Columbus,GA 9th fastest growing metro between July 2011-12 (Atlanta: home, construction)

[therealpattman]

When you examine the future potential of each city you have to ask yourself, what will the world need in the future? How will the state of Georgia be by 2020 and 2030. For all this talk on who has the bigger city, MSA or CSA, we need to be asking who has the most prepared city to receive this growth? Who has the most prepared city to receive high paying jobs? And most important who has the infrastructure available to build for the future?

From my experiences in all 3 cities I can tell you, Augusta and Savannah will be far better than Columbus in the future. This nothing against Columbus but the 2 industries that are overdue for expansion are the healthcare industry and the Port of Savannah. Augusta is blessed to have a large healthcare base anchored by Georgia Regents University which is only going to get bigger, and the Port in Savannah is self explanatory. The military especially the infantry will continue to shrink as more and more wars are fought in cyberspace, which will benefit Augusta with the NSA.

Growth of military cyber security could benefit Fort Gordon | The Augusta Chronicle

Infrastructurally Savannah is leading because they have access to 2 interstates, an established international airport, and a major port, however Augusta has the better quality especially when it comes to its highway system, which no offense to Savannah, most of its corridors need upgrading. Columbus is at a disadvantage being on the end of a bypass, but if I-185 was extended to I-10 in Florida then Columbus would stand a better chance. All and all the 2nd tier cities are unique, but the one thing that puts Augusta over and over again is and will always be its surrounding counties especially Aiken and Columbia counties. Even when Augusta Richmond County is in a decline those counties still grow and grow strong. What county around Savannah or Columbus have grow to the support level of Columbia and Aiken counties?

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

When you examine the future potential of each city you have to ask yourself, what will the world need in the future? How will the state of Georgia be by 2020 and 2030. For all this talk on who has the bigger city, MSA or CSA, we need to be asking who has the most prepared city to receive this growth? Who has the most prepared city to receive high paying jobs? And most important who has the infrastructure available to build for the future?

From my experiences in all 3 cities I can tell you, Augusta and Savannah will be far better than Columbus in the future. This nothing against Columbus but the 2 industries that are overdue for expansion are the healthcare industry and the Port of Savannah. Augusta is blessed to have a large healthcare base anchored by Georgia Regents University which is only going to get bigger, and the Port in Savannah is self explanatory. The military especially the infantry will continue to shrink as more and more wars are fought in cyberspace, which will benefit Augusta with the NSA.

Growth of military cyber security could benefit Fort Gordon | The Augusta Chronicle

Infrastructurally Savannah is leading because they have access to 2 interstates, an established international airport, and a major port, however Augusta has the better quality especially when it comes to its highway system, which no offense to Savannah, most of its corridors need upgrading. Columbus is at a disadvantage being on the end of a bypass, but if I-185 was extended to I-10 in Florida then Columbus would stand a better chance. All and all the 2nd tier cities are unique, but the one thing that puts Augusta over and over again is and will always be its surrounding counties especially Aiken and Columbia counties. Even when Augusta Richmond County is in a decline those counties still grow and grow strong. What county around Savannah or Columbus have grow to the support level of Columbia and Aiken counties?

Have to disagree.

[therealpattman]

Originally Posted by Columbus1984

Have to disagree.

Which part?

[cdw1084]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

When you examine the future potential of each city you have to ask yourself, what will the world need in the future? How will the state of Georgia be by 2020 and 2030. For all this talk on who has the bigger city, MSA or CSA, we need to be asking who has the most prepared city to receive this growth? Who has the most prepared city to receive high paying jobs? And most important who has the infrastructure available to build for the future?

From my experiences in all 3 cities I can tell you, Augusta and Savannah will be far better than Columbus in the future. This nothing against Columbus but the 2 industries that are overdue for expansion are the healthcare industry and the Port of Savannah. Augusta is blessed to have a large healthcare base anchored by Georgia Regents University which is only going to get bigger, and the Port in Savannah is self explanatory. The military especially the infantry will continue to shrink as more and more wars are fought in cyberspace, which will benefit Augusta with the NSA.

Growth of military cyber security could benefit Fort Gordon | The Augusta Chronicle

Infrastructurally Savannah is leading because they have access to 2 interstates, an established international airport, and a major port, however Augusta has the better quality especially when it comes to its highway system, which no offense to Savannah, most of its corridors need upgrading. Columbus is at a disadvantage being on the end of a bypass, but if I-185 was extended to I-10 in Florida then Columbus would stand a better chance. All and all the 2nd tier cities are unique, but the one thing that puts Augusta over and over again is and will always be its surrounding counties especially Aiken and Columbia counties. Even when Augusta Richmond County is in a decline those counties still grow and grow strong. What county around Savannah or Columbus have grow to the support level of Columbia and Aiken counties?

Columbus has never been on a bypass I think you meant spur and that has nothing to do with growth because Huntsville AL is also on a spur and it's growing darn pretty fast. I can't really say which city is going to grow faster than the other one because anything can change at any given time. However, the more bases closes the more Columbus will grow. Savannah will always grow but there's no reason to go back and forth when all cities are pretty much equal in most people's eyes. Columbus has probably gained the 2nd largest city in GA again since county estimates are 198,000 while Richmond County is sitting at 202,000 but Augusta isn't consolidated with the whole county.

So....Augusta will have the state's 2nd largest metro.
Columbus will be the 2nd largest city
Savannah MSA will most like outgrow both once BRAC slows down in Columbus.

[masonbauknight]

@Norton. Between 2010 and 2012, Savannah's MSA grew from 347,000 to 361,000. That's a tad bit more than 3,000 residents (as in: almost 5 times that much). If you mean the city proper, Savannah city gained 3,000 within one year (2010-2011), with the 2012 estimate still to be released by US Census (May 2013). I do see the other points in your post though.

@cdw1084. I totally agree. Augusta will reign as GA's 2nd largest MSA this decade, Columbus has probably passed Augusta as GA's 2nd largest municipality (we'll confirm that in May), and Savannah MSA will probably lead 2nd-tier cities in growth for the decade 2010-2020. To be continued...

[Columbuskidd92]

Originally Posted by nortonguy

I still don't understand why Augusta was brought into the discussion. How did I shoot myself in the foot when the urban populations aren't even close?

I'm the one being accused of bragging, but you guys always have to use surrounding counties in order to make the area 'seem bigger'. Or you have to compare the CSA vs the MSA of Augusta. BRAC in Columbus won't last forever, and the MSA of Savannah only gained around 3,000 more people between 2010-2012.

I''ll give Columbus and Savannah credit, but 2010-2012 is only two years of growth. Let's see what happens once the Georgia Regents expansions, NSA, Plant Vogtle, Starbucks, etc developments pick up steam in Augusta.

I''ll give Columbus and Savannah credit, but 2010-2012 is only two years of growth. Let's see what happens once the Georgia Regents expansions, NSA, Plant Vogtle, Starbucks, etc developments pick up steam in Augusta.

You're such a homer. Lets see what happens once Columbus State,KIA and NCR finish their expansions.

[nortonguy]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

@Norton. Between 2010 and 2012, Savannah's MSA grew from 347,000 to 361,000. That's a tad bit more than 3,000 residents (as in: almost 5 times that much). If you mean the city proper, Savannah city gained 3,000 within one year (2010-2011), with the 2012 estimate still to be released by US Census (May 2013). I do see the other points in your post though.

@cdw1084. I totally agree. Augusta will reign as GA's 2nd largest MSA this decade, Columbus has probably passed Augusta as GA's 2nd largest municipality (we'll confirm that in May), and Savannah MSA will probably lead 2nd-tier cities in growth for the decade 2010-2020. To be continued...

I said Savannah only gained around 3,000 more people.

Originally Posted by Columbuskidd92

You're such a homer. Lets see what happens once Columbus State,KIA and NCR finish their expansions.

Are you really comparing this to GRU? I'm the homer but you're comparing Columbus State versus GRU Augusta...

[Columbuskidd92]

Originally Posted by nortonguy

Are you really comparing this to GRU?

No I wasn't.

[Columbuskidd92]

Originally Posted by nortonguy

I said Savannah only gained around 3,000 more people.


Are you really comparing this to GRU? I'm the homer but you're comparing Columbus State versus GRU Augusta...

And when did I do this?

[Newsboy]

What is the big freakin' deal about Georgia Regents University? You're combining the medical college with Augusta State ... so what? That's not gonna cause thousands of students to start flocking there. It's not gonna deminish the popularity of UGA, Tech; GSU or Ga Southern. Georgia Regents is NOT going to be the next Kennesaw State.

SCAD has done more -- and means more -- to the city of Savannah than GRU will to Augusta. SCAD put Savannah on the international map. Outside of Georgia, or Augusta, nobody knows or cares about GRU.