Soperton combines its timber legacy with small-town charm
Soperton is known as the Million Pines City of southeast Georgia. Before the Macon, Dublin and Savannah Railroad came to the town in 1902, Soperton had a thriving timber industry that provided pine wood for local cabinetmakers and turpentine stills. After it became the Treutlen County seat in 1918, a local cotton farmer planted 7 million trees across 10,000 acres that were used for paper production. Today, Soperton residents continue to appreciate the lush longleaf pine forests and slower-paced lifestyle while welcoming thousands of visitors every year for the annual Million Pines Arts & Crafts Festival. “We’re just a small, close-knit community,” says Samantha Richards, a lifelong resident and assistant city clerk. “If you’re looking for peace and quiet, we are the city to come to.”
Pony up at local parks and petting zoos
The Jean Gillis Memorial Park has a playground with swings, slides and monkey bars, as well as a walking trail that loops around the park. The Soperton/Treutlen Recreation Complex is on the opposite end of the city and has baseball diamonds and a soccer field. The Treutlen County Library has 12 computers and a digital collection of thousands of eBooks, and there are several churches along the main highways. J&B Ranch is a 38-acre horse-riding camp south of the town that also has a petting zoo. Pony Creek Farm is 6 miles east and has face-painting, carnival games and barrel train rides. The River Bend Wildlife Management Area manages 3,500 acres of forestland over 11 miles west, where outdoorsmen can hunt for deer, turkey and waterfowl.
Traditional and ranch-style homes on acreage
There are mainly brick, wood and vinyl houses on grid-like streets by the highway, many of which were built in the 1960s. It also has one of the lowest costs of living in the state with a median sale price of $134,000. “Nothing stays vacant for long here,” Richards says. “As soon as somebody leaves, somebody else snatches it up.” Old 1,000-square-foot homes with less than half-acre lots are most inexpensive, ranging from $30,000 to $90,000. Many traditional and ranch-style homes can have 1 to 10-acre lots with bushes, raised foundations and long driveways, costing between $100,000 and $370,000.
Multiple state roads, an interstate and Treutlen County Transit
Many state highways run from Soperton throughout the county, including Georgia State Routes 15, 29 and 46. U.S. Route 221 leads 14 miles south to Mt. Vernon and 4 miles north to Interstate 16, which provides a straight drive to the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport over 100 miles east. The Treutlen County Transit provides limited medical and grocery transportation throughout the county, costing $6 for a round trip. Outside of the city, the closest 24-hour hospital is the Memorial Health Meadows Hospital around 18 miles southeast in Vidalia.
Summer festivals and farmers’ markets
The Million Pines Arts & Crafts Festival has been held since 1972 and features over 200 booths along with pony rides, live music and funnel cakes. The Juneteenth Festival has food trucks, carnival rides and live poetry sessions, and the July Jam is a patriotic family-friendly event with inflatable bounce houses, barbecue and fireworks. The city opened a farmers’ market pavilion in summer 2025 and hosts markets on the second and fourth Saturday of every month.
Fajitas, farm equipment and Florida Hardware
There are a handful of local restaurants downtown by the main highway intersection. Boneyard BBQ has been smoking its signature beef brisket and pork ribs since 2013, while Tiny Burger is a small food trailer that makes its burgers and sandwiches to order. Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant serves street tacos, burritos and enchiladas, and farm equipment is available at the Florida Hardware Company and the Soperton Farm Center. In-town grocery stores include Piggly Wiggly and Dollar General.
One campus for all grade levels
All Treutlen County Schools are located in the same building 4 miles northwest of Soperton. Treutlen Elementary School has an 11-to-1 student-teacher ratio and offers a free breakfast and lunch program, earning a B on Niche. Sixth through 12th-grade students move on to Treutlen Middle/High School, which has 38 athletic teams and clubs and a B-minus.
Ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene
Many parts of the town are still rebuilding after Hurricane Helene touched down in September 2024. The path of the storm went through over 8 million acres of woods, costing the timber industry $1.28 billion.
