The growing seat of Dodge County
Eastman is a small community that began as a sawmill town in Georgia. Today, the city has a growing downtown and a more diverse economy. According to the U.S. Census, the area’s population increased by almost 14% between 2010 and 2020. The local government and community organizations have made recent updates to Eastman. These projects include adding new surveillance cameras downtown and expanding the Eastman Aerospace Park. The city is the seat of Dodge County and contains the unincorporated areas of Plainfield and Gresston. Eastman also offers outdoor recreation and higher education.
Shopping at local markets and enjoying restaurants
Walmart Supercenter and Harveys Supermarkets are inside the community. Residents also pick up more groceries at Butcher Block Meat Market and Williams Sea Market. Fresh produce is available at Dodge County Farmers Market on Saturdays. Browsers Flea Market stays open Monday through Friday. There are several local eateries in Eastman, but most are downtown. Pittman Sidetrack offers southern-style menu items like fried okra, fried catfish and peach cobbler. I Heart Tacos serves Mexican-inspired dishes and frosty margaritas. Crowds gather in the small city center for community events throughout the year. The local government sponsors the Truck or Treat and Music on Main Fall Festival.
Eastman's housing market and weather risks
Longleaf pines, oak trees and wiregrass outline residential properties. The area primarily contains ranch-style houses, custom cabins and manufactured homes. The market also includes New Traditional styles built between the mid-1990s and the 2020s. There are multiple homes inside subdivisions as well as stand-alone residences on wood lots. Highland Lake is a gated development surrounding a large pond. Some Eastman properties have well and septic systems. Most dwellings range in price from $80,000 to $315,000. However, homes over 3,000 square feet can cost between $300,000 and $575,000.
Dodge County has a history of severe weather, including tornadoes and hurricanes. The region is also at risk of flooding and wildfires.
Locals have easy access to fishing, hunting and golfing
Eastman is home to a few public parks and natural spots for outdoor recreation. The Dodge County Public Fishing Area contains a 104-acre lake. Local catch crappie, bass, catfish and sunfish from the pier. The grounds are open seasonally to hunters for wild turkeys, deer and alligators. The green space on 11th Avenue, near downtown, is locally known as Eastman City Park. The location includes tennis courts and a playground. The city has previously held community events in the open field, such as movie night. The local organization Leave It Better helped construct the downtown pocket park. The small space opened in 2024 with picnic tables, a shuffleboard court and a central fountain. The Dodge County Golf Club has a 9-hole course less than a mile from U.S. Highway 23.
Learning at every age in Eastman
Students attend either North Dodge Elementary or South Dodge Elementary; the schools have B and C-plus grades, respectively, from Niche. Dodge County Middle receives a C-plus and Dodge County High has a B. The high school provides multiple career and technical pathways, including engineering, early childhood care and world language. Middle Georgia State University has a campus in Eastman. Georgia Military College also has a satellite site inside the community.
Taking to U.S. Highway 23 for commutes
Dodge County Hospital provides 24-hour emergency room services. The Heart of Georgia Regional Airport is in the community’s eastern section. The city recently updated the 1st Avenue and College Street intersection to improve traffic flow downtown. U.S. Highway 23 leads to Macon in about 55 miles. Drivers can take the highway to connect to Interstate 16 in roughly 44 miles.
Written By
Ashley Kennedy
