Acworth, Georgia

Acworth, Georgia, is a city of roughly 22,000 residents located in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains, about 35 miles northwest of Atlanta. Known far and wide as "The Lake City," Acworth sits along the shores of Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona on the Etowah River. The city was originally settled by the Cherokee Nation until the early 1830s, and in 1845 the Western and Atlantic Railroad reached the area. A railroad engineer named the stop after his hometown of Acworth, New Hampshire, and the city was incorporated in 1860.

During the Civil War, Acworth served as a key logistical point along the railroad. Union General William T. Sherman headquartered here during his Atlanta Campaign, and the famous Great Locomotive Chase passed right through the city in 1862. In the 1950s, Lake Acworth was created through dam projects on the Etowah River, transforming the community into a lakeside destination.

Today, Acworth blends its rich past with modern living. The historic downtown district, anchored by Depot Park with its replica of the original 19th-century railroad depot, offers a self-guided walking tour of historic landmarks including the Lemon House (built 1856), Acworth Presbyterian Church (built 1875), and Bethel A.M.E. Church (built circa 1878). Named an All-America City, Acworth is one of the fastest-growing communities in metro Atlanta, prized for its natural beauty, strong schools, and welcoming community spirit.

Acworth continues to evolve with significant new investments in 2025 and 2026. A 100-room Springhill Suites by Marriott broke ground downtown in July 2026, within walking distance of the Acworth Community Center along Cherokee Street. Wellstar received state approval for a $1 billion, 230-bed regional medical center at Acworth (Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center at Acworth), now in the planning phase to serve Cobb, Paulding, Cherokee, and Bartow counties. A joint venture of the Novare Group, Batson-Cook Development Co., and PointOne Holdings developed the 330-unit luxury apartment community known as The Parker, with 20 carriage homes on a 20-acre site at 5950 Highway 92, and the property began taking tenants in 2026. Caldwell Companies consolidated four affiliated businesses into a new headquarters at 3102 Cobb Parkway NW, with a ribbon cutting in July 2026. Angry Crab Shack opened a new Acworth location in spring 2026. Epic Custom Lighting celebrated its grand opening in May 2026. Freedom Church opened a new auditorium. TRG Vino Market opened at 4823 S Main Street in February 2026. Factory Treats celebrated a ribbon cutting on August 7, 2026, welcomed by city officials. New restaurants including Mushi Ni, Chuan Tasty, and Cafe le Bon have opened in 2026. The city received the PlanFirst designation from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for 2025. Cranes Coffee held its grand-opening ribbon cutting in downtown Acworth on September 5, 2026, joined by the mayor, aldermen, and the Acworth Business Association. Phase 1 of the Lake Acworth Master Plan was completed in March 2026, and Cauble Park Phase I improvements were completed in April 2026. The first phase of the Cowan Road Multi-Use Trail opened, adding a half-mile, 10-foot-wide path connecting the Acworth Trail at Spring Street to Spring Meadow Drive. The Due West/Ragsdale Road Multi-Use Trail project broke ground in early October 2026, a new 10-foot-wide path connecting residential neighborhoods with the downtown core. The Newberry Park Sinkhole Repair project was announced August 14, 2026, with tree removal beginning in August and full repair planned for November. The city is proposing a $28 million SPLOST to fund sidewalks, trails, and park renovations, with the aim of connecting every subdivision to walkable amenities. SPLOST-funded projects also include the New McEver Road multi-use trail and the Nance Road/Main Street intersection improvements, plus intersection upgrades at Acworth Summit Boulevard and Cobb Parkway and at Due West Road and Cobb Parkway, along with a new roundabout at Due West Road and McClure Road, a new police training facility, a $1 million renovation of the Logan Multi-Use Trail, city-wide public parking improvements, and the first phase of Historic Downtown Infrastructure and Streetscape improvements. The Acworth Farmers Market expanded to Saturdays in 2026. The North Cobb Rotary celebrated a successful 2026 Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival. The city celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence at the July 4th Concert and Fireworks event at Cauble Park. New residential communities continue to arrive: Madison at Buice Lake (Stanley Martin Homes, a master-planned community with lakefront amenities, homes from roughly $480,000 to $550,000), Cherokee Township (Traton Homes, townhomes from $359,900), The Artisan at Victory, and Sable Trace Ridge (Treetop Residential) are among the latest additions. The Acworth Community Garden held volunteer workdays on August 24 and 26, 2026, supporting fresh produce delivery to local seniors. The Downtown Development Authority's Public Art Committee installed two new Little Free Art Galleries downtown and celebrated them with an August 24, 2026 ribbon cutting. National Night Out with Acworth PD was held August 5, 2026. The Goldfish Swim School hosted a Back to School Bash on August 23, 2026. Tap Town (4443 Cherokee Street) launched a new Sunday brunch menu starting August 16, served every Sunday from 10AM to 3PM. The UGA SBDC hosted a Small Business Advancement Seminar on Smart SEO and AI at the Acworth Community Center on August 26. The August Fall Craft Market took place August 22 at The Hyde Out Diner. New businesses opening downtown include City BBQ (January 2025), Keegan's Irish Pub on Main Street (July 2025), Rete & Co (October 2025), Gather & Bloom, a floral boutique (December 2025), and Acworth Antiques in the Mill District (February 2026), with the sweets shop Gimme That Sugar among the newest Mill District arrivals. A $50 million mixed-use development, including a five-story hospitality component, a 210,000-square-foot medical facility, and a 26,500-square-foot restaurant, is in design, and the Parkside District, the 14-acre Logan Farm Park expansion anchored by the 44,000-square-foot Acworth Community Center, continues to draw new businesses to downtown, with Red Top Brewhouse announced as the district's next arrival. The downtown dining scene also celebrated 1885 Grill, recognized as a Cobb Chamber 2026 Employer of Excellence, and Merkaba Pilates opened at 4805 S Main Street. More 2026 openings round out the scene: Gifted Barber Shop celebrated a ribbon cutting in July 2026, Henry's Louisiana Grill reopened under new owners Brian and Taylor Cowart in January 2026, Casa Amigos Mexican Restaurant held its Acworth ribbon cutting in August 2026 at 3365 Acworth Oaks Drive, and the Acworth Kroger at 3330 Cobb Parkway unveiled a $2.1 million renovation in March 2026. On the schools front, the Cobb County Board of Education appointed Dr. Tiffany Hourigan as Principal of Acworth Elementary School, which remains a Title I school with active family-engagement programs, Cobb County School District opened the 2026-27 school year on August 3, 2026, and the new Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy (CITA) at Allatoona High School opened its doors, becoming the district's second career academy campus after CITA at Osborne. North Cobb High School was also named a 2026 AP Honor School and unveiled a new nutrition center, while Allatoona High School ranked #79 among Georgia high schools in U.S. News & World Report's 2026-2027 ratings. In early September 2026 the city announced a ribbon cutting for its new Staircase Mural public art installation, and Between the Shears celebrated a ribbon cutting on August 28, 2026. Acworth voters will see a November 2, 2026 referendum to renew the county's 1% SPLOST that funds roads, sidewalks, stormwater, and park infrastructure, ahead of the current program's December 31, 2027 expiration. In early September 2026 the city issued an invitation for bids for professional services to guide its Comprehensive Plan Update, laying out the city's vision for growth and development in the years ahead, and on September 16 it advanced the annual Community Work Program and Capital Improvement Element update, a state-required step that keeps Acworth eligible to collect recreation impact fees. The Historic Downtown Acworth Farmers Market continues at Logan Farm Park into late September, now offering Friday and Saturday hours for the autumn season, and the Acworth Planning & Zoning Commission met September 22 to review development applications consistent with the plan. On September 25, the Open-Air Artisan Showcase takes over Town Square Drive in downtown Acworth, and residents can now visit Tap Town at 4443 Cherokee Street seven days a week, with table reservations and Sunday brunch that keeps the lakehouse-inspired spot busy well into the afternoon. A Concert on the Green celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month took over Logan Farm Park on September 19, and the Acworth Farmers Market keeps its Friday and Saturday hours into the autumn season. At its September 28 public hearing, the Board of Aldermen heard a request from the developers of the Cowan Road townhome project to substitute a sidewalk along Spring Meadow Drive for the required 10-foot paved trail connection to city park property, with the board's decision still pending heading into its October 1 regular meeting. October opens with a full calendar: the Great Lake Allatoona Clean Up takes place October 3 at Cauble Park, the Acworth Book & Storytelling Festival returns October 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tanyard Creek Overlook near the Acworth Community Center under the theme "Weaving Tales, Building Community Through Story," with 40-plus local and regional authors, professional storytellers, vendors, and quilt displays, and Acworth Ghost Tours run every Friday and Saturday night in October through the historic district. The Historic Downtown Acworth Farmers Market keeps its Friday and Saturday morning hours at Logan Farm Park through the end of October, and Jimmy John's has opened a new Acworth location, adding another quick-service option along the corridor. Taste of Acworth returns October 17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. downtown with more than 40 restaurant booths, free admission, and live music on Main Street, and the Halloween JamBOOree takes over Logan Farm Park on October 24 with games, trick-or-treating, and family fun.