Halfway between Atlanta and Macon, Griffin is a quintessential Southern community in the heart of Georgia, with a rich history, scenic small town feel and lush natural surroundings. Griffin is known as the Iris City for its iris growing.
People looking for apartments for rent in Griffin will find the city offers a great living environment, a range of things to do and an evolving character rooted in a sense of tradition.
The area that would eventually hold Griffin was first settled by Spaniards in the mid 1500s. The area went through many changes of hands, with the English declaring it their property about a century later and finally, Americans claiming it as their own in 1764. Originally settled according to a lottery system, Griffin's early years were marked by agriculture, especially cotton, and growth was driven by the arrival of a rail line. An important gathering point during the Civil War, Griffin hosted two major Confederate camps. During Reconstruction, the area experienced a boom from the arrival of the textiles industry, and Griffin continues to be an important place for textiles and manufacturing.
Today, the seat of Spalding County is home to nearly 24,000 people, and residents of Griffin apartments can take advantage of a busy downtown, great recreation and a lively community.
A relatively recent addition to the University of Georgia system, UGA Griffin is a growing local academic presence offering a range of undergraduate and graduate degrees. Griffin students can also take on one of nearly 200 programs of study at Southern Crescent Technical College.
With a broad economic base that has traditionally been rooted in manufacturing, Griffin's economy is diverse and expanding with investments in education and healthcare. Major employers include Caterpillar, cotton mill Southern Terry Inc. and locally headquartered school supplies company Norcom, among other area manufacturers.
With a large stock of affordable rental properties and a steady student population, Griffin caters to renters, and more than 60 percent of residents choose to rent.
U.S. Census Bureau data showed the median gross rent from 2008 to 2010 was $730. Additional research found one bedroom apartments renting for between $465 and $630 per month.
Griffin's long historical tradition makes it a particularly interesting place to explore. Residents can retrace Civil War history at Stonewall Confederate Cemetery, or the sites of Confederate camps Stephens and Milner. The site of the latter is preserved as Griffin's Municipal Park. Historic downtown features the classic architecture of the noted local churches and municipal buildings. Downtown is also home to a wide range of businesses, and residents can enjoy shopping, dining and entertainment in a unique, picturesque setting.
With 200 acres of parks that feature ball fields, a pool and a public golf course (not to mention a public putt-putt course for the less competitive golfers), Griffin has plenty of recreational opportunities. Numerous lakes and a second golf course are all nearby, while the Atlanta Motor Speedway is just minutes away. The city hosts a number of annual festivals and holiday events, including the popular Doc'tober Days, which celebrate Wild West icon Doc Holliday, and the annual spring iris show. Visitors might also recognize certain city locales from movies that have been filmed in Griffin, such as "Driving Miss Daisy." For those looking to venture farther afield, Atlanta and Macon are each only an hour's drive.
If you are looking for an apartment for rent or a house rental in Griffin, Ga., search for rental properties at Rent.com®.