The name Alpharetta means “First Town” in a literal Greek translation (Alpha = first or 1, Retta = Town). Originally, it was the county seat for Milton County. However, during the Great Depression, Milton County was on the verge of bankruptcy and it was decided that it would be in everyone’s best interest if Milton County became part of Fulton County (the main county that downtown Atlanta is located in). Today, many residents of this area wish they were no longer part of Fulton County as their taxes are higher to pay for some infrastructure in the urban areas of Atlanta. Therefore, it is possible that one day we will again see the rebirth of Milton County and Alpharetta would no longer be part of Fulton County. The Alpharetta area was a heavy farming area; particularly full of cotton farms. Unlike many other GA cities, its roots are not as a railroad town. It is somewhat ironic that in the earlier times, the railroads were the primary cause of prosperity in a city and it was very desirable to have close accessibility to railroads. Today, the lack of railroads is one of the things that led to the prosperity of the Alpharetta Area as the lack of railroads makes for a quieter and less disrupted suburban environment.

Today, Alpharetta has even formed its own “skyline” of suburban office buildings that house some of the top Fortune 500 employers of the area. In particular, many technology and Internet related companies have chosen Alpharetta for their corporate headquarters. Homes of all types and sizes are plentiful including ultra mansions that are owned by many celebrities; especially professional sports players. The public school system is also revered as one of the top in the state and newer homes are less expensive than same age counterparts in East Cobb while the schools are just about on par. The downside is the further distance from downtown Atlanta and the traffic to get there. GA-400 is the main highway to get from Alpharetta into Atlanta and it is notoriously the most congested stretch of road in a typical rush hour.