Georgia's next major city? (Atlanta, Columbus: 2011, quality of life, stats)

[nocountry]

What will be the next major city in georgia? It doesn't have to be New York or LA but maybe more like nashville.
Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Columbus.
All of these cities are growing and are bigger than they were 5-10 years ago.
What will be the next big city and what year will it happen?

My opinion i would have to say.
Augusta 2011, Savannah 2014, Columbus 2019, Macon 2022.

What city feels more like a metropolitan area now in 2008. Columbus, Savannah, Macon, or Augusta.

Augusta MSA: 528,519

Columbus MSA: 287,756
Columbus/Aub-Ope/Tusk CSA 435,608

Macon MSA: 229,846
Macon/Warner Rob./Ft. Val. CSA 386,534

Savannah MSA 329,329
Savannah/Hines-Ft. Stew. CSA 401,132

[Georgia]

One Word, SAVANNAH!

[DisgustaTruth]

Well I really don't think any other city in Georgia will likely become a city on the scale of Nashville or Charlotte.. But if one were to see substantial growth I would say it would be Savannah. Why?
1) Major container port that keeps growing
2) An airport with the largest numbers of enplanements/deplanements in Georgia after Hartsfield... Savannah is far enough away from Atlanta that Hartsfield doesn't siphon its passengers away like it does to Augusta and Macon and Columbus. Savannah already has direct flights to other major US cities and is served by discount carriers like Airtran that keeps fares competitive.
3)Location! Aside from having an enviable coastal location, Savannah is located at the junction of I95 and I16. I95 is the busiest interstate highway in the nation.. and Savannah is about halfway between Miami and Washington, DC it's access to key transportation routes.. gives it a leg up on other Georgia cities.
4)Coastal Property in Georgia is booming which makes Savannah a natural draw for retirees.

[TakeAhike]

Hasn't Savannah always been the 2nd major city? Disgusta gave a good summary of the whys/wherefors.

I have my fingers crossed that the economic slump will begin to turn around and Georgia can once and for all do what needs to be done with the infrastructure and the general quality of life.

[DisgustaTruth]

Here's some stats on Savannah's Airport:
In 2007 Savannah/Hilton Head Airport had 1,011,815 enplanements and 1,017,634 deplanements. Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport Airport Info

compare that to cities like Augusta.. which in that same year had roughly 200,000 enplanements and deplanements.. Savannah has 8 times the airport traffic as Augusta!
Augusta Regional Airport

Savannah's airport is serviced by 7 different airlines and has direct flights to the following cities:
Atlanta
Miami, FL
New York City (Newark)
New York City (La Guardia)
Houston, TX
Cleveland, OH
Cincinnatti, OH
Boston, Mass
Detroit, MI
Washington, DC (Dulles)
Washington, DC (Reagan)
Chicago (O'Hare)
Charlotte, NC
Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport Airlines
contrast this with cities like Augusta.. which is served by only 2 airlines and has direct flights to the following 2 cities:
Atlanta, GA
Charlotte, NC
both of which are only about a 2 and half hours drive from Augusta in the first place.

[ellie]

If it were possible for the size to remain the same and the quality of life to increase, I'd be extremely happy.

Growth for the sake of growth is not a good thing.

[yerocal]

I think Macon will be the next hot spot in georgia.....

[JLA]

I think that would be Columbus. Several reasons: Fort Benning (BRAC), AFLAC, TSYS, Synovous, Aerospace and KIA. I will agree with you guys about the airport location. At one time Columbus' airport was red hot, but then some shuttle services came to town and they have almost shut the thing down. Besides, people are finding out that this is a nice retirement area. No beach, no problem 3 hours and you are there. That's just my take on things.

[bgnzsavnh]

None of these figures for Savannah include Jasper/ Beaufort/ Hilton Head all of which are closer to Savannah than Hinesville. They all are negotiating a joint regional transportation/ Planning commission. The Savannah Airport became Savannah/Hilton Head Airport because so many people were flying into Charleston to get to HHI and Beaufort.

What will be the next major city in Georgia? Savannah will always be the other major city!

[bgnzsavnh]

It is only 2 hours from the Augusta Airport to the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

Originally Posted by DisgustaSucks

Here's some stats on Savannah's Airport:
In 2007 Savannah/Hilton Head Airport had 1,011,815 enplanements and 1,017,634 deplanements. Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport Airport Info

compare that to cities like Augusta.. which in that same year had roughly 200,000 enplanements and deplanements.. Savannah has 8 times the airport traffic as Augusta!
Augusta Regional Airport

Savannah's airport is serviced by 7 different airlines and has direct flights to the following cities:
Atlanta
Miami, FL
New York City (Newark)
New York City (La Guardia)
Houston, TX
Cleveland, OH
Cincinnatti, OH
Boston, Mass
Detroit, MI
Washington, DC (Dulles)
Washington, DC (Reagan)
Chicago (O'Hare)
Charlotte, NC
Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA
Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport Airlines
contrast this with cities like Augusta.. which is served by only 2 airlines and has direct flights to the following 2 cities:
Atlanta, GA
Charlotte, NC
both of which are only about a 2 and half hours drive from Augusta in the first place.