Sandy Springs

History of Sandy Springs

Few people know that it was actually fresh drinking water that initially attracted people to Sandy Springs. In 1821, settlers began moving to the area, and prominent landowners like the Spruill family began building homes, churches, and other structures. The oldest home still standing today dates back to 1842, the Austin-Johnson house on Johnson Ferry Road.

After World War II, more residents began building in the largely rural area, but true development did not begin until the late 1950s and 1960s when the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 led to the building of Interstate 285 and Georgia 400. Throughout those years, the Atlanta government continuously attempted to annex Sandy Springs into the city but failed. By the 1970s, residents of Sandy Springs began fighting to incorporate it as its own city. It took many years, but in 2005, residents received the opportunity to vote and voted in favor of the incorporation by a whopping 94 percent. Later that year, Sandy Springs became one of Metro Atlanta’s largest cities, as well as one of the largest cities in the state of Georgia.

Quick Facts

• Population: 99,800
• Public school students in Sandy Springs will attend schools in the Fulton County School System.
• There are several private schools in Sandy Springs, including Brandon Hall School, Springmont, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, Mount Vernon Presbyterian School, St. Jude the Apostle Catholic School, The Alfred and Adele David Academy, The Doris & Alex Weber School, the Epstein School, Cumberland Academy, and Holy Spirit Preparatory School.
• com named Sandy Springs as the 9th-most affluent place in the United States.
• Each year, Sandy Springs host several festivals, such as The Sandy Springs Festival, Sandy Springs Artapalooza, the Chattahoochee River Summer Splash, and Stars and Stripes Celebration on July 4th.
• The city is home to 16 parks and green spaces on over 950 acres.
• Governments from all over the world visit Sandy Springs regularly to learn more about the way it operates. It is one of, if not the only American city that uses the private sector for most of its services.
• The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System runs a Sandy Springs branch on Mount Vernon Highway.
• Sandy Springs is home to three top hospitals, including Northside Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
• While the city’s medical facilities provide a bulk of the area’s employment, several other large companies make up the city’s top employers, including some Fortune 500 companies. The top employers in Sandy Springs are IBM, Cox Enterprises, UPS, Cisco, Manheim Auctions, AirWatch, Oracle, and AT&T Mobility.
• The TV shows Auction Kings, Say Yes to the Dress, and The Vampire Diaries film in Sandy Springs.

Demographics

• The cost of living in Sandy Springs is around $100,000.
• The city has an unemployment rate at around 5 percent, which is lower than that of both the state and country.
• The median age is 40.
• The median income is just under $97,000, and the average household is worth over $849,000.
• Around 43 percent of residents are married and just over 46 percent have children.
• The crime rate is much lower than the national average, as well as being lower than the rest of Fulton County.

Local Attractions

Because Sandy Springs is so business-minded, many people assume there is not much to do here to have fun. They could not be more wrong. The city is home to some of Metro Atlanta’s favorite restaurants and offers unlimited shopping opportunities. Its location along the Chattahoochee River, as well as its parks and green spaces, make it a nature lover’s dream. You can go tubing or kayaking, enjoy a picnic on the river’s shore, or just sit back and enjoy the natural beauty year-round. A nationally-recognized tennis center, a history museum, and a theater that is unlike anything else in the area round out the city’s attractions. Of course, Sandy Springs is just minute from hundreds of other shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations in Dunwoody, Roswell, and Atlanta.

Dining

• Nori Nori – Of all the restaurants in Sandy Springs, Nori Nori is, without a doubt, one of the locals’ favorites. The Japanese buffet offers a vast selection of sushi, seafood, and traditional Japanese dishes that have a reputation throughout the Atlanta area. With locations in both Georgia and New York, the Wall Street Journal once wrote a rave review of the eatery, declaring “The Buffet Goes Gourmet.”
• Egg Harbor Café – One of three locations in Georgia, the Sandy Springs Egg Harbor Café has a reputation for good food and good service offered in an inviting atmosphere. Visit the cozy eatery for breakfast, lunch, or brunch and dine on specialties like signature egg dishes, sandwiches, pancakes, soups, salads, and frittatas.
• 5 Seasons Brewing – 5 Seasons is so good that just one location would not do. The Sandy Springs branch is one of three in the Atlanta area. The restaurant likes to support the community, and that includes using local ingredients in its delicious little plates, grilled pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, and other entrees. Of course, the food is not the only thing on the menu. 5 Seasons offers an extensive selection of wine, beer, whiskey, and scotch.
• Hearth Pizza Tavern – When Sandy Springs wants pizza, its residents skip the chains and head straight to Hearth Pizza Tavern. It is definitely not your average pizza parlor. On the menu, you will find unique combinations and a blend of flavors unlike anything else in the area. You can also build your own pizza or try a sandwich, salad, or burger.
• Hammocks Trading Company – Sandy Springs is just a few hours from the beach, but when you are longing for fresh seafood in a casual beach-style atmosphere and do not have time for a getaway, Hammocks Trading Company might just be the next best thing. Its grouper sandwich was voted the best in Atlanta, but that is just one of many items on the extensive menu. The restaurant’s patio is a favorite spot for Sandy Springs residents to gather with friends.

Transportation

• Airports – Sandy Springs is a little over 25 miles from Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is considered to the busiest airport in the world.
• Public Transportation – Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) provides bus and rail service to Sandy Springs via three stations: Medical Center, North Springs, and Sandy Springs. Since the city is a gateway into the northern suburbs, the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority also provides bus service from the North Springs MARTA station up Georgia 400 to various other cities and counties.
• Major Roads and Highways – Georgia 400 and Intestate 285 are the two largest highways that run through Sandy Springs. Other major roads include Roswell Road, Abernathy Road, Glenridge Drive, Dunwoody Club Drive, Johnson Ferry Road, Spalding Drive, and Hammond Drive.

Shopping

• CityWalk – On Hammond Drive, you will find CityWalk, one of the top shopping destinations in Sandy Springs. Stores here include Kroger, Crazy Baby Clothing, The UPS Store, Games Workshop Hobby Center, Jody’s 5th Avenue, and Fab’rik. There are also many restaurants.
• The Prado – The Prado on Roswell Road is one of Sandy Springs’s favorite shopping destinations. Stores there include Publix and Target, as well as many smaller shops and businesses. There are also a number of restaurants and fast food eateries here.
• Johnson Ferry at Roswell Road – At the intersection of Roswell and Johnson Ferry Roads, you will find several shopping centers, including Sandy Springs Plaza, Hammond Square, and Cromwell Square. These centers are home to stores like Trader Joe’s, FedEx, CVS, Party City, Pier 1, Aldi, and Hancock Fabrics. Mixed among these big-name stores are several restaurants and locally-owned boutiques.

Entertainment, Nightlife & Things To Do

• Heritage Sandy Springs – Heritage Sandy Springs is part history museum, part gathering spot for community events, and part beautiful green space. It boasts natural springs and gardens throughout and often hosts concerts, festivals, and sporting events. The museum is located in an 1869 farmhouse.
• Lefont Sandy Springs Theater – If you hate going to the movies, you may change your mind when you visit Lefont Sandy Springs Theater. While you can still see some of the latest movies out of Hollywood, you will do so in an old-school neighborhood theater that may take you back to your childhood.
• Morgan Falls Overlook Park – Sandy Springs is home to several parks, including Morgan Falls Overlook. It features 30 acres of land along the Chattahoochee, as well as a boat dock, hiking trails, picnic pavilions, fire pits, swings, playgrounds, and more.
• Shoot the Hooch – Sandy Springs is home to over 20 miles of shoreline along the Chattahoochee River, and Shoot the Hooch allows locals to take advantage of that. Located nearby in Roswell, canoe, raft, kayak, and tubing rentals are available for a day of fun. You can also grab a hotdog, barbecue sandwich, and ice cream at the concession stand.
• Sandy Springs Tennis Center – The Sandy Springs Tennis Center is considered to be one of the finest public facilities in the United States, according to Tennis It features 24 lighted courts and attracts players from all over the Metro Atlanta area.

Real Estate Information

The Sandy Springs real estate market is strong and competitive, but there are so many housing options to choose from that almost anyone can feel at home here. Million-dollar estates flank the Chattahoochee River. However, in the northern part of the city, you can still find smaller starter homes in established mid-century neighborhoods and new swim and tennis subdivisions. New construction for all budgets is plentiful, as are lots where you can build the home of your dreams. You will also find a number of high-rise condos and townhomes that range from basic to high-end the closer you get to Atlanta.

Average Price of Homes

Sandy Springs is an affluent city, and the home prices in the area reflect that. The average home price as of the summer of 2015 is around $550,000, nearly three times the national average. Homes tend to fall between $200,000 and $3.5 million.