Blythe is a rural community close to Fort Eisenhower and Augusta
Blythe, a rural community of just a few hundred residents, sits quietly outside the Augusta city limits and 12 miles from Fort Eisenhower. After its first house was built in 1832 on a 500-acre tract, a community began to develop. A post office opened in 1845, and Blythe's first store followed in 1884. Today, Blythe remains predominantly rural with a small, close-knit community. "It's a small-town community feel on the outskirts of a much bigger metropolitan area," says local Realtor Anne Marie Kyzer of Mary Yelton Realty. She's sold homes across the region for just over a decade. "People tend to buy homes here to get out of the congestion." The community holds small events, like Easter egg hunts for the kids and Blythe Fever, an annual festival and parade. Blythe is home to several churches, including Blythe Baptist Church and Faith Baptist Church.
A mix of historic homes and new construction of sizable lots
Blythe features many cottages and bungalows built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many of which need repairs. These, and many of the community's manufactured homes, usually list for $130,000 to $250,000. Several mid-century, ranch-style homes and custom new-builds list between $200,000 and $500,000. Many houses sit on several acres, bringing values from $500,000 to $600,000. "It's really an eclectic mix," Kyzer says. "Some of the lots are larger because it's a more rural area." Aside from a few close-quartered houses in the community's center, homes are fairly spread out on sizable lots. Most properties here measure at least an acre, but several homes sit on over 20 acres.
Hephzibah High serves as one of the oldest active highs schools in Richmond County
The Richmond County School System receives an overall C on Niche and serves over 29,000 students. Blythe Elementary School sits next to Blythe City Hall in the heart of the community and scores a C on Niche. Hephzibah Middle and Hephzibah High School both score a C-minus. Hephzibah High is the second-oldest high school in Richmond County, established in 1860. Today, it offers several extracurricular activities, ranging from cross country and flag football to chorus and orchestra. The Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics is a K-12 charter school about 10 miles away. It has a B-minus on Niche and offers several career pathways, from cyber security to sustainable agriculture.
A day at Blythe Park and the library
At the heart of the community is Blythe Park, a small green space with several playscapes and a swing set. It also has a covered pavilion, benches and picnic tables. Blythe Library, located across the street from the park, hosts story time for the kids on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The library also hosts a Saturday market, where locals can purchase vegetables, handcrafted items and plants. The community often gets together at The Blythe Area Recreation Center for book club, yard sales, line dancing and crochet classes. Its outdoor amenities include a paved walking path, a playground and a large field for recreational sports. Hunt's Xtreme Outdoors lets visitors enjoy hunting, fishing, pond rafting and beach volleyball. Plus, it features trails popular with ATVs.
Popping over to Hephzibah for groceries and Wrens for dinner
Blythe's commercial activity is limited to the Dollar General and Mack's Kuntry Store on Blythe Road. Locals typically head into Hephzibah for shopping. The neighboring town features KJ's Market, a big-box grocery store about 8 miles from Blythe, and a few additional markets and service businesses. Hephzibah has a few restaurants, but locals typically head into Wrens or Augusta for dining. Peggy's Restaurant, about 14 miles away in Wrens, features fried chicken, club sandwiches, salads and various sides. Downtown Augusta features several bars, bistros and coffee shops.
Heading into Augusta
Blythe is a car-dependent community. U.S. Route 1 connects the community with Augusta, 18 miles northeast, where Interstates 520 and 20 are accessible. Piedmont Augusta is one of the nearest hospitals, located about 20 miles away, and August Regional Airport offers domestic flights 16 miles from Blythe.
Crime
Blythe's overall CAP Index crime score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
