html |access-date=March 21, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
*[[Alpharetta, Georgia|Alpharetta]]
*[[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]]
*[[Chattahoochee Hill Country, Georgia|Chattahoochee Hill Country]] ''(as of 6/19/2007)''
*[[College Park, Georgia|College Park]]
*[[East Point, Georgia|East Point]]
*[[Fairburn, Georgia|Fairburn]]
*[[Hapeville, Georgia|Hapeville]]
*[[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]] ''(as of 12/01/2006)''
*[[Milton, Georgia|Milton]] ''(as of 12/01/2006)''
*[[Mountain Park, Fulton County, Georgia|Mountain Park]]
*[[Palmetto, Georgia|Palmetto]]
*[[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]]
*[[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]]
*[[Union City, Georgia|Union City]]


==Transportation==
== Unincorporated Communities ==
[[File:South Fulton Parkway, Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia.JPG|thumb|South Fulton Parkway]]
*[[Campbellton, Georgia|Campbellton]]
Almost every major highway, and every major [[Interstate highway]], in metro Atlanta passes through Fulton County. Outside Atlanta proper, [[Georgia 400]] is the major highway through north Fulton, and [[Interstate 85]] to the southwest.
*[[Red Oak, Georgia|Red Oak]]
*[[Rico, Georgia|Rico]]
*[[Birmingham, Georgia|Birmingham]]
*[[Shakerag, Georgia|Shakerag]]
*[[Crabapple, Georgia|Crabapple]]
*[[Sandtown, Georgia|Sandtown]]
*[[South Fulton, Georgia|South Fulton]]


== Education ==
===Major highways===
All portions of Fulton County outside of the city limits of Atlanta are served by the [[Fulton County School System]].


====Interstate highways====
All portions within Atlanta are served by [[Atlanta Public Schools]].
{{div col}}
* [[File:I-20.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 20 in Georgia|Interstate 20]]
* [[File:I-75.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 75 in Georgia|Interstate 75]]
* [[File:I-85.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 85 in Georgia|Interstate 85]]
* [[File:I-285.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 285 (Georgia)|Interstate 285]]
{{div col end}}


====U.S. highways====
{{div col}}
* [[File:US 19.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 19 in Georgia|U.S. Route 19]]
* [[File:US 23.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|U.S. Route 23]]
* [[File:US 29.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 29 in Georgia|U.S. Route 29]]
* [[File:Alternate plate.svg|20px]]<br />[[File:US 29.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 29 Alternate (Palmetto, Georgia)|U.S. Route 29 Alternate]]
* [[File:US 41.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 41 in Georgia|U.S. Route 41]]
* [[File:US 78.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 78 in Georgia|U.S. Route 78]]
* [[File:US 278.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 278 in Georgia|U.S. Route 278]]
{{div col end}}

====State routes====
{{div col}}
* [[File:Georgia 3.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 3|State Route 3]]
* [[File:Georgia 3 Connector.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 3 Connector (Atlanta)|State Route 3 Connector]]
* [[File:Georgia 6.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 6|State Route 6]]
* [[File:Georgia 8.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 8|State Route 8]]
* [[File:Georgia 9.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 9|State Route 9]]
* [[File:Georgia 10.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 10|State Route 10]]
* [[File:Georgia 13.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 13|State Route 13]]
* [[File:Georgia 14.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 14|State Route 14]]
* [[File:Georgia 14 Alternate.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 14 Alternate (Palmetto)|State Route 14 Alternate]]
* [[File:Georgia 14 Connector.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 14 Connector (College Park)|State Route 14 Connector]]
* [[File:Georgia 42.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 42|State Route 42]]
* [[File:Georgia 42 Connector.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 42 Connector (Atlanta)|State Route 42 Connector]]
* [[File:Georgia 42 Spur.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 42 Spur (Atlanta)|State Route 42 Spur]]
* [[File:Georgia 54.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 54|State Route 54]]
* [[File:Georgia 54 Connector.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 54 Connector (Atlanta)|State Route 54 Connector]]
* [[File:Georgia 70.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 70|State Route 70]]
* [[File:Georgia 74.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 74|State Route 74]]
* [[File:Georgia 92.svg|20px]] [[Georgia State Route 92|State Route 92]]
* [[File:Georgia 120.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 120|State Route 120]]
* [[File:Georgia 138.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 138|State Route 138]]
* [[File:Georgia 139.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 139|State Route 139]]
* [[File:Georgia 140.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 140|State Route 140]]
* [[File:Georgia 141.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 141|State Route 141]]
* [[File:Georgia 154.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 154|State Route 154]]
* [[File:Georgia 154 Connector.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 154 Connector (Atlanta)|State Route 154 Connector]]
* [[File:Georgia 166.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 166|State Route 166]]
* [[File:Georgia 236.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 236|State Route 236]]
* [[File:Georgia 237.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 237|State Route 237]]
* [[File:Georgia 279.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 279|State Route 279]]
* [[File:Georgia 280.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 280|State Route 280]]
* [[File:Georgia 372.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 372|State Route 372]]
* [[File:Georgia 400.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 400|State Route 400]]
* [[File:Georgia 401.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 401|State Route 401]] (unsigned designation for I-75)
* [[File:Georgia 402.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 402|State Route 402]] (unsigned designation for I-20)
* [[File:Georgia 403.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 403|State Route 403]] (unsigned designation for I-85)
* [[File:Georgia 407.svg|25px]] [[Georgia State Route 407|State Route 407]] (unsigned designation for I-285)
{{div col end}}

===Secondary highways===
[[File:Peachtree St in Midtown.jpg|thumb|[[Peachtree Street]] in Midtown Atlanta]]
* Abernathy Road
* East Wesley Road
* [[Freedom Parkway]] ([[Georgia State Route 10|Georgia 10]])
* Glenridge Drive
* Hammond Drive
* [[Johnson Ferry]] Road
* Lindbergh Drive ([[Georgia State Route 236|Georgia 236]])
* Memorial Drive ([[Georgia State Route 154|Georgia 154]])
* [[Moreland Avenue]] ([[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|U.S. 23]]/[[Georgia State Route 42|Georgia 42]])
* Mount Vernon Highway
* [[Peachtree Street|Peachtree Road]] ([[Georgia State Route 141|Georgia 141]])
* Peachtree-Dunwoody Road
* Piedmont Road ([[Georgia State Route 237|Georgia 237]])
* [[Ponce de Leon Avenue]] ([[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|U.S. 23]]/[[U.S. Route 29 in Georgia|29]]/[[U.S. Route 78 in Georgia|78]]/[[U.S. Route 278 in Georgia|278]]/[[Georgia State Route 8|Georgia 8]]/[[Georgia State Route 10|10]])
* Powers Ferry Road
* Roswell Road ([[U.S. Route 19 in Georgia|U.S. 19]]/[[Georgia State Route 9|Georgia 9]])
* Windsor Parkway

===Mass transit===
[[File:East Point (MARTA station).JPG|thumb|right|[[East Point (MARTA station)|East Point MARTA station]]]]
[[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]] serves most of the county, and along with Clayton and Dekalb County, Fulton pays a 1% sales tax to fund it. MARTA [[rapid transit|train]] service in Fulton is currently limited to the cities of Atlanta, Sandy Springs, East Point, and College Park, as well as the [[airport]]. [[Bus]] service covers most of the remainder, except the rural areas in the far southwest and Johns Creek. North Fulton residents have been asking for service, to extend the North Line {{convert|10|mi|km|spell=in}} up the Georgia 400 [[wikt:corridor|corridor]], from [[Perimeter Center]] to the fellow [[edge city]] of Alpharetta. However, as the only major transit system in the country that its state government will not fund, there is no money to expand the system. Sales taxes now go entirely to operating, [[maintain]]ing, and refurbishing the system. [[Xpress GA]]/ RTA provides commuter bus service from the outer suburbs of Fulton County, the city of Sandy Springs to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta.

===Recreational trails===
* [[BeltLine]] (under construction)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://atlanta.curbed.com/2017/12/19/16792882/regional-bus-transit-expansion-funding-for-north-beltline-extension-arc|title=ARC allocations could provide for bus transit expansion, funding for Beltline extensions|date=December 19, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Big Creek Greenway]] (under construction)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/local/alpharetta-oks-design-close-big-creek-greenway-gap/5wfenxIgUohFNGMddPSy0M/|title=Alpharetta OKs design to close Big Creek Greenway gap|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref>
* [[PATH400]] (under construction)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/local/roswell-backs-trail-along-400/E3mIwHJHwGOHIa0kOmArvK/|title=Roswell backs trail along Ga. 400|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref>
* [[Peachtree Creek Greenway]] (under construction)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reporternewspapers.net/2017/08/21/peachtree-creek-greenway-work-begin-early-next-year/|title=Peachtree Creek Greenway work could begin early next year|date=August 21, 2017}}</ref>

===Airports===
[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]] straddles the border with [[Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton County]] to the south and is the busiest airport in the world. The [[Fulton County Airport (Georgia)|Fulton County Airport]], often called [[Charlie Brown Field]] after politician [[Charles M. Brown]], is located just west-southwest of Atlanta's [[city limits|city limit]]. It is run by the county as a municipal or [[general aviation]] airport, serving [[business jet]]s and private aircraft.

==See also==
{{Portal|State of Georgia}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Fulton County, Georgia]]
*[[List of counties in Georgia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Fulton County, Georgia}}
* [https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/ website of Fulton County]
* [http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2335&hl=y Fulton County, New Georgia Encyclopedia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511223907/http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2335&hl=y |date=May 11, 2013 }}
* [http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/Counties/Fulton.html Documents from Fulton County at the Digital Library of Georgia]
* [http://thefultoncojail.com Fulton County Jail Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123025237/http://thefultoncojail.com/ |date=November 23, 2011 }}
* [http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/fulton/fulton-county Fulton County] historical marker
* [http://www.afpls.org/index.php] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040513/http://www.afpls.org/index.php |date=December 1, 2017 }}
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Fulton County, Georgia
|North = [[Cherokee County, Georgia|Cherokee County]]
|Northeast = [[Forsyth County, Georgia|Forsyth County]]
|East = [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett County]] and [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]]
|Southeast = [[Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton County]]
|South = [[Fayette County, Georgia|Fayette County]]
|Southwest = [[Coweta County, Georgia|Coweta County]]
|West = [[Carroll County, Georgia|Carroll County]], [[Douglas County, Georgia|Douglas&nbsp;County]]
|Northwest = [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb County]]
}}
{{Fulton County, Georgia}}
{{Fulton County, Georgia}}
{{Atlanta Metro}}
{{Atlanta Metro}}
{{Georgia}}
{{Georgia (U.S. state)}}


{{Authority control}}
{{coord|33.79|-84.47|display=title|type:adm2_region:US-GA_source:UScensus1990}}


[[Category:Fulton County, Georgia| ]]
[[Category:Fulton County, Georgia| ]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) counties]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) counties]]
[[Category:Atlanta metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Counties in the Atlanta metropolitan area|Fulton]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]

[[Category:Populated places established in 1853]]
[[ar:مقاطعة فولتن]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Georgia]]
[[bpy:ফূলটন কাউন্টি, জর্জিয়া]]
[[de:Fulton County (Georgia)]]
[[eo:Kantono Fulton (Georgio)]]
[[lmo:Fulton County, Georgia]]
[[no:Fulton County i Georgia]]
[[pl:Hrabstwo Fulton (Georgia)]]
[[pt:Condado de Fulton (Geórgia)]]

Latest revision as of 01:55, 5 January 2025

Fulton County
Atlanta's Fulton County Courthouse in 2019
Atlanta's Fulton County Courthouse in 2019
Flag of Fulton County
Official logo of Fulton County
Map of Georgia highlighting Fulton County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°47′N 84°28′W / 33.79°N 84.47°W / 33.79; -84.47
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 20, 1853; 172 years ago (1853)
Named forRobert Fulton
SeatAtlanta
Largest cityAtlanta
Area
 • Total
534 sq mi (1,380 km2)
 • Land527 sq mi (1,360 km2)
 • Water7.7 sq mi (20 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,066,710
 • Estimate 
(2023)
1,079,105 Increase
 • Density2,000/sq mi (770/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts5th, 6th, 11th, 13th
Websitefultoncountyga.gov

33°47′N 84°28′W / 33.79°N 84.47°W / 33.79; -84.47

Fulton County is a county in the north-central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 1,066,710,[1] making it the state's most populous county.[2] Its county seat and most populous city is Atlanta,[3] the state capital. About 90% of the city of Atlanta is within Fulton County; the remaining portion is in DeKalb County. Fulton County is the principal county of the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell metropolitan statistical area.

History

[edit]
Midtown Atlanta and the Downtown Connector

Fulton County was created in 1853 from the western half of DeKalb County. It was named in honor of Robert Fulton, the man who created the first commercially successful steamboat in 1807.[4]

After the American Civil War, there was considerable violence against freedmen in the county. During the post-Reconstruction period, violence and the number of lynchings of blacks increased in the late 19th century, as whites exercised terrorism to re-establish and maintain white supremacy. Whites lynched 35 African Americans here from 1877 to 1950; according to the Georgia Lynching Project, 24 were killed in 1906. This was the highest total in the state.[5] With a total of 589, Georgia was second to Mississippi in its total number of lynchings in this period.[6]

In addition to individual lynchings, during the Atlanta Race Riot of 1906, whites killed at least 25 African Americans; the number may have been considerably higher. Two white persons died during the riot; one a woman who died of a heart attack. The violence affected black residential and business development in the city afterward. The Georgia legislature effectively completed disenfranchisement of African Americans in 1908, with constitutional amendments that raised barriers to voter registration and voting, excluding them from the political system[citation needed].

At the beginning of 1932, as an austerity measure to save money during the Great Depression, Fulton County annexed Milton County to the north and Campbell County to the southwest, to centralize administration. That resulted in the current long shape of the county along 80 miles (130 km) of the Chattahoochee River. On May 9 of that year, neighboring Cobb County ceded the city of Roswell and lands lying east of Willeo Creek to Fulton County so that it would be more contiguous with the lands ceded from Milton County.

In the second half of the 20th century, Atlanta and Fulton county became the location of numerous national and international headquarters for leading companies, attracting highly skilled employees from around the country. This led to the city and county becoming more cosmopolitan and diverse.[citation needed]

In 1992, Fulton County elected the first African-American woman, Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett, to the position of Sheriff in the history of the United States.[citation needed]

In 2023, Fulton County received news for the arrest of rapper and Fulton County native Playboi Carti and for the indictment of former President Donald Trump by Fani Willis in the Georgia election interference case, along with other Trump associates such as Rudy Giuliani.[citation needed]

Geography

[edit]
Garrett Lake, Mountain Park

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 534 square miles (1,380 km2), of which 527 square miles (1,360 km2) is land and 7.7 square miles (20 km2) (1.4%) is water.[7] The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north. The shape of the county resembles a sword with its handle at the northeastern part, and the tip at the southwestern portion.

Going from north to south, the northernmost portion of Fulton County, encompassing Milton and northern Alpharetta, is located in the Etowah River sub-basin of the ACT River Basin (Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin). The rest of north and central Fulton, to downtown Atlanta, is located in the Upper Chattahoochee River sub-basin of the ACF River Basin (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The bulk of south Fulton County, from Atlanta to Palmetto, is located in the Middle Chattahoochee River-Lake Harding sub-basin of the larger ACF River Basin, with just the eastern edges of south Fulton, from Palmetto northeast through Union Hill to Hapeville, in the Upper Flint River sub-basin of the same larger ACF River Basin.[8]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

National protected areas

[edit]

Communities

[edit]
A map of all the cities within Fulton County, Georgia
A map of all the cities within Fulton County, Georgia

There are 15 cities within Fulton County. Four cities include land outside of the county (Atlanta, College Park, Palmetto, and Mountain Park) but still have their center of government and the majority of their land within Fulton County. After the formation of South Fulton in 2017, the only unincorporated part of the county is Fulton Industrial Boulevard, from roughly Fulton Brown Airport (Brown's Field) down to Fairburn Rd. (concurrent with GA-158 and GA-166)[9] This led to Fulton County becoming the first county in Georgia to suspend all city services.[10]

Cities

[edit]

Former unincorporated communities

[edit]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
186014,427
187033,446131.8%
188049,13746.9%
189084,65572.3%
1900117,36338.6%
1910177,73351.4%
1920232,60630.9%
1930318,58737.0%
1940392,88623.3%
1950473,57220.5%
1960556,32617.5%
1970607,5929.2%
1980589,904−2.9%
1990648,95110.0%
2000816,00625.7%
2010920,58112.8%
20201,066,71015.9%
2023 (est.)1,079,105[11]1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1880[13] 1890-1910[14]
1920-1930[15] 1930-1940[16]
1940-1950[17] 1960-1980[18]
1980-2000[19] 2010[20] 2020[21]
Fulton County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the U.S. Census Bureau treats Hispanic and Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics and Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[22] Pop 2010[20] Pop 2020[21] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 369,997 376,014 404,793 45.34% 40.85% 37.95%
Black or African American alone (NH) 361,018 400,457 448,803 44.24% 43.50% 42.07%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,148 1,586 1,558 0.14% 0.17% 0.15%
Asian alone (NH) 24,635 51,304 80,632 3.02% 5.57% 7.56%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 261 287 381 0.03% 0.03% 0.04%
Other race alone (NH) 1,599 2,582 6,444 0.20% 0.28% 0.60%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 9,292 15,785 37,797 1.14% 1.71% 3.54%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 48,056 72,566 86,302 5.89% 7.88% 8.09%
Total 816,006 920,581 1,066,710 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 1,066,710 people, 439,578 households, and 238,444 families residing in the county, reflecting the county's historically positive population growth with exception to the 1980 U.S. census.

In 2020, the county had a racial and ethnic makeup of 42.07% Black or African Americans, 37.95% non-Hispanic whites, 0.15% American Indians and Alaska Natives, 7.56% Asian Americans, 0.04% Pacific Islander Americans, 0.60% some other race, 3.54% multiracial Americans, and 8.09% Hispanic or Latinos of any race. In 2010, its racial and ethnic makeup was 43.50% Black or African American, 40.85% non-Hispanic white, 0.17% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% some other race, 1.71% multiracial, and 7.88% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $56,709 and the median income for a family was $75,579. Males had a median income of $56,439 versus $42,697 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,211. About 12.0% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.[23] At the 2022 American Community Survey, its median household income grew to $90,346 with a per capita income of $59,689. Among its population, 53% earned from $50,000 to $200,000 annually, and 28% earned less than $50,000. Approximately 12.7% of the county lived at or below the poverty line.[24]

Economy

[edit]
Centennial Tower

Companies headquartered in Fulton County include AFC Enterprises (Popeyes Chicken/Cinnabon), AT&T Mobility, Chick-fil-A, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Church's Texas Chicken, The Coca-Cola Company, Cox Enterprises, Delta Air Lines, Earthlink, Equifax, First Data, Georgia-Pacific, Global Payments, Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group, IBM Internet Security Systems, Mirant Corp., Newell Rubbermaid, Northside Hospital, Piedmont Healthcare, Porsche Cars North America, Saint Joseph's Hospital, Southern Company, United Parcel Service, are based in various cities throughout Fulton County.[25]

Education

[edit]

All portions of Fulton County outside of the city limits of Atlanta are served by the Fulton County School System. All portions within Atlanta are served by Atlanta Public Schools.[26]

Libraries

[edit]

History

[edit]

The Atlanta-Fulton County Library system began in 1902 as the Carnegie Library of Atlanta, one of the first public libraries in the United States. In 1935, the city of Atlanta and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners signed a contract under which library service was extended to all of Fulton County. Then in 1982, Georgia voters passed a constitutional Amendment authorizing the transfer of responsibility for the Library system from the city of Atlanta to the county. On July 1, 1983, the transfer finally became official, and the system was renamed the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System.

Under the leadership of Ella Gaines Yates, who was the first African American director of the Library System, a new Central library was opened to the public in May 1988. The building was designed by Marcel Breuer, a participant in the innovative Bauhaus movement, working side by side with his associate Hamilton Smith. The Central Library was dedicated on May 25, 1980, and Breuer would die a year later in July 1981 at the age of 81.

In 2002 after a hundred years of library service to the public, a major renovation of the Central Library was completed.

Government

[edit]

Fulton County is governed by a seven-member board of commissioners, whose members are elected from single-member districts. They serve staggered four-year terms. The county has a county manager system of government, in which day-to-day operation of the county is handled by a manager appointed by the board. The chairman of the Board of Commissioners is elected at-large for the county-wide position. The vice chairman is elected by peers on a yearly basis.

Board of Commissioners
District Commissioner Party
District 7 (at-large) Robb Pitts (chairman) Democratic
District 1 Bridget Thorne Republican
District 2 Bob Ellis Republican
District 3 Dana Barrett Democratic
District 4 Mo Ivory Democratic
District 5 Marvin S. Arrington, Jr. Democratic
District 6 Khadijah Abdur-Rahman Democratic
Board of Commissioners Appointees
Position held Name
County Manager Dick Anderson
Clerk to the Commission Tonya Grier (interim)
County Attorney Soo Jo[27]
Chief Financial Officer Sharon Whitmore
Chief Operating Officer Anna Roach

United States Congress

[edit]
Senators Name Party Assumed office Level
  Senate Class 2 Jon Ossoff Democratic 2021 Senior Senator
  Senate Class 3 Raphael Warnock Democratic 2021 Junior Senator
Representatives Name Party Assumed office
  District 4 Hank Johnson Democratic 2007
  District 5 Nikema Williams Democratic 2021
  District 6 Rich McCormick Republican 2023
  District 7 Lucy McBath Democratic 2019
  District 13 David Scott Democratic 2003

Georgia General Assembly

[edit]

Georgia State Senate

[edit]
District Name Party Assumed office
  6 Jason Esteves Democratic 2023
  14 Josh McLaurin Democratic 2023
  21 Brandon Beach Republican 2013
  28 Matt Brass Republican 2017
  35 Donzella James Democratic 2009
  36 Nan Orrock Democratic 2007
  38 Horacena Tate Democratic 1999
  39 Sonya Halpern Democratic 2021
  48 Shawn Still Republican 2023
  56 John Albers Republican 2011

Georgia House of Representatives

[edit]
District Name Party Assumed office
  25 Todd Jones Republican 2017
  47 Jan Jones Republican 2003
  48 Scott Hilton Republican 2023
  49 Chuck Martin Republican 2003
  50 Michelle Au Democratic 2023
  51 Ester Panitch Democratic 2023
  52 Shea Roberts Democratic 2021
  53 Deborah Silcox Republican 2023
  54 Betsy Holland Democratic 2019
  55 Inga Willis Democratic 2023
  56 Mesha Mainor Republican 2021
  57 Stacey Evans Democratic 2021
  58 Park Cannon Democratic 2016
  59 Phil Olaleye Democratic 2023
  60 Sheila Jones Democratic 2023
  61 Roger Bruce Democratic 2013
  62 Tanya Miller Democratic 2023
  63 Kim Schofield Democratic 2023
  65 Mandisha Thomas Democratic 2021
  67 Lydia Glaize Democratic 2023
  68 Derrick Jackson Democratic 2023
  69 Deborah Bazemore Democratic 2023

Politics

[edit]

Atlanta is the largest city in Fulton County, occupying the county's narrow center section and thus geographically dividing the county's northern and southern portions. Atlanta's last major annexation in 1952 brought over 118 square miles (310 km2) into the city, including the affluent suburb of Buckhead. The movement to create a city of Sandy Springs, launched in the early 1970s and reaching fruition in 2005, was largely an effort to prevent additional annexations by the city of Atlanta, and later to wrest local control from the county commission.

Fulton County is one of the most reliably Democratic counties in the entire nation. It has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1876 except those of 1928 and in 1972, when George McGovern did not win a single county in Georgia. The demographic character of the Democratic Party has changed, as conservative whites, previously its chief members in the South, have mostly shifted to the Republican Party. In Fulton County, Democrats are composed primarily of liberal urbanites of various ethnicities and a growing contingent of suburban voters. Fulton is served by 4 Representatives in the U.S. House, with David Scott representing the southern suburbs, Lucy McBath representing Johns Creek, and John Lewis representing the core of Atlanta until his death on July 17, 2020.[28] Lewis was succeeded by Nikema Williams. Republican Rich McCormick represents most of North Fulton.

United States presidential election results for Fulton County, Georgia[29]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 144,655 26.80% 384,752 71.29% 10,290 1.91%
2020 137,247 26.20% 380,212 72.57% 6,472 1.24%
2016 117,783 26.85% 297,051 67.70% 23,917 5.45%
2012 137,124 34.42% 255,470 64.13% 5,752 1.44%
2008 130,136 32.08% 272,000 67.06% 3,489 0.86%
2004 134,372 39.90% 199,436 59.23% 2,933 0.87%
2000 104,870 39.84% 152,039 57.76% 6,303 2.39%
1996 89,809 36.93% 143,306 58.93% 10,053 4.13%
1992 85,451 33.20% 147,459 57.29% 24,499 9.52%
1988 91,785 42.75% 120,752 56.25% 2,152 1.00%
1984 95,149 43.11% 125,567 56.89% 0 0.00%
1980 64,909 33.68% 118,748 61.62% 9,066 4.70%
1976 61,552 32.16% 129,849 67.84% 0 0.00%
1972 96,256 56.43% 74,329 43.57% 0 0.00%
1968 64,153 35.83% 77,920 43.51% 36,995 20.66%
1964 73,205 43.90% 93,540 56.09% 11 0.01%
1960 53,940 49.15% 55,803 50.85% 0 0.00%
1956 37,326 42.21% 51,098 57.79% 0 0.00%
1952 35,197 40.15% 52,459 59.85% 0 0.00%
1948 14,976 29.33% 29,318 57.43% 6,760 13.24%
1944 7,687 17.14% 37,161 82.86% 0 0.00%
1940 6,033 16.10% 31,311 83.57% 122 0.33%
1936 3,552 11.52% 27,183 88.17% 94 0.30%
1932 2,063 9.19% 20,137 89.69% 253 1.13%
1928 9,368 51.36% 8,872 48.64% 0 0.00%
1924 3,229 25.55% 7,830 61.96% 1,579 12.49%
1920 3,336 33.46% 6,635 66.54% 0 0.00%
1916 1,040 9.21% 8,945 79.19% 1,311 11.61%
1912 1,688 17.75% 7,313 76.91% 507 5.33%
1908 2,906 35.73% 4,790 58.89% 438 5.38%
1904 1,766 22.50% 5,781 73.66% 301 3.84%
1900 1,676 24.55% 5,075 74.35% 75 1.10%
1896 3,005 38.04% 4,504 57.01% 391 4.95%
1892 1,364 21.82% 4,663 74.61% 223 3.57%
1888 2,164 42.04% 2,750 53.43% 233 4.53%
1884 925 32.30% 1,939 67.70% 0 0.00%
1880 2,229 42.26% 3,045 57.74% 0 0.00%

Taxation

[edit]

Geographically remote from each other, the northern and southern sections of the county have grown increasingly at odds over issues related to taxes and distribution of services. Residents of the affluent areas of North Fulton have increasingly complained that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners has ignored their needs, taking taxes collected in North Fulton, and spending them on programs and services in less wealthy South Fulton. In 2005, responding to pressure from North Fulton, the Georgia General Assembly directed Fulton County, alone among all the counties in the state, to limit the expenditure of funds to the geographic region of the county where they were collected. The Fulton County Commission contested this law, known as the "Shafer Amendment" after Sen. David Shafer (Republican from Duluth), in a lawsuit that went to the Georgia Supreme Court. On June 19, 2006, the Court upheld the law, ruling that the Shafer Amendment was constitutional.

The creation of the city of Sandy Springs stimulated the founding of two additional cities, resulting in no unincorporated areas remaining in north Fulton. In a domino effect, the residents of southwest Fulton voted in referendums to create additional cities. In 2007, one of these two referendums passed and the other was defeated, but later passed in 2016.

Municipalization

[edit]
Road in Chattahoochee Hills

Since the 1970s, residents of Sandy Springs had waged a long-running battle to incorporate their community as a city, which would make it independent of county council control. They were repeatedly blocked in the state legislature by Atlanta Democrats, but when control of state government switched to suburban Republicans after the 2002 and 2004 elections, the movement to charter the city picked up steam.

Pill Hill, Sandy Springs

The General Assembly approved creation of the city in 2005, and for this case, it suspended an existing state law that prohibited new cities (the only type of municipality in the state) from being within three miles (4.8 km) of an existing one. The citizens of Sandy Springs voted 94% in favor of ratifying the city charter in a referendum held on June 21, 2005. The new city was officially incorporated later that year at midnight on December 1.

Johns Creek city hall

Creation of Sandy Springs was a catalyst for municipalization of the entire county, in which local groups would attempt to incorporate every area into a city. Such a result would essentially eliminate the county's home rule powers (granted statewide by a constitutional amendment to the Georgia State Constitution in the 1960s) to act as a municipality in unincorporated areas, and return it to being entirely the local extension of state government.

In 2006, the General Assembly approved creation of two new cities, Milton and Johns Creek, which completed municipalization of North Fulton. The charters of these two new cities were ratified overwhelmingly in a referendum held July 18, 2006.

Voters in the Chattahoochee Hills community of southwest Fulton (west of Cascade-Palmetto Highway) voted overwhelmingly to incorporate in June 2007. The city became incorporated on December 1, 2007.

The General Assembly approved a proposal to form a new city called South Fulton. Its proposed boundaries were to include those areas still unincorporated on July 1, 2007. As a direct result of possibly being permanently landlocked, many of the existing cities proposed annexations, while some communities drew-up incorporation plans.[30]

Voters in the area defined as the proposed city of South Fulton overwhelmingly rejected cityhood in September 2007. It was the only remaining unincorporated section of the county until the residents voted in November 2016 to incorporate as the city of South Fulton, Georgia. Prior to that vote North Fulton, which is overwhelmingly Republican, and members of the state legislature, had discussed forcing South Fulton residents to incorporate as a city in order to force Fulton County out of the municipal services business.

Secession

[edit]

Some residents of suburban north Fulton have advocated since the early 2000's that they be allowed to secede and re-form Milton County, after the county that was absorbed into Fulton County in 1932 during the Great Depression. Fulton County, in comparison to the state's other counties, is physically large. Its population is greater than that of each of the six smallest U.S. states.

The demographic make-up of Fulton County has changed considerably in recent decades. The northern portion of the county, a suburban area, is among the most affluent areas in the nation and is majority white. It was formerly a Republican stronghold, but has seen a shift toward the Democratic Party since the early 2010s. In 2018, Lucy McBath won the 6th Congressional District, the majority of which is in North Fulton. The central and southern portion of the county, which includes the city of Atlanta and its core satellite cities to the south, is overwhelmingly Democratic and majority black. It contains some of the poorest sections in the metropolitan area, but also has wealthy sections, particularly in Midtown Atlanta, many east Atlanta neighborhoods, and in the suburban neighborhoods along Cascade Road beyond I-285. Cascade Heights and Sandtown, located in the southwest region of Fulton County, are predominantly affluent African American in population.[31]

The chief opponents to the proposed division of the county comes from the residents of south Fulton County, who say that the proposed separation is racially motivated. State Senator Vincent Fort, an Atlanta Democrat and a member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, very strongly opposed the plan to split the county. "If it gets to the floor, there will be blood on the walls", Fort stated. "As much as you would like to think it's not racial, it's difficult to draw any other conclusion", he later added.[32]

In 2006 a political firestorm broke out in Atlanta when State Senator Sam Zamarripa (Democrat from Atlanta) suggested that the cities in North Fulton be allowed to secede and form Milton County in exchange for Atlanta and Fulton County consolidating their governments into a new "Atlanta County". South Fulton residents were strongly opposed to Fulton County's possible future division.

Taxes

[edit]

Fulton County has a 7% total sales tax, including 4% state, 1% SPLOST, 1% homestead exemption, and 1% MARTA. Sales taxes apply through the entire county and its cities, except for Atlanta's additional 1% Municipal Option Sales Tax to fund capital improvements to its combined wastewater sewer systems (laying new pipes to separate storm sewers from sanitary sewers), and to its drinking water system.[33] Fulton County has lowered its general fund millage rate by 26% over an eight-year period.

In early 2017, the state's first (and so far only) fractional-percent sales taxes took effect in Fulton. Atlanta added an additional 0.5% for MARTA and 0.4% TSPLOST for other transportation projects, while anti-transit Republican legislators from north Fulton blocked a countywide referendum on improving and extending MARTA, and instead allowed only a vote on a 0.75% TSPLOST for more roads in the areas outside Atlanta. This puts the total sales tax at 8.9% in Atlanta and 7.75% in the rest of the county, with 4% less on groceries.[34]

Services

[edit]

Fulton County's budget of $1.2 billion funds an array of resident services. With 34 branches, the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System is one of the largest library systems in Georgia. Human services programs include one of the strongest senior center networks in metro Atlanta, including four multi-purpose senior facilities. The county also provides funding to nonprofits with FRESH and Human Services grants.

Law enforcement

[edit]

The responsibilities of the Fulton County Sheriff's Office include process serving, providing security at county buildings, courtrooms, jail and other public areas, and administration of the Fulton County Jail.[35] In 1992 Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett was elected Sheriff, making her the first African-American woman to serve as Sheriff in the United States. However, Barrett was suspended from office in 2004 by governor Sonny Perdue.[36]

Transportation

[edit]
South Fulton Parkway

Almost every major highway, and every major Interstate highway, in metro Atlanta passes through Fulton County. Outside Atlanta proper, Georgia 400 is the major highway through north Fulton, and Interstate 85 to the southwest.

Major highways

[edit]

Interstate highways

[edit]

U.S. highways

[edit]

State routes

[edit]

Secondary highways

[edit]
Peachtree Street in Midtown Atlanta

Mass transit

[edit]
East Point MARTA station

MARTA serves most of the county, and along with Clayton and Dekalb County, Fulton pays a 1% sales tax to fund it. MARTA train service in Fulton is currently limited to the cities of Atlanta, Sandy Springs, East Point, and College Park, as well as the airport. Bus service covers most of the remainder, except the rural areas in the far southwest and Johns Creek. North Fulton residents have been asking for service, to extend the North Line ten miles (16 km) up the Georgia 400 corridor, from Perimeter Center to the fellow edge city of Alpharetta. However, as the only major transit system in the country that its state government will not fund, there is no money to expand the system. Sales taxes now go entirely to operating, maintaining, and refurbishing the system. Xpress GA/ RTA provides commuter bus service from the outer suburbs of Fulton County, the city of Sandy Springs to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta.

Recreational trails

[edit]

Airports

[edit]

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport straddles the border with Clayton County to the south and is the busiest airport in the world. The Fulton County Airport, often called Charlie Brown Field after politician Charles M. Brown, is located just west-southwest of Atlanta's city limit. It is run by the county as a municipal or general aviation airport, serving business jets and private aircraft.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  2. ^ "2020 County Metro Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ About Fulton County
  5. ^ Lynching in America/ Supplement: Lynchings by County[permanent dead link], 3rd Edition, 2015, p. 4
  6. ^ AJC Staff, "Hundreds more were lynched in the South than previously known: report", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 14, 2017; accessed March 26, 2018
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "Printable Maps". www.fultoncountyga.gov. Fulton County.
  10. ^ Kass, Arielle. "Fulton County first in Georgia to relinquish city services". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
  14. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
  15. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
  16. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
  17. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
  18. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
  19. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
  20. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fulton County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ a b "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fulton County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fulton County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  24. ^ "Census profile: Fulton County, GA". Census Reporter. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
  25. ^ "Fulton County's Strong Economy | FULTON COUNTY". www.fultoncountyny.gov. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  26. ^ "2020 census - school district reference map: Fulton County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list
  27. ^ "County Attorney". Fulton Country. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  28. ^ "John Lewis, Georgia Congressman and Civil Rights Icon, Dies at 80". NBC Boston. July 18, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  29. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  30. ^ Dewan, Shaila (July 13, 2006). "In Georgia County, Divisions of North and South Play Out in Drives to Form New Cities". The New York Times.
  31. ^ Census tracts 78.05, 103.01, 103.03 and 103.04
  32. ^ "Plan to split county hints at racial divide". Retrieved March 19, 2008.
  33. ^ "City of Atlanta Municipal Option Sales Tax". Archived from the original on February 2, 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
  34. ^ "✔ Fulton County (GA) sales tax rate by zip-code or city".
  35. ^ "Sheriff's Office". fultoncountyga.gov. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  36. ^ Hart, Ariel (July 24, 2004). "County Sheriff Is Suspended in Georgia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  37. ^ "ARC allocations could provide for bus transit expansion, funding for Beltline extensions". December 19, 2017.
  38. ^ "Alpharetta OKs design to close Big Creek Greenway gap". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  39. ^ "Roswell backs trail along Ga. 400". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  40. ^ "Peachtree Creek Greenway work could begin early next year". August 21, 2017.
[edit]