Norcross History

Norcross history is tightly connected to the Richmond-Danville Railroad Line, which was the starting point for several other towns in Gwinnett County. Two years after work on the railroad resumed, Atlanta resident John J. Thrasher built a house on the land that he would name Norcross, in honor of his friend and associate Jonathan Norcross. Thrasher would go on to become the city's first mayor from 1870 to 1878, while his colleague would later hold the same position as the fourth mayor of Norcross, Georgia. As an homage to the founder of the city, the Norcross City Park is called Thrasher Park.

The newly constructed railroad line allowed the Airline Belle four coach commuter train to make two daily round trips from Norcross to Atlanta, and the city started to flourish as a resort town and center of commerce. The town was also accessible via Chattahoochee River ferry crossings such as Nesbit Ferry, Jones Ferry and Medlock Ferry. The majority of merchants and tourists stayed at the Brunswick hotel, built in 1870 and located at the corner of Jones and Thrasher Streets. Merchants would bring their vendibles to the resort hotel for tourists to inspect, while farmers came into town to buy supplies and process and sell their cotton as well as other products.

Today, the city of Norcross strives to become a prosperous, sustainable community and continue to grow into the future. This goal is pursued by planning and promoting both the city and the peripheral areas. The city also encourages both short and long term visitors, and has a booming real estate industry at the service of people who are interested in relocating to closely knit community, which is at the same time the home of several successful companies including paper and packaging manufacturers, footwear and clothing chains, and wireless communication technology and software companies.