Can Columbia County continue its rapid growth and still keep its small-town charm? (Atlanta: living)

[Airforceguy]

Long read, but interesting. To be frank, I don't think Columbia will keeps its small town charm, growth is inevitable. The only thing county and city leaders can do is plan accordingly and make sure it doesn't become out of hand like we see here in Metro Atlanta.

But as Columbia County’s population continues to skyrocket, jumping from about 110,000 people in 2008 to an estimated 153,200 people just 10 years later, many people are wondering whether communities like Harlem, Appling and Grovetown will be able to preserve their small-town charm.

“Here in Harlem, people take care of each other’s children and they celebrate with you on your good days and they really lift you up when the unthinkable hits your family,” Whitaker said. “I think you miss that in the larger areas. A lot of times in bigger towns, people move in and move out and, really, their neighbors never even notice.”

That kind of passive living and lack of interaction is unthinkable in Harlem, Whitaker said.

Born in a small town - Metro Spirit