In today’s edition of the Forsyth County News you’ll find a special section entitled “Life in Forsyth.” It is meant to be a broad guide to the county for newcomers in our community, and a reminder of sorts for existing residents who may not be up to speed on everything going on in the county around them.

And there is a lot going on.

If you’ve been in Forsyth County for a while it can be easy to take for granted a quality of life that is the envy of those living in other parts of the country.

But there’s no doubt that when you hold the county up to the mirror of public opinion, as we do with “Life in Forsyth,” the reflection is pretty pleasing.

World class schools. Top quality parks and recreational opportunities. A solid business base and a strong economy. Colleges. Lake Lanier. Superb hospitals. Generous philanthropic efforts.  A strong faith community. Solid infrastructure. Exceptional libraries. Progressive governments.

Whether your interests is visiting the Cumming Fairgrounds or hiking to the Indian Seats on Sawnee Mountain, there’s something to appeal to just about everyone living, or visiting, in Forsyth County.

All-in-all, it’s an incredible place to be with an amazing story to tell, especially considering the metamorphosis from the sleepy rural setting of 50 years ago to the vibrant suburban community of today.

Every year, it seems, a national spotlight of some sort is focuses on the county to call attention to something good that is happening here. Such was the case when the county was named as one of the “100 Best Communities for Young People” in a ranking by ING, and again when it was named the “Healthiest County in Georgia” by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Such recognitions are not new for the county, where parks, libraries, businesses, schools and other facets of daily life have been honored on multiple occasions by state and national groups.

It’s all part of what makes living here something special.

In our “Life in Forsyth” section we’ve included a challenge for those who think they know the county. Scattered throughout the section are 22 photos from various locations, along with a tally board that lets you see how many of them you can identify. We hope you’ll join in on the fun and see just how observant you are when travelling around the county we call home.

We enjoy “Life in Forsyth.” We hope you will as well.