Mountville, known as the "City on the Hill," grew from a pioneer trail through land drawn in the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery. Daniel Davis' Stores, founded in 1832, served travelers on the Montgomery and Griffin Stage Coach line, and many historic homes remain occupied by families of the original settlers. Union troops passed through the town in 1865, and in its early years it was noted for horse races. The arrival of the Macon and Birmingham Railroad brought industry and commerce and created Mountville's Golden Age. Mountville Military Institute was chartered in 1893, and the 1890s saw many homes built that still line the main streets. In the 1920s, a conversation at Owen Caudle's Store between FDR and local men gained notice across the country. Bryant Fuller's General Store had the first soda fountain, and A D Moore's Store housed the post office; both served as community hubs that hold fond memories for Mountville residents today.