Cumming is a city in Forsyth County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,220 at the 2000 census. Census Estimates of 2005 indicate a population of 5,802. However, unincorporated areas of Forsyth County have a population of around 100,000. The city is the county seat of Forsyth County[4].
History
1830 map of Cherokee territory.
The area now called Cumming is located west of Hall County around the area of Vann's Crossing
Early History
The area now called Cumming was first inhabited by Creek and Cherokee tribes. In 1755, the Cherokee and Creek people developed disputes over hunting land. After two years of fighting, the Cherokee won the land in the Battle of Taliwa. The Creek people were forced to move south of the Chattahoochee River.[5][6]
1834 map of counties created from Cherokee land. Cumming is shown in the middle of Forsyth County
The Cherokee coexisted with the settlers until the discovery of gold in Georgia in 1828. Settlers that moved to the area to mine for gold pushed for the removal of the Cherokee. Finally in 1835, the Treaty of New Echota was signed. The treaty stated that the Cherokee Nation must move to the Indian Territory. This resulted in the Trail of Tears. The Cherokee territory was then formed into Cherokee County in 1831. In 1832, the county was then split into several counties including Forsyth County.[7]
Creation of Cumming
The city of Cumming was formed in 1833 after two Forsyth County officials bought two 40-acre lots from the Cherokee Land Lottery. The two officials divided the lots into smaller lots and selling them, reserving one for the county courthouse. In January 1834, a post office was built. This prompted the Georgia State Legislature to incorporate the town into the City of Cumming; it also became the county seat of Forsyth County. The town was named after William Cumming, an Augusta native who commanded the Northern Army in the War of 1812.[5][6]
Modern History
During the 1830s and 1840s, Cumming benefited from the gold mining industry as many business were created to meet the needs of the miners. However, the California Gold Rush in 1849 put the city into an economic depression. Newly-built railroads bypassed the city and took traffic from the Federal Road that ran near Cumming. The city was spared during the Civil War because William T. Sherman did not pass through the city during his March to the Sea. In 1900, the county courthouse was destroyed in a fire and rebuilt in 1905.[5][6]
In 1912, Georgia governor, Joseph M. Brown, sent four companies of state militia to Cumming to prevent riots after several rapes of young white women by African-American men.
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Ellen Grice was assaulted on Wednesday, September 4, 1912.Tony Howell was charged with "Assault with intent to Rape" (Book 4 p. 391). After several adjournments, the case was "nol prossed". Howell continued to live in Forsyth County until the 1940's, when according to a neighbor he moved to Alpharetta, GA to reside with his daughter.
Mae Crow was assaulted on Sunday, September 08, 1912. She died Monday, September 23, 1912. Rob Edwards was indicted for the rape of Mae Crow. On Tuesday September 10th, 1912 Edwards was shot, drug from the Cumming, GA jail and hung up on the telephone pole at the intersection of Main Street and Tribble Gap Road (the northwest corner of the Square). The coroner's inquest held Wednesday, September 18, 1912 found the cause of death to be a gun shot.[8]
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—Donna Parrish, Shadow of 1912
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The governor then declared martial law, but the effort did little to stop a month-long barrage of attacks by night riders on the African-American citizens. This led to a diaspora of African-Americans, and the city had virtually no black population.[9]
Racial tensions were strained even more in 1987. A civil rights demonstration was held through the streets of Cumming to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Meanwhile, a Ku Klux Klan chapter started a counter-demonstration that threw stones and bottles at the civil rights activists. This garnered nationwide attention during the following week. As many as 20,000 people formed a second march. Civil rights leader, Hosea Williams, and former senator, Gary Hart, were in the demonstration. A group of the National Guard kept the opposition of about 1,000 in check. Oprah Winfrey featured the Cumming and Forsyth County on her show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. She formed a town hall meeting where one audience member said this:
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I'm afraid of [blacks] coming to Forsyth County," he said to Oprah at the meeting. "I was born in Atlanta, and in 1963, the first blacks were bussed to West Fulton High School. I go down there now and I see my neighborhood and my community, which was a nice community, and now it's nothing but a rat-infested slum area because they don't care.[10] |
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Buford Dam, impounding Lake Lanier on the Chattahoochee River near Cumming
However, it was found the most of the audience members agreed that Forsyth County should integrate. Later in an interview[11], she says that she later regrets going to Forsyth County.
Today, the city is experiencing new growth. The completion of Georgia 400 has helped turn Cumming into a commuter town for Atlanta. The city holds the Cumming Country Fair & Festival every October. The Sawnee Mountain Preserve also provides views of the city from the top of Sawnee Mountain.[5] In 1956, Buford Dam, along the Chattahoochee River, started operating. The reservoir that it created is called Lake Lanier.[6] The lake, being a popular spot for boaters, has generated income from tourists for Cumming as well as provide a source of drinking water. However, because of rapid growth of the Atlanta area, drought, and mishandling of a stream gauge, Lake Lanier has seen record-low water levels. Moreover, the lake is involved in a longstanding lawsuit between Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. Because of a recent ruling, the city may not be able to withdraw its water.[12] However, the city is looking into different sources of water such as wells and various creeks.[13]
Geography
Cumming is located at 34°12′30″N 84°8′15″W / 34.20833°N 84.1375°W / 34.20833; -84.1375 (34.208464, -84.137575)[14].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²), of which, 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.34%) is water.
Demographics
| Historical populations |
| Census |
Pop. |
|
%± |
| 1960 |
1,561 |
|
—
|
| 1970 |
2,031 |
|
30.1% |
| 1980 |
2,094 |
|
3.1% |
| 1990 |
2,828 |
|
35.1% |
| 2000 |
4,220 |
|
49.2% |
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 4,220 people, 1,427 households, and 960 families residing in the city. The population density was 717.1 people per square mile (276.6/km²). There were 1,507 housing units at an average density of 256.1/sq mi (98.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.48% White, 2.01% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 5.69% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.68% of the population.
There were 1,417 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,237, and the median income for a family was $47,270. Males had a median income of $27,201 versus $29,115 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,445. About 10.7% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 27.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Cumming is served by Forsyth County Schools
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
- Liberty Middle (North Forsyth)
- Little Mill Middle (North Forsyth)
- North Forsyth Middle (North Forsyth)
- Otwell Middle (Forsyth Central)
- Piney Grove (South Forsyth)
- South Forsyth Middle (South Forsyth)
- Vickery Creek Middle (West Forsyth)
- Riverwatch Middle (South Forsyth)
High Schools
Charter Schools
Alternative Schools
Personalities
July 4, 2002 Parade with Mayor Gravitt and City Council
References
External links
