County Seat: Cumming
Population: 116,924
Average Income: $77,303
Average List Price, 2003 $256,212
Average Sale Price, 2003 $250,528
Median 2-Bdr. Apt. Rental: $823
Sales Taxes: 7%
Property Tax: $21.79/ per $1000 of assessed value
Travel Time: Hartsfield Intl. Airport: 60 minutes
Downtown Atlanta: 45 minutes
Cities/Geographic Areas: Cumming
Web site:
www.forsythchamber.org
Forsyth County, one of the nations fastest growing communities, is an area of pastoral rolling hills and beautiful countryside. The county is slowly changing as new residents move into the moderate to lavish subdivisions. Many of these residents are building near the shores of Lake Lanier, a 38,000 acre man-made lake, and in the southern end of the county where access to Georgia 400 makes for an easier commute to downtown Atlanta. Forsyth County, named after statesman John Forsyth, was established in 1832 by legislative act. Forsyth is noted for its equestrian events, and is still agrarian and rural in many parts.
Many Atlantans have discovered that living near the lake outweighs the commute to employment. The area is especially attractive to airline pilots and those who do not work regular business hours as well as those who commute to office parks along the Georgia 400 corridor. The great majority of residents live at the lake full-time, as opposed to 15 - 20 years ago when the lakeside areas were sparsely populated except for the summer months or weekend retreats. Homes range from the low $200,000's to over $600,000, and a deep water one-half acre lot with boat dock privileges can range $250,000 to $550,000+. As with most resort type areas, there are pockets of estate-type homes in price ranges of $1 million or more. Country living near a tranquil deep-water lake is the dream of many. If the idea of watching the sun set from your own boat house appeals to you, explore the possibilities of Forsyth County.
SCHOOLS
School Information
Board of Education (770) 887-2461
Private Schools
Ivy League Montessori School (770) 781-5586
Redeemer Christian Academy (770) 271-7721
Colleges and Technical Schools
Lanier Technical Institute (770) 531-6340
North Georgia College (770) 864-1400
TAG AND LICENSE
Tag Office (770) 781-2112
License (770) 781-6815
UTILITIES
Electricity
Sawnee EMC (770) 887-2362
Georgia Power (770) 887-2250
Gas
Choose A Supplier (877) GASCHOICE
Telephone
Bell South (770) 780-2355 or (800) 356-3094
Water
Forsyth County Water (770) 781-2160
RECREATION
Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Department manages a variety of parks offering ballgame fields, and tennis, picnic and community facilities. Forsyth and Hall Counties share the major portion of Lake Lanier's 542 mile shoreline, which naturally is the major source of recreation. The lake offers many activities including boating, skiing, fishing, camping, picnicking and hiking.
CUMMING, the county seat, is the only incorporated city in Forsyth County. Established in 1834 and named after Augusta Mayor William Cumming, the city lies at the base of Sawnee Mountain, and not far from the shores of Lake Lanier. Like much of North Georgia, Cumming was near the site of an early Indian settlement, in this case, the Sawnee Indian Settlement.
This area is in one of the hottest residential markets in Atlanta, and this can be attributed to the clean, natural beauty of the countryside, closeness to recreation at Lake Lanier and convenient access to Atlanta via Georgia 400. Homes in nearly every style and price range are available from the mid $100's to $2+ million. There is a good selection of recent and new home communities priced in the low $200,000's to the $350,000+ range.