Lawrenceville is the largest city in Gwinnett County, GA (pop. 29528 inside the city limits in July, 2008).  And it is the second oldest in the Atlanta Metro area, created by Charter by the the Georgia General Assembly in December 1821.

It is named after Commodore James Lawrence, Commander of the Frigate Chesapeake during the War of 1812.  He is best knownhis dying command, “Don’t give up the ship.”  He never lived in the area of Lawrenceville, though.

The first courthouse was built on what is now the Square in Lawrenceville in 1823-1824, although the current courthouse that stands in that location only dates back to 1885.  There were actually a couple of buildings on that plot of land between those times, including a courthouse that was burned down by the KKK in 1871.  They thought there were records indicating a member was involved in bootlegging stored in the courthouse.  The records were actually at the Sheriff’s house… but many other records were destroyed in that fire.

Lawrenceville actually didn’t suffer a lot of direct damage during the Civil War, excepting a raid by the Union forces in July, 1864 which ended with the burning of one of Gwinnett’s largest cotton mills.  However, the area’s 12,000 residents mustered 2,000 men to fight for the Confederacy.

Since then, Lawrenceville served as birthplace for former Heavyweight Champ Ezzard Charles and writer Charles Henry Smith (under the name Bill Arp).  It was also briefly the home of Oliver Hardy.

History is just part of any City…

Living in Lawrenceville has plenty of highlights.  There are ample opportunities for shopping, playing and working.  Transportation is also plentiful and convenient… although, like everywhere in Metro Atlanta, traffic can be a challenge.

Shopping ranges from The restored Square in downtown Lawrenceville which houses numerous smaller, quaint shops and bistros, to Discover Mills, which has businesses ranging from jewelry kiosks to Bass Pro Shops.  The Mall of Georgia is also nearby, as is Gwinnett Place Mall and numerous smaller shopping centers.

The downtown Square is also home to Aurora Theatre, presenting everything from musicals to children’s shows… with Shakespeare in between.  There are numerous parks, including several that are part of the Gwinnett County Parks system, which was named the #1 Parks & Recreation Agency in the country by National Recreation & Park Association in 2009.  These include Sweet Water Park and the Collins Hill Aquatic Center… as well as about a dozen more.

If catching a game is more to your stlye, the Gwinnett Braves play in their new Baseball Park in Lawrenceville.  They are the AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, playing in the International League.  The Gwinnett Gladiators play nearby at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.  They are the East Coast Hockey League affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers.  The Atlanta Falcons practice in nearby Flowery Branch.

Gwinnett County is a Vibrant business hub…

…and Lawrenceville is right in the middle of it all…  From the impending relocation of NCR to being the home of Gwinnett Technical College and Georgia Gwinnett College (part of the Univ. of GA system), Gwinnett is growing and poised to continue that growth.  Its convenience to Atlanta, I-85 and other regional amenities, as well as lower costs of living than other nearby areas, makes Gwinnett a prime target for corporate relocations and start-ups.

And you can live here too…

To see the latest market stats for Lawrenceville, take a look here…

If you’d like to browse homes currently for sale in Lawrenceville, check this out…