11 Of The Most Captivating Small Towns In Georgia
Nicknamed the “Peach State,” the majestic southeastern state of Georgia is known best for Atlanta Botanical Gardens and the historic downtown district in Savannah. Yet this great state, which is made up of 159 different counties, has a vast number of charming small towns. From Americus, in Sumter County and home to a stunning monument of aviator Charles Lindbergh, to Dahlonega, located in Lumpkin County, and the Chestatee Zoo, these eleven small towns are famous for possessing some of the most enchanting attributes, encouraging visitors to return over and over again, year after year.
Americus - Sumter County
Two hours south of the city of Atlanta, the town of Americus is famous for a vast amount of attractions, including the 1921 Rylander Theater, the Charles Lindbergh Monument, and Windsor Hotel, catering weddings since 1892, when it was first established. Along with “The Nutcracker,” performed every year at the Rylander Theater, Americus is known for some other great cultural attractions, like “Grape Stomp” in October and “Chili Crawl” on the first day of November. Several natural attractions are also called Americus home, including the Sam Shortline Excursions Train, which is based out of Cordele and passes through Americus, providing picturesque, scenic vistas of the surrounding countryside for visitors and residents alike.
Bainbridge - Decatur County
The town of Bainbridge, nicknamed the “Bass Capital of the World” due to ample fishing opportunities along the Flint River and at the Silver Lake Wildlife Area, has some great historic architectural pieces as well. The Donalson-Rollins House was built in 1898 by J. E. Donalson, while the Callahan-Penhallegon Home, built in 1907 by the owner of a fleet of steamboats, was constructed to look like the front end of one of the steamboats he admired so much. This pastoral town of just under 15,000 residents also has an excellent cultural vibe. Every year, the citizens of town celebrate “River Town Days” in March, a “Munchkin Masquerade” at the end of fall, and a Yuletide Jamboree with a Christmas Parade in the month of December.
Madison - Morgan County
An hour and a half west of Augusta, the pastoral town of Madison is known best for having one of the largest and oldest National Historic Districts in the state of Georgia, including the 1905 Morgan County Courthouse and the 1839 Bonar Hall, Madison has a charming history that first began in 1809. Madison is also close to several natural attributes, like the Oconee National Forest and Hard Labor Creek State Park. Several community-oriented cultural venues and festivities are also held in Madison. The Madison Flea Market showcases over a hundred different vendors annually, while the Madison Chili Cook-Off & Fall Festival, held every October, has an excellent chili cook-off, some thrilling rides, and a plethora of tasty foods to sample.
Tybee Island - Chatham County
Just east of the city of Savannah, situated along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Tybee Island is probably the most popular of places to visit in all of Georgia. The town has a multitude of natural and cultural attractions, including the Tybee Island Light Station, which was first constructed in 1736, and Tybee Island Beach, which is heavily populated toward the south of the island while much less crowded to the north. In regard to historical value, Tybee Island is home to Fort Pulaski National Monument, first utilized in 1862 during the American Civil War, and the Marine Science Center, which offers a vast amount of information about the marine life of coastal Georgia.
Thomasville - Thomas County
The town of Thomasville, just over ten miles from the northern border of Florida, possesses a great southern charm that most other towns in Georgia lack. Home of the Pebble Hill Plantation, established by Thomas Jefferson Johnson in 1825, the Lapham-Patterson House, built during the 19th century, and the Thomas County Courthouse, first established in 1858, Thomasville lives and breathes the heritage of the area. There are also several excellent natural and cultural values upheld annually in the town of Thomasville, including the Historic Big Oak, which began as an acorn around the year 1680, and the Thomasville Rose Garden, held every year in April and possessing over 1,500 rose bushes.
Greensboro - Greene County
Below Oconee National Forest and east of Lake Oconee, the town of Greensboro has several historic venues, including the Highgate Estate & Gardens and the Scull Shoals Mill Village. Scull Shoals began as a frontier village in the late 18th century, flooded out in the late 19th century, and its ruins are now a remembrance of the historic importance of Georgia and the south. Downtown Greensboro also offers that taste of small-town charm and culture, urging visitors to return year after year. The Southland Jubilee, held annually at the intersection of Courthouse Square and Main Street, celebrates the heritage of Greene County with volunteer musicians and a variety of different foods, while the GBA Fall Festival offers tasty candy apples, hotdogs, popcorn, and finger sandwiches, as well as several kid-friendly activities.
St. Marys - Camden County
The town of St. Marys is named after the St. Marys River. Yet this does not impede this coastal town or demean its calm southern charm and charisma. Located to the west of the Cumberland River and the Atlantic Ocean, St. Marys' Crooked River State Park offers hiking trails, fishing, kayaking, and even camping overnight. There are also several cultural venues and attractions in and around St. Marys. Cumberland Island National Seashore Museum, Plum Orchard Museum, and the St. Marys Submarine Museum all await the intrepid traveler, showcasing the historic value of the area around St. Marys to visitors and residents alike.
Cordele - Crisp County
Though it is the county seat of Crisp County, the inland town of Cordele, with an overall population of ten thousand permanent residents, is a haven for cultural, natural, and historical attributes, making it one of the most captivating towns in all of Georgia. Located an hour south of the city of Macon, Cordele is self-acclaimed as the “Watermelon Capital of the World.” With a plethora of natural venues, including Turner Park, the Georgia Veterans State Park, and the Cordele Railway Park, nature is definitely considered important in Cordele. Plus, there is the SAM Shortline Excursion Train, which stops at Americus, as well as some other small towns in Georgia, providing an interesting journey across the landscape of Georgia.
Brunswick - Glynn County
Located along the Atlantic coast, between Blythe Island, Jekyll Island, and Saint Simons Island, the town of Brunswick has excellent seafood, even earning itself the title of “Shrimp Capital of the World” for a time. From Blythe Island Regional Park, which offers camping in various forms, to Lover’s Oak, said to be almost a thousand years old, to the Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, nature can be enjoyed on a plethora of levels in the town of Brunswick. There are also many cultural amenities and events occurring in town, including Brunswick PorchFest, which honors the beauty of the community through the use of a variety of porches located in the historic district, and the Southern Bounty Festival, showcasing a tasting of delicious dishes from the many local restaurants and eateries.
Senoia - Coweta County
The quaint town of Senoia is halfway between the towns of Newnan and Griffin. It is an oasis of peace, charm, and tranquility blended with the progressive cultural demeanor of film productions, historic buildings, and museums, culminating in a thriving downtown with a little bit of something for everyone. From the Senoia Area Historical Society and the Buggy Shop Museum to tours of several movie sites, including “The Walking Dead,” “Fried Green Tomatoes,” and “Drop Dead Diva,” to festivals like “Alive After Five,” the streets of Senoia are always hopping with activities. There is even a variety of natural attributes in Senoia, including Leroy Johnson Park and the Senoia Farmers Market, which features tasty local produce and crafts.
Dahlonega - Lumpkin County
Nicknamed the “Heart of the Georgia Mountains,” the town of Dahlonega is an oasis of historic and cultural venues guaranteed to please even the most cynic of worldly travelers. From the Consolidated Gold Mines, the largest gold mining project east of the Mississippi River, to several vineyards, including Cavender Creek and Wolf Mountain, to the Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site, history lives in and around the town of Dahlonega. There are also several annual festivals and events in Dahlonega that encourage visitors to return a second time. The Literary & Science Festival, the Gold Rush Days Festival, and the Dahlonega Chocolate Crawl all bring that sense of community to downtown, while the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival allows for a touch of nature to be incorporated into the cultural activities.
Explore Georgia's Unique Small Town Charms
There are a plethora of charismatic towns that are scattered across the landscape of Georgia, from outside the Chattahoochee National Forest that lies close to the border of Tennessee to the Okefenokee Swamp, which is located in the southeast part of the state. Whether you wish to take the family to the Chestatee Zoo in the northern town of Dahlonega, Lover’s Oak in Brunswick, or Fort Pulaski National Monument out on Tybee Island, there is something quite alluring to each of these eleven small towns in Georgia.
