Marshallville, Georgia

This mural honors Marshallville’s deep horticultural roots and the legacy that helped shape Georgia agriculture. A historic rural town in Macon County, Marshallville is widely recognized as the birthplace of Georgia’s commercial peach industry. In 1875, Samuel H. Rumph developed the Elberta Peach — a variety that would go on to become the most popular peach in the country. Rumph revolutionized distribution by shipping his peaches north in ice-refrigerated rail cars of his own design, expanding both the reach and reputation of Georgia-grown fruit.

The town’s agricultural story extends beyond peaches. Marshallville’s streets are lined with camellias and crape myrtles, inspired by Dr. John Donald Wade and the community’s longstanding appreciation for ornamental horticulture. As a stop along the Georgia Camellia Trail — and just 2.5 miles from Massee Lane Gardens, home to the headquarters of the American Camellia Society — Marshallville continues to celebrate its enduring connection to cultivation, beauty, and botanical innovation.