One of Georgia's newest cities, as well as the state's 10th largest, Johns Creek is a luxurious community known for its beautiful landscape, exclusive golf courses, senic rivers and high-quality education. This exclusive society was incorporated in 2006, formed from several historic farming communities.

Lying along the banks of the Chattahoochee River in northeast Fulton Count, Johns Creek is home to a population of about 70,500 people, located just north of Atlanta and sharing a Metro Atlanta population of almost 5 million. A mayor and a six-member city council govern the city and its residences.

"The quality of life in Johns Creek is one of the best you can find anywhere," says Mayor Mike Bodker. "Starting with quality schools and outstanding neighborhoods and extending to a growing array of recreation, civic, and cultural offerings, all augmented by an extensive variety of shopping and dining opportunities, it's easy to see that whatever your interest, you will find it right here."

Income & Housing

Johns Creek is one of the wealthiest cities in Georgia, with the median family income about $150,590. In 2009, it was the most affluent city in the state and 95th in the country, according to Bizjournal study. The median home price as of 2007 was $353,936, with seventy-seven percent of homes valued at $250,000 and twenty-seven percent valued at $500,000 or more.

Primary Education

One of the most sought after cities in Georgia to raise children, Johns Creek boasts some of the best schools in the state and even the nation. Relocate America named the city as one of the "Top 25 Places to Live to Go to School" in 2007. Many of the high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools result in students that excel at the high school level. Chattahoochee High, established in 1991, and Northview High, established in 2002, have each been consistently ranked as a "Top 1,000 High School" by Newsweek Magazine, and as a U.S. News and World Report" Outstanding American High School."

Johns Creek High School has just finished its inaugural year, with great success in academic, extracurricular, and athletics.

"Johns Creek High School has experienced an amazingly smooth and productive first year. We pulled together a student body and faculty from many neighboring fine Fulton County schools," according to Principal Buck Greene.

In the Fulton County School System, Johns Creek students are served by nine elementary schools, three middle schools, and three high schools, including the new Johns Creek High School.

Business Climate.

One of the other main features drawing professionals to Johns Creek is the prosperous business community. With close to 3,000 businesses, the city has ample employment opportunities and even is home to a flourishing business development, Johns Creek/Technology Park. This mixed-use development offers office, retail, medical and technological space and is a major source of business for the Johns Creek residents.

The top employers of the Johns Creek area include CIBA Corporation, Macy's Technology Systems, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Kroger Stores, Publix Supermarkets, SAIA, Inc., World Financial Group, Inc., LifeTime Fitness, Whole Foods Market and Nordson Corporation.

"Johns Creek is currently the most affluent city in the state of Georgia, according to a Bizjournal study, and 95th in the entire country."

The South Forsyth News recently highlighted the success of the Johns Creek Business Association, which has helped businesses network and thrive in the recession. The Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce also holds various business-oriented events to promote networking within the community, including the Young Professionals Networking Group held each week and "Business After Hours" held once a month.

Businesses in Johns Creek have the opportunity to participate in the SHIELD program, which is designed for a safer business community with the police department. This Business Watch Program educates owners of businesses within Johns Creek on crime prevention and business safety as well as creates an extensive security network.

Cultural Components.

The Johns Creek community is rich with cultural organizations and events for residents of all ages. There is so much to do in the area that a group was formed to cultivate this sector of the City. The Arts Alliance at Johns Creek is a non-profit partisanship of individual artists, arts organizations, educational institutions and other entities with a mission to promote the visual, literary, and performing arts in order to enhance the quality of life within the greater Johns Creek area. It includes the Johns Creek Arts Center, the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, the Autrey Mill Nature Preserve, the North Atlanta Dance Theater, the Shakespeare Studio and the Chopin Society of Atlanta.

For book lovers, there are also two branches of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System: the Northeast/Spruill Oaks and Ocee/Dr. Robert E. Fulton locations.

Community Pride.

The Johns Creek community has only been around for a short time, but the residents have already established a great sense of pride. There are numerous local organizations and events connecting the citizens, businesses and government leaders together.

The annual Johns Creek Founders Day is a city-wide celebration of its December 1, 2006 incorporation, featuring a parade down State Bridge Road, Holiday Tree Lighting at City Hall, Kids' Holiday Crafts at Emory Johns Creek Hospital, and Breakfast with Santa at Newtown Park. The event has turned into an entire week-long festivity that the community looks forward to each year.

The Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce sponsors several festivals, including the "Arts on the Creek" held during Labor Day Weekend and a "Fall Family Festival" that features entertainment, games, music, crafts, food and fun.

This summer Northside Hospital Forsyth and the City of Johns Creek Parks and Recreation are cosponsoring "Movies in the Park," a free outdoor series of films for the whole family on a large inflatable screen. The children will enjoy the movies held at Newtown Park along with the food and activities also provided for their entertainment.

The Johns Creek community has formed a working relationship with the newly formed police department through the PACT (Police and Community Together) program, enabling citizens and officers to work together to identify current issues in neighborhoods that need to be addressed. Using communication and cooperation, a Neighborhood Watch is formed to prevent and detect criminal activity within Johns Creek to keep the city safe.

Natural Attractions.

Both visitors and residents alike flock to Johns Creek for its beautiful scenery, flowing rivers and picturesque parks.

Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center consists of 46 acres of ravine forest, with more than a mile of walking trails which wind past a scenic creek with rocky shoals, picturesque cliffs, mature trees, wildflowers, native plants and animal life. The Heritage Center consists of old farmstead buildings and related exhibit pieces from around North Fulton from the late 1800s. Autrey Mill runs popular camp programs year-round.

Newtown Park possesses two softballlbaseball fields, three soccer fields, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, a two-mile multi-use path, 13 picnic pavilions, a dog park and a small lake. Newtown Park Athletic Association runs year-round sports programs including baseball, soccer and lacrosse.

Ocee Park has seven lighted softballlbaseball fields, a pavilion, playground, three picnic shelters and walkingljogging track. The Ocee Park Athletic Association runs youth baseball and softball programs for boys and girls ages 5 to 16 years old. Programs for special needs children are also offered.

Shakerag Park is located adjacent to River Trail Middle School at 10945 Rogers Circle. Facilities include a lake, playground, picnic shelter and a large multi-purpose athletic field.

The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, a national park, affords residents with even more outdoor recreation opportunities. Spread over a 48-mile section of the Chattahoochee River, it consists of 16 different areas-many with boat launches-beginning below Lake Lanier dam in Forsyth County and ending at Peachtree Creek in metro Atlanta. Five are located in or near Johns Creek: Jon_es Bridge, Medlock Bridge, Abbotts Bridge, Suwannee Creek and McGinnis Ferry.

To further expand the use of parks and Johns Creek's natural beauty, in March 2009 ground-breaking began for the Greenway Project. This construction is currently underway, helping to create a continuous network of trails throughout Johns Creek, which includes greenways and parks in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and adjacent areas.

Recreation

The premier golf courses in Johns Creek are some of the best in the nation. The area is so well known for its courses that in 20 11 the PGA Championship will be held at the Atlanta Athletic Club, August 8-14, 2011. From the public Riverpines course to the various private country clubs, such as Country Club of the South, Rivermont, St. Ives, and the Standard Club, Johns Creek has ample golfing opportunities.

The Atlanta Athletic Club is also host to more than golfing championships. The Atlanta Tennis Championships will be held in Johns Creek this July, 2010. Tennis fans and players get to witness some of the top tennis athletes in the country for an entire week.

Healthcare

Healthcare in Johns Creek is second to none. The award-winning Emory Johns Creek Hospital was established in 2007, and has since gained the reputation of becoming an advanced state-of-the-art medical facility serving the community Even before the opening of Emory Johns Creek Hospital, medical and healthcare professionals in the community formed the Johns Creek Healthcare Association (JCHA) to help both the public and the medical field gain access to resources. According to Dr. Scott Karlin, an ENT at Northeast Atlanta Ear Nose and Throat, "we formed the JCHA because there was a very well established medical community and we felt it was important for the community to let people know that there was high-quality healthcare available in the Johns Creek area."