Fort Valley is a key member of Peach County, which produces 75% of the state's most famous fruit. "The people at the bank know your name. When you think of a small town, this is it," says Ralph Davis, a Realtor and developer with Mih Realty & Investments, who's lived here for eight years. As a developer, what makes the city fascinating to him is its unrealized potential. "At one time, the city was thriving, but as people got older and moved out, new housing hasn't really been built. People have to relocate to Warner Robbins and Macon because we don't really have a housing market for the demand." While there are few new homes, development is rising, and people like Davis are lovingly restoring homes. Currently, around 9,000 people live here. Aside from agriculture, Fort Valley State University and the school bus manufacturer Blue Bird Corporation are leading industries.
At the center of Georgia's peach industry, Fort Valley is a historical city with employment opportunities.
Fort Valley is home to Blue Bird Corporation, a large school bus manufacturer.
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New homes at Heritage Pointe in Fort Valley
“We have some beautiful historic homes. They go from 1,800 to 6,000 square feet. And then a lot of the other architecture is midcentury, from the 1950s,” Davis says. Most are resale properties, and there are plenty of fixer-uppers and teardowns. However, Heritage Pointe is debuting new single-family homes on the city’s northeastern side. On the outskirts of Fort Valley, homebuyers can find properties with up to 10 acres. The city’s median home price is around $180,000, significantly lower than the state’s median.
Historic Homes in Fort Valley sit on multi-acre lots with simple landscaping.
Fort Valley expands their housing options with new developments such as Heritage Pointe.
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Home to Fort Valley State University
Peach County Schools earns a C-plus on Niche. Fort Valley State University is a small, historically Black college that enrolls around 2,500 students. Georgia State University, the largest college in the state, is roughly 100 miles away.
Fort Valley State University is a small historically black college in the heart of the city.
Hunt Elementary School in Fort Valley serves in the C rated Peach County School District.
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South Peach Park is the largest park in Fort Valley Georgia
According to the Trust for Public Land, 10% of locals live within a 10-minute walk of a park. On Fort Valley's western side is South Peach Park, which encompasses 33 acres and is the city's largest. It houses the community's senior center and offers walking tracks, a mix of athletic courts and fields, and playgrounds. "The most utilized park might be the park in Byron, which is also part of Peach County," Davis says. "In the county, people like to have fun on their land: Horse owners, equestrian riders and gun enthusiasts."
Residets in Fort Valley can take their kids to enjoy the playground at South Peach Park.
South Peach Park in Forth Valley features a senior center that offers health and fitness programs.
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A yard sale touching 11 counties, from Peach County to Brunswick
"Peaches to Beaches," the longest yard sale in Georgia, begins in Fort Valley every spring. Local vendors set up along Georgia Highway 341, selling secondhand trinkets, home-cooked food and crafts across 200 miles toward Brunswick's islands. Other events during the year are the Georgia Peach Festival and hayrides around the corn maze at Lane Southern Orchards, both in the fall. Lane Southern Orchards is one of two peach-packing facilities in the area. Locals can get their fill of Fort Valley peaches there and at Pearson Farm's bakeries and markets.
Lane Southern Orchards offers tours, peach picking opportunities, and a playground for visitors to enjoy.
Local vendors set up along Georgia Highway 341 for "Peaches to Beaches," the longest yard sale starting in Fort Valley all the way to Brunswick, GA.
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University of Georgia is working to revitalize downtown Fort Valley
Fort Valley is home to longstanding restaurants, chain retailers and abandoned storefronts waiting to be revitalized. Davis, who is on the Fort Valley Downtown Development Steering Committee, says the downtown area is not yet thriving. In 2025, students at the University of Georgia studying landscape architecture, historic preservation and urban planning consulted the community and its leaders to start planning downtown beautification projects that will attract commercial regeneration.
Situated along train tracks, Railroad Cafe in Fort Valley serves Southern dishes from a century-old railroad depot.
Downtown Fort Valley features chain restaurants and abandoned store fronts waiting for commercial regeneration.
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Downtown Atlanta is 100 miles away
Georgia Highway 341 flows through the heart of Fort Valley. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and downtown Atlanta are roughly 100 miles away. The Medical Center of Peach County is the nearest hospital, a 9-mile drive from Fort Valley. Established in 1840, Fort Valley United Methodist is the city's oldest house of worship.
All four seasons and even the occasional snowfall in Fort Valley
The area experiences hot summers and mild winters but also gets the occasional snowfall. "We just had snow for the first time in 10 years. Enough snow to make a snowman anyway," Davis says. In 2023, peaches struggled to blossom and bloom during an unusually warm winter followed by a cold snap at the beginning of spring. Local grower Pearson Farms lost 90% of its yield, and the state lost 95%. The most catastrophic natural disaster was a tornado that devastated downtown in 1975.
Crime data was not readily available for this city.
As a dedicated realtor in Middle Georgia and a proud USAF veteran serving Robins Air Force Base, I specialize in assisting families and investors in finding their ideal homes and investment properties. With a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of the local market, I strive to make the real estate journey a seamless and rewarding experience for my clients. Whether you’re looking for a family home or an investment opportunity, I am here to guide you every step of the way.
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