The Sandy Springs community embodies the spirit of the modern south. It’s a friendly, welcoming community with hundreds of independently owned shops and restaurants, and more than 950 acres of parks and natural areas.

Sandy Springs is Georgia’s sixth largest city and the second largest city in the metropolitan Atlanta area. It was incorporated in 2005, although efforts to incorporate began as early as 1966 when the city of Atlanta attempted to annex the area. Sandy Springs residents fought for 40 years to form their own government, and when the time came, 94% of residents voted for incorporation.

Before 2005, residents relied upon county government for the provision of services. When they formed their own government, they chose a non-traditional Public Private Partnership (PPP), contracting private companies to perform the majority of services, so that nearly half of the city staff is employed by a private company. This PPP model is widely regarded as an example for other local governments, with city leaders from around the globe – including China, Japan, Korea, Finland and others – visiting Sandy Springs to learn the model. Since the incorporation of Sandy Springs, several other metro cities have formed (Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Peachtree Corners, Milton and Johns Creek), all using a form of the Public-Private model.

With roots dating back to the 1800s, Sandy Springs began as a watering stop for Native-Americans who frequented the bubbling springs in the area. Settlers moved in, and in 1842 the Austin-Johnson House – now the oldest house in Sandy Springs – was built.

The community remained rural until the mid-1950s.  In the 1960s, Interstate 285 and the first phase of GA 400 were opened, connecting Sandy Springs to metro Atlanta and initiating a housing boom that brought new residents and major land development. Today the city, which is 38-square miles and borders Roswell and Atlanta, is home to more than 101,000 residents. It is also home to more Fortune 500 companies per capita than any other city in the country.

Sandy Springs is the healthcare mecca of Atlanta, with three hospitals, hundreds of physician practices, multiple outpatient centers, and support services. The area, often called Pill Hill, is home to the largest medical center in Georgia.

One thing that sets this community apart is the true sense of belonging it offers. Residents of Sandy Springs love the city and are very involved in the community. They pride themselves in creating the city they wanted, and fought hard for. Residents love that Sandy Springs is a pocket of traditional southern charm, boasts one of the most innovative systems of service delivery in the country, and has a personality all it’s own.

At Karen Cannon, Realtors, we are local real estate experts for Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and North Atlanta. We live, work and play here, and our agents are hand-picked for their connections in the community. Our clients know about homes coming on the market before anyone else. And our highly effective marketing program allows us to shorten the number of days on the market. We’ve even put homes under contract sight unseen!

If you are thinking about selling your home, or are interested in moving into Dunwoody, Sandy Springs or the surrounding areas, call us at 770-352-9658.