Current Econocmic Census for Georgia's Top Metro Areas (Atlanta, Columbus: how much, hotels)

[PJA]

These are some key figures from the 2007 economic census. Not 100% sure but I think the next economic census will be done this year meaning by next year we will have updated results. These are just a few of the categories and the stats are for the the top 5 metro areas in the state.

RETAIL

Number of Retail Estabilishments

1. Atlanta 17,974
2. Augusta 1,989
3. Savannah 1,491
4. Columbus 1,097
5. Macon 1,011

Amount of Retail Revenue

1. Atlanta 68,832,205
2. Augusta 6,159,304
3 Savannah 4,551,797
4. Columbus 3,468,301
5. Macon 2,769,741


ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION

Number of arts, entertainment and recreation Establishments

1. Atlanta 1,727
2. Augusta 161
3. Savannah 123
4. Columbus 79
5. Macon 55


Amount of Arts, Entertaintment, and Recreation Revenue

1. Atlanta 2,383,481
2. Augusta 226,,812
3. Savannah 146, 196
4. Columbus 65,592
5. Macon 23,304


ACCOMODATION AND FOOD

Number of Accomodation and Food Locations

1. Atlanta 10,511
2. Augusta 921
2. Savannah 921
4. Columbus 551
5. Macon 470


Amount of Accodaton and Food Revenue

1. Atlanta 10,689,687
2. Savannah 933,774
3. Augusta 729,951
4. Columbus 529,853
5. Macon 346,144


HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES

Number of Health Care and Social Service Establishments

1. Atlanta 11,642
2. Augusta 1,202
3. Savannah 767
4. Columbus 665
5. Macon 637


Amount of Health Care and Social Service Revenue

1. Atlanta 23,772,308
2. Augusta 3,176,819
3. Savannah 2,012,773
4. Macon 1,755,469
5. Columbus 1,456,176



I'll be adding more categories soon.

Data taken from the offical US economic census website Economic Census

[therealpattman]

It's amazing if you look at the amount of health care establisents, Augusta is 10 times smaller than Atlanta but you can see the figures are amazing. I say the small town is doing quite well.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

It's amazing if you look at the amount of health care establisents, Augusta is 10 times smaller than Atlanta but you can see the figures are amazing. I say the small town is doing quite well.

What is so amazing about that? Augusta has 1/10th the population of Atlanta and 1/10th the establishments in nearly every category. Augusta is home of the state's public health university and accompanying research dollars. There's nothing surprising about that.

The only thing that jumps out at me on this list is the Accomodations and Food category which Savannah beats Augusta handily in, despite having far fewer people. But that's to de expected.

The next economic census will show much different results across the boards, you can guarantee.

[River_Dawg]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

The only thing that jumps out at me on this list is the Accomodations and Food category which Savannah beats Augusta handily in, despite having far fewer people. But that's to de expected.

I would expect Savannah to have the upper hand in that since its a tourist town on I-95. You would think Savannah would have better results having a beach in all.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by River_Dawg

I would expect Savannah to have the upper hand in that since its a tourist town on I-95. You would think Savannah would have better results having a beach in all.

That's what I meant. The beach represents just a very tiny piece of Savannah's tourism market BTW. Most of that is concentrated in the many hotels, restaurants and attractions of the Historic District. Savannah also does big meetings and convention business, which is comparably non-existent in Augusta.

[PJA]

Originally Posted by River_Dawg

I would expect Savannah to have the upper hand in that since its a tourist town on I-95. You would think Savannah would have better results having a beach in all.

Yeah you would think Savannah would also have better results in the Arts,Entertainment category. Savannah needs to capitalize more on its proximity to the ocean and to the other tourist cities close to it.

[River_Dawg]

^Yeah that shocked me too plus handily beating everyone in retail revenue(Macon and Columbus combined). Maybe Savannah need to make the beach a bigger part of your tourism is what Im saying.

[Newsboy]

These number reflect economic activity in just the three core counties of the Savannah Metro (Chatham, Bryan, Effingham) and not the entire CSA (Savannah plus Hinesville, which adds Liberty and Long counties). Savannah is handicapped additionally in all Census surveys by the fact that the two South Carolina counties directly across the river from us (Jasper and Beaufort) are not counted in our metro for statistical purposes, though more than 180,000 people live there.

If you were to take a compass and draw a circle 35 miles around a point in downtown Savannah, it would include a population of more than 620,000 people that represents the true Savannah-Hinesville-Hilton Head market.

Savannah's tourism market has absolutely exploded in recent years, growing by a half million or more visitors annually (per year) since the economic survey was last taken in 2007. That's why I say you'll see significant change in these numbers by the time of the next survey.

Quite honestly, there's not much more Savannah could be doing right now to promote itself as a tourist destination. The city is near capacity every weekend, but more hotels are being built.

[River_Dawg]

What's On The Agenda For Augusta's Downtown Development Authority? | ABC 6 WJBF-TV

Why does Augusta have more retail and retail revenue? You can have the visitors, people are coming to downtown Augusta to live, work and play.

[PJA]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

These number reflect economic activity in just the three core counties of the Savannah Metro (Chatham, Bryan, Effingham) and not the entire CSA (Savannah plus Hinesville, which adds Liberty and Long counties). Savannah is handicapped additionally in all Census surveys by the fact that the two South Carolina counties directly across the river from us (Jasper and Beaufort) are not counted in our metro for statistical purposes, though more than 180,000 people live there.

If you were to take a compass and draw a circle 35 miles around a point in downtown Savannah, it would include a population of more than 620,000 people that represents the true Savannah-Hinesville-Hilton Head market.

Savannah's tourism market has absolutely exploded in recent years, growing by a half million or more visitors annually (per year) since the economic survey was last taken in 2007. That's why I say you'll see significant change in these numbers by the time of the next survey.

Quite honestly, there's not much more Savannah could be doing right now to promote itself as a tourist destination. The city is near capacity every weekend, but more hotels are being built.

Msa's arent made just by drawing a circle around a given area. The true market is Savannah, not Savanah plus Hilton Head which has it's own MSA and depends on it's own economy. Maybe one day they will combine them but as of now they arent.