Macon/Warner Robins: Suburban County will soon pass the county of Hub city in population? (Atlanta: buy, new construction)

[King_X]

As of 2000, (Macon) Bibb County's population was 153,887
2007 estimate is 154,709

As of 2000, (Warner Robins/Perry, etc.) Houston County's population was 110,765
2007 Estimate is 131,016

Thats not too far apart, and at that rate, it will one day past Bibb

Is this becoming really unique? Have you ever heard of a "suburban" county
surpassing the county the "hub city" was located in?

[TheJagMan]

W.R. has an air force base...You're really not comparing apples to apples...If the military downsizes, most likely so will the town...My opinion is that when the economy is bad, more people join the armed forces. If and when the economy picks back up I'd guess Macon's population would see a large spike...

[yerocal]

Originally Posted by TheJagMan

W.R. has an air force base...You're really not comparing apples to apples...If the military downsizes, most likely so will the town...My opinion is that when the economy is bad, more people join the armed forces. If and when the economy picks back up I'd guess Macon's population would see a large spike...

I agree, exactly

[afonega1]

Robins Air Force BAse is not going anywhere.It employs more than 19,000 men and women, including more than 5,000 military members, almost 12,000 civilians, and more than 2,800 contract civilians. Already the largest industrial complex in Georgia, Robins Air Force Base is poised to become a megabase in the 21st century.THose jobs are for people that live as far as Atlanta.Macon andWarner RObins are only 15 min apart.Macon will suffer as much as Warner Robins

Warner Robins is not a suburb of macon.It has been its own MSA for a few years now.MAcon and W.R. while separate has forturnes TIED TO EACH OTHER!

[schnowzerz]

You better hope you are right.

The Democrats want to cut defense by 25 percent. There are THREE depot bases which basically do the same thing. They have been wanting another one to 'go' for a while now. Kelly AFB thought they would never close too. Better get to thinking that yes, it can happen here.

[TheJagMan]

Originally Posted by afonega1

Robins Air Force BAse is not going anywhere.It employs more than 19,000 men and women, including more than 5,000 military members, almost 12,000 civilians, and more than 2,800 contract civilians. Already the largest industrial complex in Georgia, Robins Air Force Base is poised to become a megabase in the 21st century.THose jobs are for people that live as far as Atlanta.Macon andWarner RObins are only 15 min apart.Macon will suffer as much as Warner Robins

Warner Robins is not a suburb of macon.It has been its own MSA for a few years now.MAcon and W.R. while separate has forturnes TIED TO EACH OTHER!

You pretty much have the numbers spot on...There's also a Marine detactment coming in about a year...

To get into politics...IMO, I'd guess Robins is poised for a major downsizing based on what Obama administration has planned for the entire DoD. In short, he CLAIMS he's going to cut spending by tens of billions in spending, slow weapon development and hire an independent board to prevent unneccessary spending...If all rings true it would appear a lot of civilian jobs would be cut...However, Russia seems to be already testing the new Pres, if shots are fired, perhaps the administration will change their policy.

[yerocal]

Originally Posted by afonega1

Robins Air Force BAse is not going anywhere.It employs more than 19,000 men and women, including more than 5,000 military members, almost 12,000 civilians, and more than 2,800 contract civilians. Already the largest industrial complex in Georgia, Robins Air Force Base is poised to become a megabase in the 21st century.THose jobs are for people that live as far as Atlanta.Macon andWarner RObins are only 15 min apart.Macon will suffer as much as Warner Robins

Warner Robins is not a suburb of macon.It has been its own MSA for a few years now.MAcon and W.R. while separate has forturnes TIED TO EACH OTHER!

I agree that Robins AF base would an affect on Macon as well as others but you have to remember also that Macon was in existence and holding it own long before a Base was reality.... However , true Warner Robins may not be a suburb on paper, be its still considered and known economically as suburb of Macon, that how its always going to be related and pictured being located so close....I can also foresee in the very near future Warner Robins separate metro combining back with Macon.. Combined the metro's numbers would be much higher and will help draw in more progressive development and growth into the area as a whole from developers targeting metros with pop of 400,000 or more...

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by yerocal

I agree that Robins AF base would an affect on Macon as well as others but you have to remember also that Macon was in existence and holding it own long before a Base was reality.... However , true Warner Robins may not be a suburb on paper, be its still considered and known economically as suburb of Macon, that how its always going to be related and pictured being located so close....I can also foresee in the very near future Warner Robins separate metro combining back with Macon.. Combined the metro's numbers would be much higher and will help draw in more progressive development and growth into the area as a whole from developers targeting metros with pop of 400,000 or more...

AS I have said before popuation does not make a city alone.An MSA by definition involes there being major economic engines that are with the boundaries of that city core limits.That why Warner Robins while both smaller and younger is considered separately.Macon has lost major employers ove the last 20 years.I remember Macon had a population almost over 110,000 people.The latest census update is around 94,000.I like Macon but they have some serious problems to address.They can't even annex because of the negativity i s to high from surrounding areas.Warner Robins has doubled in size over the last 20 years.It continues to grow that way still as we speak.There is no way Warner Robins will be in Macons MSA ANYTIME soon.Warner Robins also has other buisness as well.Its not like they just have the base there.The Anchor Plant,Perdue,Frito lay just to namea few.
I grew up in Warner Robins and the people are the same today as they were then,they hate Macon,they dont want anything to d with it.My parents just moved back from Atlanta after 15 years and its nothing like befroe.You used to have no choice but to go to Macon for stores like Best Buy or resturants like Applebees.Not true at all anymore.
.

[yerocal]

Originally Posted by afonega1

AS I have said before popuation does not make a city alone.An MSA by definition involes there being major economic engines that are with the boundaries of that city core limits.That why Warner Robins while both smaller and younger is considered separately.Macon has lost major employers ove the last 20 years.I remember Macon had a population almost over 110,000 people.The latest census update is around 94,000.I like Macon but they have some serious problems to address.They can't even annex because of the negativity i s to high from surrounding areas.Warner Robins has doubled in size over the last 20 years.It continues to grow that way still as we speak.There is no way Warner Robins will be in Macons MSA ANYTIME soon.Warner Robins also has other buisness as well.Its not like they just have the base there.The Anchor Plant,Perdue,Frito lay just to namea few.
I grew up in Warner Robins and the people are the same today as they were then,they hate Macon,they don't want anything to d with it.My parents just moved back from Atlanta after 15 years and its nothing like before.You used to have no choice but to go to Macon for stores like Best Buy or resturants like Applebees.Not true at all anymore.
.

The Only thing Macon has lost is Brown & Williamson and klebber and since they left, Macon has gained several in return.....In the last 2years Macon has gained Sara Lee DC, Kohls DC, Bass pro DC, Yohomo, Nichinshi and Kellogg moving one of there Calif plants in to in the old Klebber building.Also about 5 more companies have proposed New construction sites in Macon. I agree Warner Robins really has Grown but I still think the Macon and Warner Robins area will re combine with them relying on each other and working really hard to get this area to take off as Ga next hot spot for growth.. the area would attract more developments combine than it would separate based on how the numbers would project higher.... Macon also is working on total Consolidation plans of county and city once completed Macon city area would became the entire county of Bibb at 255 sq mil and a increased pop of over 150,000, which will help draw more Jobs, developers and fed/state project assistant funds.

To be honest i think separating Macon and warner Robins into 2 different metro has lead to some down fall and lost of progressive developments to this area, because potential developers and investors researching the areas stats, it makes them appear smaller separate when they are looking for metros with much larger pop. I think instead of the working against each other they should pull together as one like Atlanta, Fulton county and it's suburbs and surrounding counties has done in past which has contributed to Atlanta's success. Atlanta has a Metro organization that represent the entire metro that markets and recruits companies, providing them with easy transition to relocate headquarters into the area. This is what i think will be next in the Macon-Warner Robins area, because they have come to realize that separte is not the way.

[afonega1]

Originally Posted by yerocal

The Only thing Macon has lost is Brown & Williamson and klebber and since they left, Macon has gained several in return.....In the last 2years Macon has gained Sara Lee DC, Kohls DC, Bass pro DC, Yohomo, Nichinshi and Kellogg moving one of there Calif plants in to in the old Klebber building.Also about 5 more companies have proposed New construction sites in Macon. I agree Warner Robins really has Grown but I still think the Macon and Warner Robins area will re combine with them relying on each other and working really hard to get this area to take off as Ga next hot spot for growth.. the area would attract more developments combine than it would separate based on how the numbers would project higher.... Macon also is working on total Consolidation plans of county and city once completed Macon city area would became the entire county of Bibb at 255 sq mil and a increased pop of over 150,000, which will help draw more Jobs, developers and fed/state project assistant funds.

To be honest i think separating Macon and warner Robins into 2 different metro has lead to some down fall and lost of progressive developments to this area, because potential developers and investors researching the areas stats, it makes them appear smaller separate when they are looking for metros with much larger pop. I think instead of the working against each other they should pull together as one like Atlanta, Fulton county and it's suburbs and surrounding counties has done in past which has contributed to Atlanta's success. Atlanta has a Metro organization that represent the entire metro that markets and recruits companies, providing them with easy transition to relocate headquarters into the area. This is what i think will be next in the Macon-Warner Robins area, because they have come to realize that separte is not the way.

Until Macon handles it image problems along with it real problems,they like Atlanta will find resistance.Maco has to expand it Tax base.The people in the are are moving just outside its borders or in other surrounding cities.Macon problably has the worst school system out of all the other major Georgia cities.As many plants or jobs that come,the people are not choosing to live in Macon.This is a huge problem.I agree it would be nice for the cities to work together but i think as long as Warner Robins has the momentum,Macon better work on itself first.