Suwanee, Georgia

Early history

Suwanee, like many towns in Georgia, has its roots based in the name of Native American with this name being from the Shawnee and a former Shawnee area. Settlement always thrived along the Chattahoochee River, where various societies flourished. The city was officially recognized by the U.S. government in 1837, following the establishment of a post office. With the construction of the Georgia Air Line Railroad in 1871, and the Rhodes House hotel in 1880 to accommodate railroad passengers, Suwanee saw in influx of people and a boost in trade and economic activity. Suwanee Methodist Church was established in 1873, serving both the local Methodist and Baptist congregations. Although a devastating fire in 1881 spared only one building on Main Street, the town continued to persevere. From 1880 to 1920, the population remained relatively static, growing from 216 people to 241 over 40 years. As of 2015^[update], Suwanee's population had surged to over 18,000, reflecting its growth and development.

Recent history

From 1933 to 1936, the now heavily traveled Buford Highway was constructed through Suwanee. In 1960, Interstate 85 was extended just south of Suwanee, where it ended at the time. Over the past century, several primary education schools have opened in Suwanee, including North Gwinnett High School and Suwanee Elementary School. Suwanee High School dates back to 1880, when it was a one-room schoolhouse. The first city hall was built in the early 1960s, with a second city hall constructed in 1997. In 2005, Town Center was built in 2005 and completed in 2009, at which time the city hall moved to its current location in Town Center. In 2003, Suwanee was named a City of Excellence by the Georgia Municipal Association and Trend Magazine. In 2017, Suwanee was recognized as a Green Community by the Atlanta Regional Commission, earning bronze-level certification for its commitment to environmental stewardship and leadership in sustainability practices.^{[citation needed]}

Climate

Suwanee experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Suwanee had a population of 20,786 and 5,235 families. The median age was 38.7 years. 25.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 10.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 88.3 males age 18 and over.

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 7,506 households in Suwanee, of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 55.2% were married-couple households, 15.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 25.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 7,861 housing units, of which 4.5% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.

Transportation