West Point is a friendly river city along the Georgia-Alabama state line
Shaped by industry, West Point is a community drawing in newcomers looking for work and a small-town atmosphere. The city, set along the banks of the Chattahoochee River, has been thriving since 2010, when the Kia Corporation opened its first and only manufacturing factory in the United States, ending a period of economic downturn for the area. Today, around 2,700 people work at the automobile plant, which produces around 340,000 vehicles annually and remains a large pillar of the region’s economy. Along with job opportunities, West Point is known for its historic downtown, which is home to the private Point University. The city is also a few miles south of West Point Lake, a destination for watersports, camping and hiking, and Interstate 85 slices through the middle of town, serving as a major thoroughfare for commuters. Julie Owen, a Realtor with EXIT Realty Advantage, has lived in West Point for 30 years. “It’s just very family-oriented. We do street parties during the summer downtown. We have a great community theater that’s been around for years,” Owen says. “Everybody is very friendly. I raised my family here.”
Historic homes, midcentury styles and new builds near the Chattahoochee River
West Point’s single-family homes come in a variety of styles, with properties built between the late 1800s and today. Historic Greek and Tudor Revivals sit blocks from downtown, while English cottages, Craftsman bungalows and ranch-style homes fill subdivisions on the other side of the Chattahoochee River. “The older houses are well maintained. People come in and they renovate them,” says Owen, who adds that Booker Hills is one of the most sought-after subdivisions in which to buy. “It’s got the biggest selection of homes in various sizes, and they’re all custom-built.” The Villages at Harris Creek offers new construction. The median price for a single-family home is about $260,000, significantly below the national figure, with prices ranging from around $130,000 to $600,000. According to FEMA flood maps, properties along the river are within a special flood hazard area.
Public and private education options in Troup and Harris counties
The Troup County School System earns a B-plus overall rating from Niche and serves 12,000 students across 20 schools and learning centers. Many students in West Point attend the B-minus-rated West Point Elementary, the B-rated Long Cane Middle and the B-rated Troup County High. Some homes in West Point are in Harris County, which gives families the option to send their children to Harris County Schools. The smaller district of roughly 5,400 students and seven schools earns an A-minus rating. Students can attend New Mountain Hill Elementary, which gets an A-minus. Harris County Carver Middle and Harris County High both receive B-plus ratings. All three schools are at least a 20-mile drive from West Point.
Several private schools are in the area, including the A-rated Springwood School and the C-rated Temple Christian School. West Point is home to Point University, a small private Christian university offering associate and bachelor’s degrees in fields such as biblical studies & ministry, education and business.
Small businesses thrive in downtown West Point
Locally owned boutiques, services and restaurants fill the preserved brick buildings in historic Downtown West Point, a district that’s thriving after years of revitalization. “We have fabulous restaurants. You can go downtown any night of the week and you cannot find a parking spot,” Owen says. Johnny’s New York Style Pizza is a staple for pizza by the slice and stromboli. American fare is on the menu at Steak & Company. Along West Eighth Street, homegrown talent stars in five theatrical productions each year at New Horizon Community Theatre. The organization, originally known as the Painted Rock Players, has provided family-friendly entertainment since 1986.
Givorns Foods, a longstanding regional grocer, and Dollar General are in town, but national retailers and familiar chains are in neighboring communities like Lanett. Owen says crossing the state line is part of everyday life, “We’re all part of the same community. If I want to go to Walmart, I have to go to Valley. If I want fast food, I have to go to Alabama.”
West Point Lake, the Chattahoochee River and city parks offer recreation
A few parks dot West Point, ranging from the Downtown River Overlook Park, which offers views of the Chattahoochee River, to the expansive West Point Recreation Center, home to a splash pad and playground, as well as West Point Sportsplex and several facilities for Point University’s sports teams. Outdoorsy activities like fishing, boating and hiking are popular pastimes with the river close by and West Point Lake to the north. “There are walking trails along the river. You can walk right up under the railroad bridge. It's really pretty,” Owen says. “There is a place you can rent kayaks. They’ll take you up just below the dam and you float back down.” West Point Lake, an artificial reservoir managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, offers more than 500 miles of shoreline with campgrounds, beaches and boat launches. In addition to being a regional recreation destination, the lake and the West Point Dam are used for flood and water level control and hydroelectric power.
West Point celebrates the holiday season with Christmas on the Hooch
A free Christmas festival at the historic train depot is growing into an annual December tradition for West Point. Christmas on the Hooch first took place in 2013, but didn’t return until 2023. Much of the event caters to children, with visits from Santa and Rudolph and activity stations for things like making ornaments. Adults can cross off their gift shopping list at dozens of vendors and participate in a silent auction and raffle. Artificial snow rounds out this holiday celebration in a city that rarely sees snowfall.
Getting around the Greater Valley Area
Daily commutes in West Point often involve Interstate 85, the main highway between Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery, Alabama, which are both about 80 miles away. Owen says the 70-mile drive to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport usually takes about an hour. Interstate 185 is nearby and heads south to Columbus, less than 40 miles away. The closest hospital, Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, is about 15 miles away in LaGrange.
