Fairburn Real Estate

Fairburn, Georgia

Location Along the I-85 Corridor

Fairburn sits in southwestern Fulton County, about 17 miles south of downtown Atlanta directly along Interstate 85, with Georgia Highway 74 branching south from the city about 13 miles toward Peachtree City. The city covers just over 17 square miles of land. The drive across the metro from Tucker runs the length of I-285 and I-85 South, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport sits roughly midway along that route. Union City lies to the east, with Palmetto and Chattahoochee Hills further along the same south Fulton corridor to the south and west.

From Campbellton to Fairburn

Fairburn grew up a few miles from Campbellton, the original seat of old Campbell County, after the Atlanta and West Point Railroad was routed through Fairburn instead of Campbellton in 1854. Business and population shifted accordingly, and the town received its charter that same year. Fairburn became the Campbell County seat in 1871, a role it held until Campbell County was absorbed into Fulton County in 1932, at which point Fairburn's county seat status ended even as the city itself continued to grow. The town reorganized under a new charter as a city with a mayor and council in 1925. The Campbell County Courthouse, built in 1871 and still standing, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and remains one of the oldest public buildings in this part of Georgia. Fairburn's population grew steadily over that stretch, from about 305 residents in 1870 to roughly 1,600 by 1920, tracking the growth that followed the railroad's arrival and the courthouse relocation.

A Preserved Commercial Downtown

Fairburn's Main Street corridor forms the Fairburn Commercial Historic District, also on the National Register, with commercial buildings dating to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in styles ranging from Neoclassical to Italianate to more utilitarian brick storefronts. A pair of 1917 railroad depots along Main Street have been restored into restaurants, anchoring a courtyard and outdoor stage used for concerts and community gatherings throughout the warmer months. The district rebuilt several storefronts after a 2010 fire that damaged multiple historic buildings, drawing firefighters from surrounding communities, and has continued adding public space and gathering areas since.

Festivals and Everyday Recreation

The city's calendar includes a Fall Festival and Parade billed as its largest annual event, a Third Friday concert series that runs from spring through early fall, a Hispanic heritage celebration known as SABOR, and smaller recurring gatherings such as Jazz in the Park and a line dance showcase. The Golightly Community Garden gives residents a shared space to grow food and connect with neighbors, and the annual Georgia Renaissance Festival, held on the edge of the city each spring, draws roughly a quarter million visitors from across the region over its multi-weekend run.

Housing Near the Historic Core

Close to Main Street, Fairburn's older housing stock reflects the same late nineteenth and early twentieth century period as its commercial buildings, with modest frame houses set on tree-lined side streets within walking distance of downtown. Farther from downtown, subdivisions built from the late twentieth century onward add ranch homes and larger single-family construction along the I-85 and Highway 74 corridors, giving buyers a choice between walkable, historic streets and more spread-out suburban layouts within the same city. The city's overall land area of just over 17 square miles keeps most of these neighborhoods within a short drive of Main Street and its shops and restaurants.

• Fairburn Commercial Historic District on Main Street


• Restored 1917 railroad depots repurposed as restaurants


• The Campbell County Courthouse, built in 1871


• The annual Georgia Renaissance Festival


• A Fall Festival and Parade and a spring-to-fall concert series

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Fairburn in?

Fairburn is in Fulton County. It served as the seat of the former Campbell County from 1871 until Campbell County was absorbed into Fulton County in 1932.

How far is Fairburn from Atlanta?

Fairburn sits about 17 miles south of downtown Atlanta, directly along Interstate 85.

What cities are near Fairburn?

Union City lies to the east, and Palmetto and Chattahoochee Hills sit further south and west along the same south Fulton corridor.

What is there to see in downtown Fairburn?

The Fairburn Commercial Historic District along Main Street includes late nineteenth and early twentieth century commercial buildings, two restored 1917 train depots turned restaurants, and an outdoor stage used for concerts.

Does Fairburn host any well known annual events?

The Georgia Renaissance Festival takes place each spring near Fairburn and draws visitors from across the region, while the city's own Fall Festival and Parade is its largest annual community event, along with smaller recurring gatherings such as a Third Friday concert series and Jazz in the Park.