Vidalia onion country surrounds Reidsville
Recent signs of growth in Reidsville include the addition of turn signals to the city’s only traffic light. The pace of change is gradual in Reidsville, a southeastern Georgia community surrounded by farms raising Vidalia onions. “We are growing, but not so rapidly we’re losing our small-town charm,” says DuAnn Davis, a resident and attorney at DuAnn Cowart Davis P.C. Davis grew up in Reidsville, moved to Atlanta and returned to her hometown to rediscover the leisurely way of life in the community, where rush hour barely lasts 30 minutes and peach orchards extend into the city limits.
Homes for sale in Georgia’s wiregrass region
Reidsville lies in a part of Georgia known as the wiregrass region, where shade cast by abundant pine trees prevents much from growing on the ground besides wispy blades of wiregrass. The community’s ranch-style homes and Craftsman houses sit on wide lots that are open except for grass covering sandy soil and pine trees dotting the yards. Prices usually vary from $90,000 to $290,000, with new construction selling for $245,000 or more.
Some homes along the Ohoopee River face flood risks. For example, Hurricane Helene caused the river level to surge in 2024, flooding roads and yards. Homeowners in this area may need to buy flood insurance.
Attending Tattnall County Schools
Kids can take classes at North Tattnall Elementary, which receives a 4 out of 10 rating from GreatSchools, before progressing to North Tattnall Middle, scored 5 out of 10. Tattnall County High gets a 6 out of 10. In addition to the high school’s dozen-plus sports teams, students can join the One Act Play team and compete against other high school performers across the region.
Golf, fishing and camping at Jack Hill State Park
Jack Hill State Park spans roughly 660 acres just outside downtown Reidsville. Anglers can fish the park’s small lake, either from one of the docks or by renting a boat. People may come for the day to walk the 1-mile trail or use the splash pad, or they can camp in tents or cottages. Golfers visit the park to play the 18-hole Brazell’s Creek Golf Course or practice their putting on the free miniature golf course. If they’re not casting lines in the lake at Jack Hill State Park, fishers are at the Ohoopee River or the Altamaha River. The Reidsville Recreation Department runs youth leagues for football, softball, cheerleading and other sports.
Fashion boutiques, orthopedic surgeons and more on Main Street
Most of Reidsville’s businesses are spread out over a mile-long stretch of Main Street. Locally owned establishments include Jincy’s Southern Exchange, a clothing boutique, and Gigi’s, where the daily lunch specials vary from fried pork chops to hibachi steak and shrimp. Food Lion and Dollar Tree are also on Main Street, which leads to Optim Medical Center-Tattnall. The hospital has an emergency department, but it’s best known for its orthopedic specialists and surgeons. “It’s a draw for over a 100-mile radius,” Davis says. Davis adds that she rarely has to leave Reidsville to shop, except when she runs to Walmart, nearly 20 miles away in Vidalia.
Wiregrass Festival has been a tradition for more than 20 years
Reidsville holds the Wiregrass Festival in the center of town every fall. The event starts with a 5K and a parade. Afterward, owners of vintage cars show off their rides in the parking lot behind the Tattnall County Courthouse. In the neighboring park, kids bounce on inflatables and dozens of vendors sell items from barbecue to homemade jam.
Locals commute to Statesboro, Savannah
U.S. Route 280 passes through Reidsville, and it’s about 20 miles to Interstate 16. Residents who don’t work in Reidsville may commute 35 miles to Statesboro or 75 miles to Savannah. “My brother-in-law works at Gulfstream in Savannah and has the beauty of small-town life with the opportunities of the job market there,” Davis says. In addition to large employers, Savannah is home to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, where passengers can catch direct flights to more than 30 destinations. Two nearby state prisons and a Hyundai electric vehicle plant that’s about 40 miles away also employ locals.
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
