Norcross, Georgia

Norcross, Georgia
City
Downtown Norcross Downtown Norcross
Motto: "A place to Imagine"
Location in Gwinnett County and the state of Georgia Location in Gwinnett County and the state of Georgia
Norcross Location in Metro Atlanta
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Gwinnett
Area
• Total	4.1 sq mi (10.6 km2)
• Land	4.1 sq mi (10.6 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,047 ft (319 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	9,116
• Density	2,051.2/sq mi (793.4/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	30003, 30010, 30071, 30091, 30093
Area code(s)	770
FIPS code	13-55776
GNIS feature ID	0319621

Norcross is a city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 9,116. It is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia metropolitan statistical area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, Georgia-Alabama (part) combined statistical area. Although much of western Gwinnett County has a Norcross mailing address, the boundaries of the city do not extend to unincorporated areas.

History

Named for former Atlanta Mayor Jonathan Norcross, it was chartered as a town on October 26, 1870, and selected to the National Register of historic Places by the Department of the Interior in the early 1980s, although its history began much earlier.

The Norcross Historic District sits along the eastern continental divide. This divide, or ridge, played a significant role in the early settlement of the area. Originally, the Creek and Cherokee Indians occupied this land and the ridgeline was used as a major transportation route. Two American forts were established in the early 19th century due to the War of 1812 – Fort Daniel (at Hog Mountain) and Peachtree Fort (in Atlanta). These two forts were connected by this old Indian trail which became known as the original Peachtree Road. By around 1840, this trail had evolved into a stagecoach route connecting South Carolina and Alabama through Georgia. The surrounding area became populated and the small communities of Pinckneyville and Flint Hill prospered.

This all changed with the creation of the Richmond-Danville Railroad, designed to open up the wilderness areas of northeast Georgia. The railroad was proposed in 1856 by Jonathan Norcross (a former Atlanta mayor) and was subsequently approved. Construction was delayed, however, until 1866 because of the Civil War. On September 12, 1869, the first twenty miles (32 km) were completed and on October 16, 1889, John J. Thrasher bought the 250 acres (1.0 km²) surrounding the terminal for $1,650 and a town was born – named for Thrasher’s good friend, Jonathan Norcross. The Brunswick Hotel was built in 1870 and Norcross quickly became known as a resort area, much like Eastlake, for Atlantans wanting to escape the rapidly growing city. The new town also meant the demise of the surrounding communities of Pinckneyville and Flint Hill, as people migrated in to build houses, churches, schools, and to be near the railroad.

Gwinnett County’s second oldest city, Norcross saw new roads and highways which were later built by-pass the city, preserving its historic center as a 19th-century railroad town.

Geography

Norcross is located at (33.9386, -84.2086).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.1 square miles (11 km²), of which, 4.1 square miles (11 km²) of it is land and 0.24% is water.

Downtown Norcross lies along the Eastern Continental Divide.

Transit systems

• Gwinnett County Transit serve the city.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	500		—
1890	713		42.6%
1900	797		11.8%
1910	968		21.5%
1920	993		2.6%
1930	892		−10.2%
1940	979		9.8%
1950	1,340		36.9%
1960	1,605		19.8%
1970	2,755		71.7%
1980	3,363		22.1%
1990	5,947		76.8%
2000	8,410		41.4%
2010	9,116		8.4%
Est. 2014	16,349		79.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of 2010 Norcross had a population of 9,116. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 40.8% white, 19.8% black or African American, 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 10.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race and 4.3% reporting two or more races. 39.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

At the 2000 census, there were 8,410 people, 2,644 households and 1,768 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,050.4 per square mile (792.0/km²). There were 2,750 housing units at an average density of 670.5 per square mile (259.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.50% White, 20.82% African American, 0.54% Native American, 6.10% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 15.39% from other races, and 3.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40.93% of the population.

There were 2,644 households of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.35.

Age distribution was 22.7% under the age of 18, 14.8% from 18 to 24, 40.9% from 25 to 44, 15.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 130.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.8 males.

The median household income was $44,728 and the median family income was $42,893. Males had a median income of $26,485 versus $27,347 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,573. About 11.8% of families and 17.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.0% of those under age 18 and 17.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Gwinnett County Public Schools serves Norcross.

Elementary Schools

• Susan O. Stripling Elementary School (Norcross)
• Peachtree Elementary School (Norcross)
• Simpson Elementary School (Peachtree Corners)
• Beaver Ridge Elementary School (Norcross)
• Meadowcreek Elementary School (Meadowcreek)
• Norcross Elementary School (Norcross)
• Rockbridge Elementary School (Meadowcreek)

Middle Schools

• Pinckneyville Middle (Peachtree Corners)
• Summerour Middle (Norcross)

High Schools

• Meadowcreek High School (Meadowcreek)
• Norcross High School (Norcross)

Other

• Brenau University Atlanta Campus (Private College)

• Greater Atlanta Christian School (Private School)

• GIVE Center West (Alternative School)
• Ashworth College (Online/Correspondence University)

Public libraries

Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Norcross Branch in Norcross.

Local companies

• Rock-Tenn, a Fortune 500 paper and packaging manufacturer
• RentPath, a large apartment guide company.
• Institute of Industrial Engineers, a professional society for Industrial Engineers.
• The Athlete's Foot Brands, LLC, Athletic Footwear and Clothing
• LSI Corporation, which designs semiconductors and software that accelerate storage and networking in datacenters and mobile networks.
• EMS Technologies, specializes in wireless communications.
• American Megatrends is headquartered in Building 200 at 5555 Oakbrook Parkway in unincorporated Gwinnett County, near Norcross.
• Waffle House is headquartered in unincorporated Gwinnett County, near Norcross.
• NanoLumens, designer and manufacturer of digital LED displays.

Media

The main newspaper of Greater Atlanta is the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Spanish language newspaper El Nuevo Georgia has its headquarters in unincorporated Gwinnett County, near Norcross.

Filming in Norcross

The television show "Resurrection" for ABC Studios/Disney was filmed in the town square and all around Norcross.

External links

• City of Norcross web site
• Norcross Neighbors web site
• Historic Norcross Holiday Home Tour
• Listen to the Norcross Police Department