Mulberry, Georgia

Last updated

Mulberry
City of Mulberry
Gwinnett County Georgia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Mulberry Highlighted 2025.svg
Location in Gwinnett County and the State of Georgia
Mulberry, Georgia
Mulberry, Georgia
Mulberry, Georgia
Mulberry, Georgia
Coordinates: 34°03′12″N83°53′09″W / 34.053410°N 83.885844°W / 34.053410; -83.885844
CountryUnited States
State Georgia
County Gwinnett
Incorporated2024
Named after Mulberry trees
Government
  Type Mayor-council
  BodyCity Council
  MayorMichael Coker
Area
  Total
27.990 sq mi (72.495 km2)
  Land27.750 sq mi (71.873 km2)
  Water0.240 sq mi (0.622 km2)
Elevation
[3]
932 ft (284 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
39,560
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
30011,30019,30046, 30517,30519,30548
GNIS feature ID2832427
Website https://www.mulberryga.gov/

Mulberry is a city in northeastern Gwinnett County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created in 2024. [3] As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 39,560 in the areas it first incorporated. It is now around 28 sqmi making it the largest city in Gwinnett County by total area. [1]

Contents

History

A post office called Mulberry was established in 1838, and remained in operation until 1914. [4] The community was named for mulberry trees near the original town site. [5]

On January 1, 2025, the City of Mulberry began operations with Michael Coker elected as the city's first mayor. [6]

On February 10, 2025, SB138 [7] and SB139 [8] were introduced in the Georgia Senate which sought to modify the funding of services within the city and expand the city's area respectively. SB138 required Gwinnett County to continue to pay for some city services for a two-year transition period back-dated to January 1, 2025. Furthermore, the bill established legal consequences if Gwinnett County were found not upholding these requirements. Proponents argued the bill would streamline the operations of new cities and ensure the continuity of services. Gwinnett County opposed this measure arguing that the bill was "a dangerous precedent for other counties across the state of Georgia." [9] Both bills would later pass and be signed into law on May 14, 2025.

Cityhood initiative

On January 8, 2024, Georgia State House Majority Leader, Chuck Efstration, introduced legislation that would pave the way for the creation of the city of Mulberry located in Gwinnett County. [10] This city would be separate from the already established unincorporated Mulberry located in Barrow County. Efstration’s office worked with KB Advisory Group to develop a feasibility study for prospective cityhood. [10] [11]

The proposal faced both support and criticism from local residents. [12] Additionally, the Gwinnett County government opposed the creation of the city on financial and legal grounds. [13] Mulberry cityhood was approved in a vote of 56.96% on May 21, 2024 in an election held that day. [14]

References

  1. 1 2 "Am I in Mulberry?". ArcGIS Experience. Esri. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  2. "TIGER/Line Shapefiles". census.gov.
  3. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mulberry, Georgia
  4. "Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  5. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 154. ISBN   0-915430-00-2.
  6. "NEWS BRIEFS: Coker is the first mayor of City of Mulberry". Gwinnett Forum. December 13, 2024.
  7. "Georgia SB138 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session". LegiScan. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  8. "Georgia SB139 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session". LegiScan. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  9. "Gwinnett Co. announces legal action to block new law for Mulberry to take over public services". WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta. May 15, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  10. 1 2 Johnson, Matt (January 8, 2024). "Lawmakers propose new city in northern Gwinnett County with no city property taxes". WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta . Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  11. "It's Time For Local Control!". City of Mulberry, Georgia. Archived from the original on June 5, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  12. Dukes, Joi (May 14, 2024). "Proposed City of Mulberry gets final push, objection amid early voting". FOX 5 Atlanta. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  13. "Proposed City of Mulberry - Gwinnett". Gwinnett. Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  14. "Gwinnett voters approve creating City of Mulberry". WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta . May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.