Blackshear is a quiet town with deep roots and a familial community
Blackshear, founded in the mid-1800s, is a small town that serves as the county seat of Pierce County. It is surrounded by bucolic expanses of farmland and is home to just around 3,500 residents. “It’s a very community-oriented town. Even if you haven’t lived here your whole life, people welcome you like you’re family,” says Realtor Merina Spell, broker and owner of 10X Realty. “You can go into any store here, and people know you. I’ve lived here pretty much my whole life. I’ve travelled all over the world, and I just keep coming back because it just feels like home.”
Modern Traditional builds and brick ranches dominate Blackshear
The residential streets of Blackshear are lined with tall shade trees and a mix of home styles, with build years ranging from the early 1900s to the 1990s. “Most of the newer houses have been what I would call a Modern Traditional farmhouse style,” Spell says. “Of course, there are a lot of brick ranch-style homes as well – we always joke about how many of those we have in town.” Investment properties in need of repair and renovation can cost as little as $40,000, while move-in ready homes typically price from around $130,000 to $475,000. Cost varies based on square footage, number of bedrooms and build year. Mobile and manufactured homes on the outskirts of town have proved popular as stick-built houses become less available. “There’s been more demand in recent years that what we used to have,” Spell says. “The manufactured homes here have been very sturdy choices. Even with the hurricane that came through, I didn’t see one of them flip.” These can range in price from around $115,000 to $260,000.
Pierce County High offers a strong cheerleading program
Blackshear students attend Pierce County Schools, a district that receives an overall A from Niche. The district permits transfers within and outside the district based on capacity. Elementary schools in the district include Midway Elementary, which scores an A. Pierce County Middle also earns an A, and Pierce County High scores an A-minus. The high school boasts a strong competition cheerleading program, which has captured 7 state championships since 2012.
Piggly Wiggly and Rockin’ Bear Cafe are local favorites
There are several grocery stores in Blackshear, including Wall’s IGA Foodliner and Piggly Wiggly. “Everybody loves the Piggly Wiggly,” Spell says. “I had a client who was staying at an Airbnb in town who made one trip to the Piggly Wiggly and told me he knew he wanted to move here.” The Dollar General and local Farmers and Builders Ace Hardware are on standby for daily household necessities, and the nearest Walmart Supercenter is 20 minutes southwest in Waycross. The intersection of Main Street and U.S. Highway 84 is Blackshear’s restaurant hub, home to popular eateries like Mobley’s Sandwich Shoppe. Further up Highway 84 is the Rockin’ Bear Cafe, a popular local stop for burgers and pork chops.
Annual pecan festival and clubs encourage community involvement
Every year, Blackshear hosts the Pecan Festival of Georgia in the city park. This event features a pecan pie contest, live music, a vendor fair and a classic car show. “We also have a Beats and Eats event every spring, and community clubs like the Pierce County Chamber and the Exchange Club,” Spell says. “There are lots of ways to be involved when you’re here.”
Blackshear is connected to Georgia destinations by U.S. 84
U.S. Highway 84 is Blackshear's main thoroughfare, cutting through the center of town and connecting the community south to Waycross. “A lot of people commute down to Waycross if they work at the CSX Railroad, which is one of the biggest employers in the area,” Spell says. “Overall, we’re pretty centrally located, about an hour from most places and only about 4 hours from Atlanta. Something like 20,000 people per day come through Blackshear, so it’s a pretty busy road.”
Outdoor opportunities include golf, hunting and baseball
The Pierce County Recreation Department maintains a park on the west side of town, home to multiple baseball diamonds and several outdoor basketball courts. The Lakeview Golf Club's 18-hole course is open to the public, including its putting green and driving range. The town is also about 20 minutes from Little Satilla Wildlife Management Area.
