Norcorss

The City of Norcross is Gwinnett County’s second oldest city and has played many roles in local history and development. It was founded as a resort town for wealthy Atlantan’s by J. J. Thrasher, who named the city for his good friend Jonathan Norcross, a former Mayor of Atlanta.

Norcross has the distinction of being the only location in Gwinnett County to have a district listed in the U.S. Register of Historic Places. The district comprises 112 acres and is located along South Peachtree Street, North Peachtree Street, and Lawrenceville Street including the downtown area. To enhance the Historic District and character it provides the city, City Council dedicated about $250,000 of Hotel/Motel tax to the renovation of the downtown area in 1987.

Turn-of-the-century street lighting now welcomes visitors and residents alike to beautiful shade-tree lined brick sidewalks throughout the downtown area. Downtown is currently undergoing a second round of revitalization through the Norcross Livable Centers Initiative Town Center Study, which the Downtown Development Authority has been charged with implementing in addition to other projects that will enhance downtown.

All sections of the city are connected to the downtown core by a network of sidewalks. At any time of the day, you will find walkers and joggers, mothers and fathers strolling with their small children, and even older citizens utilizing this community asset. The sidewalk network leads to or through our parks: Thrasher, Rossie Brundage, Lions Club, and Betty Mauldin. These amenities lend a restful, unique flavor to the city by providing a relaxed atmosphere for family and community outings.

Norcross feels very positive about its future. Many times, we hear the expression that Norcross is “an island in the midst of intense commercial development”. That expression aptly describes Norcross; it is indeed a quiet, green, primarily residential area, in the midst of high quality high tech industry. Its future is driven by its vision

Incorporated: October 26, 1870
Total Area: 4.2 Square miles