What is Dougherty County like? (Albany, Valdosta: new home, job market, construction)

[kimelptx]

I am considering relocating from South Florida. I am interested in knowing about Albany or surrounding cities (whatever cities are up and coming) that have new home construction happening. Can anyone tell me what Dougherty County has to offer a young family with three elementary age children? Are there any colleges close-by? Job market?

[jdaryl2002]

Lee County is a burb of Albany "Dougherty Country" and is one of the fastest growing counties in the country. the county seat is Leesburg. very family friendly and only 20 minutes to Albany. VSU in Valdosta, Troy State, Florida State and Albany State just to name a few. A few smaller colleges are within an hour drive.

[Breakfastinamerica]

you can find a few topics on albany here and you can see most people despise the city. I lived there for a little while and would NOT recommend it, but that's just my own opinion. I would not move into Lee county. It was already overcrowding when I left, and Leesburg is one of those small towns that unless you grew up there, people are going to look at you weird. I had a few friends that started Lee County in middle school and they said they were totally rejected from everyone else because they were from Tennessee. Here again, just an experience, maybe your kids would have better luck.
As far as what Albany has to offer- nothing really. They have been trying for years to "re-do" downtown, but business after business were always closing down. Racism seems to be an ongoing problem.
The thing about Albany is that its a fairly large "SMALL TOWN." Everyone knows everyone, it's all about who you are and what you have, and you will be judged. Don't be fooled by the term "friendly people." I never saw much of that, in fact quite opposite.
Darton College is a two year school - very easy to get in and cheap.
ASU is all black, but if you are white you can get a minority scholorship I hear.
Troy State is for non traditional students only I think unless they changed it.

[pickleswanson]

Unless you are moving there for a job I would recommend these towns 30 - 90 minutes away: Cordele, Tifton, Douglas, Thomasville or Valdosta.

All are progressive towns and have been referred to the South's ring of fire due to their ability to draw in and retain new business. All of them are growing torward one another and although they are competitive with each other on everything from football games to who can get the best business next they also complement one another nicely. All have at least one college and tech school and share regional banks. Valdosta is by far the largest of the 5 now considered a metro area; however, with as quickly as the others are growing they just may catch up.

Personally I think Valdosta is the most fun, Thomasville has the most beauty, Tifton has the nicest people, Douglas has the most drive to growand is just easy to live in, and Cordele is making the most changes. It used to be very similar to Albany as far as thoughts and views of its people go but recently has made a complete turn around and is still working to improve itself.

As far as schools go, I would ensure that I'm very actively involved in my childs education in any of these locations. Classes tend to be around 30-40 kids in each so the teachers don't have enough time for individual attention. Tifton and Thomasville would probably be the only two I would send my kids to public school in. But I just prefer homeschool anyway.

All the colleges are great, but Valdosta's college offers the most opportunies and is the most respected of all of them; however, Douglas used to have and probably still does have a satillite UGA office. Tifton has a nationally renowned Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC). Thomasville now being considered a burb of close by Tallahassee, FL which contains FL A&M, FSU, & Tallahassee Community College; only a 30 min drive.

Good Luck.

[brodave1916]

Originally Posted by kimelptx

I am considering relocating from South Florida. I am interested in knowing about Albany or surrounding cities (whatever cities are up and coming) that have new home construction happening. Can anyone tell me what Dougherty County has to offer a young family with three elementary age children? Are there any colleges close-by? Job market?

What are you looking for? You might find it an Albany, but my wife and I haven't, and we're considering a move for better, less expensive health care, if for no other reason.