Posted on June 28, 2024 at 12:44 PM by Nicole Newsom
Did you know the city has its own digital tree walk? Our tree walk begins at Tree No. 1, an American elm that is standing proudly in Betty Mauldin Park next to our City Hall. This tree has been judged by the Georgia Forestry Commission to be the number one champion American elm tree for the State of Georgia. As of August 16, 2016, this tree stands 80’ tall with a circumference of 233 inches (nearly 19 ½ feet around) and has a crown spread of 125 feet.
Native to North America, the American elm was an abundant tree in North American forests. When L’Enfant and George Washington laid out the City of Washington, they envisioned it with tree-lined streets and the American elm was the chosen tree because of its tall upright form. This was once a popular and common tree found along city streets all over the US reaching heights over 100 feet. Tragically, the American elm has been devastated in many parts of its natural range by Dutch elm disease, which was introduced into the US on a shipment of logs from Europe in the 1930s.
While the American elm is the State Tree of Massachusetts and North Dakota, this tree is one of Norcross’ proudest landmarks and has been welcoming visitors for over a century!
Learn more at norcrosstours.com/trees.