Increasingly falling with the influence of Atlanta's northern suburbs, Gainesville, population 30,000, and Hall County have nonetheless managed to remain distinctive and independent of the larger metro area. Perhaps having acquired its own official status as a Metropolitan Statistical Area in 2004 will help preserve its identity, yet one of Gainesville's advantages is its location only an hour from downtown Atlanta.


A transportation, recreation and industry hub for northeast Georgia, Gainesville is both great for families and great for retirees. Rich in both history and modern quality-of-life values, Gainesville is a treasure trove of historic homes and contemporary industry. In the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, the city is sensitive to its special cultural heritage.


Named for General Edmond F. Gaines, a veteran of the War of 1812, Gainesville began to thrive after gold was discovered in nearby Dahlonega in 1828. Later home to General James Longstreet, CSA, who was General Robert E. Lee's most trusted strategist, Gainesville acquired a hotel and several other successful business begun by the Civil War veteran. Records indicate the general even planted a vineyard. Gainesville native Jesse Jewell launched the poultry industry, making Gainesville today virtually the world's "Poultry Capital."


Historic elements give Gainesville its aura of serene charm. The tree-lined Green Street Historic District, with its myriad Victorian and Neoclassical mansions, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Northeast Georgia History Center, opened in 2004, archives much of the local cultural and historical treasure, including folk art and pottery, archival photographs and historic memorabilia.


Hall County also is rich in recreational values. Built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1957, 38,000-acre Lake Lanier on the county's southern tip draws 10 million visitors annually for boating, fishing, camping and swimming. Nearby Road Atlanta hosts the Atlanta Grand Prix and the International Petit LeMans, while Lanier National Speedway across the road is the Saturday night destination for NASCAR fans. Golfers have several courses from which to choose, from The Legends, a private club at Chateau Elan, to Robert Trent Jones-designed Chattahoochee Golf Club. Jack Nicklaus designed the club at Birch River in nearby Dahlonega. And the county offers some 50 parks, featuring everything from playgrounds to tennis courts.


The recreational richness is just one element that attracts families to Gainesville. Children enjoy the Elachee Nature Science Center at the 2,500-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve. The county-maintained recreational system includes athletic fields and gymnasiums, as well as multi-purpose sports complexes that operate year-round. Little Hall Park is the site of national fishing tournaments. No offspring need be bored or have time on his or her hands with these facilities available.


Further enriching life in Gainesville, the arts have a strong presence in Gainesville, from the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra, with more than 70 professionals in its ranks, to the Gainesville Theater Alliance and the Gainesville Ballet Company, performance art in Gainesville has three strong legs. At the Quinlan Arts Center, residents drawn to the visual arts will find a recently renovated two-story 16,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance-style building.


Art also is a major focus for Brenau University, originally a private women's college founded in 1878, and today the jewel in Gainesville's educational crown. Several art galleries feature work by students, faculty and artists-in-residence. Visiting exhibitions are frequent and of the highest caliber. The permanent collection includes such stars as work by C�zanne and Renoir, as well as pre-Columbian art.


Affiliated with the university is Brenau Academy, an all-girl boarding secondary school. It is one of several private secondary schools in the Gainesville area. Part of the Hall County system, Lanier Career Academy is an evening school for non-traditional students in grades 9 through 12. Lanier's students may be working in college preparatory programs or in technical fields with a view toward entering the work force upon completion of their diplomas.


With about 29,000 residents, Gainesville itself represents about one-fifth of the population of Hall County. Average household income comes in at almost $61,000, showing that Gainesville draws a high caliber resident and high-caliber industry. Even the Atlanta Falcons have chosen Hall County as their summer home, selecting a spot in Flowery Branch, just a short drive from Gainesville, for their training camp.