A LITTLE HISTORY OF ALPHARETTA

People often wonder about how Alpharetta got its name, and it has an interesting history.   “Alpha” is Greek for “first”, and “retta” is Greek for “town”.  Alpharetta grew out of a small settlement called New Prospect Camp Ground, set amidst farming land and cotton fields – a trading post where Indians and settlersroutinely traded their wares. The Campground was just north of current day Alpharetta’s downtown, and was next to a natural spring.  It represented the social hub and a gathering place for families living on farms around this area.

In 1858 the town was chartered and Alpharetta became the county seat of the former Milton County, (not to be confused with the new City of Milton, which was incorporated in December 2006.)

By the time of the Civil War, Alpharetta was home to some mercantile stores, 3 hotels, a school and a variety of churches.  It also had a courthouse and a jail – but no direct railroad access (the closest railroad ended at the river in Roswell).

Fast forward to 1932 when the County was merged with Fulton County in order to stave off bankruptcy within Milton County – times were difficult in those days with the Great Depression adversely affecting everyone.  Until that time, just a couple of roads were paved – Highway 9 and 120 (now Old Milton Parkway).   The merger allowed more of the roads to be paved, easing transportation and contributing to the area’s continued growth.

By 1981 Alpharetta’s population consisted of approximately 3000 people.   According to the 2000 census the population had risen to 34,854 with 14,600 housing units, and a median age of 33.  The area continues to grow, with a population now of around 51,000 and around 20,400 housing units and it’s considered a prime area in which to live!   In the early 90’s it was predicted that Alpharetta would one day provide jobs to 200,000 workers, and as of 2007, around 120,000 people work in Alpharetta, so we’re almost there…And it’s still growing.

Great schools, excellent employment opportunities, good housing and lifestyle, plus proximity to both Atlanta and recreational opportunities in North Georgia make this a terrific place to live today.    We have, indeed, come a long way since the early days!