Piedmont is small town in East Alabama with ample natural amenities
Settled in the sprawling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, East Alabama's Piedmont is aptly named. The small town of around 4,700 residents is characterized by its gentle slopes that roll up to nearby mountains, offering residents direct access to natural amenities. "Things lend themselves to outdoor activities here," says Realtor Bryan Booth of eXp Realty. He's sold homes across the region for nearly five years and is from Calhoun County. "People kayak on Terrapin Creek or go to the outdoor ATV park. And they get a fair amount of traffic through the Chief Ladiga Trail." The town has highly rated schools and a quaint town center of locally owned businesses.
Established bungalows and ranch-style homes
Piedmont's oldest homes include bungalows and cottages, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They're concentrated near downtown and line narrow, moderately wooded streets. In spots where the trees aren't too tall, locals can see mountain peaks from their grassy, quarter-acre lots. Ranch-style homes built across the 1900s are scattered across the city, and Booth says these are the most common. Buyers will find a couple of contemporary new builds, but most homes have been around for at least a few decades. Several homes on the city's outskirts sit on a few acres of land, and Booth says many residents enjoy the privacy of the community's larger lots. The median sale price for a home in Piedmont is around $180,000.
Locals enjoy outdoor recreation in the nearby mountains
Piedmont's location near mountains and creeks encourages an outdoorsy lifestyle. Terrapin Outdoor Center overlooks Terrapin Creek, offering kayak rentals and shuttle services. While the creek is a fishing hot spot, there are a couple of small lakes across Piedmont where anglers cast a line, like La Garde Lake. Locals also bring their fishing gear to Indian Mountain, which is home to the Indian Mountain ATV Park. The massive ATV park offers panoramic mountain views and several miles of ATV trails. It's a hub of community events and celebrations, from the Rough Riders Rendezvous to Freedom Fest in July. Dugger Mountain offers additional mountain excursions, and the Pinhoti Trail is a popular spot for hikers.
A few city-operated parks and facilities bring residents together for additional outdoor recreation. Veteran's Memorial Park features a central granite war memorial where the city holds services on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The memorial overlooks a small pond that's home to a few waddling ducks; the pond is partially wrapped by a paved walking path that winds toward a playground, a couple of picnic pavilions and a skate park. Piedmont is also home to a portion of the nearly 40-mile Chief Ladiga Trail, often busy with cyclists, in-line skaters and casual strollers. The Piedmont Sports Complex is a sports hub, and its baseball diamonds and soccer fields host high school baseball games and state tournaments.
The Piedmont City School District earns high remarks on Niche
The Piedmont City School District scores an A from Niche and serves just over 1,000 students. Piedmont Elementary School receives an A-minus, and Piedmont Middle has an A. Piedmont High School offers a robust list of student clubs and athletics, from the fishing team and the Piedmont Center Stage Society to cross country and football. Niche gives the high school a B.
Live music and casual dining in downtown Piedmont
Downtown Piedmont features historic brick buildings occupied by small businesses. The hanging baskets and potted plants out front of Elevated Grounds Coffee Shop invite locals to enjoy paninis, wraps and specialty lattes. Shell's Downtown offers a menu of burgers and classic bar appetizers from Thursday through Saturday. Locals enjoy events at The Place Downtown, an open-air live music venue with beer and plenty of seating. Several stores and additional dining options line U.S. Route 278 just north of downtown; Roadside Grill and Mi Rancho Mexican Restaurant offer sizable dining rooms for sit-down dining experiences, and DG Market offers groceries. Booth says residents go to Jacksonville or Cedartown for additional shopping.
Navigating Calhoun County
Piedmont is a car-dependent community with several major highways. U.S. Route 278 connects the town with Cedartown, about 25 miles east, and Gadsden, about 25 miles west. Jacksonville is about a 13-mile trip southwest on State Highway 21. State Highway 9 is the city's main north-west thoroughfare, cutting through downtown. Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center offers one of the nearest emergency rooms, around 18 miles north. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is 80 miles away.
Written By
Brennen Martin
