Berkeley Lake

History

The majority of lands in the city limits (the Berkeley Lake Properties) were developed by Frank Coggins in the late 1940s. The dam, constructed in 1948, is one of the largest earthen dams in the state. The city's namesake, Lake Berkeley (), was named after Mr. Coggins' Berkeley Blue Granite Quarries in Elberton. In 1950 the Berkeley Lake "subdivision," which included five reserved Free Pass and Repass tracts (FPR) and the residential and fishing lots around the lake, was laid out. In 1952, Calvin and Kate Parsons, along with John and Dorothy Bagwell, purchased the Berkeley Realty & Investment Company and its property. For many years, Berkeley Lake was primarily a summer retreat, with an assortment of fishing cottages mingling with a slowly growing number of permanent homes. The health of the lake was guarded by a small, but tenacious, core of residents, each lending their expertise and time. In 1953, some 25 property owners met and formed the Lake Berkeley Civic Association. Besides zoning and developmental control, there were important needs such as electricity, telephones, and "an all year road" around the lake. This need for benefits that an incorporated city could help secure brought about the creation of its charter, which was approved by the General Assembly of Georgia on March 6, 1956. A new municipality to be known as the City of Berkeley Lake was created in Gwinnett County. Over the years since the city's incorporation, a number of ordinances have been passed to protect the character and tranquility of the community. In addition, a comprehensive master plan for future land use and growth was developed and adopted. Since 1994, five new subdivisions have been added to nearly complete the development of all the land within the city limits. Only two tracts…

Geography

Berkeley Lake is in western Gwinnett County, bordered by Duluth to the east, Peachtree Corners to the south and west, and Johns Creek to the north. The northern boundary of the city follows the Chattahoochee River, which is also the Fulton County line. Peachtree Industrial Boulevard is the main road through the city. The community consists of several subdivisions around the private Lake Berkeley. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 10.14%, is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  47,701
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  40,042
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  36,491
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  34,869
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  31,064
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  29,965
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  29,925
• Eastern Towhee

  Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  29,693

Most recent

• M 2.54 — 2022-09-12
  13 km NE of Jackson, Georgia
• M 2.72 — 2018-11-23
  3 km N of Plainville, Georgia