Plains, Georgia

Plains is a small town commercial center for the surrounding peanut-farming and agricultural community. It is also the hometown of Jimmy Carter. At the end of the one-street downtown, you can see the quaint small train depot that served as the campaign headquarters for Jimmy’s 1975 Presidential campaign. In the vintage Plains general store, you can purchase an assortment of peanut-derivative products and locally-produced jams and jellies. Prior to Mr. Carter, America has had 5 presidents with first names of James – James Madison, James Monroe, James Polk, James Buchanan and James Garfield. Can you imagine referring to these men as Jimmy? According to my dictionary, Jimmy is the ‘common’ or ‘plain’ variation of James. Jimmy Carter – a plain name from a Plain town. After his residence in the White House, despite his fame and worldliness, Jimmy returned to his roots in Plains, and has remained ever since. That speaks volumes about the character of the community and the man.  Andersonville National Historic Site and the National Prisoner of War Museum are located in the vicinity of Plains.