Why is augusta growing faster than columbus, macon, and savannah (Atlanta: unemployment rate, metro)

[lilmusket]

If Savannah ever consolidates with Chatham County or even just embarked on large scale annexation.. it would easily become the state's second largest city. Chatham county has more than 50,000 more people than Richmond County and about 60,000 more than Muscogee County. It is the most populous county in Georgia outside of metro Atlanta.
Chatham County Pop Facts

[Hot_Mike]

thats good to know. Too bad its not consolidated or annexated, soooooo.........

I really dont care about population, I care about jobs, shopping and quality of life. Like I said Augusta and Savannah are in a healthy competition right now.

[lilmusket]

let's see the premise of the thread is that certain places are growing faster than others. Actually the Athens metro area is the fastest growing in the state after Atlanta, then Savannah, also Valdosta is growing very rapidly too.. moreso than Macon, Columbus or Augusta. Augusta is the second largest metro area in the state (though if Beaufort County, SC is added to Savannah's msa or csa in the next census then it would take that title) but it is not the 2nd fastest growing.

[Hot_Mike]

Considering the size of Athens compared to Augusta...sure I can believe Athens is growing at a higher rate. Im all about the CSRA, regional pride, guy. Augusta is going to grow slowly compare to the other 2nd tier because Augusta have 2 suburb counties over 100,000 in pop. We are working on our 3rd and 4th ones these next 5 years.(Edgefield & Burke Co.) Augusta is going to spread it roots as far and wide as possible, as long Augusta is the crown jewel of the CSRA.

[Waltersplace]

Originally Posted by GABOY84

In what aspect though? Both cities are completely different. Savannah is huge with tourism while Columbus is more of a corporate/military town. It all depends on what you are using to compare them. Savannah blows Columbus away in tourism, and Columbus blows Savannah away in corporate HQ's. If you want to compare cities, Savannah and Charleston would be good and Columbus and Augusta would be good.

Savannahs port authority is the 4th busiest in the nation...
Columbus has NOTHING that can compare to that......lol

[Waltersplace]

Originally Posted by GABOY84

For now, I agree. If you look 5 years from now, it will be Columbus in my opinion. Just too much going on or planned there for it not to be. Savannah is just so different than all of GA's other cities though.

Columbus has talked about projections and plans for years and nothing meaningful ever materializes.
With high poverty/crime etc and what is their priority?....building a trail near Buck Ice in the middle of the worse drug/crime areas in town.
The thugs can't wait to start work on the innocent.....and then it will sit empty like so many other failed projects.

[GABOY84]

Originally Posted by Waltersplace

Columbus has talked about projections and plans for years and nothing meaningful ever materializes.
With high poverty/crime etc and what is their priority?....building a trail near Buck Ice in the middle of the worse drug/crime areas in town.
The thugs can't wait to start work on the innocent.....and then it will sit empty like so many other failed projects.

You must be kidding? Columbus is known around the state for getting things done while other cities bicker back and forth. I have heard that for years. When I come to town for business, the things that were talked about for years have happened. Not sure where you are getting that....

[lilmusket]

From my experience, there does seem to be less bickering, less corruption and less racial politics in Columbus government than other major Georgia cities. I think that may have to do with the fact that Columbus and Muscogee County consolidated like over 35 years ago and has had more time to iron out their differences.

[GABOY84]

Originally Posted by lilmusket

From my experience, there does seem to be less bickering, less corruption and less racial politics in Columbus government than other major Georgia cities. I think that may have to do with the fact that Columbus and Muscogee County consolidated like over 35 years ago and has had more time to iron out their differences.

I would agree. From my experience, I see consolidation as a good thing.

[lilmusket]

Originally Posted by GABOY84

I would agree. From my experience, I see consolidation as a good thing.

well maybe for Columbus, but for Augusta is has been a totally different story. The problem in Augusta was that the consolidated government was crafted to encourage racial stalemate and division.. and that's what we have. Everything boils down to a racial tit for tat, and that has really bogged the city down and hindered progress. If Augusta had it to do all over again, I think annexation would have been a better route.