Community gatherings keep this quiet South Georgia town lively
In the middle of South Georgia farmland, Pelham's homes and community events keep the city afloat. "It's a charming area with a lot of history, that once was a prosperous agricultural community," says Realtor Doug Marchant with Reciprocal Thomasville. "But the town is so quaint; when you visit downtown, it's very 'Mayberry' like. With the right ingredients, it could thrive again." Pelham is in Mitchell County, which Marchant notes is a very quiet, laidback area within an hour's drive from bigger cities like Thomasville and Albany. Even with this country vibe, Pelham boasts dozens of community events and gatherings that keep up the tight-knit small-town feel.
Modest homes and farmland offer space at lower prices
One of Pelham's has simple offerings of ranch-style, farmhouse-style, Craftsman-style and manufactured homes at a median sale price of $157,000. "The housing market is very slow, and the average time on the market is about 200 days," Marchant says. But what Pelham lacks in inventory makes up for in budget-friendly pricing. Most homes around the town center are older and set on modest, tree-lined lots. As homes move out from downtown, there are increasingly spacious and large areas of crop fields and pine forests. Acreages for farming are around the outskirts of town, popular for cotton fields and pecan groves.
Independent district serves students in Pelham
The Pelham City Schools Charter System serves around 1,300 students and earns an overall C rating from Niche. Pelham Elementary scores a C-plus, Pelham City Middle has a C and Pelham High gets a C-plus. The high school offers career, technical and agricultural education pathways. Options include animal science, horticulture and agricultural mechanics.
Nearby cities and the Gulf Coast expand outdoor options
There are limited recreation opportunities in Pelham. One of the most popular is Lebron Eubanks Park, which has a playground, a skatepark and athletic fields. Downtown, Kahn Park and Freedom Plaza offer green spaces for taking a stroll or having a picnic. This area is next to the Pelham Depot, so residents can watch the trains pass by. It also hosts some events, like the Pelham Wildlife Festival. There are more recreation spaces in nearby communities like Albany and Thomasville. Pelham is also about 100 miles from the Gulf Coast, making weekend beach trips accessible.
Pelham’s central hub blends music, food and small-town charm
Pelham has a central community hub surrounding the town's train depot. There are churches, boutiques, supply shops and municipal buildings. The Pelham Country Jamboree is an attraction that shows live country music every Saturday. Local eateries include Backstreet Seafood, Chicken Trax and The Perch, a small cafe inside a bank teller drive thru. The cafe is known for its sandwiches, soups and salads. Grocery options in Pelham include Piggly Wiggly, Dollar General, Family Dollar and Market IGA. There's more dining, retail and entertainment in surrounding communities like Thomasville and Albany, which have big box stores like Sam's Club and Walmart.
Pelham hosts parades, fun runs and downtown celebrations
In Pelham, events bring the community together throughout the year. Slice of Summer promotes downtown with a week of shopping deals and prizes, and the Pelham Wildlife Festival features a 5k run, parade, art show and dance. There is a Community Blessing with food, games, free clothing, and school supplies to celebrate back to school. In October, Pelham Goes Pink promotes awareness and raises money for breast cancer research. There is a movie night, downtown storefront decorating, a pancake breakfast and a fun run. The Pelham Annual Christmas Parade has lights, floats and a visit from Santa Claus. There are numerous other events in Pelham, like an annual art auction, easter egg hunt, sports tournaments, car shows and pageants.
U.S. 19 and State Route 93 link Pelham to nearby cities
Pelham sits near the crossroads of U.S. Highway 19 and Georgia State Route 93. Highway 19 leads to larger communities like Thomasville, 25 miles south, and Albany, 35 miles north. Thomasville is home to the nearest medical center, Archibald Memorial, and Albany is home to the closest airport, Southwest Georgia Regional. Pelham is about 45 miles west of Interstate 75 and 50 miles north of I-10. The community is about 55 miles north of Tallahassee and the Tallahassee International Airport.
