Columbus Vs. Macon (Auburn: 2013, college, living)

[Columbus1984]

Columbus being left behind? Really? Do any of you people follow what is going on there???

[GRS86]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

Hold on there a minute. Augusta actually does have tourism in the form of golf. Believe it or not, it has some history to it as well. (Where is Norton when I need him?)

Second, Savannah compared with Macon and Columbus does not equate the same size. Here are some new number estimates to look at to back that up..
Scroll down to see Georgia cities.
Population of New York City area reaches 19 million - The Business Journals
Looks to me as if Savannah and Augusta are pulling away from Macon and Columbus and Athens and Gainesville aren't far behind.

As an urban planning consultant, I agree with you. Augusta and Savannah are growing at a faster rate than Macon or Columbus when they are viewed as stand alone metros. The Auburn-Opelika portion of the Columbus CSA has enjoyed steady growth for the last 25 years. Columbus is also going to get a population bump from additional soldiers and their families relocating in the area. Warner Robins has obviously been the star of the Macon-Warner Robins CSA over the last 20 years.

In the next twenty years, here's how the GA metro's will stack up:

Tier 1
Atlanta - Well, it's in a class by itself in GA. There will not be another metro in GA that will come anywhere close to Atlanta in our lifetime, our children's lifetime, or our grand children's lifetime.

Tier 2
Augusta and Savannah - Will further separate themselves from Macon and Columbus. Augusta has very quietly been attracting a diversity of companies. Savannah, because of the port expansion, and growth in tourism, will really go to another level.

Tier 3
Macon/Warner Robins, Columbus/Phenix City/Auburn-Opelika, Athens, and Gainesville - Will all see steady growth, but Athens and Gainesville will grow at a faster pace than Macon and Columbus, and close the gap on them.

Tier 4
Rome, Brunswick, Valdosta, Albany, Dalton- This group is a mixed bag. Rome, Brunswick, and Valdosta will see solid growth. Dalton's fate is directly tied to the housing market. That being said, it's going to be a few years before they get back to the levels they were at before the economy tanked. As for Albany, it's going to be stagnant at best. It has too many fundamental problems to be attractive to businesses relocating there.

[WanderingImport]

Originally Posted by GRS86

As an urban planning consultant, I agree with you. Augusta and Savannah are growing at a faster rate than Macon or Columbus when they are viewed as stand alone metros. The Auburn-Opelika portion of the Columbus CSA has enjoyed steady growth for the last 25 years. Columbus is also going to get a population bump from additional soldiers and their families relocating in the area. Warner Robins has obviously been the star of the Macon-Warner Robins CSA over the last 20 years.

In the next twenty years, here's how the GA metro's will stack up:

Tier 1
Atlanta - Well, it's in a class by itself in GA. There will not be another metro in GA that will come anywhere close to Atlanta in our lifetime, our children's lifetime, or our grand children's lifetime.

Tier 2
Augusta and Savannah - Will further separate themselves from Macon and Columbus. Augusta has very quietly been attracting a diversity of companies. Savannah, because of the port expansion, and growth in tourism, will really go to another level.

Tier 3
Macon/Warner Robins, Columbus/Phenix City/Auburn-Opelika, Athens, and Gainesville - Will all see steady growth, but Athens and Gainesville will grow at a faster pace than Macon and Columbus, and close the gap on them.

Tier 4
Rome, Brunswick, Valdosta, Albany, Dalton- This group is a mixed bag. Rome, Brunswick, and Valdosta will see solid growth. Dalton's fate is directly tied to the housing market. That being said, it's going to be a few years before they get back to the levels they were at before the economy tanked. As for Albany, it's going to be stagnant at best. It has too many fundamental problems to be attractive to businesses relocating there.

You forgot Statesboro and Dublin for good measure. Those are up and comers as well and deserve a spot in the "tier 4" category.

[GRS86]

Originally Posted by WanderingImport

You forgot Statesboro and Dublin for good measure. Those are up and comers as well and deserve a spot in the "tier 4" category.

As far as Statesboro, I would agree with you for sure. As GA Southern grows and prospers, so does the overall City of Statesboro. In the case of Dublin, it is growing at a faster rate than the typical rural GA town of its size, but I still say that it still has a ways to go to get to Level 4.

[nortonguy]

If the census estimates are similar to the Business Journal numbers.. Then Augusta's MSA will add more people than the CSA of Savannah, Columbus, and Macon...

Augusta 556,877 - 570,510 = 13,633
Savannah 347,611 - 358,525 = 10,914
Columbus 294,865 - 298,289 = 3,424
Macon 232,293 - 233,689 = 1,396

Columbus 298,289 + Auburn-Opelika 145,248 + Tuskegee 21,398= 464,935
Savannah 358,525 + Hinesville-Fort Stewart 76,200= 434,725
Macon 233,689 + Warner Robins 145,731 + Fort Valley 28,532= 407,952

Augusta = 13,633
Savannah = 9,197
Columbus = 8,371
Macon = 8,064

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by nortonguy

If the census estimates are similar to the Business Journal numbers.. Then Augusta's MSA will add more people than the CSA of Savannah, Columbus, and Macon...

Augusta 556,877 - 570,510 = 13,633
Savannah 347,611 - 358,525 = 10,914
Columbus 294,865 - 298,289 = 3,424
Macon 232,293 - 233,689 = 1,396

Columbus 298,289 + Auburn-Opelika 145,248 + Tuskegee 21,398= 464,935
Savannah 358,525 + Hinesville-Fort Stewart 76,200= 434,725
Macon 233,689 + Warner Robins 145,731 + Fort Valley 28,532= 407,952

Augusta = 13,633
Savannah = 9,197
Columbus = 8,371
Macon = 8,064

Keep in mind that the BRAC numbers for Ft. Benning are not included in these numbers. That's an additional 20,000+ for the Columbus metro area.

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Columbus1984

Keep in mind that the BRAC numbers for Ft. Benning are not included in these numbers. That's an additional 20,000+ for the Columbus metro area.

I think people forget Augusta does have a military precedence.... Fort Gordon and the NSA are adding over 4000 jobs which means 4000 more families.... plus the growth of the medical community ,Plant Vogtle, and additional stores and retail, I am quite certain the numbers are higher than Fort Bennings BRAC which will shrink because of the down sizing of ground troops, Fort Benning is almost all ground forces.

[Columbus1984]

BRAC is the result of moving the armor division from Ft. Knox. Ft. Benning will more than likely gain as troops are brought back home. The government wouldn't spend $3.5 billion in new construction if it didn't have plans for expansion. Ft. Benning is leading the way with growth.

[Atlanta-Kid]

Originally Posted by cdw1084

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First, How can Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah all be first? Atlanta is lightyears ahead of any other city in Georgia.The next tier would be Augusta, Columbus, Savannah, and Macon.

Secondly, based on what Macon wins? Didn't know it was a winner or loser in comparing two 2nd tier cities but your logic seems unrealistic if you're comparing cities based off interstates and shopping plazas.

Lastly, what on earth are you talking about when you call New Orleans the smallest city with the best things????....

Yeah a smallcity with a large skyline, Macon has more interstates than Columbus so it over rate it, and its onI-75. Columbus=no skyline what so ever. Macon has a skyline and they are still adding to it. dont forget every major city in Georgia has an under way highrrise building accept COLUMBUS... too bad. also columbus just has onepoor connection interstate.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by Atlanta-Kid

Yeah a smallcity with a large skyline, Macon has more interstates than Columbus so it over rate it, and its onI-75. Columbus=no skyline what so ever. Macon has a skyline and they are still adding to it. dont forget every major city in Georgia has an under way highrrise building accept COLUMBUS... too bad. also columbus just has onepoor connection interstate.

What does a skyline have to do with anything? Columbus has taller buildings than Macon, they just are not all located downtown . Look at London, it barely has a skyline and it is the same size as NYC.