Snellville, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Snellville is a city in Gwinnett County
, Georgia, United States, east of Atlanta. The population was 15,351 at the 2000 census. The city's mayor, Jerry Oberholtzer
, was elected to a 4-year term in 2007. The city's commercial and residential development has grown enormously in recent years. In the Atlanta metro area, Snellville is known (mostly humorously) for the slogan on its city limit signs: 'Everybody's Somebody In Snellville'.
Unable to find his brother, James Sawyer returned to New York and began work on a farm near the Hudson River area until his 21st birthday in 1878 when he returned to England to claim his inheritance. Shortly following, in August 1879, he returned to Americus, Georgia and then Gwinnett County. Once in Gwinnett County Sawyer went to a small settlement near Stone Mountain then known as New London, where he found Snell. In the homestead that Snell now referred to as Snellville, the two built a small wood frame building and started a business together, Snell and Sawyer’s Store, similar to the one in which they were employed in London. As was common in small mill towns of the time, they printed store money with the trade value and Snell’s likeness on the front that regular customers could use to purchase goods. By the end of 1879 the business was prospering and catering to customers from the neighboring towns of Lawrenceville and Loganville. Travelers would buy supplies at "Snell and Sawyer’s" and often spend the night in the nearby oak groves, as the trip was too great for one day’s travel. It is uncertain when New London officially became Snellville, but the location of the partners’ store was referred to as Snellville in their advertising and the young town began to show a promising future.
But the partnership dissolved and Sawyer kept the old store, building granite stone above and around the old frame and then disassembling the wood frame from within. Snell built a new store of granite. In 1883 Sawyer built a home and married Emma Webb, of the historic Snellville Webb family, on November 15. Sawyer opened Snellville’s first post office in 1885 and served as Postmaster from the back of his store.
Snell died at the early age of 39 in 1896 due to complications following an appendicitis operation. He was buried in Brownlee Mountain, presently known as Nob Hill, and later removed and buried again in nearby Lithonia.
Initially forced into partial retirement due to his failing eyesight, Sawyer went into full retirement in the 1940s following complete blindness. After that time the store was owned and operated by various merchants until it was destroyed in 1960 and a service station was built in its place. James Sawyer died in 1948 at the age of 91 and is buried in the Baptist Cemetery (now Snellville Historical Cemetery).
The Snell family remains prominent in the Atlanta area today. Another branch of the family is well established in the Houston Texas area.
In the late 1920s the charter went dormant and remained so for approximately 12 years before it was reorganized in 1940. W. C. Britt acted as Mayor and George Martin and Crawford Juhan served as police officers. The city limits were enlarged to a 1 miles (1.6 km) radius from the center of town. Following Britt’s term, the charter was again dormant until World War II, at which time Arthur Stancil became Mayor. The charter has since remained active.
As of early 2011 new housing construction, much of it upscale, continues in Snellville and in areas of southern Gwinnett County carrying a Snellville address. This is the only area of metro-Atlanta where this is occurring on such a large and consistent scale in blatant defiance of the recession. The award winning and very upscale Governor's Walk neighborhood in Snellville went on to be completed after the recession was well underway. Though many of the spec homes in Governors Walk went into repossession during the recession, all were bought and completed or are in the process of being completed as of January 2011. Lake Norris has new upscale construction going on as of January 2011 with two new homes under construction and several major remodelings going on. There is abundant new construction occurring along Centerville Highway SW as well as of January 2011. On a street called Norris Lake Way a collection of homes in the million dollar range continues to sell well as of 2011 as well making it one of the few area's of the metro where extremely upscale new construction is still selling well.
Hightower Trail and other areas of southern Gwinnett County continue to see new construction as well. New and finished resell homes in Governor's Walk and the Lake Norris area and on acreage in southern Gwinnett County continued to sell strongly during the recession often for very near pre-recession prices. Georgia MLS statistics back this metro-Atlanta anomaly very strongly and many feel the areas good luck during the foreclosure crisis occurred because Snellville remained very strong economically during the recession and is a popular relocation area for locals of the metro-Atlanta area resettling from other suburban areas.
The popularity of Snellville's Synagogue, Temple Beth David, has added luster to the area as well.
north of Snellville. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, this idea went through several iterations until it was developed into a route forming a complete north side loop (bypass) of Snellville, U.S. 78 west to U.S. 78 east.
On November 9, 1992, the City of Snellville adopted a resolution opposing any loop road around Snellville. After the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)
later put the connector onto their Statewide Construction Work Program, the City of Snellville passed another resolution (on August 23, 1993) opposing the proposed Snellville Connector.
The Atlanta regional commission
(ARC) then received a request from GDOT and the City of Snellville to conduct a study to identify the best transportation alternatives that are technically sound and supported by the local community. Recognizing the preferred alternative to be a major transportation improvement involving federal funds, ARC and its partners in the planning process designated the study as a Major Investment Study (MIS).
As of 2006, the loop road is officially dead with traffic improvements focused on the interchange of US 78 and GA SR 124
.
. The collapse killed brothers Josh and Anthony Fowler and Lance Stofiel. Clyde Elrod was the only survivor. The collapse also destroyed two unoccupied vehicles and the side of the building it was above.
This is the only time in the United States that a billboard has collapsed from design flaws.
The city issued a statement blaming the accident on a federal court decision that threw out the city's restrictions on tall billboards. Trinity Outdoor and Interstate Outdoor Advertising had sued to overturn the restrictions.
After lengthy inspections by the city, which included the removal of other billboards throughout the city for repairs, the city had no choice but to reissue permits as allowed by the court order.
As of 2006, the collapsed billboard had been rebuilt and remains standing along with others throughout the city.
In response to the collapse and court order, the City now requires all new building and zoning requests to stipulate that they will not allow the construction of billboards for any purpose.
in the Oakland Village Shopping Center on U.S. 78 across from Snellville United Methodist Church and City Hall was just one of several dead or dying shopping centers plaguing Snellville. Abandoned big-box stores had become enough of an eyesore to make them a major issue in the 1999 city elections. Harrell had campaigned on a platform that included efforts to revitalize vacant retail space.
The project was not without its opponents. Among the concerned were tenants of the half-occupied Oakland Village Shopping Center that the city would take over and force the businesses to relocate. The City Council voted unanimously in that November to proceed with the exploration of a potential land swap. There was concern that timing may become an issue and kill the deal in the early stages. The owner of the shopping center wanted to sell his property by the end of 2000 while the City Council decided to take no action for a six-month period. Some citizens expressed concerns of the project at the City Council meeting and asked for the deal to be put to a referendum
.
On March 5, 2001, the city held its first public hearing on the Land Swap. At the meeting over 100 citizens attended to support the idea while more than a dozen showed up to oppose it. A few cited a recent $79,000 roof job on the current city hall and the fact that the swap would benefit the church more than city as reasons to back out of the deal.
On March 26, 2001, the City Council met to vote on the land swap proposal. At this meeting, the citizens were given a few specifics of the deal. According to the Council, the Oakland Village Shopping Center was worth $2,700,000 and the current City Hall was worth $2,300,000. Councilman Jerry Oberholtzer
estimated that renovation of the shopping center for city use would be in the $2,500,000 range. He also estimated to renovate the current city hall for future needs would run the city the same cost. More opponents than supporters spoke at the meeting, a few Senior Citizens presented a petition against relocating their center which was part of the land swap plan. The City Council voted 3–1 in favor of the swap. Councilman Troy Carter was the only dissenting vote.
As preparation for the swap began, the city hit a snag in June 2001 when it was revealed that there was a possibility of perchloroethylene soil contamination
from an old dry cleaner site in the Oakland Village Shopping Center. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Protection Division responded that even in the event of contamination, a clean-up may not be required if no one lives close enough to the site or no one is using the ground water in the area. The city did discover the use of a well
by a private citizen within a one-mile (1.6 km) radius of the site. This citizen, Harold "Cotton" Willams, refused a $25,000 deal from the Methodist Church to cap the well. In response, the city began exploring a local ordinance
banning the construction of new wells and closing any existing ones. The city council voted on June 25 to adopt the ordinance but still allow the use of the well for irrigation
. The city council also decided to include the realignment of Oak Road and Henry Clower Boulevard at U.S. 78 in the land swap project.
In July 2001 the land swap hit another snag. A lawyer representing the Nash Family of Snellville filed a lawsuit claiming the city could not trade one of the parcels because the city didn't own it. The Nash family contended it owned the approximately 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) tract and the unused building sitting on it. In 1935, Horace J. Nash deeded the building to the Georgia Rural Rehabilitation Corporation for use as a vocational center. The building was used to train unemployed workers during and after the Great Depression
. Later, the city used the site for a jail, a senior center
and an agricultural building. Most recently, the building housed Recorder's Court. Attorney Bill Crecelius said the Nash family had let Snellville use the building for decades without complaint. This issue was resolved when the city presented documents verifying its ownership of the title to the building as well as title insurance.
In July 2003, the last piece of a $6,700,000 building plan for the project fell into place. The Snellville City Council approved funding for a multipurpose complex combining municipal functions and police services, plus offering a public gathering spot. In a 4–2 vote, the council approved certificates of participation, a series of leases that are to be renewed annually until they are paid off in 20 years. The leases, with an interest rate of slightly more than 4 percent, will cost the city about $10 million when they are paid off in two decades. Mayor Brett Harrell, Mayor Pro Tempore Melvin Everson and council members Jerry Oberholtzer
and Deborah Rich voted for the funding program. Council members Robert Jenkins and Mike Smith cast dissenting votes. In the final plan, the land swap would include an 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) project encompassing a new City Hall
, police department, senior center and public forum area.
Groundbreaking for the new city hall began in March 2004 with the demolition of the Oakland Village Shopping Center. Hogan Construction Group of Norcross, Georgia
, was awarded the $7,400,000 contract to construct both the new City Hall and new Senior Center. The original completion date was pushed back because of poor weather conditions. Crews also had to blast granite under the building foundation, further delaying the project and adding $200,000 to the cost.
On March 12, 2006, the city officially dedicated the new city hall located at the corner of Oak Road and Main Street East (US 78). Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer was quoted say that arriving at the dedication day took "five years, four elections, three architectural firms and two lawsuits". The city hopes to one day expand the complex by adding a Parking Deck and a new Public Safety
annex.
On August 13, 2007, the City Council awarded a $52,000 contract to Smithco Construction of Gainesville, Georgia
to demolish and remove the remaining piece of the old Oakland Village Shopping Center. The area has now been converted into an open green space
.
Jeff Timler informed the city council that they were in violation of his contract. The contract required the council to evaluate him that January and give him a cost-of-living raise and any merit raise deemed warranted. Council members Warren Auld, Bruce Garraway and Robert Jenkins did not submit their required evaluations on time. The contract violation meant Timler was entitled to leave with half of his $87,000 salary in severance pay.
In 2004, the council voted to change the charter
to create a council-manager form of government to prevent the abuses of previous administrations in the day-to-day functions of the city.
Noted as popular and progressive, Snellville Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer accused the city council members of causing Timler's early departure with their overbearing micro-management of city staff. Councilmember Garraway rebutted that his micro-management was due to being "so hands-on" with his elected position. By March 2007, Council members Auld, Garraway, Jenkins and Kelly Kautz had all submitted evaluations of dissatisfaction with Timler. They cited a lack of communication with Council members and deviations from their directives as reasons. Mayor Oberholtzer and Councilmember Barbara Bender had evaluated him with high marks. Councilmember Bender stated that Timler had kept her well informed through email that she noticed had been CC'd
to the entire council. Councilmember Jenkins was quoted expressing his disapproval of the entire council-manager system by suggesting that a city with the size of Snellville (+/- 19,000) would benefit more with a hands-on council.
Timler was offered only his accrued sick and vacation time instead of the $43,500 severance package he cited in his contract. He subsequently rejected the council's offer. On March 12 a crowd of 50 citizens attended the City Council meeting to express their support of Timler as City Manager. At this time, the City Attorney, Thomas Mitchell, stated his legal opinion that the city was not in violation of Timler's contract.
By the end of March, Timler had submitted his letter of resignation with his last day on May 15. The council was given the option of retaining him on a transitional basis. Timler backed off his claims of "breach of contract
" and accepted a severance package worth $56,000. Councilmember Jenkins accused Mayor Oberholtzer of using the city manager as a tool of politics by dragging Timler through the mud for political gain. Jenkins was one of the original three council members who first failed to submit an evaluation, and then eventually submitted one of dissatisfaction.
On May 14, 2007, the council met in a closed-door meeting to interview candidates for the city manager position on an interim basis. The council was unable to decide on a single candidate and Timler was retained on a temporary basis until the council could meet again. At a specially called meeting on Wednesday, May 16, the council approved the hiring of Macon
-based consultant James (Jim) Brooks as interim city manager.
In February 2008, Jim Brook's contract with the city lapsed. Mayor Oberholtzer chose not to reappoint Brooks or to appoint any other candidate.
On June 11, 2008, after a month-long search for a manager, the City Council unanimously approved the nomination of Russell G. Treadway of Elizabethton, TN for the position.
is appointed by the Council and works with them on policy creation and then manages staff concerning implementation. Comparing this form of government to a private business, the Mayor acts as Chairman of the Board and the City Council
acts as the Board of Directors. The City Manager under the direction of the City Council manages the day-to-day functions of the City.
Unlike the county, state and national elections, where voting is done by Precinct
, all city elections take place at City Hall
.
(*)Denotes Four-Lane Roads
l
and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
(GRTA) provides commuter bus service to downtown Atlanta from Snellville in the morning, and vice versa in the afternoon. Seven departure times are available in the morning and seven in the afternoon, Monday-Friday, via Stone Mountain Freeway (U.S. 78) to I-285 and I-20. The morning westbound route terminates at the Civic Center
MARTA
Station. The afternoon eastbound route terminates at the First Baptist Church of Snellville with a stop at the Hewatt Road Park&Ride.
Buses first ran on the morning of April 2, 2007. In that first month, the route had a total of 1,783 riders. In May, there was a 40% increase to 2,520. On many mornings, the bus is standing room only
. On August 21, 2007, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with GRTA to add five new Motor Coach Industries
D4500CL buses to the route.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25.1 km²), of which, 9.7 square miles (25.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
according to the Köppen classification
, with generally hot, humid summers and mild winters by the standards of most of the U.S.
Compared to most large cities around the world at approximately the same latitude (33°39'), such as Beirut
, Lebanon; Casablanca
, Morocco; Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and Phoenix
, Arizona, Snellville has lower average winter temperatures. The primary reason for this is that the North American continent
extends into high latitudes that allows systems to form and move eastward and southward without obstruction by major mountain ranges. Other factors include Snellville's distance from large bodies of water; its higher elevation, which can lead to rapid weather changes; prevailing wind patterns; and extensive tree cover, which reduces the urban heat island
effect (an advantage during summer).
In the winter, weather systems sweeping south from Canada, through the Midwest, bring temperatures that can reach below 25 °Fahrenheit
(−3.9 °Celsius) a few times a year. The lowest temperature recorded in the city is −9 °F (−22 °C), reached on February 13, 1899. It also reached -7 °F twice and -8 °F once in Atlanta in the 1980s and 1990s. An average year sees frost on 48 days; snowfall, which occurs most years, averages 2 inches (5 centimeters) annually. The greatest single accumulation of snow was 10 inches (25 centimeters), on January 23, 1940. A more prominent issue in winter are the frequent ice storm
s that can cause more problems than snow; the most severe such storm may have occurred on January 7, 1973. Also during winter, warm air sometimes flows from the Gulf of Mexico, raising temperatures as high as 75 °F (24 °C).
Though summers are humid, actual temperatures are lower than they may feel, with afternoon highs peaking at about 90 °F (32 °C) in late July. Temperatures rarely reach 100 °F (38 °C), which, during the last 30 years, was recorded in 1980, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1995, 2000, and 2007. The highest temperature recorded in the city is 105 °F (40.6 °C), reached on July 13 and July 17, 1980.
Like the rest of the Southeastern U.S., Atlanta experiences abundant rainfall, which is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year. Average annual rainfall is 50.5 inches (127 centimeters); the only other major U.S. cities with greater rainfall are Miami, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana
The park hosts numerous activities for Youth and Seniors including Summer Camp, Swim Lessons, Soccer and Senior Trips.
Amenities
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,351 people, 5,256 households, and 4,315 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,589.1 people per square mile (613.6/km²). There were 5,391 housing units at an average density of 558.1 per square mile (215.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.64% White, 5.39% African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races
, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.09% of the population.
There were 5,256 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $89,715, and the median income for a family was $96,077. Males had a median income of $82,861 versus $51,972 for females. The per capita income for the city was $75,992. About 2.1% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
company both have their roots and studios in Snellville
System with the Elizabeth H. Williams Branch located on Lenora Church Road just north of T. W. Briscoe Park.
that serve the Snellville Area
operates the Elizabeth H. Williams Branch in Snellville.
Gwinnett County, Georgia
, Gwinnett County had a population of 805,321. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 53.3% white , 23.6% black , 2.7% Korean, 2.6% Asian Indian, 2.0% Vietnamese, 3.3% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.8% some other race and 3.1% from two or more races...
, Georgia, United States, east of Atlanta. The population was 15,351 at the 2000 census. The city's mayor, Jerry Oberholtzer
Jerry Oberholtzer
Gerald "Jerry" Francis Oberholtzer is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. Oberholtzer has been the mayor of Snellville, Georgia since November 10, 2003....
, was elected to a 4-year term in 2007. The city's commercial and residential development has grown enormously in recent years. In the Atlanta metro area, Snellville is known (mostly humorously) for the slogan on its city limit signs: 'Everybody's Somebody In Snellville'.
English settlers
In 1874 seventeen-year-old friends from London, England, Thomas Snell and James Sawyer, secretly planned a voyage to the New World. On March 18, James Sawyer and his brother, Charles Sawyer, left England but Snell’s parents, having learned of the plan, wouldn’t allow him to leave, thus delaying his departure. The Sawyer brothers arrived in New York on April 1 and, after a few weeks, headed towards Athens, Georgia and then to Madison County where they stayed and worked on a farm for $10 a month. Snell did eventually follow his friends to New York and made his way south to meet them. The three then made their way through Jefferson and Lawrenceville. Shortly after Snell’s arrival, Charles left for Pennsylvania, later returning to the south and settling in Alabama where he went into the turpentine business. James had gone also, in search of his brother, leaving Snell to work on the farm of A. A. Dyer.Unable to find his brother, James Sawyer returned to New York and began work on a farm near the Hudson River area until his 21st birthday in 1878 when he returned to England to claim his inheritance. Shortly following, in August 1879, he returned to Americus, Georgia and then Gwinnett County. Once in Gwinnett County Sawyer went to a small settlement near Stone Mountain then known as New London, where he found Snell. In the homestead that Snell now referred to as Snellville, the two built a small wood frame building and started a business together, Snell and Sawyer’s Store, similar to the one in which they were employed in London. As was common in small mill towns of the time, they printed store money with the trade value and Snell’s likeness on the front that regular customers could use to purchase goods. By the end of 1879 the business was prospering and catering to customers from the neighboring towns of Lawrenceville and Loganville. Travelers would buy supplies at "Snell and Sawyer’s" and often spend the night in the nearby oak groves, as the trip was too great for one day’s travel. It is uncertain when New London officially became Snellville, but the location of the partners’ store was referred to as Snellville in their advertising and the young town began to show a promising future.
But the partnership dissolved and Sawyer kept the old store, building granite stone above and around the old frame and then disassembling the wood frame from within. Snell built a new store of granite. In 1883 Sawyer built a home and married Emma Webb, of the historic Snellville Webb family, on November 15. Sawyer opened Snellville’s first post office in 1885 and served as Postmaster from the back of his store.
Snell died at the early age of 39 in 1896 due to complications following an appendicitis operation. He was buried in Brownlee Mountain, presently known as Nob Hill, and later removed and buried again in nearby Lithonia.
Initially forced into partial retirement due to his failing eyesight, Sawyer went into full retirement in the 1940s following complete blindness. After that time the store was owned and operated by various merchants until it was destroyed in 1960 and a service station was built in its place. James Sawyer died in 1948 at the age of 91 and is buried in the Baptist Cemetery (now Snellville Historical Cemetery).
The Snell family remains prominent in the Atlanta area today. Another branch of the family is well established in the Houston Texas area.
City beginnings
The City of Snellville received their charter from the General Assembly of the State of Georgia (1923). The first mayor of Snellville was Gladston Snell and the first police officer was Byron Whitworth.In the late 1920s the charter went dormant and remained so for approximately 12 years before it was reorganized in 1940. W. C. Britt acted as Mayor and George Martin and Crawford Juhan served as police officers. The city limits were enlarged to a 1 miles (1.6 km) radius from the center of town. Following Britt’s term, the charter was again dormant until World War II, at which time Arthur Stancil became Mayor. The charter has since remained active.
Recent times
Snellville’s growth remained slow until the 1960s when the suburban development patterns of segregated uses and automobile dependency became commonplace. Present-day Snellville is quite a different place from the settlement that attracted James Sawyer and Thomas Snell. According to the 2009 Census, Snellville’s population is 20,634 and includes 5,391 households. Over 1,150 businesses operate in Snellville, bringing in more than $1 billion in revenue yearly. Snellville’s political system now includes a Mayor and 5 Council members. There are over 100 employees working for the City of Snellville, which operates from five departments: Administration; Parks & Recreation; Planning & Development; Public Safety; and Public Works. The city limits have now grown to 10.4 square miles (26.9 km²) and there are fourteen houses of worship located in the city limits.As of early 2011 new housing construction, much of it upscale, continues in Snellville and in areas of southern Gwinnett County carrying a Snellville address. This is the only area of metro-Atlanta where this is occurring on such a large and consistent scale in blatant defiance of the recession. The award winning and very upscale Governor's Walk neighborhood in Snellville went on to be completed after the recession was well underway. Though many of the spec homes in Governors Walk went into repossession during the recession, all were bought and completed or are in the process of being completed as of January 2011. Lake Norris has new upscale construction going on as of January 2011 with two new homes under construction and several major remodelings going on. There is abundant new construction occurring along Centerville Highway SW as well as of January 2011. On a street called Norris Lake Way a collection of homes in the million dollar range continues to sell well as of 2011 as well making it one of the few area's of the metro where extremely upscale new construction is still selling well.
Hightower Trail and other areas of southern Gwinnett County continue to see new construction as well. New and finished resell homes in Governor's Walk and the Lake Norris area and on acreage in southern Gwinnett County continued to sell strongly during the recession often for very near pre-recession prices. Georgia MLS statistics back this metro-Atlanta anomaly very strongly and many feel the areas good luck during the foreclosure crisis occurred because Snellville remained very strong economically during the recession and is a popular relocation area for locals of the metro-Atlanta area resettling from other suburban areas.
The popularity of Snellville's Synagogue, Temple Beth David, has added luster to the area as well.
Snellville Loop
The Snellville Loop (Snellville East-West Connector) concept was developed as a loop road connecting US 78 west of Snellville with GA SR 124Georgia State Route 124
Georgia State Route 124 is a state highway whose north end is located in southwest Jackson County, Georgia at Georgia State Route 11 and whose south end is located at I-20 in Lithonia, Georgia.-DeKalb County:-Gwinnett County:...
north of Snellville. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, this idea went through several iterations until it was developed into a route forming a complete north side loop (bypass) of Snellville, U.S. 78 west to U.S. 78 east.
On November 9, 1992, the City of Snellville adopted a resolution opposing any loop road around Snellville. After the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)
Georgia Department of Transportation
The Georgia Department of Transportation is the organization in charge of developing and maintaining all state and federal roadways in the U.S. state of Georgia. In addition to highways, the department also has a limited role in developing public transportation and general aviation programs...
later put the connector onto their Statewide Construction Work Program, the City of Snellville passed another resolution (on August 23, 1993) opposing the proposed Snellville Connector.
The Atlanta regional commission
Atlanta Regional Commission
The Atlanta Regional Commission is the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency for the metro Atlanta, Georgia region, as defined as a 10-county area including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties, including the city of...
(ARC) then received a request from GDOT and the City of Snellville to conduct a study to identify the best transportation alternatives that are technically sound and supported by the local community. Recognizing the preferred alternative to be a major transportation improvement involving federal funds, ARC and its partners in the planning process designated the study as a Major Investment Study (MIS).
As of 2006, the loop road is officially dead with traffic improvements focused on the interchange of US 78 and GA SR 124
Georgia State Route 124
Georgia State Route 124 is a state highway whose north end is located in southwest Jackson County, Georgia at Georgia State Route 11 and whose south end is located at I-20 in Lithonia, Georgia.-DeKalb County:-Gwinnett County:...
.
Billboard collapse in 2002
On August 1, 2002, a 35,000-pound billboard collapsed during its installation at the corner of Dogwood Road and GA SR 124Georgia State Route 124
Georgia State Route 124 is a state highway whose north end is located in southwest Jackson County, Georgia at Georgia State Route 11 and whose south end is located at I-20 in Lithonia, Georgia.-DeKalb County:-Gwinnett County:...
. The collapse killed brothers Josh and Anthony Fowler and Lance Stofiel. Clyde Elrod was the only survivor. The collapse also destroyed two unoccupied vehicles and the side of the building it was above.
This is the only time in the United States that a billboard has collapsed from design flaws.
The city issued a statement blaming the accident on a federal court decision that threw out the city's restrictions on tall billboards. Trinity Outdoor and Interstate Outdoor Advertising had sued to overturn the restrictions.
After lengthy inspections by the city, which included the removal of other billboards throughout the city for repairs, the city had no choice but to reissue permits as allowed by the court order.
As of 2006, the collapsed billboard had been rebuilt and remains standing along with others throughout the city.
In response to the collapse and court order, the City now requires all new building and zoning requests to stipulate that they will not allow the construction of billboards for any purpose.
City land swap
In early November 2000, then-mayor Brett Harrell began negotiating a land swap to transform an abandoned supermarket into a municipal complex and the now-former City Hall into part of a church campus. The old KrogerKroger
The Kroger Co. is an American supermarket chain founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It reported US$ 76.7 billion in sales during fiscal year 2009. It is the country's largest grocery store chain and its second-largest grocery retailer by volume and second-place general retailer...
in the Oakland Village Shopping Center on U.S. 78 across from Snellville United Methodist Church and City Hall was just one of several dead or dying shopping centers plaguing Snellville. Abandoned big-box stores had become enough of an eyesore to make them a major issue in the 1999 city elections. Harrell had campaigned on a platform that included efforts to revitalize vacant retail space.
The project was not without its opponents. Among the concerned were tenants of the half-occupied Oakland Village Shopping Center that the city would take over and force the businesses to relocate. The City Council voted unanimously in that November to proceed with the exploration of a potential land swap. There was concern that timing may become an issue and kill the deal in the early stages. The owner of the shopping center wanted to sell his property by the end of 2000 while the City Council decided to take no action for a six-month period. Some citizens expressed concerns of the project at the City Council meeting and asked for the deal to be put to a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
.
On March 5, 2001, the city held its first public hearing on the Land Swap. At the meeting over 100 citizens attended to support the idea while more than a dozen showed up to oppose it. A few cited a recent $79,000 roof job on the current city hall and the fact that the swap would benefit the church more than city as reasons to back out of the deal.
On March 26, 2001, the City Council met to vote on the land swap proposal. At this meeting, the citizens were given a few specifics of the deal. According to the Council, the Oakland Village Shopping Center was worth $2,700,000 and the current City Hall was worth $2,300,000. Councilman Jerry Oberholtzer
Jerry Oberholtzer
Gerald "Jerry" Francis Oberholtzer is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. Oberholtzer has been the mayor of Snellville, Georgia since November 10, 2003....
estimated that renovation of the shopping center for city use would be in the $2,500,000 range. He also estimated to renovate the current city hall for future needs would run the city the same cost. More opponents than supporters spoke at the meeting, a few Senior Citizens presented a petition against relocating their center which was part of the land swap plan. The City Council voted 3–1 in favor of the swap. Councilman Troy Carter was the only dissenting vote.
As preparation for the swap began, the city hit a snag in June 2001 when it was revealed that there was a possibility of perchloroethylene soil contamination
Soil contamination
Soil contamination or soil pollution is caused by the presence of xenobiotic chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment....
from an old dry cleaner site in the Oakland Village Shopping Center. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is an administrative agency of the U.S. state of Georgia. The agency has statewide responsibilities for managing and conserving Georgia’s natural, cultural, and historical resources, and is divided into six divisions:...
Environmental Protection Division responded that even in the event of contamination, a clean-up may not be required if no one lives close enough to the site or no one is using the ground water in the area. The city did discover the use of a well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
by a private citizen within a one-mile (1.6 km) radius of the site. This citizen, Harold "Cotton" Willams, refused a $25,000 deal from the Methodist Church to cap the well. In response, the city began exploring a local ordinance
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
banning the construction of new wells and closing any existing ones. The city council voted on June 25 to adopt the ordinance but still allow the use of the well for irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
. The city council also decided to include the realignment of Oak Road and Henry Clower Boulevard at U.S. 78 in the land swap project.
In July 2001 the land swap hit another snag. A lawyer representing the Nash Family of Snellville filed a lawsuit claiming the city could not trade one of the parcels because the city didn't own it. The Nash family contended it owned the approximately 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) tract and the unused building sitting on it. In 1935, Horace J. Nash deeded the building to the Georgia Rural Rehabilitation Corporation for use as a vocational center. The building was used to train unemployed workers during and after the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Later, the city used the site for a jail, a senior center
Community centre
Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
and an agricultural building. Most recently, the building housed Recorder's Court. Attorney Bill Crecelius said the Nash family had let Snellville use the building for decades without complaint. This issue was resolved when the city presented documents verifying its ownership of the title to the building as well as title insurance.
In July 2003, the last piece of a $6,700,000 building plan for the project fell into place. The Snellville City Council approved funding for a multipurpose complex combining municipal functions and police services, plus offering a public gathering spot. In a 4–2 vote, the council approved certificates of participation, a series of leases that are to be renewed annually until they are paid off in 20 years. The leases, with an interest rate of slightly more than 4 percent, will cost the city about $10 million when they are paid off in two decades. Mayor Brett Harrell, Mayor Pro Tempore Melvin Everson and council members Jerry Oberholtzer
Jerry Oberholtzer
Gerald "Jerry" Francis Oberholtzer is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. Oberholtzer has been the mayor of Snellville, Georgia since November 10, 2003....
and Deborah Rich voted for the funding program. Council members Robert Jenkins and Mike Smith cast dissenting votes. In the final plan, the land swap would include an 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) project encompassing a new City Hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
, police department, senior center and public forum area.
Groundbreaking for the new city hall began in March 2004 with the demolition of the Oakland Village Shopping Center. Hogan Construction Group of Norcross, Georgia
Norcross, Georgia
As of 2010 Norcross had a population of 9,116. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 40.8% white , 19.8% black or African American , 0.7% Native American, 2.1% Asian Indian, 10.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.5% from some other race and 4.3% reporting two or more races...
, was awarded the $7,400,000 contract to construct both the new City Hall and new Senior Center. The original completion date was pushed back because of poor weather conditions. Crews also had to blast granite under the building foundation, further delaying the project and adding $200,000 to the cost.
On March 12, 2006, the city officially dedicated the new city hall located at the corner of Oak Road and Main Street East (US 78). Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer was quoted say that arriving at the dedication day took "five years, four elections, three architectural firms and two lawsuits". The city hopes to one day expand the complex by adding a Parking Deck and a new Public Safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
annex.
On August 13, 2007, the City Council awarded a $52,000 contract to Smithco Construction of Gainesville, Georgia
Gainesville, Georgia
-Severe Weather:Gainesville sits on the very fringe of Tornado Alley, a region of the United States where severe weather is common. Supercell thunderstorms can sweep through any time between March and November, but are concentrated most in the spring...
to demolish and remove the remaining piece of the old Oakland Village Shopping Center. The area has now been converted into an open green space
Open space reserve
Open space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside...
.
2007 City Manager controversy
In January 2007, City ManagerCity manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
Jeff Timler informed the city council that they were in violation of his contract. The contract required the council to evaluate him that January and give him a cost-of-living raise and any merit raise deemed warranted. Council members Warren Auld, Bruce Garraway and Robert Jenkins did not submit their required evaluations on time. The contract violation meant Timler was entitled to leave with half of his $87,000 salary in severance pay.
In 2004, the council voted to change the charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
to create a council-manager form of government to prevent the abuses of previous administrations in the day-to-day functions of the city.
Noted as popular and progressive, Snellville Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer accused the city council members of causing Timler's early departure with their overbearing micro-management of city staff. Councilmember Garraway rebutted that his micro-management was due to being "so hands-on" with his elected position. By March 2007, Council members Auld, Garraway, Jenkins and Kelly Kautz had all submitted evaluations of dissatisfaction with Timler. They cited a lack of communication with Council members and deviations from their directives as reasons. Mayor Oberholtzer and Councilmember Barbara Bender had evaluated him with high marks. Councilmember Bender stated that Timler had kept her well informed through email that she noticed had been CC'd
Carbon copy
Carbon copying, abbreviated cc or c.c., is the technique of using carbon paper to produce one or more copies simultaneously during the creation of paper documents...
to the entire council. Councilmember Jenkins was quoted expressing his disapproval of the entire council-manager system by suggesting that a city with the size of Snellville (+/- 19,000) would benefit more with a hands-on council.
Timler was offered only his accrued sick and vacation time instead of the $43,500 severance package he cited in his contract. He subsequently rejected the council's offer. On March 12 a crowd of 50 citizens attended the City Council meeting to express their support of Timler as City Manager. At this time, the City Attorney, Thomas Mitchell, stated his legal opinion that the city was not in violation of Timler's contract.
By the end of March, Timler had submitted his letter of resignation with his last day on May 15. The council was given the option of retaining him on a transitional basis. Timler backed off his claims of "breach of contract
Breach of contract
Breach of contract is a legal cause of action in which a binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract by non-performance or interference with the other party's performance....
" and accepted a severance package worth $56,000. Councilmember Jenkins accused Mayor Oberholtzer of using the city manager as a tool of politics by dragging Timler through the mud for political gain. Jenkins was one of the original three council members who first failed to submit an evaluation, and then eventually submitted one of dissatisfaction.
On May 14, 2007, the council met in a closed-door meeting to interview candidates for the city manager position on an interim basis. The council was unable to decide on a single candidate and Timler was retained on a temporary basis until the council could meet again. At a specially called meeting on Wednesday, May 16, the council approved the hiring of Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
-based consultant James (Jim) Brooks as interim city manager.
In February 2008, Jim Brook's contract with the city lapsed. Mayor Oberholtzer chose not to reappoint Brooks or to appoint any other candidate.
On June 11, 2008, after a month-long search for a manager, the City Council unanimously approved the nomination of Russell G. Treadway of Elizabethton, TN for the position.
Towne Center @ Snellville
In February of 2011, the City of Snellville hired engineering firm Clark, Patterson and Lee in conjunction with renowned urban planning firm Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company to begin the process of planning a new town center for the suburban community. A weekend long design charrette was held to engage the community in the process. The plan that emerged from this visioning process provides a new town green and shopping district, bordered by neighborhoods that incorporate a variety of housing types. The plan takes into account the Continuous Flow Intersection that had previously been planned by the Georgia Department of Transportation. A key element of the new town design is a system of bridges and tunnels that create a more walkable city.Government and politics
The City of Snellville operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City ManagerCity manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
is appointed by the Council and works with them on policy creation and then manages staff concerning implementation. Comparing this form of government to a private business, the Mayor acts as Chairman of the Board and the City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
acts as the Board of Directors. The City Manager under the direction of the City Council manages the day-to-day functions of the City.
Mayor and City Council
| Mayor | Party | First Elected | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerry Oberholtzer Jerry Oberholtzer Gerald "Jerry" Francis Oberholtzer is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. Oberholtzer has been the mayor of Snellville, Georgia since November 10, 2003.... |
Nonpartisan Nonpartisan In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation.... |
2003 | |
| City Council | Party | First Elected | |
| Mike Sabbagh | Nonpartisan Nonpartisan In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation.... |
2009 | |
| Barbara Bender | Nonpartisan Nonpartisan In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation.... |
2005 | |
| Tom Witts | Nonpartisan Nonpartisan In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation.... |
2009 | |
| Kelly Kautz | Nonpartisan Nonpartisan In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation.... |
2006 | |
| Tod Warner | Nonpartisan Nonpartisan In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation.... |
2007 | |
Gwinnett County Elected Officials
| Commission Chairman | Party | First Elected | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Bannister | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
2004 | |
| County Commissioner | Party | First Elected | |
| Mike Beaudreau | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
2004 | |
Georgia General Assembly
| Senator(s) | Name | Party | First Elected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 9 | Don Balfour Don Balfour Don Balfour was an Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood and Richmond in the Victorian Football League .... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
1992 | |
| Representative(s) | Name | Party | First Elected | |
| District 103 | David Casas | Republican | 2003 | |
| District 106 | Melvin Everson | Republican | 2005 | |
United States Congress
| Senators | Name | Party | First Elected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Class 2 | Saxby Chambliss Saxby Chambliss Clarence Saxby Chambliss, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a U.S. Representative .... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
2002 | |
| Senate Class 3 | Johnny Isakson Johnny Isakson John Hardy "Johnny" Isakson is the junior United States Senator from Georgia and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he represented in the House.... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
2004 | |
| Representative(s) | Name | Party | First Elected | |
| District 7 | Rob Woodall Rob Woodall William Robert Woodall III is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. Prior to being elected to congress, he was the Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman John Linder . He worked for Linder from 1994 to 2010.-Early life, education, and career:Woodall was born in Athens, GA... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
2010 | |
Elections
Every two years, half of the elected council is up for election. In 2011, the Mayor's post and two City Council seats will be up for election.Unlike the county, state and national elections, where voting is done by Precinct
Precinct
A precinct is a space enclosed by the walls or other boundaries of a particular place or building, or by an arbitrary and imaginary line drawn around it. The term has several different uses...
, all city elections take place at City Hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
.
Crime
| Population | Violent crime | Murder and non-negligent man-slaughter | Forcible rape | Robbery | Aggravated assault | Property crime | Burglary | Larceny-theft | Motor vehicle theft | Arson |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Major highways
U.S. Route 78U.S. Route 78U.S. Highway 78 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 715 miles from Memphis, Tennessee, to Charleston, South Carolina. Between Memphis and Birmingham, Alabama, it is being upgraded to become Interstate 22....
State Route 84
State Route 124- Ronald Reagan ParkwayRonald Reagan ParkwayRonald Reagan Parkway is a limited-access highway in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The highway was spearheaded by then-Gwinnett County chairman Wayne Mason in the mid-1990s.-Route description:...
Arterial roads
- Henry Clower Boulevard*
- Lenora Church Road*
- Oak Road
- North Road
- Pinehurst Road
- Wisteria Drive
(*)Denotes Four-Lane Roads
l
Minor arterial roads
- Dogwood Road
- Pate Road / Springdale Drive
- Pharr Road
- Ridgedale Drive / Janmar Road
- Rockdale Circle
- Skyland Drive
- Tree Lane
Public transportation
Route 418 of the Xpress bus service, a joint venture between Gwinnett County TransitGwinnett County Transit
Gwinnett County Transit or GCT is the bus public transit system in Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA, one of metro Atlanta's three most populous suburban counties...
and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
The Georgia Regional Transportation Authority or GRTA is a government agency in the U.S. state of Georgia...
(GRTA) provides commuter bus service to downtown Atlanta from Snellville in the morning, and vice versa in the afternoon. Seven departure times are available in the morning and seven in the afternoon, Monday-Friday, via Stone Mountain Freeway (U.S. 78) to I-285 and I-20. The morning westbound route terminates at the Civic Center
Civic Center (MARTA station)
Civic Center is an elevated metro station on the Red and Gold lines of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority rail system. It is located in the SoNo district of Atlanta...
MARTA
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority or MARTA is the principal rapid-transit system in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the ninth-largest in the United States. Formed in 1971 as strictly a bus system, MARTA operates a network of bus routes linked to a rapid transit system consisting...
Station. The afternoon eastbound route terminates at the First Baptist Church of Snellville with a stop at the Hewatt Road Park&Ride.
History
Buses first ran on the morning of April 2, 2007. In that first month, the route had a total of 1,783 riders. In May, there was a 40% increase to 2,520. On many mornings, the bus is standing room only
Standing room only
An event is described as standing room only when it is so well-attended that all of the chairs in the venue are occupied, leaving only flat spaces of pavement or flooring for other attendees to stand. Some venues issue standing-room-only tickets for a reduced cost since it can become very...
. On August 21, 2007, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with GRTA to add five new Motor Coach Industries
Motor Coach Industries
Motor Coach Industries International Inc. is an American bus manufacturer based in Schaumburg, Illinois, and is a leading participant in the North American coach bus industry. It has various operating subsidiaries:...
D4500CL buses to the route.
Park & Ride lots
- First Baptist Church of Snellville – (2400 Main St E)
- Hewatt Road at Oakland Park Blvd.
Medical centers
Snellville has one major hospital, EMORY Eastside Medical Center which serves the southern Gwinnett County Region Several suburbs competed for this prestigious Emory owned facility with Snellville winning the competition. It is widely recognized as one of the very best hospitals in the metro-Atlanta area.Newspapers
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Major Regional Paper)
- Gwinnett Daily Post
- The Snellville Citizen
- Snellville Community News
Geography
Snellville is located at 33°51′30"N 84°0′23"W (33.858439, −84.006324).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 9.7 square miles (25.1 km²), of which, 9.7 square miles (25.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.
Climate
Snellville has a humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
according to the Köppen classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
, with generally hot, humid summers and mild winters by the standards of most of the U.S.
Compared to most large cities around the world at approximately the same latitude (33°39'), such as Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon; Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, Morocco; Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona, Snellville has lower average winter temperatures. The primary reason for this is that the North American continent
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
extends into high latitudes that allows systems to form and move eastward and southward without obstruction by major mountain ranges. Other factors include Snellville's distance from large bodies of water; its higher elevation, which can lead to rapid weather changes; prevailing wind patterns; and extensive tree cover, which reduces the urban heat island
Urban heat island
An urban heat island is a metropolitan area which is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas. The phenomenon was first investigated and described by Luke Howard in the 1810s, although he was not the one to name the phenomenon. The temperature difference usually is larger at night...
effect (an advantage during summer).
In the winter, weather systems sweeping south from Canada, through the Midwest, bring temperatures that can reach below 25 °Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit is the temperature scale proposed in 1724 by, and named after, the German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit . Within this scale, the freezing of water into ice is defined at 32 degrees, while the boiling point of water is defined to be 212 degrees...
(−3.9 °Celsius) a few times a year. The lowest temperature recorded in the city is −9 °F (−22 °C), reached on February 13, 1899. It also reached -7 °F twice and -8 °F once in Atlanta in the 1980s and 1990s. An average year sees frost on 48 days; snowfall, which occurs most years, averages 2 inches (5 centimeters) annually. The greatest single accumulation of snow was 10 inches (25 centimeters), on January 23, 1940. A more prominent issue in winter are the frequent ice storm
Ice storm
An ice storm is a type of winter storm characterized by freezing rain, also known as a glaze event or in some parts of the United States as a silver thaw. The U.S. National Weather Service defines an ice storm as a storm which results in the accumulation of at least of ice on exposed surfaces...
s that can cause more problems than snow; the most severe such storm may have occurred on January 7, 1973. Also during winter, warm air sometimes flows from the Gulf of Mexico, raising temperatures as high as 75 °F (24 °C).
Though summers are humid, actual temperatures are lower than they may feel, with afternoon highs peaking at about 90 °F (32 °C) in late July. Temperatures rarely reach 100 °F (38 °C), which, during the last 30 years, was recorded in 1980, 1983, 1986, 1993, 1995, 2000, and 2007. The highest temperature recorded in the city is 105 °F (40.6 °C), reached on July 13 and July 17, 1980.
Like the rest of the Southeastern U.S., Atlanta experiences abundant rainfall, which is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year. Average annual rainfall is 50.5 inches (127 centimeters); the only other major U.S. cities with greater rainfall are Miami, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high °F (°C) | 52 (11) | 57 (14) | 65 (18) | 73 (23) | 80 (27) | 87 (31) | 89 (32) | 88 (31) | 82 (28) | 73 (23) | 63 (17) | 55 (13) | 72 (22) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 34 (1) | 37 (3) | 45 (7) | 50 (10) | 59 (15) | 66 (19) | 72 (22) | 70 (21) | 64 (18) | 54 (12) | 45 (7) | 36 (2) | 52 (11) |
| Average rainfall: inches (millimeters) | 5.03 (127.8) | 4.68 (118.9) | 5.38 (136.7) | 3.62 (91.9) | 3.95 (100.3) | 3.63 (92.2) | 5.12 (130.0) | 3.63 (92.2) | 4.09 (103.9) | 3.11 (79.0) | 4.10 (104.1) | 3.82 (97.0) | 50.16 (1274) |
Thomas W. Briscoe Park
T.W. Briscoe Park currently consists of 87 developed acres (100 total acres), just south of the city center on Lenora Church RoadThe park hosts numerous activities for Youth and Seniors including Summer Camp, Swim Lessons, Soccer and Senior Trips.
Amenities
Pate Lake fitness trail.- 8 lighted hard court tennis courts
- 8 soccer fields
- sand volleyball court
- swimming pool
- numerous outdoor basketball courts
- two playgrounds
- large picnic area
- many open-air and closed-in pavilions available for group use.
- 2 baseball fields
Lenora Park and Disc Golf Course
Lenora Park and Disc Golf Course encompasses 112 acre (0.45324832 km²) of land on Lenora Church Road.Amenities
- large disc golf course paved trail
- water park with two slides, a lazy river, and children's area
- gymnasium
- fishing lake
- playgrounds
- baseball / softball fields
- dog park
- football stadium
Demographics
As of 2010 Snellville had a population of 18,242. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 82.0% white, 9.0% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.5% Asian Indian, 1.8% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from some other race and 2.6% reporting two or more races. 7.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.As of the census of 2000, there were 15,351 people, 5,256 households, and 4,315 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,589.1 people per square mile (613.6/km²). There were 5,391 housing units at an average density of 558.1 per square mile (215.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.64% White, 5.39% African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.09% of the population.
There were 5,256 households out of which 38.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.3% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.9% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $89,715, and the median income for a family was $96,077. Males had a median income of $82,861 versus $51,972 for females. The per capita income for the city was $75,992. About 2.1% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Snellville Days Festival
The Snellville Days Festival is a two day event held annually that draws crowds from all over the Southeast. The annual celebration is touted as one of the top 20 tourism events in May according to the Southeastern Tourism Society, but still holds that small town flavor.Performing arts
The New London Theater group and the Gwinnett Ballet TheatreGwinnett Ballet Theatre
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre is a ballet company in Snellville, Gwinnett County, Georgia . The artistic director is Lisa Sheppard Robson, and the music director and conductor is Predrag Gosta...
company both have their roots and studios in Snellville
Libraries
The city is served by the Gwinnett County Public LibraryGwinnett County Public Library
The Gwinnett County Public Library is located in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA, north-east of Atlanta. In FY2004 the public library system circulated over 6 million items to almost 200,000 registered borrowers.- History :...
System with the Elizabeth H. Williams Branch located on Lenora Church Road just north of T. W. Briscoe Park.
Famous Snellvillians
- Ben BledsoeBen BledsoeBenjamin Frederick "Ben" Bledsoe is an American pop singer formerly of the boy band Natural. He is currently a solo singer and actor living in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...
– Musician - Bobby ByrdBobby ByrdBobby Byrd born Robert Howard Byrd was an American funk/soul/R&B/gospel musician, songwriter and record producer. He was born in Toccoa, Georgia, and is a 1998 winner of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's prestigious Pioneer Award...
– Musician. Wrote "sex machine", sung by James Brown - Clay CookClay CookDouglas "Clay" Cook is a songwriter, producer and musician who co-wrote several songs with Grammy-winner John Mayer including "No Such Thing", "Comfortable", and "Neon"...
– Singer/Songwriter. Writer of songs for John MayerJohn MayerJohn Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
. - Diana DeGarmoDiana DeGarmoDiana Nicole DeGarmo is an American singer and Broadway actress. She finished as the runner-up on the third season of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol, narrowly missing the win by about 2% out of over 65 million votes...
– 2004 American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Runner-Up - Darla Dixon – Portrait artist, illustrator
- Jason ElamJason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
– Former Football Player, Kicker, Atlanta FalconsAtlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... - David Greene – Football Player, Quarterback, New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
- David Howell – Co-host of "The Howell & Howell Show" (People TV)
- Matt Lindahl – 2004 Nashville StarNashville StarNashville Star is an American reality television program. It was transmitted during mid-2008 on NBC, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television. In Canada, the show aired on CMT...
Contestant - Andrew Leanza – 2004 Nashville StarNashville StarNashville Star is an American reality television program. It was transmitted during mid-2008 on NBC, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television. In Canada, the show aired on CMT...
Georgia Semi-finalist - David PollackDavid Pollack-Injury:In the Bengals' September 17, 2006 game against in-state rival Cleveland Browns, Pollack suffered what was later determined to be a broken sixth cervical vertebrae on a first quarter tackle on running back Reuben Droughns. He reportedly suffered no paralysis, but was taken off the field on...
– Football Player, Defensive End, Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... - Sound Tribe Sector 9Sound Tribe Sector 9Sound Tribe Sector 9 is an instrumental band known for their live performances. The band’s genre-blending sound is based heavily on instrumental rock and electronic music crossed with elements of funk, jazz, drum and bass, psychedelia, and hip hop...
– 5 piece band now located in the Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay AreaThe San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
of California - Mike Mercer – Basketball Player, Guard, University of South FloridaUniversity of South FloridaThe University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
- Rich "Sully" Sullivan – Afternoon DJ on WZGC in Atlanta, GA
- Eric ShanteauEric ShanteauEric Lee Shanteau is an American Olympic swimmer. He lives and trains in Austin, Texas.-College:...
– Member, USA Swim Team, 2008 Olympics - Amy RobachAmy RobachAmy Joanne Robach is a national correspondent for NBC's Today, as well as the co-anchor of their Saturday edition.-Biography:...
– Co-host, Today Show - Amanda WeirAmanda WeirAmanda Weir is an American swimmer.At the 2004 Summer Olympics, Weir swam the third leg in the US team for the Women's 4×100 m freestyle relay. Leading after her leg of the relay, the US team finished second to the Australians, setting an American Record with their finishing time...
– Swimmer, Olympic Medalist, 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team... - Louis WilliamsLouis WilliamsLouis "Lou" Tyrone Williams is an American professional basketball player with the Philadelphia 76ers, who selected him with the 45th pick of the 2005 NBA Draft...
– Basketball Player, Guard, Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA... - Rennie CurranRennie CurranRennie Curran is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He played college football at the University of Georgia. Curran was considered one of the top weakside linebackers of his class, and has been called "the most dominant defensive player in the game" by The Sporting News...
– Football player, Safety, Tennessee TitansTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... - Heather DeloachHeather DeLoachHeather DeLoach is an American actress. She is best known for her portrayal of the tap dancing "Bee Girl" in the 1992 music video for the hit single "No Rain", by Blind Melon...
– Inventor of Thug Scout Cookies
Snellville in popular culture
- In the 2004 season of American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, Local Resident Diana DeGarmoDiana DeGarmoDiana Nicole DeGarmo is an American singer and Broadway actress. She finished as the runner-up on the third season of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol, narrowly missing the win by about 2% out of over 65 million votes...
"put Snellville on the map" with her advancement to the finals of the widely popular TV singing contest.
- In 2006, two residents created the locally popular video Lazy Snellville in response to Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
's Lazy SundayLazy Sunday"Lazy Sunday" is a song and short video by American comedy troupe The Lonely Island, released on December 17, 2005, broadcast on Saturday Night Live as the second Digital Short...
skit.
- In the Broadway Jr. play Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka Jr.Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka (play)Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka is a musical play that combined elements of both Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and of the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory with newly created material. The play has two versions: a version for a small group of adult actors and a...
, Violet Beauregarde and her mother hail from Snellville.
- Record setting football player Jason ElamJason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
is from Snellville
- Adult Film Star Jada Stevens is from Snellville
Public schools
The Following Schools are part of the Gwinnett County Public SchoolsGwinnett County Public Schools
Gwinnett County Public Schools is a school district operating in Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA. GCPS is the largest school system in Georgia, with 123 schools and an estimated enrollment of 161,000 students for the 2010-2011 year. GCPS is estimated to be the 14th largest school district in the...
that serve the Snellville Area
- Brookwood High SchoolBrookwood High School (Snellville, Georgia)Brookwood High School is an American public secondary school in Snellville, Georgia with a student body of over 3,500. Brookwood serves several areas of Gwinnett County, Georgia, including Lawrenceville and Lilburn.-Layout:...
- Alton C. Crews Middle SchoolAlton C. Crews Middle SchoolAlton C. Crews Middle School is a middle school in the Brookwood Cluster of Gwinnett County, Georgia. Dr. Vince Botta is the school principal.Founded in 1996, the school is named after Dr. Alton C. Crews , a 13-year former superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools .With student population...
- Brookwood Elementary School
- Craig Elementary School
- Five Forks Middle School
- Gwinn Oaks Elementary School
- R. D. Head Elementary School
- Alton C. Crews Middle School
- Grayson High SchoolGrayson High SchoolGrayson High School is located on the edge of Loganville, Georgia and Grayson, Georgia, and has a population of over 3,000 students. Grayson High School pulls from many areas of southern Gwinnett County, mainly Grayson, Lawrenceville,and Loganville....
- J. P. McConnell Middle School
- W. J. Cooper Elementary School
- Pharr Elementary School
- Bay Creek Middle School
- Grayson Elementary
- Trip Elementary
- J. P. McConnell Middle School
- Shiloh High SchoolShiloh High SchoolShiloh High School is a public high school located in Snellville, Georgia in southern Gwinnett County. The school is part of the Gwinnett County Public Schools system and opened in 1984...
- Shiloh Middle School
- Annistown Elementary School
- Centerville Elementary School
- Shiloh Elementary School
- Henry Partee Elementary School
- Shiloh Middle School
- South Gwinnett High SchoolSouth Gwinnett High SchoolSouth Gwinnett High School is a public high school in the United States for students in grades 9–12. The school is located in Snellville, Georgia and is part of the Gwinnett County Public Schools system, one of the 15 largest public school systems in the country...
- Snellville Middle School
- W. C. Britt Elementary School
- R. L. Norton Elementary School
- Grace Snell Middle School
- J.C. Magill Elementary School
- Rosebud Elementary School
- Snellville Middle School
Private schools
- Evergreen Montessori School
- Gwinnett Christian Academy Grades K5-12
- Harbour Oaks Montessori School Grades K2-12
Public libraries
Gwinnett County Public LibraryGwinnett County Public Library
The Gwinnett County Public Library is located in unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA, north-east of Atlanta. In FY2004 the public library system circulated over 6 million items to almost 200,000 registered borrowers.- History :...
operates the Elizabeth H. Williams Branch in Snellville.
External links
- City of Snellville
- Evermore Community Improvement District
- My Snellville Blog
- Snellville Downtown Development Authority
- Snellville News and Opinion
- The Snellville Days Festival
- Georgia.gov Information on Snellville
- Official site of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
- Official site of Partnerhship Gwinnett
- Current Conditions for the Snellville area