Fulton County, Georgia
U.S. County|
county = Fulton County|
state = Georgia |
seal = |
map size = 225|
founded =
1853 | seat =
Atlanta | area = 1,385
km² (535
mi²) |
area land = 1,369 km² (529 mi²) |
area water = 15 km² (6 mi²) |
area percentage = 1.11% |
census yr = 2000 |
pop = 816,006 |
density = 596|
web = www.co.fulton.ga.us |}}
Fulton County is a
county located in the
U.S. state of
Georgia. Its
county seat is
Atlanta6, the principal city of the
Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the
2000 census, the
population was 816,006. The
2005 census estimate placed the population at 915,623. Fulton County is the most populous county in Georgia.
Fulton County was created from the western half of
Dekalb County in
1853. This occurred when, during the
1840s, that county's seat of
Decatur refused to allow a
railroad terminal to be built due to
noise concerns. A new point was selected a few
miles west, and was later incorporated as
Terminus. The town was renamed twice; first as
Marthasville, and finally as
Atlanta.
During
William T. Sherman's March to the Sea during the
American Civil War, Sherman spared
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.
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 for the
Western and Atlantic Railroad.
As of the beginning of
1932,
Milton County to the north and
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 ceded the city of
Roswell to Fulton to make it contiguous with Milton, including everything east of
Willeo Creek. Additionally, parts of
Gwinnett County and
Cherokee County were swept in.
Residents of the unincorporated parts of the county, in part still reacting to Atlanta annexing 118 square miles in 1952, have resisted being associated with Atlanta. This has caused a desire in unincorporated areas to incorporate to block the future annexation growth of Atlanta. Over time the arguments have become economic in nature.
In recent years residents of upscale, higher-
income areas of northern Fulton County have become at odds with the less affluent areas of its central and south, over
taxes and distribution of services. And as the southern areas of the county becomes more affluent, this issue may become even bigger. Many of the economic engines in Fulton County were established by the County prior to being annexed into cities. Once created, residents desired to keep the monies generated by these areas close to home, instead of distributed over the whole County as required by the legislature. North Fulton residents complained of unfair representation from the county, such as not receiving the county services they were paying for. In
2005 the legislature directed Fulton County, alone in all the counties in the state, to limit the expenditure of funds to the geographic region of the county where they were collected.
Municipalization
Since the
1970s, the longest-running battle has been allowing
Sandy Springs to incorporate. With over 80,000 residents, it is already one of the largest cities in the state. It had not become a city until December 2005, however, due to the facts that the legislature had prohibited the creation of new cities within three miles of any existing city and the reallocation of funding which would take at least 20 million dollars away from the county every year, not be offset by the services the new city would take over. In 2005, the legislature finally allowed a
referendum on the matter, and on
June 21 Sandy Springs residents voted 94% in favor of incorporation. 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.
Since
2004,
municipalization of the entire county is also being considered, 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.
The state legislature 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
annexations while some communities are drawing up
incorporation plans [
1].
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%
sewer and
storm drain overhaul tax (8% total).
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.
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.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport straddles the line with
Clayton County to the south. The
Fulton County Airport, often called
Charlie Brown Field (after
aviator Charles Brown) or informally West Atlanta airport, 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.
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,385
km² (535
mi²). 1,369 km² (529 mi²) of it is land and 15 km² (6 mi²) of it (1.11%) is water.
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
Fulton County, Georgia, is one of the few counties in the United States to border as many as 10 counties.
As of the
census² 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%
White, 44.57%
Black or
African American, 0.19%
Native American, 3.04%
Asian, 0.04%
Pacific Islander, 2.60% from
other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. 5.89% of the population were
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There were 321,242 households out of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.30% were
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.
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.
The median income for a household in the county was $47,321, 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.
*
Alpharetta*
Atlanta*
College Park*
East Point*
Fairburn*
Hapeville*
Johns Creek- as of 12/01/2006
*
Milton - as of 12/01/2006
*
Mountain Park*
Palmetto*
Riverdale (unincorporated portion)
*
Roswell*
Sandy Springs*
Union City*
Campbellton*
Red Oak *
Rico *
Birmingham *
Shakerag *
Crabapple*
Sandtown*
Chattahoochee Hill Country*
South FultonAll 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.
*
Listen to Fulton County Police and Fire radio
