Braselton

Braselton (/ˈ b r æ z əl t ən / BRAZ -əl-tən) is a town in Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall, and Jackson counties in the U.S. state of Georgia, approximately 43 miles (69 km) northeast of Atlanta. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 7,511,[4] and in 2018 the estimated population was 11,652.[5]

The Gwinnett and Barrow County portions of Braselton are part of the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Marietta, GA, Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the Hall County portion is part of both the Atlanta and Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The remaining Jackson County portion of Braselton is not part of any core based statistical area.

The first permanent settlement at Braselton was made in 1884.[6] The town is named after Harrison Braselton, a poor dirt farmer who married Susan Hosch, the daughter of a rich plantation owner. Braselton built a home on 786 acres (318 ha) of land he purchased north of the Hosch Plantation. The land he purchased was later called Braselton.[7] The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Braselton as a town in 1916.[8]

In 1989 actress and Georgia native Kim Basinger and other investors bought 1,751 acres (709 ha) of the town's 2,000 privately owned acres for $20 million from Braselton Brothers Inc, intending to turn it into a tourist destination.[9] Five years later, facing personal bankruptcy, she and her partners sold the land for $1 million.[10][11]

Braselton is located at 34°06′33″N 83°45′46″W  /  34.10917°N 83.76278°W  / 34.10917; -83.76278 (34.109167, -83.762778).[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.5 square miles (32.4 km2), of which 12.4 square miles (32.2 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.79%, is water.[4] Braselton has seen its growth from 7.20 square miles (18.6 km2) to its current size from annexations into surrounding areas.

Braselton borders the mailing addresses (not city limits) of Gainesville (Candler), Flowery Branch, Oakwood (Chestnut Mountain side), and Pendergrass.

The town borders the city limits and shares a ZIP code with Hoschton.

The Road Atlanta race track has a Braselton address, but is located just north of the town itself.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,403 people, 3,779 households, and 3,100 families residing in the town.

As of the census[2] of 2018, 11,452 people and 2,833 households resided in the town. The population density was 605.0 people per square mile (1,210.0/km2). There were 2,833 housing units at an average density of 605.0 per square mile (1,210.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 77% White, 12% Black, 2% Asian, 0% from other races, and 4% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5% of the population.

Of the 2,833 households, 29% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.6% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.4% were not families. About 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.60 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town, the population was distributed as 29% under the age of 18, 8% from 18 to 24, 10% from 25 to 34, 15% from 35 to 44, 16% from 45-54, 10% from 55-64 and 14% who were years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $105,096 and for a family was $49,327. The median value for a housing unit was $318,700. Males had a median income of $46,477 versus $27,292 for females. The per capita income for the town was $35,921. About 4.1% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

The town operates a police department,[15] a Hall County Sheriff's Office location,[16] post office, and one fire station.[17] Northeast Georgia Health System built a new hospital in the Central/ Greater Braselton area that opened in Spring 2015.[18] It's the first net-new hospital in Georgia in 20 years.[19]