Sylvania offers a rural lifestyle with access to nearby cities
Colorful blooms brighten Sylvania's streets every spring and give the sleepy town in eastern Georgia its nickname, the "Azalea and Dogwood City." About 2,600 people call the Screven County seat home, where government buildings anchor a quaint downtown of local shops and restaurants. Plus, Sylvania is within driving distance of Statesboro and Savannah. “It’s a rural setting with a country type of atmosphere,” says Realtor Julie Hales with Next Move Real Estate, who has sold many homes in the area. “You can get more bang for your buck. The land sales are less expensive, so you could build bigger houses if you wanted, but you’d have to be committed to your commute.”
Mom-and-pop businesses and vintage finds in downtown Sylvania
Downtown Sylvania has the look and feel of a classic Southern small town, with a central public square and late 19th- and early 20th-century brick storefronts. Murals color building sides, dogwoods and azaleas line wide, walkable streets in the spring and festive decorations adorn streetlamps and sidewalks during the holidays. “It’s like stepping back in time,” Hales says. “It still has that old-time charm, with mostly mom-and-pop businesses.” Little Dipper Coffee and Ice Cream is a local go-to, serving lattes, sandwiches, pastries and more. Stoner’s Pizza Joint has picnic tables for outdoor seating, and Señor Tequila’s Mexican Cantina offers Tex-Mex favorites. For shopping, Antiques & More On Main sells vintage treasures, from furniture and art to knick-knacks and jewelry, while The Cotton Patch has dishware, handmade soaps, game day gear and more. Historic churches, government buildings and Kinchley Place Bed & Breakfast, a community icon, are also downtown.
Outside the town center is a Food Lion grocery store, Dollar General, a hardware store, a furniture shop, a florist, a sporting goods store and more.
Seasonal festivals bring parades, food and fun
Downtown is also the site of many community events. In April, the Screven County Livestock Festival kicks off with the crowning of the Livestock Festival Queen and a parade through the city center. Afterward, the agriculture center hosts livestock shows. The Food and Drink Festival showcases local restaurants through food trucks and vendors. Live music floats through the air, and games line the town square. In October, the Downtown Sylvania Fall Festival includes a vendors’ craft fair, a farmers market, an autumnal parade, games and more.
Lower home prices than near Statesboro or Savannah
Mature pine and oak trees line two-lane residential roads. Small cottages, bungalows and ranch-style homes are common, and some sit near small lakes. There’s some new construction and older, renovated homes. For under $100,000, buyers can find a home needing significant repairs, while move-in-ready properties can cost $120,000 to $350,000. “Prices are a little lower than closer to Statesboro or Savannah,” Hales says.
Private and public school options in Sylvania
The Screven County School System serves Sylvania. Students can attend Screven County Elementary and Screven County Middle, which get B’s from Niche. They may graduate from Screven County High, which earns a B-plus. The school district’s School Food Service program has the Provisional II meal plan, allowing all students to eat breakfast and lunch for free. Screven Christian Academy, a private school educating pre-kindergarten to twelfth-grade students, is also in the community. Niche does not grade it.
Ball fields, amphitheater and community center in town
There are ball fields and an outdoor amphitheater near the Screven County Library and the local fire department. A nearby community center can be rented for events. The Screven County Recreation Department complex is just outside of town. It offers various athletic facilities, from tennis and pickleball courts to batting cages and a swimming pool. The recreation department also hosts youth and adult sports leagues, like soccer, softball, football, cheerleading and more. It has a 9-hole disc golf course and a paved walking trail that runs for over a mile. About 8 miles from the center of town, Black Creek Scout Reservation is a scouting destination that spans nearly 800 acres. The reservation features a 40-acre lake for boating, swimming and fishing, as well as archery ranges and ropes courses. About 12 miles from the city center, Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area covers about 15,000 acres for camping, hunting, boating, fishing, hiking and more.
Sylvania has rural roads with access to major routes
Coastal Regional Coaches, a reservation-based bus service, serves Sylvania. The community has easy access to U.S. Route 301 and Georgia state Route 21. Statesboro is about 20 miles away, and Savannah is about 60 miles away. “A lot of people commute,” Hales says. “Forty minutes out here in the country ain’t nothing for us.” Optim Medical Center-Screven is in town, and East Georgia Regional Medical Center is in Statesboro. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is about 60 miles away.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
