Anchored by a former hospital, Hardwick is once again on the rise
Milledgeville's southern suburb of Hardwick is best known as the headquarters of Central State Hospital — once the nation's largest facility of its kind. With the sprawling campus mostly vacant, the hospital and Hardwick have faced uncertain futures in recent decades. But it’s on the brink of change with the October 2025 announcement of a $40 million plan to transform defunct buildings into housing, retail and event space. "At one time it was just a super nice place — people loved being there, it was busy and hopping and it kind of went downhill over the years," says Realtor Kimi Clements, a Milledgeville native and with almost 30 decades of experience selling in the area. "But between the county, the city and this architect who bought these properties, they're really working hard to bring it back to life and make it nice area to be." This rising neighborhood offers modest housing options, well-loved local businesses and short drives into Milledgeville.
Rental homes dominate Hardwick’s market, apartments on the way
Hardwick has a strong rental market, with Clements estimating more tenants than owners live here. Manufactured homes and midcentury ranch-styles and bungalows flank the often hilly, winding streets. Some older homes claim ties to the hospital's heyday. "There are some beautiful, old big homes right outside or in the area of Central State Hospital where a lot of the employees back in the day lived — some of them rented, some of them owned them," says Clements, who partners with her brother Kyle Cullars on the Kimi Clements team at Southern Classic Realtors. Prices start at around $20,000 for fixer-uppers and reach about $260,000. The incoming Central State redevelopment project is poised to add more rental opportunities. The architecture firm Ambryo plans to convert one building into a hotel and conference center, and two others into upscale apartments with retail on the first floor.
Early college and career experiences at Baldwin County Schools
Within Baldwin County Schools, Midway Hills Primary serves kindergarten through second grade and Midway Hills Academy serves third through fifth. The schools earn C-plus and C grades from Niche, respectively. Students may also attend the C-rated Oak Hill Middle and the B-minus-rated Baldwin High. Beginning in sixth grade, students can apply to participate in the Georgia College Early College program, which allows them to earn early postsecondary credits. The high school also offers career academies in different STEM and arts fields. Milledgeville is a higher education hub, home to Georgia College and State University and Georgia Military College.
Harrisburg and Central City parks feature family-friendly amenities
Harrisburg Park is Hardwick's main green space, featuring a splash pad, walking path, playground, multi-purpose field, basketball courts and a community center with a kitchen. A 2025 construction project is slated to add new play equipment and safety features. Milledgeville's Central City Park is about 3 miles north and has updated playground equipment, a beach volleyball net, picnic tables and a sloping green space dotted by trees. The roughly 15,300-acre Lake Sinclair is a popular Milledgeville attraction offering fishing, boating, camping and swimming opportunities.
Family-run grocery and food pantry serve Hardwick residents
Johnnie McDade Grocery has been Hardwick staple for decades, with a butcher shop, fresh produce and other grocery items. "It's still open and run by the same family, and just a great family convenience store that's still up and going," Clements says. The Chard Wray Food Pantry supports the neighborhood with weekly food assistance. Piggly Wiggly, fast-food chains and CVS line the U.S. Route 441 bypass. Along the route, Mama J's specializes in soul food. Downtown Milledgeville hosts a range of antique stores, clothing boutiques and locally owned eateries, with options ranging from coffee to Mexican, Italian and Southern fare.
Downtown Milledgeville also hosts the signature Deep Roots Festival in October, which draws tens of thousands of visitors to town with national touring acts, an antique car show, an artisan market, food trucks and kid-friendly activities.
Route 441 links Hardwick to Milledgeville and beyond
Locals generally rely on cars for errands, and most streets lack sidewalks. There are no fixed bus routes here, but the Baldwin County Public Transportation department offers on-demand rides, which should be scheduled 24 hours in advance. U.S. Route 441 connects to surrounding areas, such as Dublin. The Route 441 bypass connects Hardwick to downtown Milledgeville, about 3 miles north. Middle Georgia Regional Airport, about 40 miles away, offers a nonstop route to Washington, D.C, while the major hub of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is about 104 miles away via Interstate 20. Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin, a 140-bed, acute care facility, sits about 4 miles north.
Hardwick leaders work to combat crime
While city crime data is not readily available, local news outlets have reported on waves of gang and gun violence as recently as 2024. Milledgeville leaders in 2022 said they are working on an initiative modeled after the Macon Violence Prevention (MVP) program in the neighboring city.
