From the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce

Forsyth County History

Forsyth County's rich cultural diversity is a result of several hundred years of Indian occupation and white settler migrations that is rich in legend and recorded fact.

Before the 1800s, the Forsyth County land masses were a part of the vast Cherokee Indian Nation that stretched westward to the Mississippi River. The Cherokee were an educationally advanced tribe, with a distinct spoken and written language of their own.

All of this soon changed when the gold was found in nearby Lumpkin and Cherokee counties, sparking the interest of settlers and government officials who had long wanted the lands for their own. They began planning away to claim the property for themselves.

The 1803 Land Act that the federal government passed permitted the distribution of all new acquired lands through a lottery system, setting up the system for the disposal of the lands owned by the Indian Nation. Some Cherokee families left voluntarily when the government offered to compensate them for the property. The majority of the remaining Cherokee Nation was forcefully removed from Georgia by federal agents in 1832.

That same year, the Indian lands were distributed to settlers through land lotteries and Forsyth County was established.

The county was named to honor John Forsyth who had served as the Attorney General of Georgia in 1808, in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, as U.S. Minister to Spain, and had just finished a term as governor of Georgia. Two years later he began his service as Secretary of State under presidents Jackson and Van Buren. Forsyth never set foot within the county's borders.

The little town of Cumming was incorporated two years later, and was named for William Cumming of Augusta, a distinguished lawyer. Soon, the 40-acre land lot that would become the city was laid out in smaller square city lots that were sold for family residences and stores.

Settlers migrated from the Carolinas and Virginia into Forsyth County. New schools, churches and post offices sprang up around the county and the area soon became well known for its production of high-quality tobacco and wagons. Forestry became a thriving industry. Forsyth County became home to sawmills, gristmills, distilleries and factories for jugs and clothing.

After the Civil War, the county was left with little means of providing household goods, food or work equipment. Daily necessities were bartered and slowly their standard of living was revived to a higher standard.

Forsyth County's growth has been greatly affected by several factors that brought new settlers. The county's first wave of newcomers came when the north Georgia region became known for the poultry industry. Wilson Foods, began here and is now thriving as Tyson Foods with over 1,200 employees today. Chicken houses began to spring up around the county.

With the creation of Buford Dam and Lake Lanier Forsyth County's population grew. The population went from 15,000 in 1980 to 44,000 in 1990 and is now over 110,000 in 2003. As the metro area becomes more congested, people seek out Forsyth County from the storm of city noise, traffic and pollution. In 2001 The U.S. Census Bureau declared Forsyth County as the fastest-growing county in Georgia and the second-fastest in the United States.

Historic Mansell House & Gardens
Alpharetta Historical Society
1835 Old Milton Parkway
Tours available Monday and Friday
10:00 am - 4:00 pm, and by appointment

Milton Log Cabin
Located on Milton High School Campus
Tours available Friday only by appointment
Free Admission * 770-475-HOME

Horse & Buggy Rides at Crabapple Corner
Enjoy visiting the wonderful shops at Crabapple Corner, dining at The Broadwell House Restaurant and then taking a fun horse and buggy ride around Crabapple. Rides are available free of charge Friday and Saturday evenings, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm and Sunday, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm.

Andretti Speed Lab
11000 Alpharetta Highway Roswell, Georgia 30076 USA
phone 770.992.5688
fax 770.992.6066 climbing wall
Every square inch of the $4.5 million Andretti Speed Lab was designed to pump group events full of adrenaline. There’s indoor racing, a four story climbing wall, a million bucks worth of interactive simulators, eight Brunswick Billiards tables, Fuddruckers, zip lines, a ropes course, the SkyBox Sports Bar, over a hundred televisions, and three kitchen sinks. We have multiple meeting rooms including a 10,000 square foot conference room with all the latest multi-media gadgetry.

Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department
678-297-6100  Alpharetta's award-winning public parks include Wills Park with 110 acres offering a 50-meter Olympic size swimming pool (open Memorial Day to Labor Day), 10 baseball fields, a 9-hole Frisbee golf course, full-size gymnasium, 6 lighted tennis courts, three picnic pavilions, walking trails, and two large playgrounds including Wacky World, a unique playground that kids just rave about. Webb Bridge Park features a 70-acre park with walking paths, non-paved trails, a playground called "The Webb Zone," two soccer fields (regulation size), four baseball fields and four lighted tennis courts. North Park, a scenic 82-acre park, offers eight lighted tennis courts, playground, picnic pavilion, four adult baseball fields, two youth football fields with field house, one soccer field, and three women's softball fields.
For more detailed park information see the Sports Facilities Guide.