Cumming is a town in the Atlanta metropolitan area in Georgia with a rich, somewhat wild history. It is the only incorporated city in Forsyth County, which of course has made it the county seat. In 2010, Cumming had a population of less than 6000. They are a modern town and yet have not lost the beautiful, historic architecture of their past. They have overcome adversity in so many ways to become what they are today.
Cumming first began in 1833. In 1834, the town was incorporated. It was named for Colonel William Cumming, who had served with distinction in the War of 1812. During the Georgia gold rush, the town grew and prospered in the 30s and 40s. The 50s saw the California Gold Rush take the miners away from Cumming, resulting in an economic crash for the city. While other towns began to see the coming of railroads, Cumming was bypassed and remained a ruined town.
During the Civil War, Cumming was spared the destruction of Atlanta and other places in Georgia when General Sherman bypassed the city for more strategic blows. Reconstruction changed almost nothing in Cumming. During the 1900s, the county courthouse was burned to the ground twice. In the years following, there were attempts by some to force out all African Americans from the entire county. This too was something that Cumming would have to recover from.
The Civil Rights Movement had a significant effect in Cumming. A civil rights demonstration with over 20,000 people, some of whom were politicians and others of whom were merely average people, came to Cumming in the 80s. It was one of the largest events of its kind since the 60s, and with it came welcome changes to the city. More people felt safe to move in, and Cumming began to grow as it had not grown for almost 100 years.
Now, it has many attractions to outsiders, and it is an affluent city in which anyone can live and work. You can go there to see the historical sites, of which there are several.
One such historical site is the Cumming City Hall. This stunning piece of architecture is more modern than it appears. It has a four-faced clock tower, and the outside is reminiscent of old-fashioned red brick, although it is not brick at all. It has arched doorways and many windows overlooking downtown Cumming. It is historical because it is here that much of the history of Cumming is on display, including antique photographs of the past administration.
Another attraction for lovers of history is the Bell Research Center. It is not just a library, although it also serves in that more simple function. It is almost a museum with artifacts from the town's history including some from World War II that were donated more recently. It has books, periodicals and other reference materials galore. It is a non-profit that offers the use of its materials free of charge. They also host lectures and other events. If you find the average library pretty dull, try this place for some real historical interest.
One wonderful old farm that shows how life was back in the day is the Fowler Family Farm. It harkens all the way back to the early 1900s and has many of the original buildings still standing. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Here, you can see how they went about raising cotton and chickens. This farm is just one of several reminders of the old-style, rural Cumming people once knew. The place is also interesting in terms of architecture.
Until recently, Cumming seemed to have gotten far from its nature-loving, agricultural roots. Now, though, there are projects underway to revive some of the old ways. Green spaces and parks have begun to be more common as people start to think of things like sustainability, environmental health and the beauty of nature.
What is happening on a city level is also happening on a personal level as the citizens of Cumming begin to plant lawns and gardens to assist in these efforts. However, up-keeping these new landscapes may be more of a chore than they are willing to commit to. Lawn Love can help. Rather than researching for weeks about which landscaping company to use, reach out to us. Get your free quote online in less than two minutes. From there you schedule landscaping services in mere minutes. Try Lawn Love today and join the efforts to help Cumming become more sustainable.
