city, seat (1924) of Peach county, central Georgia, U.S., about 30 miles (50 km) southwest of Macon. Settled about 1820, the community developed after the railroad arrived in 1851 as a shipping and canning centre for an extensive peach-growing area. The city's modern manufactures include motor vehicle bodies and textile products. Fort Valley State University was established there in 1895 as a high school for African Americans. Inc. 1856. Pop. (1990) 8,198; (2000) 8,005.