With over 39 square miles of land, much of it agriculturally zoned, Milton is characterized by its rural and equestrian heritage, spacious residential lots, and a small-town feel combined with the amenities of a metropolitan area.

This indigenous group, speaking an Iroquoian language, cultivated a society with a strong kinship system, with their social life revolving around village structures, ceremonial mounds, and agricultural practices, notably corn farming.

However, the relationship between the two groups became increasingly strained due to escalating demands for land by state and federal governments, a situation exacerbated by the discovery of gold in nearby Dahlonega in 1828.

The subsequent desire for land acquisition led to the tragic Trail of Tears in 1832, mandated by President Andrew Jackson, which forcibly removed the Cherokee from Georgia to designated territories in present-day Oklahoma.

The agricultural landscape was dotted with small subsistence farms and a few larger plantations, with cotton emerging as a significant cash crop alongside the production of fruits, vegetables, and livestock.

Despite the county's initial opposition to secession, the broader state sentiment led Georgia into the Civil War, profoundly affecting the local population.

[6] At the turn of the 20th century, the area remained mostly forested and agricultural – the exception being small villages and crossroads with general stores and trading posts, mills and gins, churches, a few schools, and inns at the intersections of horse and carriage routes.

Homes tended to be few and far between, racial segregation remained a reality, and the community revolved largely around churches, schools, and gathering spots like general stores and baseball diamonds.

The construction of State Route 400 and other infrastructure projects gradually brought more residents and development to the region, yet Milton managed to preserve its pastoral identity, in part due to zoning that favored larger, septic-dependent lots conducive to horse farms and rural living.

[6] On August 4, Governor Perdue appointed a five-person commission to serve as the interim government of Milton (composed of Ron Wallace, Brandon Beach, Gregory Mishkin, Dan Phalan and Cecil Pruitt).

[8] Working initially out of converted commercial office spaces, city leaders began forging Milton’s unique identity as it transitioned to local governance.

As of April 2007[update], the US Postal Service recognizes Milton as a valid alias for ZIP code 30004, which is served from the Alpharetta post office.