Georgetown

In the rolling hills of southern Ohio lies Georgetown, a quaint farm town steeped in rich history and tradition.

The largest village in Brown County in the Cincinnati metro area, “The Land of Grant,” is the childhood home of Ulysses S. Grant, and its residents take pride in preserving the Civil War general and 18th president’s memory. “We’re trying to portray ourselves as the place to go if you want to know anything about Ulysses S. Grant,” says Stan Purdy, President of the U.S. Homestead Association and resident since 1968. “We have a day’s worth of activities around him.” Historic landmarks pepper the landscape from the Grant Boyhood Home, School House, Tannery, a barn mural portrait on Ohio State Route 125 and a life-size statue of the commanding general in the town square – only scratching the surface of how this tight-knit town celebrates his legacy. Blending historic heritage and rural charm, the neighborhood offers single-family, Colonial Revival-style homes and log cabins to more modern ranch-style homes, bungalows, and sprawling farm properties built in the mid-1990s. Homes range from $100,000 to $800,000, with a few million-dollar farms on the outskirts. “It’s a small historic town in an agricultural community of 4,500 people,” Purdy says. “We have historic homes and a few very modern subdivisions.” Mid-range homes are predominantly in the Heritage Hill and Quail Trace subdivisions. Most homes have long, spacious driveways for RVs or farm toys, screened-in porches and mature trees shading 1-acre lots. Some even have chicken coops, greenhouses and fenced-in lush pastures for all your agricultural activities. Residents enjoy a peaceful, rural lifestyle less than a mile from a bustling shopping and dining scene. By hopping on Route 125 and U.S. Route 68, residents can easily access the Brown County Airport in 2 miles and Cincinnati in roughly 40 miles. “Most of our residents work in the city metropolitan area and commute an hour for work,” Purdy says. “If they live in the rural area, they’re also part-time farmers.”

Served by the Georgetown Exempted Village School District, local students attend Georgetown Elementary and Georgetown Junior/Senior High School. The elementary school earned an overall B-minus on Niche and hosts fall festivals and summer youth camps. Educating Grades 7 to 12th, Georgetown Jr./Sr. High earned an overall B-plus from Niche and provides boys’ and girls’ soccer, a chess club and STEM programs.

With the mighty Ohio River and winding White Oak Creek flowing through the neighborhood, residents can boat around, fish or hunt waterfowl. At the 40-acre Kathryn Hanlon Park, walk the trails, let the kids play in the splash pad, shoot hoops or play volleyball.

Strolling down the town square along South Main Street transports you back to a simpler time with colorful Victorian Italianate-style mom and pops lining the streets. Many like Donohoo Pharmacy have been there since the 1830s, along with a gift shop, florist, Jacob’s Ladder Boutique and Dunn’s Corner, another longtime pharmacy that’s now a hardware store. “We call it Commercial Row, and most are locally owned,” says Purdy. Across the street, you’ll find Bolce’s Pub and Cherry St. Café. At this cozy café, dine on classic comforts like biscuits and gravy and their famous Grant burger and the Roast Beef Hot Shot. Or stop by Parker’s Pizzeria for a slice or hoagie, a family-owned, beloved staple for over 50 years. Grab your groceries at Georgetown IGA, Family Dollar or Save-A-Lot, all just a mile away.

Georgetown’s historic theater, The Gaslight Theater Players, opened in 1907 as a vaudeville house and continues to be a cultural hub for the region. And this town goes beyond monuments to honor the late 18th president. The association hosts the U.S. Grant Celebration and Living History program every April, drawing in over 1,500 people with fireworks, Civil War-period music, historical tours and reenactments. Beyond that, Purdy’s association hosts town square concerts, wine tastings and a car show. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive reaction from residents,” says Purdy. It's a very close-knit, active community.” The largest and most popular event is the Brown County Fair. “It’s a place that people come back to year after year,” he says. “The biggest draw is the tractor pull competition. It attracts a huge number of people.”

A rural lifestyle rich in history and tradition awaits in Georgetown.

Written By

Amy David

Photography Contributed By

Gabor Kovacs

Video By

Timothy Cerva