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Fayette County's Peachtree City is a Unique Master-Planned Community

Peachtree City is one of the nation's first master-planned communities and offers many unique features, among these residential neighborhoods well removed from developed industrial areas, abundant local forests (city regulations restrict tree cutting) and limits on the heights of fences and business signs. Regulated buffer zones are perhaps the most plentiful in the state around water bodies -- lakes, streams and wetlands.

Peachtree City's popularity as a residential enclave (the city grew by 66 percent in the last U.S. census) reflects its beginnings as an ancient community center to Southeast "woodland" Indians going back thousands of years.  Later, it was a settlement center for Northern Europeans, notably those of Scotch and Irish heritage.

Largely rural until the mid-20th century, Peachtree City was master planned in the 1950s by a group of real estate developers who acquired over 12,000 acres in Fayette County for the express purpose of building a planned community.

Chartered on March 9, 1959, the city was envisioned as a group of distinct "town villages" each with its own shopping, recreational facilities and elementary schools. Today these "villages," within the city limits are Aberdeen, Braelinn, Glenloch, Kedron and Wilksmoor, bearing the names of Scottish hamlets that recall the heritage of 18th century settlers.

Peachtree City's original "blueprint" anticipated approximately 80,000 residents. In the mid 1970s, the land use plan was revised for a total of 40,000 to 50,000 residents. Future plans tentatively call for a new "village" that could add some 4,000 new residents.

Currently, Peachtree City is home to over 40,000 and also is a base for domestic and international companies, including Cooper Lighting, Fitel Interconnectivity, Hoshizaki-America, Panasonic and TDK. The median family income approaches $90,000, one of the highest in the state.

Recreation is a high priority as well, and the community offers two 250-acre lakes, three golf courses, a substantial public tennis complex, five public pools, a BMX bicycle track, a 2,200 seat amphitheater and 70-plus miles of paved trails, well utilized by residents for walking and serving as a natural network for the alternative transportation of choice here, golf carts.

Peachtree City is also distinguished for its high-profile regional airport, Falcon Field, which hosts a popular air show yearly; for being a National Weather Service radar station and forecast office, serving 96 counties in north and central Georgia; and is a Foreign Trade Zone as designated by the U.S. Customs Service (a.k.a. U.S. Customs and Border Protection).