Overview
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Cumming is located in Forsyth county 40 miles north of Atlanta off of GA 400 highway, and 34 miles south of Dahlonega. There are roughly 5,000 people in the city with a median household income of $48,000. About 67% of the folks are families. It's a great place for quiet living that's close to Lake Lanier. The Creeks and Cherokees fought over this land until the Cherokees won, but then left due to settlers the infamous Trail of Tears.The town was named after William Cumming, an Augusta native who commanded the Northern Army in the War of 1812.
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Cumming is the perfect blend of hometown charm with a big city sophistication. It's centrally located, close to the Georgia mountains and very accessible to Atlanta and it's many attractions. Forsyth County Georgia is located 30 miles north of Atlanta in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains next to Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River. The county is in the northern Atlanta metro area. The real estate and housing values range all the way up to millions of dollars for luxury homes. Many new homes are around world class golf courses like Laurel Springs or 37,000 acre Lake Lanier extending twenty miles along the county's eastern border.
Cumming is about 40 miles from Atlanta and thus a long commute if you must be there each day. The city has a troubled past in terms of racial tensions after a diaspora of African Americans in 1912 due to attacks by night riders. This tradition continued even into the 1980's. Oprah Winfrey even had a show in the city in 1987 after Ku Klux Klan Members demonstrated in Cumming on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Twenty years later, the city seems to have moved on is a quite a nice little place that's clean with good schools. It's not the most diverse, but the old attitudes seemed to have drastically improved. You get good value for your money and Alpharetta isn't too far away for employment opportunities and shopping. However, it has a strangely higher crime rate than one would expect, mostly dealing with property and non-violent acts. The biggest draw is being close to Lake Lanier and the mountains. But it's a long drive if you like going to Atlanta with any frequency.
This neighborhood caters to couples and families. The people who live in this area tend to be pretty active. People are always out walking, biking, jogging. Cumming is a large golf and tennis community. This neighborhood is friendly to alternative lifestyles. Racial diversity is about average. Cumming caters to families that want to raise their kids in a family oriented environment. We have great schools, parks and sports programs.
There are plenty of upscale shops and restaurants within a 5 mile radius. Modavi is a bar/restaurant located near McGinnis Ferry off of 141 that markets themself as a club in Johns Creek with a Buckhead feel. I have actually been there and it does have a nice laid back, clubby atmosphere. Good to hang out and meet friends for a drink. The bar has a live band but I didn't listen to them so I cannot give you a critique on the quality or even the genre they played.
There are several bus routes but you need a car to get most places. There is an xpress bus, route 408, that travels to Emory Johns Creek off of McGinnis Ferry from Doraville.
Lake Lanier is only minutes away. There are county and city parks for outdoor recreation. The city has many sports programs. In downtown Cumming, there is a playhouse which offers a variety of plays.
Sharon Springs Park is located off of Sharon Springs Rd. and 141. It has a baseball field, play area and walking trail. If you are a walker, it will do in a pinch but it is not as nice as some of the other parks in the Atlanta area. Bogan park is one of the nicest parks in the area, unfortunately it is located in Buford, Ga. off of Hamilton Mill Rd.
The schools are very good in the South Forsyth area. Big Creek Elementary School has done a wonderful job teaching my children. Everyone is very family oriented in my area. Most moms stay at home and kids have a wide range of activities to choose from. It has a very small town feel with all the conveniences of a big city. I live near many good restaurants that are unique and not just the typical chains. For instance, some of the exceptional restaurants include: Cabernet, Modavi, Pearl Lian, Sushi Rosen, Ichiban, among others. The chains are well represented and include: Frontera, Macaroni Grill, Einstein Bagels, Applebees, Chili's, J. Christopher, Mellow Mushroom, etc. Can you tell I love to go out to eat?
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