Americus is the county seat of Sumter County, Georgia, located in the rolling farmland of the state's southwest, about 135 miles south of Atlanta. As of the most recent census, the city had a population of roughly 15,800, making it the commercial and governmental center of a largely agricultural county where cotton, peanuts, and vegetables remain important crops. U.S. Routes 19 and 280 cross in the city, anchoring its role as a regional hub. Americus holds an outsized place in the national story of affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity was founded in the city in 1976, and its international headquarters remains in Americus, as does the headquarters of The Fuller Center for Housing. The Habitat for Humanity Global Village and Discovery Center draws visitors from around the world, and the organization's presence has made the city a pilgrimage site for volunteers and supporters of community-building work. The city is also a center for education. Georgia Southwestern State University, founded in 1906 and part of the University System of Georgia, enrolls roughly 3,000 students and counts former President Jimmy Carter among its alumni. South Georgia Technical College adds workforce training to the mix, giving Americus a two-college educational presence unusual for a city of its size. Americus's downtown reflects its prosperity around the turn of the twentieth century. The Windsor Hotel, built in 1892, and the Rylander Theatre, opened in 1921, anchor a historic district of Victorian and Colonial Revival buildings, and the SAM Shortline excursion railroad runs through town on its way to nearby Cordele and Plains. The result is a small southern city with deep historical roots, a nationally known nonprofit identity, and a steady college-town rhythm.