Bremen, Georgia, was once the site of the annual rekindling of the Sacred Fire by the Creek People. This auspicious ritual, held during the Green Corn Festival, was tied to the ripening of the corn crops and marked by the cleaning out of ash and coals from the old, extinguished ceremonial fire. Women did the same to their own cooking pits while the Sacred Fire was re-lit for another year. Steeped in Native-American history, Bremen, Georgia, is a city with a long, interesting background.
Once a quiet little railroad junction, Bremen, Georgia, in Haralson County has become a quaint, picturesque city where family values and community spirit seem to thrive. The town gets its name from a German immigrant, who preferred to have the town renamed Bremen after the city in Germany, rather than keep the name "Kramer" that was given to the town in his honor. That's humility for you. The city was also known as the "clothing center of the South" because of its booming textile industry. Today, visitors, residents and any other interested parties can follow the Southern Quilt Trail throughout Bremen and Haralson County. Just look for the square quilt patterns affixed to the sides of barns and historic buildings, a unique way to pay homage to women quilters of old in the area and mark historic sites. You can't miss 'em. They're big and colorful. And heads up, Bremen is pronounced "BREE-muhn." It's always good to know how to say the name of the city you may eventually be living in. Bremen is a city full heritage-pride and residents who love music, the outdoors and festivals. Speaking of music, if you've a yen to listen to acapella sacred music, then Bremen is the city for you, especially for two days every June, when a Sacred Harp (sacred choral music) singing convention takes place. In fact, there are a LOT of churches in Bremen, dozens of them, in fact. Most of the major shops and restaurants -- chain and local -- in Bremen can be found along US Hwy 27.
Moving to Bremen
Bremen lies where I-20 and US Hwy 27 meet and is 47 miles almost due west of Atlanta, so it's basically a hop, skip and a jump from the booming metropolis and capital of Georgia. If you need to commute, then Bremen fits the bill, though you may have a bit of a drive and encounter a few traffic snarls on your way into the big city. The median rent is moderate, as are property taxes, much lower than they would be in a city the size of Atlanta, though Bremen can boast being the largest city in Haralson County. Major crime is low in Bremen, a plus indeed for the city with "rural charm."
What to Expect in Housing
As of 2013, the housing density for Bremen was 222 houses or condos per square mile. In this city of some 30,000 residents, you'll have your pick of places to rent or buy: bungalows, detached ranch-style houses, condos, apartments with paid utilities or without, townhouses -- you name it. Red brick, the principal building material of many homes in the great state of Georgia, is common here. Most of the homes were built during the 50s and 60s, with a sudden spurt of them going up during the 70s. This may or may not be a problem, but, remember, any older home might need an update or a remodel.
The Nitty Gritty About What You'll Need for Moving
Haralson County requires that any new resident moving into the county from out of state has to obtain an auto tag within 30 days. You need appropriate documentation to take care of that business, as well as a laundry list of documentation to rent an apartment, home or condo -- either on a month to month basis or by signing on for longer leases -- or arranging to buy a home. Here's what you'll need in general for moving to Bremen: proof of residency (for your auto tag), Georgia driver's license, references, pay stubs, bank statements, employment proof, credit report. If you have kids and they'll be headed to one of the many schools in Bremen, then you'll need their immunization records (no kid wants to have to have a second set of immunizations, so this is a handy record to bring along ), certified birth certificate, health records, social security number. Oh, and don't forget your checkbook.
Neighborhoods
Dogwood View Apartments: A complex comprised of 40 units, all reserved for the over 55 set. If you're a senior or you have a senior relative who needs a place to live, then this facility will be just the ticket.
BSW Apartments LLC: Touted as "quiet" living, BSW Apartment features 1 or 2 bedroom apartments, priced modestly. Near good schools and plentiful churches.
Magnolia Subdivision: This community sporting large, new spacious homes enjoys a swimming pool, hot tub and tennis courts. Homeowners are part of an HOA and must be familiar with the association's by-laws.
Pinebrook: A Bremen subdivision near good schools and populated by comfortable brick-built homes with attached garages.
Saddleridge: A family-oriented subdivision where kids can play in the street, and homeowners regularly spy deer and wild turkey.
Many of the homes in Bremen have been converted into multi-unit rentals, and are not part of subdivisions or neighborhoods, per say. Because of these conversions, finding a duplex to rent in Bremen shouldn't be too difficult. Since a large number of single-family homes in Bremen were built during the 50s and 60s, they were often erected on large lots or acreage, set a comfortable distance from their neighbors, all part of the backwoods charm of this Southern city. Take advantage of an apartments locator to assist in your search for an apartment rental.
Living in Bremen
As the Bremen motto goes, "a small town with the charm of yesteryear and the convenience of today's modern world." The beauty of Western Georgia's rolling hills beckons. Bremen is a place for raising families, having picnics in the park, buying fresh vegetables and fruit from vendors in the Farmer's Market, (open every Friday from June - August) and visiting historical sites or buildings that hark back to a different, slower-paced time. Somewhat new to Bremen is the Rocky Branch Railroad and Ghost Town, historic re-creation and live-action theater captures the wild, wild, even wilder western frontier. For musical performances galore, the West Georgia's famous Mill Town Music Hall can't be beat. Country, bluegrass and gospel singers from perform at this state-of-the-art music hall, and audiences flock to listen. If you yearn for speed and breath-taking spills and none of the above activities are quite enough, then head to family-friendly Bremen's Motocross Race Park, bring your dirt bike and get ready to tear it up. As if you weren't busy enough, it's time to take a class or two in fiber arts at the alpaca ranch. Pick up a spinning wheel while you're there (they sell them), some alpaca fiber and get to work on Aunt Nellie's next birthday present.
