By Annie Singh-Quern
Photo by: Annie Singh-Quern. Lake Peachtree at Sunset. Peachtree City, GA.
Dreamers and builders make Fayette County the way it is today. About two hundred years ago, Fayette County started out on a journey as a struggling rural community. Now it’s a present-day premier suburb known for its well planned communities, excellent education system, low crime rate, and a plethora of recreational activities for all ages. Though all those qualities make Fayette County a great place to live, we are quick to note 10 big and little things that help make Fayette County fabulous.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
A few veterans from the Revolutionary War who were settlers in the region supposedly named the 49th county of the state of Georgia – Fayette County – after Marquis de LaFayette, a lieutenant who fought alongside soon-to-be President of the United States, George Washington. Today, Fayette County has been called the “Pearl of Metropolitan Atlanta’s Southern Crescent Region.”
SMALL MEANS BIG
Yes, Fayette County is one of the smallest counties in the state of Georgia, yet, it makes up for its size (199 square miles) in big ways. The county was established in 1821 with five separate towns – Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone, Brooks, and Woolsey, each with its own charm and community.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Just 25 miles from the busiest airport in the world – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and a bit further from the city of Atlanta – a straight shot down highway 85 – Fayette County stands as a breath of fresh air from the atmosphere and noise of Atlanta and its international flying hub.
SEEPED IN HISTORY
As you visit Fayette County, you’ll get glimpses of the history of Fayette County. Fayetteville, the County seat, boasts a certified Georgia Main Street. The Old Courthouse which stands tall in downtown Fayetteville is registered as the oldest courthouse in Georgia on the National Register of Historic Places.
In the 1950’s, Joel Cowan created America’s first successful planned city – Peachtree City. In 1959, at 25 years old, Mr. Cowan served as the city’s first and youngest mayor. Today, in his 80’s, Mr. Cowan is advocating for more green spaces in the city, and in the larger city of Atlanta.
FORWARD THINKING
Today, Fayette County continues to make history. This year, Fayette County celebrated its 200th birthday. A few miles away from Fayetteville and Peachtree City is Trilith Studios, a movie city of blockbuster films. Fayetteville’s new City Hall in City Center Park was constructed in the summer of 2021.
DREAMERS & DOERS
Strict zoning, land use, and development regulations naturally created opportunities for real estate in Fayette County. Builders such as the late Vince Rossetti and family helped families establish thousands of homes across 60 communities in Peachtree City and Fayetteville. Jim Strickland, a master architect of Historical Concepts, also designed homes of Southern charm in Peachtree City.
ENTREPRENEUR-FRIENDLY
Fayette County’s small businesses have been one of the engines for the county’s growth. The Fayette Chamber of Commerce enables small businesses to connect with one another and with the local community. Small businesses operate in the areas of real estate, food and beverage, retail and hospitality, and wellness, and healthcare. Hard work, vision, and partnerships are key aspects to the growing business community.
FAMILY FRIENDLY
Though we continue to build, today Peachtree City boasts three lakes and three golf courses, and about 100 miles of growing golf cart paths. Families enjoy golfing, fishing, or simply driving around their golf carts to school, shopping and friends’ homes. Local outdoor theaters include Southern Ground Amphitheater in Fayetteville and The Fred Brown Amphitheater in Peachtree City.
WEATHER
Though with four seasons, Fayette County’s weather is relatively mild. It may dip into the 30’s for lows in the winter, and soar into the 90’s in the summer; the year-round average temperature is around 60 degrees. Without such extremes, residents are able to enjoy glorious blooms of Dogwoods and Azaleas in the spring; picnics and fairs at Drake Field in the summer; and the vibrancy of yellow, reds and oranges in the fall which may lead all the way into early December!
CLOSE TO NATURE
Fayetteville and Peachtree City boast miles of nature areas such as Flat Creek, Line Creek and The Ridge for hiking or biking. Peachtree City is blessed with its three lakes for fishing, and wooded golf cart paths for walkers or drivers. The Towns of Brooks and Woolsey, in the southern portion of Fayette County, are more rural. Tyrone is rural with its small business district.
The blend of the old and the new, with dreamers and doers, award-winning schools, and clean and safe neighborhoods, while being close to nature, contribute to making Fayette County a fabulous place to call home.