By DON FERNANDEZ
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The suburban stepchild has evolved into an entity of its own. Growth still defines Gwinnett County, as it has for decades. But progress no longer means endless rows of strip malls and subdivisions.

Culture has staked a claim. Professional sports has found a niche. The economy has rocketed to the second-largest in Georgia.

Development -- long the area's most notable attribute -- isn't taking a breather, either, as homes, industry and retail continue to bubble in the area. With more than a third of the county still undeveloped -- and close to 675,000 people calling it home -- Gwinnett probably hasn't even peaked.

"Gwinnett is maturing," said County Commission Chairman Wayne Hill. "We are no longer a bedroom community; we are a sophisticated county. As long as you have a great place, people are going to continue to want to be here. Gwinnett will grow until it gets full."

Amenities such as performing arts and sports are no longer the exclusive domain of intown Atlanta residents, thanks to the county's latest jewel.

The Arena at Gwinnett Center, a 13,000-seat venue, is home to the Georgia Force arena football team and will soon play host to the Gwinnett Gladiators minor league hockey franchise.

Before it even opened, the Arena had became a sought-after facility for concert promoters; Bruce Springsteen performed there less than a month after it opened.

"I think it's going to continue to grow as a mainstay for a sports and entertainment venue that Gwinnett's been sorely lacking in the past," said Arena general manager Preston Williams.

The most significant ripening of the county isn't defined by stucco or concrete. Long a commuter's haven, Gwinnett is inching its way toward becoming a self-sufficient metropolitan area. More than half of Gwinnett's residents work within the county.

Education continues to be one of the top public services Gwinnett offers. The county continues to claim the title of largest school district in the state, with more than 128,000 students expected in its public schools for 2003-04. By 2008, that number is projected to swell to 150,000. SAT scores remain higher than both the state average of 980 and the national average of 1020.

"The top quality of Gwinnett is the school system," Hill said.

And there's always shopping.

Perhaps nowhere in metro Atlanta is the retail culture as strong and vital as it is in Gwinnett. The state's largest shopping center -- the Mall of Georgia -- continues to draw crowds looking to shop and be entertained. Gwinnett Place mall still thrives, and another layer was added with Discover Mills mall.

The Forum in Norcross became Gwinnett's first entry into the upscale shopping center marketplace, with a host of big-name retail shops and restaurants housed along a Tudor-style corridor.

New roads and more courthouse and police facilities are also in the works.

"The Arena is just another star in the crown," Hill said.