Elberton is a rural city with a love of granite and community
Elberton is a rural community near the Savannah River, the border of Georgia and South Carolina. Known as “The Granite Capital of the World,” it produces more monuments yearly than any other city. Thanks to its restaurants, shops and parks where people gather, the community is as rock solid as the granite it loves. “It’s a sweet little town,” says Melissa Caruso, a Realtor at Re/Max Complete who first moved to the area in 1962. “It’s a friendly, loving and welcoming community. We rally around each other. It’s like a big family.”
New Traditional and Colonial Revival-influenced homes, plus large lots
Most Elberton homes sit within a few miles of the city center, though a handful are in the region’s more rural areas. New Traditional and Colonial Revival-influenced homes, including several ranch-style houses, are found throughout the city. Older homes can be found in the Elberton Residential Historic District near Tusten and Church streets. The median sale price is around $200,000, well below the national median. There are also lots and large parcels of land available for development, usually from $2,500 to $10,000 per acre.
The car-dependent area’s asphalt streets are often narrow. Roads near College Avenue generally have sidewalks, while those farther out do not. The rural parts of the region have thoroughfares lined with tall, mature trees. Yards typically feature multiple bushes and smaller trees.
Southern and Mexican eateries and shopping at Walmart
Many of the community’s restaurants and shops sit along College Avenue. La Fogata has authentic Mexican cuisine. Richard’s Restaurant serves homestyle meals for lunch and dinner. MD Cafe is a sit-down eatery that grew out of Mama De’s Nitti Gritti Bowl, an area food truck. The cafe offers Southern-style entrees. McIntosh Coffee Shoppe has cooked-to-order breakfast and daily lunch specials. Residents can find essentials at Walmart, Dollar General and Ingles.
Elbert County Schools and football games at The Granite Bowl
Students are served by Elbert County Schools. Kindergarteners and first graders can attend Elbert County Primary School, which has a B-plus Niche grade. Elbert County Elementary School, for grades 2-4, holds a B-minus score. Elbert County Middle School receives a C-plus. Elbert County High School offers Career, Technical and Agricultural Education pathways like granite technology and journalism. It earns a B-minus. The Blue Devils play football and soccer in The Granite Bowl, a 20,000-seat venue constructed mainly from its namesake rock.
Shooting ranges, fishing spots, campgrounds and The Elbert Theater
The Elbert County Gun Club offers several styles of shooting ranges and an archery range. The Granite City Trail has nearly 2 miles of walking and biking paths, plus a playground. The city is near several bodies of water, like Tate Lake, a popular fishing spot where anglers can reel in several kinds of bass. It is also open for kayaking. Across the Savannah River is Calhoun Falls State Park, which has campgrounds, tennis and basketball courts, picnic tables, and a nature trail, among other amenities.
The Elberton Granite Museum features rock creations and showcases the tools used to make them. In 2015, The Elbert Theater, open since 1940, underwent renovations in the early 2000s. "It's beautiful," Caruso says. "It hosts plays and musicals and all sorts of things." The city hosts the Elbert County Fair each year, bringing rides, dog shows, rodeos, concerts and other events to town. The Granite City Fall Festival blends food, music and arts and crafts.
Access to Athens and a ride service, though hurricanes impact the area
Georgia State Route 72, known locally as College Avenue, is the city’s main thoroughfare. State Route 17 also passes through the region. Athens is close to 35 miles away. Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is about an 80-mile drive. Elbert Transit operates an on-demand ride service that requires advance notice. Rides are $7 round-trip within city limits and increase with destinations further away. Caruso says the community can experience the occasional winter snowstorm, but the snow usually accumulates a few inches or less. Hurricanes and tropical storms can impact the area in the fall.
