Why is augusta growing faster than columbus, macon, and savannah (foreclosure, city hall)

[nortonguy]

Well with a 2.6% growth rate from 2007-2008. Valdosta is blowing every city out with that growth rate. Athens, Savannah, Augusta were next. But the last three only about 4 tenths of a diffrence. 1.5 to 1.1

2007-2008 Augusta still gained alot more people than Athens and Valdosta of course. Even 1,000 more than metro Savannah. Augusta continues to gain more people in numbers than every metro. Outside of metro Atlanta.

[Dart03]

Originally Posted by lilmusket

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.

Sounds like Macon City Council with the racial politics and so forth!

[lilmusket]

In absolute numbers, yes metro Augusta probably did gain more people, but in rate of growth, yes, it is Valdosta, Athens, Savannah, then Augusta. I'm quite curious to what's going on in Valdosta, they also have one of the lower unemployment rates in the state for a metro area.. below the state average.

[nortonguy]

That's why no metro will catch up too Augusta. In population...

[GABOY84]

Originally Posted by Dart03

Sounds like Macon City Council with the racial politics and so forth!

I agree, Macon has always had city council issues, that's why nothing ever really gets done.

[lilmusket]

Actually if Beaufort County, SC is added to Savannah's MSA next year it will surpass Augusta's MSA in population. McDuffie has been added removed and then again added back to Augusta's MSA.. same with Edgefield County. Under the new census parameters it appears that beaufort County will be added to Savannah's CSA.. that's like adding a county the size of Aiken county.

[nortonguy]

How can beaufort county? Become part of Savannah's MSA and skip the CSA. Beaufort is not even apart of the CSA yet.

[nortonguy]

Metro Augusta 535,000- metro Savannah 334,000. Savannah CSA 405,000.. By the time Savannah adds another county. Lincoln, Jefferson, or Wilkes will be added to Augusta.

[southgeorgia]

Originally Posted by lilmusket

I'm quite curious to what's going on in Valdosta, they also have one of the lower unemployment rates in the state for a metro area.. below the state average.

Good leadership. Active business chamber. Non-stop recruiting.

[yerocal]

Originally Posted by nortonguy

Metro Augusta 535,000- metro Savannah 334,000. Savannah CSA 405,000.. By the time Savannah adds another county. Lincoln, Jefferson, or Wilkes will be added to Augusta.

If Macon and Warner Robins were re combined including adding Wilkerson, Baldwin, Laurens and Bleckey county.. the Metro would be about neck and neck with Augusta or a little less.