Snellville GA

Snellville, GA at a Glance

James and Charles Sawyer and their friend Thomas Snell were just 17 when they arrived in the New World from England in 1874. Debarking in New York, the three adventurers tripped along the Eastern seaboard for a time, meeting and splitting up by turns. When James Sawyer crossed paths a final time with Thomas Snell, he found him living on a sparsely populated homestead near Stone Mountain, Georgia, then New London, and calling it Snellville.

The two friends went into business together, opening a supply store called Snell and Sawyer's. They issued paper money that customers could redeem for products. Though the partnership eventually fell apart, with Snell starting a store of his own, Sawyer continued to operate the original and opened the city's first post office in the back. So Snellville was begun by two 19th Century teenagers, and the city was officially chartered in 1923.

Today Snellville is more the 15,000 residents strong, and despite its tongue-in-cheek slogan that says "Everybody's Somebody in Snellville" it is quickly becoming an exciting city to live in Gwinnett County.

Snellville, GA at a Glance

Snellville is serviced by several elementary, middle and high schools in the South Gwinnett and Brookwood districts, with Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Gwinnett Technical College and the University of Athens easily accessible.

T.W. Briscoe Park is Snellville's most prominent venue for outdoor activity. It holds a 7-acre lake, playgrounds, trails, picnic areas, athletic fields and a pool. The park is also site to a number of recreational programs for youth and adults, including soccer, softball, flag football and a summer day camp, in addition to scattered community events.

New London Theatre is a rich resource for arts and culture located in Snellville. Eight performances are produced throughout the year and classes are open for enrollment in summer.

The Gwinnett Ballet at Fountain Square is the county's oldest performing arts organization. The school trains dancers for professional careers and offers top quality performances to the public including the annual "Nutcracker" ballet and a Spring Concert.

The Fall Festival, recently established through the Snellville Tourism and Trade Association, features local food, arts and crafts, a petting zoo and activities like face painting and hay wagon rides. It joins the Autumn on the Green Downtown Jazz Concert as a highlight seasonal celebration.

Snellville's largest and most anticipated event is the annual Snellville Days Festival, which is one of metropolitan Atlanta's foremost arts and crafts shows. More than 30 years running, the two-day festival draws over 200 vendors whose crafts are displayed in the company of clowns, floats, small rides, food booths, an activity center for kids and an hour-long parade. Live musical performances also take place and the activities are endless with a car show, 5Kroad race, Frisbee contest, and a Dog and Disc Competition among its past events.