Human settlement in the area can be traced back to approximately 400 AD, when Native Americans forged three trails to better access the area's freshwater springs.[7] In the 16th century, theCreek Muskogee tribe settled the area, where they remained until the early 1800s, when they were forced out of the area due to the discovery ofgold.[7]
In 1821, the federal government held a number of land lotteries in the area, resulting in the purchase of land in present-day Sandy Springs and its subsequent settlement.[7] The Austin-Johnson House, the oldest existing unaltered house, was built in 1842 on what is now Johnson Ferry Road.[7] In 1851, Wilson Spruill donated 5 acres (2.0 ha) of land for the founding of Sandy SpringsUnited Methodist Church, near the natural spring for which the city is named.[8] In 1905, the Hammond School was built atJohnson Ferry Road and Mt. Vernon Highway, across the street from the church.[citation needed]
In 1950, the state legislature blocked Atlanta from annexing the community, which remained rural until the Interstate Highway System was authorized by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. In 1959, after a fire at Hammond Elementary School,William Hartsfield, the mayor of Atlanta, urged residents to support annexation so that the area would have better firefighting protection. Community opposition killed the proposal. In the early 1960s,Georgia 400 andInterstate 285 were constructed, connecting Sandy Springs tometro Atlanta and initiating a housing boom that brought new residents and majorland development as part of thewhite flight from Atlanta after theCivil Rights Movement won greater racial integration within Atlanta.[9]
In 1965, Hartsfield once again proposed the annexation of the Sandy Springs area. Spokesmen for Sandy Springs promised residents to "build up a city separate from Atlanta and your Negroes and forbid any Negroes to buy, or own, or live within our limits" should they reject annexation.[9] In 1966, annexation by Atlanta was defeated in a referendum, with two-thirds voting against.[citation needed]
Efforts to incorporate Sandy Springs began in 1966 in response to attempts by the city of Atlanta to annex this unincorporated area of northFulton County.[10]
In the early 1970s, the city of Atlanta attempted to use a state law to forceannexation of Sandy Springs, which failed after theSupreme Court of Georgia ruled that the law wasunconstitutional. In response, a group of residents formed the Committee for Sandy Springs 1975 to lobby for the incorporation of Sandy Springs.[7]
During this time, proponents for an incorporated Sandy Springs argued that their taxes were disproportionately going to other, largely non-white, communities in Fulton County.[11] In every legislative session, state legislators representing the area introduced a bill in theGeorgia General Assembly to authorize a referendum on incorporation.[7] Legislators representing Atlanta and southwestern Fulton County, who feared that tax revenue would be lost from incorporation, blocked the bills,[7] using the procedural requirement that alllocal legislation be approved first by a delegation of representatives from the affected area.[citation needed]
In 1991, the Georgia state government determined that Sandy Springs, along with other wealthier, and predominantly white, communities in Fulton County was being taxed below statewide minimums, resulting in an increase in taxes for the area.[11] Some Sandy Springs residents, includingMitch Skandalakis, launched a number of campaigns against the taxes, and launched an unsuccessful lawsuit against the state.[11]
On January 16, 1997,Eric Rudolph bombed an abortion clinic in Sandy Springs.[12][13]
When theRepublican Party gained a majority in both houses of theGeorgia General Assembly in 2005, the procedural rules previously used to prevent a vote by the full chamber were changed so that the bill was handled as a state bill and not as a local bill.[citation needed] The assembly also repealed the requirement that new cities must be at least 3 miles (4.8 km) from existing cities that had stymied previous attempts to incorporate due to Sandy Springs directly bordering bothRoswell and Atlanta.[citation needed] The bill allowing for a referendum on incorporation was introduced and passed as HB 37.[14] The referendum initiative was approved by the Assembly and signed by GovernorSonny Perdue.
A referendum was held on June 21, 2005, and residents voted 94% in favor of incorporation.[7] In November 2005, voters returned to the polls to elect amayor and sixcity council members.
Formal incorporation occurred on December 1, making Sandy Springs the third-largest city ever to incorporate in the U.S.[2] The city's police force and fire department began service in 2006. Upon incorporation, Sandy Springs initiated a nontraditional approach by operating as apublic-private partnership (PPP), with all but six full-time employees being contracted.[15]
In 2010, the city undertook a procurement process to rebid all general city services, which was won byCH2M Hill.[15] The timing of this contract, during theGreat Recession, allowed the city to leverage a cheaper contract due to the economic downturn.[15]
In 2010, the city became the first jurisdiction in Georgia to successfully "bail out" from the preclearance requirements ofSection 5 of the Voting Rights Act.[16]
In 2019, the Sandy Springs City Council moved to scale back the PPP model, directly hiring 183 contract employees, leaving only 15 outsourced full-time workers by the end of 2019.[17] The city will still outsource a number of services, including the city attorney's office, as well as security, street sweeping and ambulance services.[17] The move was expected to save $2.7 million in the next year and more than $14 million over 5 years.[15][17]
The boundaries of Sandy Springs are Atlanta to the south,Cobb County (at theChattahoochee River) to the west and north,Roswell (also at the river) to the north, andDunwoody andBrookhaven, at theDeKalb County line, to the east. A smallpanhandle in the northeast extends between the Chattahoochee River to the north and Dunwoody to the south, ending in a very small border withPeachtree Corners in the extreme western edge ofGwinnett County.
Sandy Springs has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa). During January and February 2014, the Atlanta area, including Sandy Springs, experienced asevere snow storm and asevere ice storm, both of which left much of the region without power, caused major travel disruptions, and the former storm forced people to take shelter in cars and schools as the city was underprepared for the black ice that prevented transport.[18]
Northside Tower, a downtown landmark located in City Springs at Sandy Springs Place and Roswell RoadThe skyline of Pill Hill in the Sandy Springs portion of Perimeter Center
City Springs, the downtown district of Sandy Springs, is usually defined as the area to the south and east of Sandy Springs Circle, to the north ofInterstate 285, and to the west of Boylston Drive. It is located approximately 12 miles directly north ofDowntown Atlanta. In the absence of a traditional downtown, city leaders created City Springs, a multi-use development containing municipal offices, residential, retail, green space and a performing arts center, landmarking a formal "downtown" for its residents.[20] City leaders purchased the property in 2008, which was once the site of a former Target (formerly Richway) shopping center,[citation needed] located between Roswell Road, Johnson Ferry Road, and Mount Vernon Highway. Since then, the surrounding area in the district has become a center for urban renewal for the city, with many new mixed-use apartment developments being planned or built, primarily replacing oldstrip malls alongRoswell Road. The City Springs center officially opened in 2018, 10 years after the original site purchase.[20] The official address for the complex is on Galambos Way, named after the city's first mayor,Eva Galambos.[20] Within the City Springs district is Heritage Green, which is home to the spring which spurred the name of the city.[citation needed]
Riverside is the western district of the city, located south of Dalyrmple Road and west of Roswell Road, bordering the Chattahoochee River to the west, forming the western border with Cobb County. It is a high-income, residential area marked by winding, hilly roads and old growth forest. The main roads are Heards Ferry Road and Riverside Drive, and it is located off the Riverside Drive exit of I-285. Two of the public schools within Sandy Springs are located here, Heards Ferry Elementary andRiverwood International Charter School. The headquarters for theFulton County Board of Education are also found in this district. Many of the neighborhoods in this area derive their name from the river.[21][22]
The Dunwoody Panhandle, or just "The Panhandle" is a residential area bounded by theDunwoody city limit to the south, the Chattahoochee River to the north,Georgia 400 to the west, and Peachtree Corners city limit to the east. The district's name is derived from the fact that it is wedged between the river and Dunwoody, forming a geographic panhandle. Major roads include Dunwoody Club Drive andSpalding Drive, and Interstate access is through the Northridge Road exit of Georgia 400. Many who lived in the neighborhood during Sandy Springs' incorporation considered themselves part of Dunwoody, and voiced their opposition to the installment of street sign toppers labelled "Sandy Springs".[23] Then-mayor Eva Galambos stated that these new signs would do nothing to diminish the neighborhood's identity.[23] Some residents still consider the area to be "Dunwoody in Sandy Springs", similar to theBuckhead Community district of Atlanta.
Perimeter Center is a commercialedge city andbusiness district surroundingPerimeter Mall. Although about 40% of Perimeter Center, including the mall, is located in Dunwoody, the western 60%, including most of the area'soffice towers, are located in Sandy Springs.Pill Hill is located in the Sandy Springs section of Perimeter Center, and is the largest medical center in Georgia. It includesNorthside Hospital,St. Joseph's Hospital, andChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta. More than 40% of the hospital beds in the metro area are located within Sandy Springs. Landmarks include Hammond Park,Concourse at Landmark Center, colloquially called the 'King' and 'Queen' buildings due to their distinct white crown architecture at the top of each tower, as well as twoMARTA stations, theSandy Springs andMedical CenterMARTAstations.[24] The area also includes the 400-285 highway interchange, which is currently undergoing major construction. The top three tallest suburban buildings in the country are found here, the 'King' and 'Queen', and nearbyPark Towers at #3.
North Springs is located in the northern portion of the city, and is generally defined as the area west of the Dunwoody/DeKalb County border, east of Brandon Mill Road, north of Abernathy Road, and south of Dalrymple Road and Spalding Drive. TheNorth Springs MARTA station, the terminus of the MARTARed Line, serves the district. Five of Sandy Springs' public schools are in this area, including the newest Ison Springs Elementary School, Woodland Elementary School, Spalding Drive Charter Elementary School, Sandy Springs Charter Middle School, andNorth Springs Charter High School.[25][26][27][28]
South Springs or Sandy Springs ITP, an acronym for "inside the perimeter", refers to a portion of the city which extends south of Interstate 285, colloquially referred to as "the perimeter".[29][30] It is located north of theCity of Atlanta border, east of the Riverside district, south of Interstate 285, and west of theBrookhaven/DeKalb County border. The southern area of this district is considered to be a part of the greaterChastain Park community ofBuckhead. The public schools in this area include Ridgeview Charter School and High Point Elementary School.[31] The popular Atlanta radio station 99X broadcasts on 98.9 from here.[32]
The business district just east of the river crossing is called Powers Ferry Landing, located where Northside Drive crosses the road, just east of the former landing. This provides freeway access at Northside Drive (west ramps) and New Northside Drive (east ramps, road and ramps built in a 1990s reconstruction). Signage on the freeway indicates Powers Ferry Road, Northside Drive, and New Northside Drive.[33]
The North End is a large district in the northernmost portion of the city, and is generally defined as the area to the west ofGA400, to the south and east of the Chattahoochee River, and to the north of Dalrymple Road. It is accessible via GA400 at Northridge Road, and contains the Northridge business area and the North River Village community. The Huntcliff community and Grogans Bluff neighborhood are located west of the district, on a panhandle to the northwest.[citation needed]
(Note: the2000 U.S. census numbers are for Sandy Springs prior to incorporation, but cover the same area.)
Map of racial distribution in Sandy Springs, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person:⬤ White⬤ Black⬤ Asian⬤ Hispanic⬤ Multiracial⬤ Native American/Other
Sandy Springs, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
According to the2020 United States census, there were 108,080 people, 52,820 households, and 25,861 families residing in the city; this is up from a population of 93,853 at the 2010 census, and 85,781 at the 2000 census. When it was first listed as a census designated place in 1980, its population was 46,877.
According to a 2008 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $106,240, and the median income for a family was $129,810. The average income for a household was $116,406 and the average income for a family was $169,815. Males had a median income of $60,053 versus $50,030 for females. About 3.1% of families and 7.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 1.9% of those age 65 or over.[50][51][full citation needed]
The largest employers within Sandy Springs are hospitals, headquarters and regional offices from a variety of industries including computer related services, package delivery, telecommunications, media, and financial transaction processing. Sandy Springs is home to three hospitals:Northside Hospital,St. Joseph's Hospital andChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta, comprising 40& of the hospital beds in the region. The North-American headquarters forMercedes-Benz is atGlenridge Hall.[52]
The Sandy Springs Festival, established in 1984, is the largest community event in Sandy Springs, with approximately 30,000 attendees. The festival features artists, civic and business expositions, bands, children's events, and a road race.[54]
Sandy Springs Artsapalooza is an annual fine arts festival.[55]
Stars and Stripes Celebration is an annual community fireworks display held on theJuly 4 holiday.[56]
The annual Chattahoochee River Summer Splash is a 6-mile (10 km) float along theChattahoochee River.
Sandy Springs was noted for contracting private companies to perform the majority of its services in a public-private partnership model of government at the beginning of its incorporation in 2005.[59] While many governments contract with private-sector companies on a per-project basis, Sandy Springs is believed to be the first American city to outsource its services for the majority of ongoing operations. They chose to do so as an economic response to theGreat Recession. The city regularly hosted delegations from other governments that were interested in the model.[60] Services not outsourced include police, fire-rescue, and city management. The city moved away from the private-public partnership model in 2019 when it was realized how much money was lost to private contractors and hired 184 full-time city staff that work at the new City Springs development. It now operates as a hybrid model, outsourcing projects to private companies as needed. The city estimates $14 million will be saved over the next five years from hiring full-time staff.[61]
In April 2025, the Sandy Springs city council enacted an ordinance initially drafted by theAnti-Defamation League that prohibited distributing a leaflet, displaying a sign, or engaging in oral protest within eight feet of someone without their consent. The ordinance was criticized by the ACLU of Georgia for violating individuals'freedom of speech, and was unanimously repealed by the city council in May 2025.[63]
Public schools are operated by theFulton County School System. Elementary schools serving sections of Sandy Springs include Dunwoody Springs Charter Elementary School, Heards Ferry Elementary School, High Point Elementary School, Ison Springs Elementary School, Lake Forest Elementary School, Spalding Drive Charter Elementary School, and Woodland Charter Elementary School.[64] Two middle schools, Sandy Springs Middle School and Ridgeview Charter Middle School, and two high schools,North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences andRiverwood High School, are in and serve Sandy Springs.
The initial campus ofSophia Academy, which opened in 1999, was on a rental property,[69] in what became Sandy Springs.[70][71] Construction on its new campus on what later becameChamblee began circa 2007.[69]
The Sandy Springs Police Department is the city's police department[75] and took over services from Fulton County in 2006, with 86 original police officers recruited from various police agencies from all over the State of Georgia. The department 149 full-time sworn officers, 11 part-time officers, and 23 civilians. The department answered 124,374 calls for service and made 3,390 arrests in 2020.
The city's fire department began operations in 2006. The department consists of 113 full-time firefighters, and handled 17,000 responses to 8,205 calls for service.
The City of Sandy Springs opened a new police headquarters and municipal courthouse on April 12, 2025.[76]
^abKruse, Kevin Michael (2007).White flight : Atlanta and the making of modern conservatism. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press.ISBN9781400848973.OCLC852159650.
^"Home". St. Jude the Apostle Catholic School. RetrievedMarch 11, 2020.7171 Glenridge Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30328 - Address says "Atlanta, GA" but it is in the Sandy Springs city limits
^"Contact Us."Holy Spirit Preparatory School. Retrieved on January 7, 2019. "Upper School Campus 4449 Northside Drive Atlanta, GA 30327" and "Lower School Campus 4820 Long Island Drive Atlanta, GA 30342" and "Preschool Campus 4465 Northside Drive Atlanta, GA 30327"
^ab"History". Sophia Academy. Archived fromthe original on June 19, 2016. RetrievedMay 12, 2020.
^"Home". Sophia Academy. November 1, 2004. Archived fromthe original on November 1, 2004. RetrievedMay 12, 2020.650 Mt. Vernon Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30238
^"Zoning Map"(PDF). Sandy Springs, Georgia. January 1, 2007. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on January 1, 2007. RetrievedMay 12, 2020.
