Suwanee

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. 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.

Geography

Suwanee is situated in northern Gwinnett County and southeastern Forsyth County. It is bordered to the northeast by the city of Sugar Hill, to the southwest by the city of Duluth, and on the west by the Chattahoochee River, which marks the Fulton County border. Across the river lies the city of Johns Creek. According to the United States Census Bureau, Suwanee has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.70%, is water. Suwanee experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), characterized by mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  19,041
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  15,805
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  14,968
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  14,646
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  13,125
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,432
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,099
• Eastern Bluebird

  Sialia sialis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,964

Largest nearby schools

• Georgia Connections Academy
  Other · Duluth · 6,373 students · 37.1:1 ratio
• Peachtree Ridge High School
  High · Suwanee · 3,300 students · 18.8:1 ratio
• North Gwinnett High School
  High · Suwanee · 3,097 students · 19:1 ratio
• Discovery High School
  High · Lawrenceville · 2,803 students · 16.6:1 ratio
• Collins Hill High School
  High · Suwanee · 2,695 students · 17.6:1 ratio
• Duluth High School
  High · Duluth · 2,644 students · 17.2:1 ratio
• Central Gwinnett High School
  High · Lawrenceville · 2,380 students · 15.1:1 ratio
• Mountain View High School
  High · Lawrenceville · 2,303 students · 17.3:1 ratio

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