Warm Springs is a small city in west-central Georgia, tucked into the southern edge of Meriwether County at the foot of Pine Mountain, about seventy miles southwest of Atlanta. It is best known nationally as the place where Franklin D. Roosevelt found relief from the effects of polio and built a modest retreat that came to be called the Little White House, now preserved as a state historic landmark. That single association has defined the town's character, economy, and place in American history for nearly a century. Roosevelt first came to the community, then known as Bullochville, in 1924, seeking the naturally warm springs that flow from Pine Mountain. The mineral waters offered relief from the infantile paralysis that had struck him in 1921, and he returned often, founding the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation and, in 1932, building the Little White House while still governor of New York. He was visiting Warm Springs when he died in 1945. The foundation he established evolved into the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, which continues to serve patients with disabilities and remains a major presence and employer in the community. Today Warm Springs is both a working small town and a heritage destination. Visitors tour the Little White House, its historic pools, and the Warm Springs museum, then browse a compact downtown of shops, galleries, and restaurants housed in century-old buildings. Dining ranges from Southern comfort food and barbecue to casual cafes. Just to the west, F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia's largest at more than 9,000 acres, draws hikers and campers to Pine Mountain, with Dowdell's Knob offering a 1,395-foot overlook. Callaway Gardens, a large horticultural resort and preserve in nearby Pine Mountain, adds gardens, lakes, and seasonal events to the region. Public education is provided by the Meriwether County School District, based in Greenville. The city itself remains small, with a population of roughly 465, and it suits people drawn to history, quiet countryside, and access to the parks and gardens of Pine Mountain rather than suburban commuter life. The warm springs, the mountain, and the Roosevelt legacy give Warm Springs a sense of place that far exceeds its size.