Norcross

On October 16, 1869, Atlanta businessman John J. Thrasher purchased land lot No. 254, approximately 250 acres in southwestern Gwinnett County. He envisioned a resort town at the first stop north of Atlanta on the Atlanta & Richmond Air-Line, which was then under construction from Atlanta to Charlotte. When the railroad arrived in 1870, Thrasher subdivided his acreage and sold lots to investors and residents from Atlanta and surrounding farming communities, such as Pinckneyville and Flint Hill. Thus, he established the town of Norcross, naming it for his good friend and fellow Atlanta pioneer, Jonathan Norcross. Images of America: Norcross tells the stories of the town's founders, residents, and visitors, combining everyday lives with historical events that stretch over 140 years. The rich history includes pioneers, Civil War veterans, former slaves, railroaders, baseball players, preachers, teachers, politicians, bootleggers, entrepreneurs, US presidents, and the 1996 Olympic torch.

Resident historians Edith Holbrook Riehm and Gene Ramsay, in conjunction with Norcross Welcome Center coordinator Cate Kitchen and with the support of many in the community, have amassed scores of photographs from Norcross’s storied past. With carefully selected images and extensive research, they have created an intriguing and engaging history of this charming Southern Reconstruction town.