Smiths Station is a bedroom community for Phenix City and Columbus
Smiths Station originally developed around its namesake train depot in the 19th century, but the community was unincorporated until 2001 when it became a city. Today, Smiths Station is a suburb and bedroom community for the larger hubs of Phenix City, Alabama, and Columbus, Georgia. The city features highly rated schools, more space and quick commutes to employers like Fort Benning. “A lot of people move there for the school system. People like the schools,” says Howard Jefferson, the owner of Coldwell Banker Kennon, Parker, Duncan & Davis, who has lived in the area for his entire life. “Taxes are lower there than they are in a lot of other places, so that’s advantageous to people. Even compared to just across the river in Columbus, Georgia, they’re typically going to be somewhere between a third and a half.”
Dense suburban neighborhoods and more space farther outside the city
Smiths Station is located on the Alabama side of the Chattahoochee River, bordering Phenix City to the south. The community has a suburban character closer to Phenix City, with homes in manicured subdivisions. But neighborhoods become more sparse farther out from the city, with houses on larger lots shaded by tall pine trees. Ranch-style builds are most common throughout Smiths Station, selling between $90,000 and $350,000. Brick New Traditional and Craftsman-influenced homes are often recently constructed and can go from $300,000 to $700,000, depending upon size.
Highly rated schools attract residents to Smiths Station
While small parts of Smiths Station are within the Phenix City Schools district, Lee County Schools serve most of the community. The Lee County system receives a B-plus grade from Niche. Smiths Station is split into four elementary school districts, all feeding into Smiths Station Junior High, which receives a B grade from Niche. Ninth-graders attend B-rated Smiths Station Freshman Center, followed by B-plus-graded Smiths Station High. The school sponsors girls' flag football as a varsity sport alongside the traditional football team. Jefferson says that high school football is an important part of the community’s culture on fall Fridays.
Easy commutes to places such as Fort Benning in Columbus
U.S. Highway 280 is Smiths Station’s main throughway, leading towards Phenix City and Columbus, Georgia. Most residents head to one of the larger cities for work, each roughly 8 miles away. The United States Army outpost of Fort Benning, southeast of downtown Columbus, is a large employer in the region. “A lot of people commute to Fort Benning,” Jefferson says. “It’s a pretty significant portion. It’s not all that far. It’s an easy drive. You don’t have that many traffic lights between Smiths Station and Fort Benning.” The closest commercial flights leave from Columbus Airport, which offers service to Atlanta. While Lee-Russell Public Transit provides on-demand transportation services, residents generally drive to their destinations. Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital has the closest emergency room in Phenix City, about 7 miles away.
Shops and restaurants within the community and nearby on Highway 280
Much of Smiths Station has a quiet residential character, but the community does offer several shopping and dining options at the intersection of Panther Parkway and Jackson Avenue. Smiths Station Plaza has a Renfroe’s Market for groceries, plus a pharmacy and the Cluck It Bucket restaurant for chicken tenders. Poco Locos Mexican Grill is across the street. Otherwise, most of the community’s businesses are located around Highway 280, including big box stores like Home Depot and Walmart.
Youth sports and tournaments at Smiths Station Sports Complex
The Smiths Station Parks and Recreation Department mainly focuses on providing youth sports to the community. Smiths Station Sports Complex hosts leagues and tournaments from across the region. “The sports complex is a great thing for all the Little Leagues and the football and softball leagues,” Jefferson says. “There are walking tracks there too.” Several ballfields are located on the campus of Smiths Station Junior High. The community also has access to Lake Oliver on the Chattahoochee River. Goat Rock Recreation Area along the river has a public boat launch and a fishing pier just south of Goat Rock Dam.
Holiday celebrations and fall Fridays in Smiths Station
The city of Smiths Station organizes community events throughout the year, the biggest of which is the Holiday Bazaar. Held at City Hall, the celebration includes dozens of local vendors selling arts and crafts, as well as food and drinks.
