Will Atlanta sprawl to Columbus and Macon?

[J2rescue]

Originally Posted by Saintmarks

I believe this mindset is closer to reality today than it was even 10 years ago. The city of Atlanta is gaining population. I would rather see a Georgia where Macon, Columbus, Augusta, Savannah, etc become cities of 3-400,000 + and LaGrange, Rome, Gainesville, Dalton, etc become 100,000 + cities instead of the Gwinettiazation of the rest of north Georgia.

This is already largely the case. Augusta metro population is now over 500,000, Savannah and Macon (with Warner Robins) are over 300,000 and Columbus is close to it. Gainesville and Athens are approaching 200,000 and Dalton is already over 100,000.

Most of that growth however IS in sprawl. Sprawl is not exclusive to Atlanta.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by J2rescue

This is already largely the case. Augusta metro population is now over 500,000, Savannah and Macon (with Warner Robins) are over 300,000 and Columbus is close to it. Gainesville and Athens are approaching 200,000 and Dalton is already over 100,000.

Most of that growth however IS in sprawl. Sprawl is not exclusive to Atlanta.

I should have clarified that I would like to see these cities proper reach this kind of population, not the metro areas. More dense growth in their centers, not spread out in sprawl. This would be around more than doubling and in some cases 4 to 5 times their current city populations to reach the numbers I threw out.

[ellen horn]

Originally Posted by ATLCOL1

Does anyone think that the Atlanta metro area will ever overtake the Columbus metro and Macon metro areas? Atlanta continues to grow in all directions. As Atlanta pushes south, cities like Columbus and Macon continue to push north. What are the chances of Columbus and Macon being overtaken by metro Atlanta?

Well, I don't have to ponder; the answer to that is absolutely 'yes'. I lived in Atlanta, my family was in Columbus. There was barely a building between Columbus and Atlanta; not so now. I went to Atlanta with a friend of mine recently, she had to get some Benedryl. That used to be a joke. We pulled into Peachtree City and found malls and even a hospital there. In the late 80's my stopping place was a truck stop about sixty miles from Columbus. North Columbus is growing upwards towards Harris County like I would never have dreamed. I know that soon it will be just one straight line between Columbus and Atlanta. You won't have to worry about where to use the bathroom or buy some Benedryl. My worst fear is the Chattahoochee. I am also an old river rat. I know that this poor river can't handle much more growth. If we have another drought like the one we are still barely coming out of, we are going to be in serious trouble. Best of luck

[cityrover]

No... Too far, too many voids in between. Its more likely to continue to creep north towards chattanooga

[nature's message]

Oh, come on now. Yes, sprawl in Atlanta is an issue, but it will never go to the point like the OP described.

[RandyarmonG]

who's saying atlanta has to grow to the other metros why not say that the other metros are sprawling towards Atlanta Put that in prospetive

[lilmusket]

Maybe becuase they aren't growing that much.. atleast not like metro Atlanta. But seriously... sprawl more than 100 miles in one direction?? I don't think so.

[johnatl]

God, let's hope not.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by ATLCOL1

Does anyone think that the Atlanta metro area will ever overtake the Columbus metro and Macon metro areas? Atlanta continues to grow in all directions. As Atlanta pushes south, cities like Columbus and Macon continue to push north. What are the chances of Columbus and Macon being overtaken by metro Atlanta?

No. Not only do I think Atlanta will not grow but it will shrink. The high unemployment rate here has pretty much stopped the stampede from NYC, Chicago and Detroit and development is not really going on in the exurbs much either (I see lots of abandoned sub divisions there). At one time in the 90s and early 00s, we had 1000 people a day that moved here and we were on pace to overtake the metro of Houston within a few years and possibly Los Angeles someday with over 16 million people in the 16 county area. Then people started figuring out that they did not want 4 hour commutes to work everyday and big corporations that were flocking here in droves have cut back. And then the recession hit and unemployment here is through the roof. My prediction is that the metro will grow little or none in the next 5 years.