Fitzgerald
Around Fitzgerald
Photo: Michael Rivera · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Georgia · 16k people
Fitzgerald
“Colony City”
Where North and South meet in Southern harmony.
PurpleGold
Welcome to Fitzgerald, where the streets tell a tale of Blue and Gray and the wild chickens rule the roost. Come for the history, stay for the sweet tea and the friendly faces on the square.
Clubs for Fitzgerald
No clubs for Fitzgerald yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Fitzgerald. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Fitzgerald. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Blue and Gray Museum Housed in the old railroad depot, telling the story of the town founded by Union and Confederate veterans
- Historic Downtown Squares Streets named after Union and Confederate generals, with a classic Southern town center
- Ben Hill County Courthouse Historic government building at the heart of the square
- Outdoors Walk the historic squares
- Outdoors Fish the Ocmulgee River
- With kids Visit the Blue and Gray Museum
- With kids Chase the wild chickens downtown
- Evenings Downtown bars with live music
- Evenings Friday night football
- Locals love Meat-and-three diners
- Locals love Pecan orchards
Through the year
- Wild Chicken Festival March Celebrates the town's free-roaming chickens with music, food, and crafts
- Downtown Farmers Market Summer Local produce, pecans, and handmade goods on the historic square
Humid subtropical – hot, muggy summers and mild winters. The best times to be out are spring and fall. Best: Spring (March–May) and fall (October–November) are perfect for being outside.
Getaways
Local flavour
Rooting for Atlanta Braves (MLB), Atlanta Falcons (NFL), Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Georgia Bulldogs (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Boiled peanuts A classic Southern roadside snack, especially popular in Georgia.
- Peach cobbler Georgia is the Peach State, and this dessert is a staple at local gatherings.
- Fried green tomatoes A Southern favorite, often served in local diners.
- Sweet tea The unofficial drink of the South, served at every meal.
Where people go
- Historic downtown squares Fitzgerald's downtown is a classic Southern square with a courthouse and local shops.
- Blue and Gray Museum Commemorates the city's founding as a reconciliation colony of Union and Confederate veterans.
- Local diners and meat-and-threes Family-run spots serving Southern home cooking.
Heritage and traditions
Fitzgerald is proud of its unique heritage as a planned city founded by Union veterans after the Civil War, celebrating reconciliation between North and South, and its famously free-roaming wild chickens.
This time of year in Fitzgerald
- Blue and Gray Days Fall October celebration of the city's founding and reconciliation.
- High school football Fall Friday night games are a community ritual in the fall.
- Blue and Gray Days October Commemorates the city's founding by Union veterans and its Southern surroundings, with reenactments and history talks.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — getting ready to
Festivals
- Blue and Gray Days October Commemorates the city's founding by Union veterans and its Southern surroundings, with reenactments and history talks.
- Downtown Farmers Market Summer Local produce, pecans, and handmade goods in the historic squares.
- Wild Chicken Festival April A quirky celebration of the city's feral chickens with live music, a parade, and chicken-themed fun.
Landmarks with a story
- Lee-Grant Hotel A historic hotel from the early 1900s, reflecting the city's railroad-era prosperity.
- Fitzgerald Historic District The planned layout with state-named streets and early 20th-century architecture is listed on the National Register.
- Blue and Gray Museum Tells the story of the city's founding by Union veterans and its Southern context.
Food traditions
- Pecan pie Local pecans are a point of pride, and pecan pie is a holiday and Sunday-dinner staple.
- Meat-and-three A Southern lunch tradition where you choose a meat and three sides, often with sweet tea and cornbread.
- Boiled peanuts Roadside stands sell these salty, soft peanuts, a summertime favorite.
- Fried green tomatoes A classic Southern side dish, served in local diners.
- Peach cobbler Georgia peaches shine in this warm dessert, often topped with vanilla ice cream.
A little history
- 1895 Fitzgerald founded as a colony for Union veterans
- 1895 The city was planned with streets named after states to symbolize national unity
- early 1900s The railroad arrived, boosting the turpentine and timber industries
- early 20th century The area became known as a winter resort for Northerners seeking mild weather
Rivalries
- Fitzgerald High vs. Irwin County High Local football rivalry with neighboring Ocilla
- Game day High school football under the lights
- Game day Quail hunting in the wiregrass
- Outdoors Walk the historic squares
- Outdoors Fish the Ocmulgee River
- With kids Visit the Blue and Gray Museum
- With kids Chase the wild chickens downtown
Residents speak with a classic Southern accent, often drawing out vowels and using phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'. The pace is unhurried, and politeness is expected.
Only here
- Wild chickens roam freely in downtown Fitzgerald, a beloved local quirk.
- Streets are named after states, a nod to the city's founding as a Union veteran colony.
- The Blue and Gray Museum symbolizes reconciliation between North and South.
- The city is known as the 'Colony City' because of its planned founding for veterans.
New here? A few tips
- Expect hot, humid summers and mild winters; air conditioning is essential.
- Try the boiled peanuts from a roadside stand – they're a local staple.
- Drive slowly downtown – the wild chickens are not afraid of cars.
- Learn about the city's unique history at the Blue and Gray Museum.
- Sweet tea is the default drink at most restaurants; ask for unsweetened if you prefer.
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Nearby
Every areaTiftonGeorgiaWhere the fields are green and the welcome is warmer.DouglasGeorgiaWhere the fields meet the pinesEastmanGeorgiaWhere the pines meet the peach and sweet tea flows.CordeleGeorgiaWhere every day is a slice of summerAdelGeorgiaSmall towns, big skies, and sweet tea.HawkinsvilleGeorgiaThe friendly heart of Georgia's farm countryMoultrieGeorgiaHome of the Packers and the sweetest tea.AlbanyGeorgiaWhere the Flint River winds through pecan groves.
Fitzgerald, GA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.