FROM THE NORTH GEORGIA MOUNTAINS to the Chattahoochee River along a Cherokee Indian trail, a tiny village named New Prospect Camp Ground was formed. This village, made up of tents, a log school, and arbor became a trading post where Indians and white settlers exchanged their goods. On December 11, 1858, the town was chartered and became the county seat of Milton County. The town was renamed Alpharetta from the Greek words "alpha" meaning first and "retta" meaning town.
Alpharetta City Center is a vibrant and exciting new destination under development for unique dining, shopping, entertainment and residential experiences, all located in the heart of Downtown Alpharetta.
North Point Mall, just off GA 400, is the area's newest mall with over 1.3 million square feet inside and many retail and dining spots along North Point Parkway. Two movie theatre complexes and an ice and roller skating facility provide entertainment options near the Mall.
THE ALPHARETTA RECREATION & PARKS DEPARTMENT provides a variety of special events throughout the year. Special events typically held include Children’s Easter Egg Hunt, Touch-A-Truck, Friday Night Dive-In , 4th of July Fireworks, Old Soldier’s Day Race and Pool Party. Autumn events include Halloween Hayrides and Haunts, Decorate a Pumpkin, and Fall Student & Staff Art Show. Events held in the winter season are Cookies with the Clauses, Breakfast with Santa, and Father/Daughter Valentine Dance.
Alpharetta is home to WILLS PARK EQUESTRIAN CENTER. Located on 50 rolling acres of fields and woods. There are eight barns with covered aisle ways, nestled in amongst the trees with a total of 298 stalls. The covered ring is 150 by 350 feet housing its own show office, announcers booth, viewing room, raised bleacher seating and picnic area. There are two uncovered rings with all weather footing, each measuring 125 by 225 feet. They share a show office and announcer's tower, which also offers a meeting room for civic clubs and other organizations. Wills Park Equestrian Center offers ample paved parking areas with camper hook-ups for thirty campers. Wills Park Equestrian Center hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year, local horse shows and dog agility trials, Bull Riding, Rodeo, Symphony, and Arena Polo are some of the special events held during the year. The Equestrian Center is also the site of many corporate outings.
Alpharetta is served by 15 elementary schools, seven middle schools, and four high schools, as well as a number of private facilities.
Its public schools consistently win awards and recognition for the high quality of education they provide: both high schools were named among the top 13 in the state of Georgia, and one was recently named a state School of Excellence.
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
