Originally named New Prospect Camp Ground, the village was made up of tents, a log school and became a trading post for Indians and white settlers to trade their goods. The area offered excellent farming, especially for cotton. Prior to December 11, 1858, the city was known as "Town of Milton". In 1932, Milton County merged with Fulton County. In 1858, the city was chartered and became the seat of Milton County, and was renamed Alpharetta from the Greek words "alpha" meaning first and "retta" meaning town. It is also believed the city's name was the variation of a fictional Indian girl by the name of Alfarata in a 19th century song entitled "The Blue Juniata". Alpharetta is located in North Fulton County, approximately 23 miles north of Atlanta.
By the time of the Civil War, Alpharetta had grown into a good size town. In 1863, an epidemic of smallpox spread through town. Guards were hired to keep people from leaving their quarantine quarters, at the fear of further spreading the disease. At the end of the Civil War, Alpharetta and the rest of the South experienced a period of economic hardship, which drew people and communities closer together. Alpharetta did not experience the same hardship as many other local areas that were greatly affected by the collapse of the Plantation economy. During the depression of the early 1930's, Milton County found itself near bankruptcy. In order to save the area from disaster, the merger with Fulton County was formed.
Today, Alpharetta is considered a city of excellence and one of the fastest growing communities in the South. Its environment is considered ideal for raising a family and it offers a wonderful quality of lifestyle. Alpharetta real estate is much sought after property, ranging from the $200's to well over the $4 million mark. There is a large selection of Elegant Homes in the upper price ranges, gated communities and the like.
The Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center is located in Alpharetta. This 46-acre forest has an abundance of animal life, a scenic creek, and walking trails. The Environmental Education Center is located in Alpharetta and operates as a Community Service Center providing information on environmental topics and features a library with hundreds of valuable resource materials. Alpharetta is also home to the DeVry Institute of Technology campus, as well as the Georgia State University campus.
