Buford, Georgia FAQ
Your one-stop resource for all things Buford
Buford, GA. Is located in North Georgia. While the majority of the city is in the northern part of Gwinnett County, the city continues its growth into southern Hall County as well.
Buford’s total incorporated land area: 18.22 miles squared (largest city in Gwinnett County by land area)
Population according to 2020 census data: 17,144
Estimated population as of July 2022: 18,130
Zip codes: 30515, 30518, 30519
Area codes: 770, 678
City of Buford Government
Government: Three-seat (At-large) Commission that includes a Chairman and Vice Chairman. Appointed city manager oversees day-to-day operations.
Current elected officials: Commission Chairman Phillip Beard, Commission Vice Chairman Chris Burge and Commissioner Brad Weeks
City Manager: Bryan Kerlin
City Hall: 2300 Buford Highway NE, Buford, Ga. 30518
Phone Number: 770-945-6761
City Website: www.cityofbuford.com
Public Utilities
City of Buford Utilities: The City of Buford operates its own electric, natural gas, residential trash and water departments. Parts of the city have electrical provided by Georgia Power or Jackson EMC.
All City of Buford Utilities: 678-889-4600 – Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (For emergency situations after Hours/Weekends/Holidays 770-932-7986 or dial 911.) http://www.cityofbuford.com
Cable TV/Internet:
Charter Communications – 1-888-947-1274 https://official.spectrum.com/
AT&T – 1-800-288-2020 https://www.att.com/
Unincorporated Buford Utilities:
Electrical:
Georgia Power – Residential 1-888-660-5890, Business 1-888-655-5888 (Report power outages 24/7 1-888-891-0938) https://www.georgiapower.com/
Jackson EMC – 1-888-228-9166 (Report power outages 24/7 1-800-245-4044) https://www.jacksonemc.com/
Garbage:
Gwinnett County: Visit Gwinnett County’s website to determine the local trash hauler for your area. https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/services/solidwastemanagement/residentialservices
Hall County: Residents may take their household trash to one of 12 compactor sites or engage the services of a residential trash hauler. To view the county compactor sites, visit https://www.hallcounty.org/364/Solid-Waste-Collection-Landfill-Division.
The following companies will pick up residential trash in Hall County for a fee:
Red Oak Sanitation & Recycling – 678-455-7819 – http://www.sanitation-services.com/
Garbage Hound Sanitation – 706-658-2679 – http://www.garbagehound.com/
Natural Gas:
City of Buford (services areas outside of the city limits) or Check with the Public Service Commission to decide on a natural gas service provider. https://psc.ga.gov/utilities/natural-gas/
Water & Sewer:
Gwinnett County – 678-376-6800 – https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/departments/water/customercare
Hall County: Hall County does not have its own water department.
Local Schools
Schools: Children residing inside the city limits attend schools in the Buford City School district. BCS is an independent city school system. BCS does accept out-of-district students. Those students must apply to be a tuition student, be accepted and pay the annual tuition costs. Requirements for the limited tuition spots are tough.
Children residing in unincorporated Buford will attend schools in either the Gwinnett County Public School district or the Hall County Public School district.
Buford City Schools
Buford City Schools: BCS has been rated as the No. 1 Public School District in the state of Georgia by Niche.com for eight consecutive years.
Schools Within BCS:
Buford Elementary School (Kindergarten)
Buford Senior Academy (Grades 4-5)
Buford Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Buford High School (Grades 9-12)
Mascot: Wolves
Student to teacher ratio: 19:1
Superintendent: Melanie Reed
Governing Board of Education: Five-seat (At-large) Board of Education with a Chairman and Vice Chairman. Four-year term
Current Elected Board Members: Chairman Phillip Beard, Vice Chairman Bruce Fricks, Matt Peevy, Kathleen Welch and Cory Burge
Buford High School, A Tradition of Excellence
State Championships
(No. of Championships in the Sport)
Baseball (3), Basketball – Boys (2), Basketball – Girls (8), Football (14), Game Day Cheer (1), Gymnastics (6), Lacrosse – Boys (1), Literary (19), One Act (6), Softball – Fast Pitch (13), Track and Field – Boys (1), Track and Field – Girls (3), Volleyball (5), Wrestling – Duals (5), Wrestling – Traditional (5)
Buford High School and Buford Middle School Athletics
Buford High School Athletic Website: www.BufordWolves.com
GHSA Classification: 7A, Region 8
Sports Offered at BHS:
Fall: Competition Cheerleading (girls), Cross Country (boys and girls), Fast Pitch Softball (girls), Flag Football (girls), Football (boys), Game Day Cheerleading (girls) and Volleyball (girls)
Winter: Basketball (boys and girls), Basketball Cheerleading, Bass Fishing (combined), eSports (combined), Dance (combined), Swim & Dive (boys and girls) and Wrestling (boys)
Spring: Baseball, Gymnastics (girls), Golf (boys and girls), Lacrosse (boys and girls), Riflery (combined), Soccer (boys and girls), Tennis (boys and girls) and Track & Field (boys and girls)
Sports Offered at BMS:
Fall: Competition Cheerleading (girls), Cross Country (boys and girls) and Volleyball (girls)
Winter: Basketball (boys and girls) and Cheerleading (girls)
Spring: Soccer (boys and girls) and Track (boys and girls)
Athletic Facilities for BHS:
BUFORD CITY SCHOOLS HAS A CLEAR BAG POLICY.
All tickets are cashless and must be purchased at gofan.co.
Varsity Football/Flag Football: Tom Riden Stadium, 2750 Sawnee Ave, Buford GA 30518 (New BHS Football Stadium is under construction on Buford Highway directly across from the high school.)
Volleyball: BHS North & South Gyms, 2455 Buford Highway, Buford GA 30518
Basketball: Buford Arena, 2795 Sawnee Ave, Buford GA 30518
Lacrosse: Fields at BHS, 2455 Buford Highway, Buford GA 30518
Soccer: Fields at BHS, 2455 Buford Highway, Buford GA 30518
Baseball: Gerald McQuaig Field, 2700 Sawnee Ave, Buford GA 30518
Softball: Buford Softball Complex, 2750 Sawnee Ave, Buford GA 30518
Track & Field: Tom Riden Stadium, 2750 Sawnee Ave, Buford GA 30518
Gymnastics: Gymnastix Training Center, 4775 Thompson Mill Rd, Buford GA 30518 and Buford Arena, 2795 Sawnee Ave, Buford GA 30518
Competition Cheerleading: Buford Arena, 2795 Sawnee Ave, Buford GA 30518 and BHS Gyms, 2455 Buford Highway, Buford GA 30518
Tennis: Buford City Park, 2700 Sawnee Ave, Buford GA 30518
Swim & Dive: Bogan Park Aquatic Center, 2723 North Bogan Rd, Buford GA 30518
Wrestling: Buford Arena, 2795 Sawnee Ave, Buford GA 30518
Buford High School Fine Arts
Programs/Classes Offered: Band, Orchestra, Chorus, Dance, Theater and Visual Arts
Competition: Band, One Act Play, Literary, Dance, Honor Band and Honor Chorus
Buford Performing Arts Center is a state-of-the-art facility with a 950-seat theatre, classroom suites (main classrooms; offices; storage rooms for instruments, equipment, costumes and props; dressing rooms and smaller group practice rooms); spacious lobby and restrooms.
Buford High School Academics
ACT/SAT: 27/1190
Graduation Rate: 93%
AP Courses: Art & Design, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Science Principles, English Language, English Literature, Environmental Science, European History, French Language, Human Geography, Macroeconomics, Physics C: Mechanics, Physics I, Psychology, Seminar, Spanish Language, Statistics, U.S. Government, U.S. History and World History
Career & Technology Education Pathways Available: Audio, Video, Technology and Film; Business Accounting/Finance; Carpentry; Computer Science; Criminal Justice; Nutrition and Food Science; Sports and Entertainment Marketing; Teaching as a Profession; Therapeutic Services: Sports Medicine and Patient Care and Work-Based Learning
Buford High School Clubs/Extracurricular Activities
Beta Club, Book Club, Buford Student Leadership Council, Chess Club, Debate Club, DECA, Diversity Club, FBLA, FCA, FCCLA, Hope Club, HOSA, Key Club, National Art Honor Society, National Honors Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Quiz Bowl, Pride Club, Skills USA, Spanish Club, Thespian Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society
Gwinnett County Public Schools serving Buford
Lanier Cluster: Lanier High School, Lanier Middle School, Sugar Hill Elementary School, Sycamore Elementary School, White Oak Elementary School
Seckinger Cluster: Seckinger High School, Jones Middle School, Harmony Elementary School, Ivy Creek Elementary School, Patrick Mill Elementary School
Hall County Public Schools serving Buford/Flowery Branch
Flowery Branch High School, Davis Middle School, Friendship Elementary School
West Hall High School, West Hall Middle School, Flowery Branch Elementary School
Youth Recreational Sports Leagues
Baseball and Softball: Greater Buford Athletic Association, Lanier Athletic Association
Basketball: Greater Buford Basketball Association
Football: Buford Youth Football Association, Lanier Athletic Association, Seckinger Athletic Association, GFL (Gwinnett Football League)
Flag Football: i9 Sports, Rise Flag Football
Cheerleading: Buford Youth Cheerleading Association, Lanier Athletic Association, Seckinger Athletic Association
Soccer: All-In Futbol Buford, All-In Futbol Sugar Hill
Lacrosse: Buford Youth Lacrosse Association
Tennis: ALTA
Area Parks and Greenspaces/Trails
Buford City Park (Tennis courts): 2700 Sawnee Ave, Buford GA 30518
Buford Community Center Splash Pad and Town Center Park: 2200 Buford Hwy NE, Buford GA 30518
Garnett Street Walking Trail: 9 New St, Buford GA 30518
Playground at Buford City Gym: 625 East Shadburn Ave, Buford GA 30518
Bogan Park (Park, Aquatic Center & Trails), 2723 North Bogan Rd, Buford GA 30519
Gwinnett Heritage and Environmental Center/Ivy Creek Greenway
Lake Lanier and Chattahoochee River:
Chattahoochee River: The Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam is subject to increased water releases. Water rises rapidly once dam gates open. Warning whistles sound up and down Chattahoochee River when increased flow is imminent. Water flow rate can increase from the constant flow rate of 750 cubic feet per second CFS to 12,500 CFS.
City of Buford Boat Ramps: Lanier Harbor Boat Launch, 12 Pinetree Dr, Buford GA 30518 (Summer Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
US Corps of Engineers Parks and Campgrounds: West Bank Park, Lanier Park, East Bank Park & Boat Ramp, Shawnee Campground, Buford Dam
Lanier Islands: Waterpark, Camping, Cabin Rentals and Boat Rentals: Margaritaville
Marinas: Aqualand, Holiday Marina, Hideaway Bay, Lazy Days Marina, Port of Indecision
Concert Venues and Theaters
Buford Community Center (Lawn and Sylvia Beard Theatre)
Buford Amphitheater
37 Main
Tannery Row Ale House
Museums:
Museum of Buford @ Buford Community Center,
Police and Fire
For emergencies, dial 9-1-1
Gwinnett County Police Department: North Precinct, 2735 Mall of Georgia Blvd, Buford GA 30519, 678-442-5002
Hall County Sheriff’s Office: South Precinct, 7345 Cody Dr, Flowery Branch GA 30542, 770-533-7704
Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services: Station 14 (Contains Gwinnett’s Swift Water Rescue), Station 24 (Contains Technical Rescue Specialty Team) – Mall of Georgia, Station 29 – Thompson Mill Road and Station 26 – Suwanee Dam Road
Hall County Fire Rescue: Station 17 – 5719 Holiday Rd, Buford GA 30518
For emergencies dial 9-1-1
Gwinnett County Government
https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/Home
District 4 Commissioner: Matthew Holtkamp
Hall County Government
Business Alliances/Networking
Buford Business Alliance – www.visitbuford.com
