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Columbus, Macon, or Augusta, Georgia's Fall-Line Cities.
Rank them in terms of:
- Public Schools - Slight edge to Augusta, Columbus, Macon a distant third
- Entertainment Options - Tie, All three cities are generally equal. All three cities have some interesting options, but all three are lacking in this area.
- Lively Core - Tie, despite some strides being made, all three still have quite a ways to go. None of the three are in Savannah's class when it comes to having a lively core.
- Universities - Macon is out front here with Mercer, Wesleyan, MSC. Ft. Valley St and GCSU are in commuting distance. Augusta is second with MCG, Paine, and Augusta St. Columbus is a distant third with only Columbus St.
- Neighborhoods - Tie. All three have their share of nice neighborhoods, and more than their share of not so nice neighborhoods.
- Restaurants - Augusta has a few restaurants not found in either Macon or Columbus. Macon has a few more choices than Columbus.
- Shopping - Augusta has some retail that's not found anywhere else in GA outside of Atlanta. Macon, then Columbus.
- Future Growth Potential - All three cities have good growth potential, but for different reasons. I feel that Augusta is less military dependent that Macon, much less military dependent than Columbus. Augusta has been the most successful at attracting jobs in recent years. Because of Macon having two interstate highways, an interstate bypass, plus its proximity to Atlanta, it could really grow if it were to get its political house in order and start electing some competent people to political office. Columbus has also had some good job growth in recent years, but is a little too dependent on Ft. Benning and the military.
- Aesthetics - All three cities have areas that are beautiful, areas that are sketchy. Columbus has more of a suburban look and feel to it than the other two. Augusta and Macon have more of a gritty, dense urban appearance. Because of that, I guess it can be said that Columbus is going to have a slightly less run down look.
- Skylines - Slight edge to Macon, then Augusta. Columbus isn't really even in the conversation.
Columbus, Macon, or Augusta, Georgia's Fall-Line Cities.
Rank them in terms of:
- Public Schools - Slight edge to Augusta, Columbus, Macon a distant third
- Entertainment Options - Tie, All three cities are generally equal. All three cities have some interesting options, but all three are lacking in this area.
- Lively Core - Tie, despite some strides being made, all three still have quite a ways to go. None of the three are in Savannah's class when it comes to having a lively core.
- Universities - Macon is out front here with Mercer, Wesleyan, MSC. Ft. Valley St and GCSU are in commuting distance. Augusta is second with MCG, Paine, and Augusta St. Columbus is a distant third with only Columbus St.
- Neighborhoods - Tie. All three have their share of nice neighborhoods, and more than their share of not so nice neighborhoods.
- Restaurants - Augusta has a few restaurants not found in either Macon or Columbus. Macon has a few more choices than Columbus.
- Shopping - Augusta has some retail that's not found anywhere else in GA outside of Atlanta. Macon, then Columbus.
- Future Growth Potential - All three cities have good growth potential, but for different reasons. I feel that Augusta is less military dependent that Macon, much less military dependent than Columbus. Augusta has been the most successful at attracting jobs in recent years. Because of Macon having two interstate highways, an interstate bypass, plus its proximity to Atlanta, it could really grow if it were to get its political house in order and start electing some competent people to political office. Columbus has also had some good job growth in recent years, but is a little too dependent on Ft. Benning and the military.
- Aesthetics - All three cities have areas that are beautiful, areas that are sketchy. Columbus has more of a suburban look and feel to it than the other two. Augusta and Macon have more of a gritty, dense urban appearance. Because of that, I guess it can be said that Columbus is going to have a slightly less run down look.
- Skylines - Slight edge to Macon, then Augusta. Columbus isn't really even in the conversation.
I try not to get into these big city comparisons, but you have left off one the largest University in the Southeast, which is located in Lee County Alabama. I don't know if through ignorance or on purpose. Any who, the university has a battle cry of "WAR EAGLE" and it's mascot is a tiger. It is a member of the SEC conference. It won the BCS and the AP football championship in 2010. One of the members of the that historic team goes by the name of Cam Newton and is now a star quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. You also forgot one other school. A fine institution of higher learning, which is located in Tuskegee, AL, which is also in the area, although not in the MSA it is tied to the local area. So when it come to education, Columbus wins, hands down. And if we throw in sports, it's no contest, period.
I try not to get into these big city comparisons, but you have left off one the largest University in the Southeast, which is located in Lee County Alabama. I don't know if through ignorance or on purpose. Any who, the university has a battle cry of "WAR EAGLE" and it's mascot is a tiger. It is a member of the SEC conference. It won the BCS and the AP football championship in 2010. One of the members of the that historic team goes by the name of Cam Newton and is now a star quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. You also forgot one other school. A fine institution of higher learning, which is located in Tuskegee, AL, which is also in the area, although not in the MSA it is tied to the local area. So when it come to education, Columbus wins, hands down. And if we throw in sports, it's no contest, period.
When doing a city comparison, I thought we were doing just that, a city comparison. I do realize that Auburn/ Opelika / Tuskegee MSA is a part of the larger Columbus CSA, but it was my understanding of the question that we were to include the core cites themselves and maybe the immediate surrounding area. Auburn and Tuskegee aren't physically in Columbus, even though both schools are in the vicinity of Columbus, and do have extensive ties and influence in Columbus. Plus, we're talking about two out of state universities, even though I do believe Auburn does make an exception for Muscogee County students, and with Tuskegee being private, out of state fees don't apply there. Both universities are fine schools (I'm a little biased!!), but I can't include them for purposes of this thread. At the end of the day, Auburn / Opelika is a separate MSA from Columbus / Phenix City, and Tuskegee is a Micropolitan component of the Auburn /Opelika MSA. Just because something is in the general vicinity of a city doesn't mean that you can actually claim it. For that matter, UGA is located in an adjacent MSA to the Atlanta MSA, and needless to say, has tons of influence in the Atlanta MSA, but Atlanta can't claim it as its own. Same rule applies to Columbus in this case when it comes to Auburn and Tuskegee.
FTR, I am an alum of Tuskegee University, so I am very familiar with the Columbus/Phenix City, Auburn/Opelika, and Tuskegee area, and all of the resulting ties and influences.
When doing a city comparison, I thought we were doing just that, a city comparison. I do realize that Auburn/ Opelika / Tuskegee MSA is a part of the larger Columbus CSA, but it was my understanding of the question that we were to include the core cites themselves and maybe the immediate surrounding area. Auburn and Tuskegee aren't physically in Columbus, even though both schools are in the vicinity of Columbus, and do have extensive ties and influence in Columbus. Plus, we're talking about two out of state universities, even though I do believe Auburn does make an exception for Muscogee County students, and with Tuskegee being private, out of state fees don't apply there. Both universities are fine schools (I'm a little biased!!), but I can't include them for purposes of this thread. At the end of the day, Auburn / Opelika is a separate MSA from Columbus / Phenix City, and Tuskegee is a Micropolitan component of the Auburn /Opelika MSA. Just because something is in the general vicinity of a city doesn't mean that you can actually claim it. For that matter, UGA is located in an adjacent MSA to the Atlanta MSA, and needless to say, has tons of influence in the Atlanta MSA, but Atlanta can't claim it as its own. Same rule applies to Columbus in this case when it comes to Auburn and Tuskegee.
FTR, I am an alum of Tuskegee University, so I am very familiar with the Columbus/Phenix City, Auburn/Opelika, and Tuskegee area, and all of the resulting ties and influences.
Did you not include Ft Valley State in your previous post? I'm a alum of Auburn University and I commuted to AU while earning my EE degree there. And that's not abnormal, quite a number of students commute to AU from Columbus/Phenix City/Fort Henning/Seale/Ft Mitchell/Harris County to attend school there. By the way, AU's hockey team plays its home matches at the Columbus Civic center, so it's still an apple to apple comparison.
By the way, Gainesville's MSA sits between Atlanta and Athens. Although I believe Gainesville is included in the CSA of Atlanta. Also, anyone who has driven US HWY 280 and 80 know that the areas are all joined at the hip economically and socially. So as you can tell, when it comes to education, sports and other entertainment The Columbus area is no slouch. Besides Downtown Columbus is still far ahead of Macon by a long shot. Although I will say that Augusta is doing very nicely, but it still has a ways to go. Just a cursory visit to Downtown Columbus on any given night should give you some I idea of the vibrant activities that exists down there. The difference right now is that there are a lot of people living in Downtown Columbus. Don't get me wrong it's no where near what's going on in Savannah, but the gap is beginning to close, it might take 100 years to catch up, but the gap is closing. And let's not forget Callaway Garden, do either of those cities have anything that approach it?
Location: Augusta, GA ''The fastest rising city in the southeast''
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JLA
Did you not include Ft Valley State in your previous post? I'm a alum of Auburn University and I commuted to AU while earning my EE degree there. And that's not abnormal, quite a number of students commute to AU from Columbus/Phenix City/Fort Henning/Seale/Ft Mitchell/Harris County to attend school there. By the way, AU's hockey team plays its home matches at the Columbus Civic center, so it's still an apple to apple comparison.
By the way, Gainesville's MSA sits between Atlanta and Athens. Although I believe Gainesville is included in the CSA of Atlanta. Also, anyone who has driven US HWY 280 and 80 know that the areas are all joined at the hip economically and socially. So as you can tell, when it comes to education, sports and other entertainment The Columbus area is no slouch. Besides Downtown Columbus is still far ahead of Macon by a long shot. Although I will say that Augusta is doing very nicely, but it still has a ways to go. Just a cursory visit to Downtown Columbus on any given night should give you some I idea of the vibrant activities that exists down there. The difference right now is that there are a lot of people living in Downtown Columbus. Don't get me wrong it's no where near what's going on in Savannah, but the gap is beginning to close, it might take 100 years to catch up, but the gap is closing. And let's not forget Callaway Garden, do either of those cities have anything that approach it?
Compare to downtown Columbus or in general?? I agree downtown Augusta still has ways to go compared to Savannah, Greenville, Charleston, etc...
I think Augusta downtown wins in terms of vibrancy throughout the entire year.. This is the norm every Saturday from April-October in the 8th street plaza.. Basically seven out of twelve months during the year..
Plus their are alot more larger events and festivals held in downtown Augusta(Westobou, Arts in the Heart, US Cycling World Championsips, Augusta Southern Nationals, Mayors Masters Reception, Par 3 Party, etc)..
Now I will admit that if we did include Auburn and Tuskegee as a part of the Columbus university equation, Columbus would have the edge in that category!!
Compare to downtown Columbus or in general?? I agree downtown Augusta still has ways to go compared to Savannah, Greenville, Charleston, etc...
I think Augusta downtown wins in terms of vibrancy throughout the entire year.. This is the norm every Saturday from April-October in the 8th street plaza.. Basically seven out of twelve months during the year..
Plus their are alot more larger events and festivals held in downtown Augusta(Westobou, Arts in the Heart, US Cycling World Championsips, Augusta Southern Nationals, Mayors Masters Reception, Par 3 Party, etc)..
Hey, I've seen those photos before somewhere. In general Columbus just has more activity downtown, that's not a knock against Augusta. Augusta is doing very well with its special events and so forth, but on a normal day, well, it's Columbus by a few students, soldiers and families or so. Columbus just have a large number of people living Downtown and now with future addition of more condos that will only add more people Downtown and more businesses to cater to them. By the way, how's your whitewater rafting?
When you speak of "SKYLINES" right now Augusta is the talles of the 3, columbus has a bad market for highrises, and Macon is an Atlanta wannabee, well they are basically on I-75 so in the near future MAcon will be Georgia's secondary....plus macon's new proposed, well approved highrsie hotel, to be completed next next year sometime. Augusta has a hyatt proposed but doesn't seem to insrease the future skyline....
And LOL!!!! you cracked me up. No columbus isn't even in the conversation, they don't eeven have a skyline to begin with (YET)
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), but I can't include them for purposes of this thread. At the end of the day, Auburn / Opelika is a separate MSA from Columbus / Phenix City, and Tuskegee is a Micropolitan component of the Auburn /Opelika MSA. Just because something is in the general vicinity of a city doesn't mean that you can actually claim it. For that matter, UGA is located in an adjacent MSA to the Atlanta MSA, and needless to say, has tons of influence in the Atlanta MSA, but Atlanta can't claim it as its own. Same rule applies to Columbus in this case when it comes to Auburn and Tuskegee.
