Living in Alpharetta

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Just to the north of big-city Atlanta is Alpharetta, a small city with a large outlook.  Perhaps its expansive view springs from the spirit of the more than 3,600 businesses located in Alpharetta, businesses that draw workers into the city each day.  It's normal 62,000 population swells to more than 120,000 on workdays, as tourists, workers and residents merge into the city. Alpharetta is one of the hottest of Metro Atlanta's commercial and residential markets, and has been recognized and ranked frequently as one of the top U.S. cities for business and family life.

The Alpharetta one sees today, the city that seems to embrace celebration, sprung from an unassuming past. In the early 1830's it was a dot on a path, literally! A small site sprang up on a Cherokee Indian trail, a place where Indians and white settlers traded goods. The little village was made up of tents and a log school. People called it New Prospect Camp Ground until it became a chartered town in 1858.

Alpharetta has an interesting character. It has a mix of good schools, employment, shopping and green space. These qualities are magnified by the energy of its citizens. People in Alpharetta charge and recharge with numerous activities. The Big Creek Greenway Trail is a 8-mile, 12 foot wide concrete path that meanders through heavily wooded wetlands and provides a trail for walkers, joggers, in-line skaters, and bike riders to enjoy. 

Alpharetta has a vital gastronomic scene. Over 150 restaurants range from like really good dining, interesting shopping and a series of celebrations and events. American, Chinese, Italian and Mexican dishes, Brazilian, Caribbean, Irish, Japanese and Thai fare, from simple to sophisticated, themed to trendy, in settings that range from al fresco to fireside to plain and simple fun. It is a culinary landscape.

And there is an interesting shopping scene in Alpharetta. Historic Main Street and downtown are replete with quaint boutiques and shops and cafes. The massive and new North Point Mall has brought a broad selection of national and regional upscale shops to Alpharetta.