Submitted photoThe Veterans Memorial is a featured attraction in Snellville.

THOMASVILLE — Although the number of people living in Thomasville and Snellville is similar, the communities are quite different. Snellville is a part of the Atlanta metro region, and Thomasville is in a more rural area. 

As to shopping, Snellville identifies itself as a regional shopping district, and Thomasville also attracts shoppers from around the region. Snellville’s shopping district, however, consists primarily of national chain stores. Thomasville has fewer national chain stores, but many regional shoppers visit Thomasville because of the unique, locally-owned shops and restaurants in downtown Thomasville.

Demographically, Thomasville is a majority-minority community — of its estimated 18,515 residents, 9,941, or 53.7 percent, are African-American. 

Snellville, with 2018 population estimated at 19,395, is 69 percent white and 30 percent black. Snellville’s median income, according to the 2010 Census, was $62,537. Thomasville’s median household income is $34,615.

Thomasville is known for its vibrant downtown, fine restaurants, historic homes and hunting plantations, according to Lynn Williams, Thomasville assistant city manager for communications and development. Thomasville was named a Great American Main Street City in 1998, and the community’s continued commitment to creating and maintaining a thriving downtown are evident in the many unique shops and restaurants downtown.  

“Another distinguishing feature is Thomasville’s commitment to parks and trees,” Williams said. “We have a number of large parks and of course the treasured ‘Big Oak.’ This massive Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) grew from a tiny acorn beginning around 1685. Now more than 337 years old, the Big Oak has a limb span of more than 165 feet and a trunk circumference of more than 26 feet.”

Snellville’s retail district is on Highway 124 — Scenic Highway — from Highway 78 to Webb Gin Road. It represents about $1 billion in sales, according to Brian Arrington, City of Snellville public information officer.

Snellville’s motto is “Where Everybody is Proud to be Somebody” and it is a city that still manages to keep its small-town feel, despite being a 30-minute ride from Atlanta, Arrington said.

“Our police department is known for its professionalism and dedication, and our volunteers are the foundation on which our city is based,” he said. “Volunteers help put on the city’s numerous events, including Snellville Days, concerts on the Towne Green and an award-winning farmers market. The city has a world-class Veterans Memorial residents support with charitable donations.” 

Snellville’s population exploded in the 1970s and later after being a farming community for 100 years. With no downtown infrastructure or historic buildings like Thomasville, Snellville is reinventing itself, embracing its commercial roots by building a downtown from scratch. Called the Towne Center, the city is building a walkable and livable downtown where residents can live, work and play. Thomasville seems to have a downtown and history Snellville can hope for for future generations, Arrington added.

Thomas County School System’s fiscal year 2018 budget was $64.8 million, with $62.5 million spent.

All of the Thomasville City School System’s FY 2018 $26.8 million budget was spent.

The City of Thomasville’s 2018 budget for all its funds and operations was $122.7 million.

Snellville’s 2018 city budget was a little more than $13 million. About $12.2 million was spent. The city does not have a fire department.

Snellville is the fifth most populous city in Gwinnett County, which has a total population of more than 920,000. Gwinnett County government’s FY 2018 budget was $1.7 billion. Gwinnett County Board of Education’s fiscal year 2018 budget was $2.1 billion.