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County Facts

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Current Population of Gwinnett County: 1,001,757
(Source: Woods & Poole estimate, 2024)

Geography

    • Approximately 30 miles northeast of Atlanta
    • County seat: Lawrenceville, GA
    • 437 square miles
    • Adjacent counties: Barrow, DeKalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Hall, Jackson, Rockdale, and Walton
    • 80 percent of the U.S. population is within a two-hour flight
    • Gateway to metro Atlanta from north and northeast via I-85 and I-985
    • Easy access to the University of Georgia (at Athens) via University Parkway/GA Highway 316
    • Minutes from scenic Lake Lanier
    • Home to 16 municipalities
    • Gwinnett County is the most ethnically diverse county in Georgia, with significant populations of Black, Hispanic, and Asian residents.

History

      • In 1813, Fort Daniel was created during the War of 1812 in the territory that would become Gwinnett County.
      • The county was created in 1818 by an act of the Georgia General Assembly,
      • Gwinnett County was formed from parts of Jackson County (formerly part of Franklin County) and lands gained through the cession of Creek Indian lands.
      • Named for Button Gwinnett, one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence
      • The City of Lawrenceville was incorporated and designated the county seat in 1821, when Gwinnett consisted of a cluster of agrarian communities.
      • A railroad line, the Danville and Piedmont Air Line (now Norfolk Southern), was built through the county in 1871. The railroad induced the founding of new cities: Norcross, Duluth, Suwanee, and Buford
      • Gwinnett County moved into the modern era in 1950 when the U.S. Congress authorized the construction of Buford Dam to provide hydroelectric power, flood control, water supply, navigation, and recreational facilities.
      • The County constructed its major water and sewer main lines in the 1970s, which proved to be an essential step in preparing for the next decade.
      • The late 1980s witnessed a dramatic increase in the County’s road construction program, the development of a countywide Parks and Recreation program, construction of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, renovation of the historic courthouse, construction of new public libraries, and other capital improvements.
      • Gwinnett has many advantages, beginning with its location and road system. The county is just 45 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta.
      • According to the Georgia Department of Labor, 450,909 Gwinnett County residents were employed in 2020, and the unemployment rate was 6.3 percent.

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