If you could create a city from the ground up, what would your blueprint look like? What types of amenities would the city have? What types of recreational activities would be available for residents to enjoy? And how would the city be laid out? Real estate developers posed the same questions during the 1950s when a group of ambitious developers drew up the blueprints for what would ultimately become Peachtree City, Georgia. Their plan was to create on more than 12,000 acres a series of adjacent, yet independent villages, each with its own elementary school, retail shops and other amenities. Collectively, the villages would accommodate approximately 80,000 residents.

Peachtree City was chartered in 1959 and grew to encompass four villages - Braelinn, Kedron, Glenloch and Aberdeen - and by the mid-1970s, city developers had revised their initial population projections, reducing their estimate to about 50,000 residents. This still relatively new city has experienced its share of growth since 1959 and, in fact, may add another village on an adjacent 1,200 parcel of land; however, that earlier population projection has been decreased yet again to 36,000 residents. The local population could increase in the near future, however, if the addition of another village is approved by the Peachtree City. Provided that annexation becomes official, the final population should reach somewhere around 40,000 residents.

Peachtree City's current population - albeit somewhat small in number - is a privileged lot. Residents reap the benefits of a master-planned community located close enough (15 miles south) but not too close to Atlanta, which is now experiencing several of the unpleasant side of effects of dramatic job growth and population influx. Peachtree City boasts a slew of recreational activities made possible by the preservation of nearby lands and the development of parks, as well as an extensive network of paths for walking and bicycling. Among the city's recreational offerings are three golf courses, a modern swimming complex and tennis center, even a 2,200-seat amphitheater. The previously mentioned network of paths encompasses some 70 miles and connects not just recreational areas but also retailers and other local businesses, schools and residential areas. The network leads underground or across bridges to accommodate busy streets without interrupting the pathways.

One look at Peachtree City's residential real estate, and you'll see first-hand that the city's small size and wealth of amenities is only one aspect of its exclusivity. The city's housing inventory is represented largely (no pun intended) by sprawling, spacious homes, many of which are relatively new. It's almost astounding how large some of the homes are here - some containing five or six bedrooms plus full basement. Prices for homes of this size can range from $450,000 all the way to $1 million plus. Most of them sit on sizeable pieces of beautifully wooded property. New-home construction continues in Peachtree City, including the development of single-family residences in planned communities, as well as new multifamily housing.

Peachtree City's unemployment rate is extremely low; in 1998, the average unemployment rate stood at just 2.5 percent, in great contrast to 4.1 percent for the state of Georgia and 4.4 percent for the greater United States for the same time period. This dramatic difference certainly points to the affluence of Peachtree City's residents. Their median annual income is comparatively higher than Georgia's and the national average, as well. Industrial firms, including several international firms, represent one of the largest segments of Peachtree City's local economy. Other economic contributors include the health-care, retail, finance and banking sectors.

Like many prosperous communities, Peachtree City has an excellent public school system. Students in Peachtree City attend Fayette County Schools, which are ranked among Georgia's best. Approximately 87 percent of high-school graduates proceed to higher education (including four-year universities, community colleges and vocational schools). Seventy-three percent of high-school graduates attend four-year universities. In addition to its quality educational system, Peachtree City also benefits from its proximity to Atlanta, which, as the Southeast's leading city, continues to enjoy steady job growth, an extremely active real estate market and an excellent economy. Atlanta is close enough for Peachtree City residents to commute there daily for work and take advantage of its world-class airport (Delta Airlines maintains its hub in Atlanta).

As we head into the 21st century, there's no sign of slow-down for Atlanta; the economy is only expected to continue growing and diversifying as the city expands outward. Given that forecast, Peachtree City is poised to catch the fever of this explosive growth and prosperity. Although its residential real estate inventory isn't expected to exhibit a dramatic increase, Peachtree City can bank on the continued success of its economy, meaning that those projected 40,000 residents who are lucky enough to reside here will benefit from the spoils and their status as the "select few" who can call one of the Southeast's most unique cities their home.