View source for Fulton County, Georgia

{{Short description|County in Georgia, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Fulton County
 | state                = Georgia
 | type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | ex image             = Fulton County Courthouse, Atlanta, GA (47474766621).jpg
 | ex image cap         = Atlanta's Fulton County Courthouse in 2019
 | flag                 = Flag of Fulton County, Georgia.svg
 | flag size            = 
 | seal                 = 
 | logo                 = Fulton County, GA Logo.png
 | logo size            = 110px
 | founded year         = {{start date and age|1853}}
 | founded date         = December 20
 | seat wl              = Atlanta
 | largest city wl      = Atlanta
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 534
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 527
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.7
 | area percentage      = 1.4%
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 1066710
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 1090354 {{gain}}
 | population_density_sq_mi  = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | district             = 5th
 | district2            = 6th
 | website                  = {{URL|www.fultoncountyga.gov/|fultoncountyga.gov}}
 | named for            = [[Robert Fulton]]
}}

'''Fulton County''' is in the north-central portion of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 1,066,710,<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Population and Housing State Data |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html |access-date=August 12, 2021 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> making it the state's most populous county.<ref name="QG2">{{cite web |title=2020 County Metro Population Estimates |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates/2020-evaluation-estimates/2010s-counties-total.html |access-date=May 5, 2021 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] and most populous city is [[Atlanta]],<ref name="GR62">{{cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> the state capital. About 90% of the city of Atlanta is within Fulton County; the remaining portion is in [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]]. Fulton County is the principal county of the [[Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area|Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Roswell metropolitan statistical area]].

==History==
[[File:Bright Atlanta.jpg|thumb|[[Midtown Atlanta]] and the [[Downtown Connector]]]]
Fulton County was created in 1853 from the western half of [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]]. It was named in honor of [[Robert Fulton]], the man who created the first commercially successful steamboat in 1807.<ref>[https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/about-fulton-county#:~:text=Fulton%20County%20was%20formed%20from,the%20144th%20to%20be%20created. ''About Fulton County'']</ref>

After the [[American Civil War]], there was considerable violence against [[freedmen]] in the county. During the post-Reconstruction period, violence and the number of [[Lynching in the United States|lynchings]] of blacks increased in the late 19th century, as whites exercised terrorism to re-establish and maintain [[white supremacy]]. Whites [[Lynchings in the United States|lynched]] 35 African Americans here from 1877 to 1950; according to the Georgia Lynching Project, 24 were killed in 1906. This was the highest total in the state.<ref>[https://eji.org/sites/default/files/lynching-in-america-third-edition-supplement-by-county.pdf ''Lynching in America''/ Supplement: Lynchings by County]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, 3rd Edition, 2015, p. 4</ref> With a total of 589, Georgia was second to Mississippi in its total number of lynchings in this period.<ref name="eji">[https://www.ajc.com/news/local/hundreds-more-were-lynched-the-south-than-previously-known-report/gOEGtsSud4utD6Uiqkx1LN/ AJC Staff, "Hundreds more were lynched in the South than previously known: report"], ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', June 14, 2017; accessed March 26, 2018</ref>

In addition to individual lynchings, during the [[Atlanta Race Riot]] of 1906, whites killed at least 25 African Americans; the number may have been considerably higher. Two white persons died during the riot; one a woman who died of a heart attack. The violence affected black residential and business development in the city afterward. The Georgia legislature effectively completed [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era|disenfranchisement of African Americans]] in 1908, with constitutional amendments that raised barriers to voter registration and voting, excluding them from the political system{{Citation needed|reason=specific dates given but no specific legislation. Should be easy to clarify|date=April 2023}}.

At the beginning of 1932, as an [[austerity]] measure to save money during the [[Great Depression]], Fulton County annexed [[Milton County, Georgia|Milton County]] to the north and [[Campbell County, Georgia|Campbell County]] to the southwest, to centralize administration. That resulted in the current long shape of the county along {{convert|80|mi|km}} of the [[Chattahoochee River]]. On May 9 of that year, neighboring [[Cobb County]] [[cession|ceded]] the city of Roswell and lands lying east of [[Willeo Creek]] to Fulton County so that it would be more contiguous with the lands ceded from Milton County.

In the second half of the 20th century, Atlanta and Fulton county became the location of numerous national and international headquarters for leading companies, attracting highly skilled employees from around the country. This led to the city and county becoming more cosmopolitan and diverse.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In 1992, Fulton County elected the first African-American woman, [[Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett]], to the position of Sheriff in the history of the United States.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In 2023, rapper [[Playboi Carti]] was arrested in Fulton County.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2023 |title=Playboi Carti Allegedly Choked Pregnant Girlfriend, Arrested On Felony Charge |url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/02/14/playboi-carti-arrested-aggravated-assault-allegedly-choked-pregnant-girlfriend/ |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=TMZ |language=en}}</ref> That same year, [[Georgia election racketeering prosecution|Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants]] were indicted by Fulton County district attorney [[Fani Willis]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Fausset |first1=Richard |last2=Hakim |first2=Danny |date=August 14, 2023 |title=Grand Jury Hears Hours of Testimony in Election Interference Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/08/14/us/trump-indictment-georgia-election |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814171813/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/08/14/us/trump-indictment-georgia-election |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |access-date=August 14, 2023 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> {{As of|2025}}, the prosecution is being continued by Pete Skandalakis.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |last=Hallerman |first=Tamar |date=November 14, 2025 |title=Prosecutor takes helm of Georgia case against Trump. But will he move forward? |url=https://www.ajc.com/politics/2025/11/prosecutor-takes-helm-of-georgia-case-against-trump-but-will-he-move-forward/ |access-date=November 14, 2025 |website=ajc |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Garrett Lake, Mountain Park, Fulton County, Georgia.JPG|thumb|Garrett Lake, [[Mountain Park, Fulton County, Georgia|Mountain Park]]]]

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|534|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|527|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.7|sqmi}} (1.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> The county is located in the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] region of the state in the foothills of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] to the north. The shape of the county resembles a sword with its handle at the northeastern part, and the tip at the southwestern portion.

Going from north to south, the northernmost portion of Fulton County, encompassing [[Milton, Georgia|Milton]] and northern [[Alpharetta, Georgia|Alpharetta]], is located in the [[Etowah River]] sub-basin of the [[ACT River Basin]] (Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin). The rest of north and central Fulton, to downtown [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], is located in the Upper [[Chattahoochee River]] sub-basin of the [[ACF River Basin]] (Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin). The bulk of south Fulton County, from Atlanta to [[Palmetto, Georgia|Palmetto]], is located in the Middle [[Chattahoochee River]]-[[Lake Harding]] sub-basin of the larger ACF River Basin, with just the eastern edges of south Fulton, from Palmetto northeast through [[Union Hill, Georgia|Union Hill]] to [[Hapeville, Georgia|Hapeville]], in the Upper [[Flint River (Georgia)|Flint River]] sub-basin of the same larger ACF River Basin.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |title=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience |publisher=Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission |access-date=November 18, 2015 |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003004639/http://www.gaswcc.org/maps/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Cherokee County, Georgia|Cherokee County]] – northwest
* [[Forsyth County, Georgia|Forsyth County]] – northeast
* [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett County]] – east
* [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]] – east
* [[Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton County]] – south
* [[Fayette County, Georgia|Fayette County]] – south
* [[Coweta County, Georgia|Coweta County]] – southwest
* [[Carroll County, Georgia|Carroll County]] – west
* [[Douglas County, Georgia|Douglas County]] – west
* [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb County]] – west
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
* [[Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area]] (part)
* [[Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site]]

==Communities==
[[File:Fulton County Cities.png|221x221px|A map of all the cities within Fulton County, Georgia|alt=A map of all the cities within Fulton County, Georgia|thumb]]

There are 15 cities within Fulton County. Four cities include land outside of the county (Atlanta, College Park, Palmetto, and Mountain Park) but still have their center of government and the majority of their land within Fulton County. After the formation of South Fulton in 2017, the only unincorporated part of the county is Fulton Industrial Boulevard, from roughly [[Fulton County Airport (Georgia)|Fulton Brown Airport (Brown's Field)]] down to Fairburn Rd. (concurrent with GA-158 and GA-166)<ref>{{cite web |title=Printable Maps |website=www.fultoncountyga.gov |publisher=Fulton County |url=https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/-/media/Departments/IT_GIS/Printable-Maps/CityLimits_35X44.ashx }}</ref> This led to Fulton County becoming the first county in Georgia to suspend all city services.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kass |first1=Arielle |title=Fulton County first in Georgia to relinquish city services |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/fulton-county-first-georgia-relinquish-city-services/8A57EbG5UYNTjrFttyVcCK/ |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Cox Enterprises |access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref>

===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Alpharetta, Georgia|Alpharetta]]
* [[Atlanta]]
* [[Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia|Chattahoochee Hills]]
* [[College Park, Georgia|College Park]]
* [[East Point, Georgia|East Point]]
* [[Fairburn, Georgia|Fairburn]]
* [[Hapeville, Georgia|Hapeville]]
* [[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]]
* [[Milton, Georgia|Milton]]
* [[Mountain Park, Fulton County, Georgia|Mountain Park]]
* [[Palmetto, Georgia|Palmetto]]
* [[Roswell, Georgia|Roswell]]
* [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]]
* [[South Fulton, Georgia|South Fulton]]
* [[Union City, Georgia|Union City]]
{{div col end}}

===Former unincorporated communities===
* [[Campbellton, Georgia|Campbellton]] (now within South Fulton)
* [[Ocee, Georgia|Ocee]] (now within Johns Creek)
* [[Red Oak, Georgia|Red Oak]] (now within South Fulton)
* [[Sandtown, Georgia|Sandtown]] (now within South Fulton)
* [[Serenbe]] (village within Chattahoochee Hills)
* [[Shake Rag, Georgia|Shake Rag]] (within Johns Creek)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1860 = 14427
| 1870 = 33446
| 1880 = 49137
| 1890 = 84655
| 1900 = 117363
| 1910 = 177733
| 1920 = 232606
| 1930 = 318587
| 1940 = 392886
| 1950 = 473572
| 1960 = 556326
| 1970 = 607592
| 1980 = 589904
| 1990 = 648951
| 2000 = 816006
| 2010 = 920581
| 2020 = 1066710
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 1090354
| estref = <ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/fultoncountygeorgia/PST045224|title=QuickFacts: Fulton County, Georgia |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref><br>1790-1880<ref name=1880CensusGACty>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800 |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1880|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1880/vol-01-population/1880_v1-08.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1890-1910<ref name=1910CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1910 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1910|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ga.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref><br> 1920-1930<ref name=1930CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1930 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1930|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/03815512v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=|page=}}</ref> 1930-1940<ref name=1940CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1940 Census of Population - Georgia  |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1940|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch04.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1940-1950<ref name=1950CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1950 Census of Population - Georgia - |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1950|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-2/37779083v2p11ch2.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 1960-1980<ref name=1980CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia  |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 1980|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_gaABC-01.pdf|accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref><br> 1980-2000<ref name=2000CensusGA>{{Cite web|first= |last= |authorlink=   |title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia  |publisher=United States Census Bureau|date= 2000|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-12.pdf |accessdate=|archive-url=| archive-date=}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Fulton County, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the U.S. Census Bureau treats Hispanic and Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics and Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Fulton County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=050XX00US13121|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fulton County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US13121&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fulton County, Georgia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US13121&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|369,997
|376,014
|style='background: #ffffe6; |404,793
|45.34%
|40.85%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37.95%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|361,018
|400,457
|style='background: #ffffe6; |448,803
|44.24%
|43.50%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |42.07%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|1,148
|1,586
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,558
|0.14%
|0.17%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.15%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|24,635
|51,304
|style='background: #ffffe6; |80,632
|3.02%
|5.57%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.56%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|261
|287
|style='background: #ffffe6; |381
|0.03%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|1,599
|2,582
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,444
|0.20%
|0.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.60%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|9,292
|15,785
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37,797
|1.14%
|1.71%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.54%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|48,056
|72,566
|style='background: #ffffe6; |86,302
|5.89%
|7.88%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.09%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''816,006'''
|'''920,581'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''1,066,710'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

According to the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,066,710 people, 439,578 households, and 238,444 families residing in the county, reflecting the county's historically positive population growth with exception to the [[1980 United States census|1980 U.S. census]].

In 2020, the county had a racial and ethnic makeup of 42.07% Black or African Americans, 37.95% non-Hispanic whites, 0.15% American Indians and Alaska Natives, 7.56% Asian Americans, 0.04% Pacific Islander Americans, 0.60% some other race, 3.54% multiracial Americans, and 8.09% Hispanic or Latinos of any race. In 2010, its racial and ethnic makeup was 43.50% Black or African American, 40.85% non-Hispanic white, 0.17% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.57% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% some other race, 1.71% multiracial, and 7.88% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $56,709 and the median income for a family was $75,579. Males had a median income of $56,439 versus $42,697 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,211. About 12.0% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.0% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13121
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=December 29, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213015019/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US13121
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> At the 2022 [[American Community Survey]], its median household income grew to $90,346 with a per capita income of $59,689. Among its population, 53% earned from $50,000 to $200,000 annually, and 28% earned less than $50,000. Approximately 12.7% of the county lived at or below the poverty line.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census profile: Fulton County, GA |url=http://censusreporter.org/profiles/05000US13121-fulton-county-ga/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Centennial Tower Atlanta 1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Centennial Tower (Atlanta)|Centennial Tower]]]]

Companies headquartered in Fulton County include [[AFC Enterprises]] (Popeyes Chicken/Cinnabon), [[AT&T Mobility]], [[Chick-fil-A]], [[Children's Healthcare of Atlanta]], [[Church's Texas Chicken]], [[The Coca-Cola Company]], [[Cox Enterprises]], [[Delta Air Lines]], [[Earthlink]], [[Equifax]], [[First Data]], [[Georgia-Pacific]], [[Global Payments|Global Payments, Inc.]],  [[InterContinental Hotels Group]], IBM Internet Security Systems, [[Mirant]] Corp., [[Newell Rubbermaid]], Northside Hospital, Piedmont Healthcare, [[Porsche]] Cars North America, Saint Joseph's Hospital, [[Southern Company]], [[United Parcel Service]], are based in various cities throughout Fulton County.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fulton County's Strong Economy {{!}} FULTON COUNTY |url=https://www.fultoncountyny.gov/fulton-countys-strong-economy#:~:text=Key%20Takeaways-,Fulton%20County%20has%20a%20diversified%20economy%20featuring%20companies%20like%20FAGE,Products,%20EPIMED%20and%20many%20others. |access-date=October 31, 2023 |website=www.fultoncountyny.gov}}</ref>

==Education==
{{see also|Atlanta#Education}}
All portions of Fulton County outside of the city limits of Atlanta are served by the [[Fulton County School System]]. All portions within Atlanta are served by [[Atlanta Public Schools]].<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13121_fulton/DC20SD_C13121.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722214221/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13121_fulton/DC20SD_C13121.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 census - school district reference map: Fulton County, GA|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=December 26, 2020|accessdate=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st13_ga/schooldistrict_maps/c13121_fulton/DC20SD_C13121_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

===Libraries===
====History====
The [[Fulton County Library System]] began in 1902 as the Carnegie Library of Atlanta, one of the first public libraries in the United States. In 1935, the city of Atlanta and the Fulton County Board of Commissioners signed a contract under which library service was extended to all of Fulton County. Then in 1982, Georgia voters passed a constitutional Amendment authorizing the transfer of responsibility for the Library system from the city of Atlanta to the county. On July 1, 1983, the transfer finally became official, and the system was renamed the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System.

Under the leadership of [[Ella Gaines Yates]], who was the first African American director of the Library System, a new Central library was opened to the public in May 1988. The building was designed by Marcel Breuer, a participant in the innovative Bauhaus movement, working side by side with his associate Hamilton Smith. The Central Library was dedicated on May 25, 1980, and Breuer would die a year later in July 1981 at the age of 81.

In 2002 after a hundred years of library service to the public, a major renovation of the Central Library was completed.

==Government==
Fulton County is governed by a seven-member [[board of commissioners]], whose members are elected from [[single-member district]]s. They serve staggered four-year terms. The county has a [[County manager (United States)|county manager]] system of government, in which day-to-day operation of the county is handled by a manager appointed by the board. The chairman of the Board of Commissioners is elected [[at-large]] for the county-wide position. The vice chairman is elected by peers on a yearly basis.

{|class=wikitable
|-
!colspan=3| Board of Commissioners
|-
! District
! Commissioner
!Party
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 7 (at-large)
| [[Robb Pitts]] (chairman)
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| District 1
| Bridget Thorne
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Republican}}
| District 2
| Bob Ellis
|Republican
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 3
| Dana Barrett
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 4
| Mo Ivory
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 5
| Marvin S. Arrington, Jr.
|Democratic
|-{{Party shading/Democratic}}
| District 6
| Khadijah Abdur-Rahman
|Democratic
|}

{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan=2| Board of Commissioners Appointees
|-
! Position held
! Name
|-
| County Manager
| Dick Anderson
|-
| Clerk to the Commission
| Tonya Grier (interim)
|-
| County Attorney
| Soo Jo<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/executive-leadership/county-attorney
 |title=County Attorney |website=Fulton Country |access-date=January 19, 2024}}</ref> 
|-
| Chief Financial Officer
| Sharon Whitmore
|-
| Chief Operating Officer
| Anna Roach
|}

===United States Congress===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan="2"  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Senators'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Assumed office'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Level'''
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| Senate Class 2
| [[Jon Ossoff]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2021
| Senior Senator
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| Senate Class 3
| [[Raphael Warnock]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2021
| Junior Senator
|-
! colspan="2"  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Representatives'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Assumed office'''
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| District 4
| [[Hank Johnson]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2007
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| District 5
| [[Nikema Williams]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2021
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| District 6
| [[Rich McCormick]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|District 7
|[[Lucy McBath]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2019
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|District 13
|[[David Scott (Georgia politician)|David Scott]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2003
|}

===Georgia General Assembly===

==== Georgia State Senate ====

{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan="2"  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''District'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Assumed office'''
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 6
| [[Jason Esteves]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 14
| [[Josh McLaurin]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 21
| [[Brandon Beach]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2013
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 28
| [[Matt Brass]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2017
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 35
| [[Donzella James]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2009
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 36
| [[Nan Orrock]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2007
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 38
| [[Horacena Tate]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1999
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|39
|[[Sonya Halpern]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2021
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
|48
|[[Shawn Still]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2023
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
|56
|[[John Albers]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2011
|}

====Georgia House of Representatives====
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan="2"  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''District'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party'''
!  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Assumed office'''
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 25
| [[Todd Jones (politician)|Todd Jones]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2017
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 47
| [[Jan Jones (Georgia politician)|Jan Jones]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2003
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
|48
|[[Scott Hilton (politician)|Scott Hilton]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|2023
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 49
| [[Chuck Martin (politician)|Chuck Martin]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2003
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 50
| [[Michelle Au]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 51
| [[Esther Panitch|Ester Panitch]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 52
| [[Shea Roberts]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2021
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 53
| [[Deborah Silcox]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 54
| [[Betsy Holland]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2019
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 55
| [[Inga Willis]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:red;"|&nbsp;
| 56
| [[Mesha Mainor]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2021
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 57
| [[Stacey Evans]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2021
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 58
| [[Park Cannon]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2016
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 59
| [[Phil Olaleye]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 60
| [[Sheila Jones]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2023
|-
| style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
| 61
| [[Roger Bruce]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 2013
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|62
|[[Tanya F. Miller]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2023
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|63
|[[Kim Schofield]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2023
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|65
|[[Mandisha Thomas]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2021
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|67
|[[Lydia Glaize]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2023
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|68
|[[Derrick Jackson (politician)|Derrick Jackson]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2023
|-
|style="background:blue;"|&nbsp;
|69
|[[Debra Bazemore]]
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|2023
|}

===Politics===
[[Atlanta]] is the largest city in Fulton County, occupying the county's narrow center section and thus geographically dividing the county's northern and southern portions. Atlanta's last major annexation in 1952 brought over {{convert|118|sqmi|km2}} into the city, including the affluent suburb of [[Buckhead, Atlanta|Buckhead]]. The movement to create a city of [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]], launched in the early 1970s and reaching fruition in 2005, was largely an effort to prevent additional annexations by the city of Atlanta, and later to wrest local control from the [[county commission]].

Fulton County is one of the most reliably Democratic counties in the entire nation. It has voted Democratic in every presidential election since [[1876 United States presidential election in Georgia|1876]] except those of [[1928 United States presidential election in Georgia|1928]] and [[1972 United States presidential election in Georgia|1972]]; in the latter, [[George McGovern]] did not win a single county in Georgia. The demographic character of the Democratic Party has changed, as conservative whites, previously its chief members in the South, have mostly shifted to the Republican Party. In Fulton County, Democrats are composed primarily of liberal urbanites of various ethnicities and a growing contingent of suburban voters. Fulton is served by four Representatives in the House, with [[David Scott (Georgia politician)|David Scott]] representing the southern suburbs, [[Lucy McBath]] representing [[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]], and [[John Lewis]] representing the core of Atlanta until his death on July 17, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Lewis, Georgia Congressman and Civil Rights Icon, Dies at 80|url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/national-international/rep-john-lewis-dies-at-80/2161514/|access-date=September 20, 2021|website=NBC Boston|date=July 18, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref> Lewis was succeeded by [[Nikema Williams]]. Republican [[Rich McCormick]] represents most of North Fulton.

{{PresHead|place=Fulton County, Georgia|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|2,229|3,045|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|925|1,939|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|2,164|2,750|233|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,364|4,663|223|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|3,005|4,504|391|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,676|5,075|75|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|1,766|5,781|301|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,906|4,790|438|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,688|7,313|507|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,040|8,945|1,311|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|3,336|6,635|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|3,229|7,830|1,579|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|9,368|8,872|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,063|20,137|253|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,552|27,183|94|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|6,033|31,311|122|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|7,687|37,161|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|14,976|29,318|6,760|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|35,197|52,459|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|37,326|51,098|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|53,940|55,803|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|73,205|93,540|11|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|64,153|77,920|36,995|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|96,256|74,329|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|61,552|129,849|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|64,909|118,748|9,066|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|95,149|125,567|0|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|91,785|120,752|2,152|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|85,451|147,459|24,499|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|89,809|143,306|10,053|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|104,870|152,039|6,303|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|134,372|199,436|2,933|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|130,136|272,000|3,489|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|137,124|255,470|5,752|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|117,783|297,051|23,917|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|137,247|380,212|6,472|Georgia}}
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|144,655|384,752|10,290|Georgia}}
{{PresFoot}}

===Taxation===
Geographically remote from each other, the northern and southern sections of the county have grown increasingly at odds over issues related to taxes and distribution of services. Residents of the affluent areas of North Fulton have increasingly complained that the Fulton County Board of Commissioners has ignored their needs, taking taxes collected in North Fulton, and spending them on programs and services in less wealthy South Fulton. In 2005, responding to pressure from North Fulton, the [[Georgia General Assembly]] directed Fulton County, alone among all the counties in the state, to limit the expenditure of funds to the geographic region of the county where they were collected. The Fulton County Commission contested this law, known as the "Shafer Amendment" after Sen. [[David Shafer (politician)|David Shafer]] ([[Republican (US)|Republican]] from [[Duluth, Georgia|Duluth]]), in a [[lawsuit]] that went to the [[Supreme Court of Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia Supreme Court]]. On June 19, 2006, the Court upheld the law, ruling that the Shafer Amendment was constitutional.

The creation of the city of [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]] stimulated the founding of two additional cities, resulting in [[municipalization|no unincorporated areas]] remaining in north Fulton. In a [[domino effect]], the residents of southwest Fulton voted in referendums to create additional cities. In 2007, one of these two referendums passed and the other was defeated, but later passed in 2016.

===Municipalization===
[[File: Rico Road, Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia.JPG|thumb|Road in [[Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia|Chattahoochee Hills]]]]
Since the 1970s, residents of [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]] had waged a long-running battle to incorporate their community as a city, which would make it independent of county council control. They were repeatedly blocked in the state legislature by Atlanta Democrats, but when control of state government switched to suburban Republicans after the 2002 and 2004 elections, the movement to charter the city picked up steam.

[[File:Pill hill, atlanta.jpg|thumb|[[Pill Hill (Atlanta)|Pill Hill]], [[Sandy Springs, Georgia|Sandy Springs]]]]
The General Assembly approved creation of the city in 2005, and for this case, it suspended an existing state law that prohibited new cities (the only type of municipality in the state) from being within {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} of an existing one. The citizens of Sandy Springs voted 94% in favor of ratifying the [[city charter]] in a [[referendum]] held on June 21, 2005. The new city was officially incorporated later that year at midnight on December 1.

[[File:Johns Creek Georgia City Hall.JPG|thumb|[[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]] city hall]]
Creation of Sandy Springs was a catalyst for [[municipalization]] of the entire county, in which local groups would attempt to incorporate every area into a city. Such a result would essentially eliminate the county's [[home rule]] powers (granted statewide by a [[constitutional amendment]] to the [[Georgia State Constitution]] in the 1960s) to act as a [[municipality]] in unincorporated areas, and return it to being entirely the local extension of state government.

In 2006, the General Assembly approved creation of two new cities, [[Milton, Georgia|Milton]] and [[Johns Creek, Georgia|Johns Creek]], which completed municipalization of North Fulton. The charters of these two new cities were ratified overwhelmingly in a referendum held July 18, 2006.

Voters in the [[Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia|Chattahoochee Hills]] community of southwest Fulton (west of Cascade-Palmetto Highway) voted overwhelmingly to incorporate in June 2007. The city became incorporated on December 1, 2007.

The General Assembly approved a proposal to form a new city called [[South Fulton, Georgia|South Fulton]]. Its proposed boundaries were to include those areas still unincorporated on July 1, 2007. As a direct result of possibly being permanently [[landlock]]ed, many of the existing cities proposed [[annexation]]s, while some communities drew-up [[incorporation (municipal government)|incorporation]] plans.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/us/13secede.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | work=The New York Times | first=Shaila | last=Dewan | title=In Georgia County, Divisions of North and South Play Out in Drives to Form New Cities | date=July 13, 2006}}</ref>

Voters in the area defined as the proposed city of South Fulton overwhelmingly rejected cityhood in September 2007. It was the only remaining unincorporated section of the county until the residents voted in November 2016 to incorporate as the city of [[South Fulton, Georgia]]. Prior to that vote North Fulton, which is overwhelmingly Republican, and members of the state legislature, had discussed forcing South Fulton residents to incorporate as a city in order to force Fulton County out of the municipal services business.

===Secession===
Some residents of suburban north Fulton have advocated since the early 2000s that they be allowed to [[List of U.S. county secession proposals|secede]] and re-form [[Milton County, Georgia|Milton County]], after the county that was absorbed into Fulton County in 1932 during the [[Great Depression]]. Fulton County, in comparison to the state's other counties, is physically large. Its population is greater than that of each of the six smallest [[U.S. state]]s.

The demographic make-up of Fulton County has changed considerably in recent decades. The northern portion of the county, a suburban area, is among the most affluent areas in the nation and is majority white. It was formerly a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] stronghold, but has seen a shift toward the Democratic Party since the early 2010s. In 2018, [[Lucy McBath]] won the 6th Congressional District, the majority of which is in North Fulton. The central and southern portion of the county, which includes the city of Atlanta and its core [[satellite cities]] to the south, is overwhelmingly [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] and majority black. It contains some of the poorest sections in the metropolitan area, but also has wealthy sections, particularly in Midtown Atlanta, many east Atlanta neighborhoods, and in the suburban neighborhoods along Cascade Road beyond I-285. [[Cascade Heights]] and [[Sandtown, Georgia|Sandtown]], located in the southwest region of Fulton County, are predominantly affluent African American in population.<ref>Census tracts 78.05, 103.01, 103.03 and 103.04</ref>

The chief opponents to the proposed division of the county comes from the residents of south Fulton County, who say that the proposed separation is [[Race (classification of human beings)|racially]] motivated. State Senator [[Vincent Fort]], an Atlanta Democrat and a member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, very strongly opposed the plan to split the county. "If it gets to the floor, there will be blood on the walls", Fort stated. "As much as you would like to think it's not racial, it's difficult to draw any other conclusion", he later added.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web | title=Plan to split county hints at racial divide| url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/01/24/Worldandnation/Plan_to_split_county_.shtml | access-date=March 19, 2008}}</ref>

In 2006 a political firestorm broke out in Atlanta when State Senator [[Sam Zamarripa]] (Democrat from Atlanta) suggested that the cities in North Fulton be allowed to secede and form Milton County in exchange for Atlanta and Fulton County consolidating their governments into a new "Atlanta County". South Fulton residents were strongly opposed to Fulton County's possible future division.

===Taxes===
Fulton County has a 7% total [[sales tax]], including 4% state, 1% [[SPLOST]], 1% [[homestead exemption]], and 1% [[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]]. Sales taxes apply through the entire county and its cities, except for Atlanta's additional 1% Municipal Option Sales Tax to fund capital improvements to its combined [[wastewater]] [[sanitary sewer|sewer systems]] (laying new pipes to separate [[storm sewer]]s from [[sanitary sewer]]s), and to its [[drinking water]] system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.atlantaga.gov/most/disclaimer.htm |title=City of Atlanta Municipal Option Sales Tax |access-date=February 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202075331/http://apps.atlantaga.gov/most/disclaimer.htm |archive-date=February 2, 2007 }}</ref> Fulton County has lowered its general fund millage rate by 26% over an eight-year period.

In early 2017, the state's first (and so far only) fractional-percent sales taxes took effect in Fulton. Atlanta added an additional 0.5% for MARTA and 0.4% T[[SPLOST]] for other transportation projects, while anti-[[public transportation|transit]] Republican legislators from north Fulton blocked a countywide referendum on improving and extending MARTA, and instead allowed only a vote on a 0.75% TSPLOST for more roads in the areas outside Atlanta. This puts the total sales tax at 8.9% in Atlanta and 7.75% in the rest of the county, with 4% less on [[groceries]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://irs-offices.com/georgia/fulton-county/ | title=✔ Fulton County (GA) sales tax rate by zip-code or city }}</ref>

===Services===
Fulton County's budget of $1.2&nbsp;billion funds an array of resident services. With 34 branches, the [[Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System]] is one of the largest library systems in Georgia. [[Human services]] programs include one of the strongest [[senior center]] networks in metro Atlanta, including four multi-purpose senior facilities. The county also provides funding to [[nonprofit]]s with FRESH and Human Services [[Grant (money)|grants]].

===Law enforcement===
The responsibilities of the Fulton County Sheriff's Office include [[process serving]], providing security at county buildings, courtrooms, jail and other public areas, and administration of the [[Fulton County Jail]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheriff's Office |url=https://fultoncountyga.gov/inside-fulton-county/fulton-county-departments/sheriff |access-date=March 21, 2022 |website=fultoncountyga.gov}}</ref> In 1992 [[Jacquelyn Harrison Barrett]] was elected Sheriff, making her the first African-American woman to serve as Sheriff in the United States. However, Barrett was suspended from office in 2004 by governor [[Sonny Perdue]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hart |first=Ariel |date=July 24, 2004 |title=County Sheriff Is Suspended in Georgia |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/24/national/county-sheriff-is-suspended-in-georgia.html |access-date=March 21, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:South Fulton Parkway, Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia.JPG|thumb|South Fulton Parkway]]
Almost every major highway, and every major [[Interstate highway]], in metro Atlanta passes through Fulton County. Outside Atlanta proper, [[Georgia 400]] is the major highway through north Fulton, and [[Interstate 85]] to the southwest.

===Major highways===

;Interstate Highways
* {{jct|I|20|state=GA}}
* {{jct|I|75|state=GA}}
* {{jct|I|85|state=GA}}
* {{jct|I|285|state=GA}}
;U.S. Highways
* {{jct|US|19|state=GA}}
* {{jct|US|23|state=GA}}
* {{jct|US|29|state=GA}}
** {{jct|US-Alt|29|state=GA|dab1=Palmetto|name1=Palmetto}}
* {{jct|US|41|state=GA}}
* {{jct|US|78|US|278|state=GA}}
;State Routes
* {{jct|GA|3|state=GA}}
** {{jct|GA-Conn|3|state=GA|dab1=Atlanta|name1=Atlanta}}
* {{jct|GA|6|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|8|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|9|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|10|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|13|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|14|state=GA}}
** {{jct|GA-Alt|14|state=GA|da1=Palmetto|name1=Palmetto}}
** {{jct|GA-Conn|14|state=GA|dab1=College Park|name1=College Park}}
* {{jct|GA|42|state=GA}}
** {{jct|GA-Conn|42|state=GA|dab1=Atlanta|name1=Atlanta}}
** {{jct|GA-Spur|42|state=GA|dab1=Atlanta|name1=Atlanta}}
* {{jct|GA|54|state=GA}}
** {{jct|GA-Conn|54|state=GA|dab1=Atlanta|name1=Atlanta}}
* {{jct|GA|70|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|74|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|92|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|120|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|138|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|139|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|140|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|141|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|154|state=GA}}
** {{jct|GA-Conn|154|state=GA|dab1=Atlanta|name1=Atlanta}}
* {{jct|GA|166|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|236|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|237|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|279|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|280|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|295|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|372|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|400|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|401|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|402|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|403|state=GA}}
* {{jct|GA|407|state=GA}}

===Secondary highways===
[[File:Peachtree St in Midtown.jpg|thumb|[[Peachtree Street]] in Midtown Atlanta]]
* Abernathy Road
* East Wesley Road
* [[Freedom Parkway]] ([[Georgia State Route 10|Georgia 10]])
* Glenridge Drive
* Hammond Drive
* [[Johnson Ferry]] Road
* Lindbergh Drive ([[Georgia State Route 236|Georgia 236]])
* Memorial Drive ([[Georgia State Route 154|Georgia 154]])
* [[Moreland Avenue]] ([[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|U.S. 23]]/[[Georgia State Route 42|Georgia 42]])
* Mount Vernon Highway
* [[Peachtree Street|Peachtree Road]] ([[Georgia State Route 141|Georgia 141]])
* Peachtree-Dunwoody Road
* Piedmont Road ([[Georgia State Route 237|Georgia 237]])
* [[Ponce de Leon Avenue]] ([[U.S. Route 23 in Georgia|U.S. 23]]/[[U.S. Route 29 in Georgia|29]]/[[U.S. Route 78 in Georgia|78]]/[[U.S. Route 278 in Georgia|278]]/[[Georgia State Route 8|Georgia 8]]/[[Georgia State Route 10|10]])
* Powers Ferry Road
* Roswell Road ([[U.S. Route 19 in Georgia|U.S. 19]]/[[Georgia State Route 9|Georgia 9]])
* Windsor Parkway

===Mass transit===
[[File:East Point (MARTA station).JPG|thumb|right|[[East Point (MARTA station)|East Point MARTA station]]]]
[[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]] serves most of the county, and along with Clayton and Dekalb County, Fulton pays a 1% sales tax to fund it. MARTA [[rapid transit|train]] service in Fulton is currently limited to the cities of Atlanta, Sandy Springs, East Point, and College Park, as well as the [[airport]].  [[Bus]] service covers most of the remainder, except the rural areas in the far southwest and Johns Creek. North Fulton residents have been asking for service, to extend the North Line {{convert|10|mi|km|spell=in}} up the Georgia 400 [[wikt:corridor|corridor]], from [[Perimeter Center]] to the fellow [[edge city]] of Alpharetta. However, as the only major transit system in the country that its state government will not fund, there is no money to expand the system. Sales taxes now go entirely to operating, [[maintain]]ing, and refurbishing the system. [[Xpress GA]]/ RTA provides commuter bus service from the outer suburbs of Fulton County, the city of Sandy Springs to Midtown and Downtown Atlanta.

===Recreational trails===
* [[BeltLine]] (under construction)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://atlanta.curbed.com/2017/12/19/16792882/regional-bus-transit-expansion-funding-for-north-beltline-extension-arc|title=ARC allocations could provide for bus transit expansion, funding for Beltline extensions|date=December 19, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Big Creek Greenway]] (under construction)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/local/alpharetta-oks-design-close-big-creek-greenway-gap/5wfenxIgUohFNGMddPSy0M/|title=Alpharetta OKs design to close Big Creek Greenway gap|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref>
* [[PATH400]] (under construction)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/local/roswell-backs-trail-along-400/E3mIwHJHwGOHIa0kOmArvK/|title=Roswell backs trail along Ga. 400|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref>
* [[Peachtree Creek Greenway]] (under construction)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reporternewspapers.net/2017/08/21/peachtree-creek-greenway-work-begin-early-next-year/|title=Peachtree Creek Greenway work could begin early next year|date=August 21, 2017}}</ref>

===Airports===
[[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]] straddles the border with [[Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton County]] to the south and is the busiest airport in the world. The [[Fulton County Airport (Georgia)|Fulton County Airport]], often called [[Charlie Brown Field]] after politician [[Charles M. Brown]], is located just west-southwest of Atlanta's [[city limits|city limit]]. It is run by the county as a municipal or [[general aviation]] airport, serving [[business jet]]s and private aircraft.

==See also==
{{Portal|State of Georgia}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Fulton County, Georgia]]
*[[List of counties in Georgia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Fulton County, Georgia}}
* [https://www.fultoncountyga.gov/ website of Fulton County] 
* [http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2335&hl=y Fulton County, New Georgia Encyclopedia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511223907/http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2335&hl=y |date=May 11, 2013 }}
* [http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/Counties/Fulton.html Documents from Fulton County at the Digital Library of Georgia]
* [http://thefultoncojail.com Fulton County Jail Information] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123025237/http://thefultoncojail.com/ |date=November 23, 2011 }}
* [http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/fulton/fulton-county Fulton County] historical marker
* [http://www.afpls.org/index.php] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040513/http://www.afpls.org/index.php |date=December 1, 2017 }}
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Fulton County, Georgia
|North     = [[Cherokee County, Georgia|Cherokee County]]
|Northeast = [[Forsyth County, Georgia|Forsyth County]]
|East      = [[Gwinnett County, Georgia|Gwinnett County]] and [[DeKalb County, Georgia|DeKalb County]]
|Southeast = [[Clayton County, Georgia|Clayton County]]
|South     = [[Fayette County, Georgia|Fayette County]]
|Southwest = [[Coweta County, Georgia|Coweta County]]
|West      = [[Carroll County, Georgia|Carroll County]], [[Douglas County, Georgia|Douglas&nbsp;County]]
|Northwest = [[Cobb County, Georgia|Cobb County]]
}}
{{Fulton County, Georgia}}
{{Atlanta Metro}}
{{Georgia (U.S. state)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|33.79|-84.47|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-GA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Fulton County, Georgia| ]]
[[Category:Georgia (U.S. state) counties]]
[[Category:Counties in the Atlanta metropolitan area|Fulton]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1853]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Georgia]]