Royston is a city in northeast Georgia whose boundaries span three counties — Franklin, Hart, and Madison — a rare arrangement that reflects its position at a crossroads of the state's Appalachian foothills. Incorporated in 1879, the city grew as a small railroad and agricultural center, and its population stood at about 2,649 in the 2020 census. The landscape around Royston is gently rolling piedmont and foothill country, drained by the Broad River and framed by the beginnings of the Blue Ridge to the north. Royston's enduring claim to fame is baseball. Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb, one of the game's greatest players and the man known as the Georgia Peach, moved to Royston as a youth and played town ball for the local Royston Reds before launching a Hall of Fame career. Although he left the town as a teenager, Cobb considered Royston his hometown, and today the Ty Cobb Museum preserves his memorabilia and legacy, drawing baseball fans and giving the city a distinct civic identity. For residents, Royston is a quiet, family-oriented small town with modern conveniences close at hand. Students attend schools in the Franklin County and Hart County districts, with Royston Elementary School located in the city, and the community sits off Interstate 85 and within commuting distance of Athens, home of the University of Georgia. The nearby Highland Walk golf course, the Broad River, and the state parks of northeast Georgia provide outdoor recreation. For buyers, Royston offers small-town living with a memorable hometown story, set between the university town of Athens and the mountains of north Georgia.