The farmland and factories of Fairmount
Fairmount is a small Georgia town known for its industry and farm life. In the 1850s, settlers grew corn and tobacco east of Salacoa Creek and worked in old factories and packing houses. Today, the Pine Hall Brick Company and the Tyson Foods plant continue to bring jobs to the area while the country lands offer residents a quiet and slow-paced lifestyle in Northwest Georgia. “Everyone kind of knows everyone,” says Amanda Jo Brown, a Fairmount native and Maximum One Community Realtor. “It’s definitely a Mayberry-type of town.” With country houses, an elementary school and outdoor recreation, Fairmount is a family-friendly community with miles of open land.
Community spaces, campsites and sporting clays
Tate Park has a gazebo and walking loop and regularly hosts festivals and small events. The Fairmount Community Center has a playground and an event hall that can accommodate over 100 people, and there are tennis courts and baseball fields at the Fairmount Recreation Park. Outside of town, the Iron Gait Percherons Draft Horse Sanctuary has open house events with ponies, hayrides and a bonfire, and outdoorsmen can drive golf carts and shoot sporting clays at Garland Mountain. The Sunrise Planetarium has 30-minute shows and a short train ride around the C&S Railroad, and there are camping lodges with activities such as kayaking, water sliding and zip-lining.
Ranch-style homes and cottages on the countryside
Most homes are clustered around the east end past the old train depot. Traditional and ranch-style homes are most common with long driveways, decks and private yards, costing $170,000 to $250,000. Tractors and trailers are familiar sights when driving down the winding roads, and spacious lawns are well-shaded by Douglas fir and pine trees. Craftsman, cottage and tri-level homes are built on acreage with bay windows and cathedral ceilings and range from $250,000 to $360,000.
Fairmount Elementary and Gordon County Schools
Fairmount Elementary School is behind the community center and has a B-minus on Niche. “It’s my favorite little school ever,” Brown says recalling her childhood. “There are still teachers there who taught me when I was in first and second grade, which I think says a lot about the school.” Area students continue their education 15 miles northwest in Red Bud Middle School, which has a Gifted and Talented program and a B-plus. Sonoraville High School is 8 miles west and has a 95% graduation rate and a B.
Two highways between two counties
There’s no traffic light through town as residents drive on U.S. Route 411 and State Route 53. Both highways intersect in Fairmount and run throughout Gordon and Pickens Counties. Marietta is around 45 miles south, while the Tennessee border is over 40 miles north. The AdventHealth Gordon hospital is open for 24 hours and is 17 miles west in Calhoun.
Local restaurants, a pharmacy and a grocery store
The Fairmount Drugs store is at the center of town and has been part of the community since the 1940s. “It has an old-school soda fountain,” Brown says. “It’s kind of a staple.” The Fairmount Grocery Store has fresh produce, dairy and cuts of meat, plus there are a couple of dollar stores and auto shops downtown. The Anejo Grill is a Mexican restaurant specializing in stuffed peppers and enchiladas, and Griffin’s Corner Restaurant is popular for its burgers and banana splits. The Southern Creamery Co. is a handcrafted ice cream and coffee shop that offers pizza on the weekends.
