Suwanee is a city in the northern section of Gwinnett County in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 15,355; this had grown to an estimated 20,907 as of 2019. In 2020, its population was 20,786.
Portions of Forsyth and Fulton counties also have Suwanee and its ZIP code (30024) as a mailing address.
History
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. Settlment 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.
Recent history
From 1933 to 1936, the now heavily traveled Buford Highway was constructed through Suwanee.
Climate
Suwanee experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.
Demographics
thumb|Building in Old Town Suwanee
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.
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.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 9,994 || 48.1%
|-
| Black or African American || 3,006 || 14.5%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 94 || 0.5%
|-
| Asian || 5,266 || 25.3%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 11 || 0.1%
|-
| Some other race || 672 || 3.2%
|-
| Two or more races || 1,743 || 8.4%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 1,832 || 8.8%
|}
Arts and culture
Gwinnett County Public Library operates the Suwanee branch in Suwanee.
Sports
Suwanee was the practicing home of the Atlanta Falcons football team from 1979 to 2001.
Parks and recreation
- Town Center Park is a park located at Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. It serves as the community's primary venue for special events and features an amphitheater that can accommodate up to 1,000 audience members for concerts and various performances. The park is also home to Gwinnett County's largest interactive fountain, known as the "Big Splash". The fountain boasts 43 jets and recycles of water per minute. Additionally, Town Center Park is situated next to the Suwanee Public Library.
- George Pierce Park is a park, making it the largest in Suwanee. Amenities includes fields for football, baseball, soccer, and softball fields, a fishing pond, hard- and soft-surfaced trails, picnic areas, public restrooms, a playground, outdoor basketball courts, and a senior center.
Pedestrians and cycling
In 2016, Suwanee unveiled the first bike share program in Gwinnett County.
The city of Suwanee has released a master plan of existing and proposed trails and sidewalks to connect the community neighborhoods, schools and businesses. Major trails include:
- Brushy Creek Greenway
- George Pierce Park Red Trail
- George Pierce Park Yellow Trail
- Ivy Creek Greenway (under construction)
- Suwanee Creek Greenway (under construction)
- Western Gwinnett Bikeway (under construction)
Education
Suwanee is within the Gwinnett County Public Schools district, and primarily served by Collins Hill High School, North Gwinnett High School, and Peachtree Ridge High School. The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine's Georgia campus is also located in Suwanee.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Major roads and expressways
- 25px Interstate 85
- 20px U.S. Route 23
- 25px State Route 317
Airport
The nearest commercial air service is provided by Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is south of Atlanta. The nearest general aviation airport is Gwinnett County Airport.
Notable person
- Carolyn Bourdeaux, former U.S. representative
- Rich McCormick, U.S. representative