356 replies to this topic

[UTCdude23]

Yeah, It should reach 10 million within the next 5 years I would say.  NW GA is actually the fastest growing area of the state (outside of Metro ATL).  It is predicted to double in size over the next couple decades, add in the growth from both Columbus, Macon, and Augusta, as well as Metro Atlanta, and you should see another million people.  Just conjecture, but still a possibility I think.

[Unifour]

Just outta curiosity, where did your census estimate figures come from? The Wikipedia site on Marietta, for example, lists Marietta at about 61,200, while your figures say 60,500. It shows Atlanta to be 423,000, while yours say 419,000. They both claim 2004 figures. I wonder why there is such disparity in the numbers floating around?

[Spartan]

The 416 figure is 2000, the 423 is the 2004 estimate.

[Newnan]

On the Census Bureau's webiste, it says Roswell and Alpharetta are losing population. Would someone care to explain to me why?

[teshadoh]

(edit - never mind)  I see the population stats, Roswell hasn't 'lost' population but is growing at a slower rate.  Alpharetta has in fact lost population - a minimal amount though.

Edited by teshadoh, 06 February 2006 - 12:45 PM.

[ATLman1]

When do you guys think Columbus will reclaim its position as Georgia's second largest city? Columbus is expected to lead the state in job growth and population for the next 5 years according to the Terry College of Business at UGA. Fort Benning's expansion is expected to bring 30,000 to the city of Columbus in the next 2 to 4 years. They compared it to bringing a city the size of LaGrange or a campus around the size of the University of Georgia to Columbus. Columbus and Augusta keep fighting for the position. Any thoughts on what year Columbus will retake the title?

[socaguy]

It could take over as the second largest actual city...its only a few thousand different.  But metrowise, Augusta is still going to be bigger for a long time.

[gah]

socaguy, on Feb 12 2006, 08:52 PM, said:

It could take over as the second largest actual city...its only a few thousand different.  But metrowise, Augusta is still going to be bigger for a long time.

You may well be right -- however

If Lee County AL (130k +) is eventually included in a consolidated metro count (a possibility based on new Ft Benning hirees living there but
commuting to the core county of Chattahoochee)

and

Troup County GA (60k+) is also included in consolidated metro (a possibility if KIA builds there and large % of hirees come from Harris, Muscogee Counties)

that is ~ 200k+.  Not counting 30k+ expected with BRAC and AFLAC expansion.  Add ~ 225-250k to the present metro population, and Columbus would pretty much be on parity with Augusta (which has the advantage of being next to SC with its relative large-size counties)

Actually, the real contest is not which city will be second largest, but which is city, Atlanta included, is the best.  Now, that is a contest that NONE will ever agree on!    

[Phillydog]

teshadoh, on Jun 30 2005, 10:44 AM, said:

Of noteworthiness - 5 cities over 100k, 10 over 50k, & 23 over 25k.

A little disingenuous since the population of 2 of these "cities" are really the population of the surrounding county?

[gah]

Phillydog, on Feb 21 2006, 08:58 PM, said:

A little disingenuous since the population of 2 of these "cities" are really the population of the surrounding county?

Not really --  Muscogee (Columbus) and Richmond (Augusta) are fairly small counties in area AND
Muscogee (and I suspect Richmond too) are even "smaller" yet due to military installations (I know that population of
bases are counted in county census, but the population of the areas occupied by bases, if available for civilian use, would undoubtedly be greater).  Thus, the actual land area occupied by Columbus and Augusta is probably not that much greater than other cities with similar populations.  In Muscogee, almost all available land is urbanized and "suburbs" are really located in adjoining counties, Harris to the north and Lee in AL to the west.    

Also Athen/Clarke, the other consolidated govt is quite small in area -- I think the smallest of the three

[teshadoh]

Phillydog, on Feb 21 2006, 08:58 PM, said:

A little disingenuous since the population of 2 of these "cities" are really the population of the surrounding county?

And Indianapolis, Jacksonville, & Louisville should be chastised for daring to consolidate their counties as well?  Nothing is disingenious, those are the municipal populations, it is irregardless if their population is skewed in some arbitrary manner, as all municipal populations are in the end - arbitrary.

Also, what is the fascination with replying to ancient posts?  

[Unifour]

Well, no one seems to have corrected the statistics, so in case anyone new reads this here goes...

Fulton County challenged the Census Bureau's figures, and they won the challenge. Census updated Fulton County to 905,000 people and the city of Atlanta to 425,000 for 2004. They also updated the figures for most municipalities in Fulton County. Alpharetta and Roswell have added significant numbers of people since 2000, but I'm not sure what the actual numbers are. North Fulton continues to grow rapidly, although I imagine it is now spreading into Forsyth, as predicted, and it has slowed somewhat.

Atlanta's economy is heating up yet again, and should be the main driver of Georgia's economic and job growth as it always is. During the 90's, Atlanta lead the nation in job growth.

Edited by Unifour, 05 March 2006 - 11:04 PM.

[Martinman]

From the lastest Census press release

Top 10 Fastest-Growing states

State Percent Change
1. Arizona 3.6
2. Nevada 3.5
3. Idaho 2.6
4. Georgia 2.5
5. Texas 2.5
6. Utah 2.4
7. North Carolina 2.1
8. Colorado 1.9
9. Florida 1.8
10. South Carolina 1.7


Top 10 Numeric Gainers

State Change
1. Texas 579,275
2. Florida 321,697
3. California 303,402
4. Georgia 231,388
5. Arizona 213,311
6. North Carolina 184,046
7. Washington 103,899
8. Colorado 90,082
9. Nevada 83,228
10. Tennessee 83,058


State -- Population 7/1/06

• California - 36,457,549
  
• Texas - 23,507,783
  
• New York - 19,306,183
  
• Florida - 18,089,888
  
• Illinois - 12,831,970
  
• Pennsylvania - 12,440,621
  
• Ohio - 11,478,006
  
• Michigan - 10,095,643
  
• Georgia - 9,363,941
  
• North Carolina - 8,856,505

[Lady Celeste]

Quote

Georgia 231,388

I would wager that of that 231,388 newcomers to Georgia, 219,819 of them moved to greater Atlanta. 10,000 of them moved to North Georgia (outside of greater Atlanta) and the remaining 1569 moved to other parts fo Georgia. If only we could get some of these newcomers to spread out. Maybe encourage 25,000 to Columbus, Macon, Savannah and Augusta and Atlanta will take the rest.  

[yerocal]

Lady Celeste, on Jan 3 2007, 12:39 PM, said:

I would wager that of that 231,388 newcomers to Georgia, 219,819 of them moved to greater Atlanta. 10,000 of them moved to North Georgia (outside of gretaer Atlanta) and the remaining 1569 moved to outher parts fo Georgia. If only we could get some of these newcomers to spread out. Maybe encourage 25,000 to Columbus, Macon, Savannah and Augusta and Atlanta will take the rest.  

I agree with that, but all the 2nd tier cities need to work hard to create some attractions to encourage more newcomers into the 2nd tier cities. Like more professional corporate jobs(instead of factories, warehouses & etc.)also  modernize develpments which draws in these people because alot of the newcomers are from faster cities like NY, FL cities and others, that why atlanta is always gaining pop., the 2nd tier cities need to catch up(speed up) and stop holding on to history and perservations so to where it's hender them from growth. because it causing them to lose out on so many opportunties...Like having height restriction(cancels High/Mid-rise developments), not wanting to cut down a 100 year old trees(cancels Residential/commerical growth) or demolishing century old un used,condemed building(less space for modernize structures) and etc. If they want growth they are going to have to accomidate....

[socaguy]

It will be interesting to see what the 2010 census figures say for "the rest" of Georgia.  I think the mid-sized cities will see a nice but not significant increase,  as usual.  North Georgia and SE Georgia will probably see the highest increases due to half-backs and retirees.  I live here in the Upstate area of SC but often work in areas of NE Georgia (Hartwell, Lavonia, Toccoa) and these towns seem to be growing very nicely.  I just hope that with the growth these towns somehow try to preserve their historically important Dowtowns.  One case in point,  Hartwell Georgia,  with a beautiful little Downtown area just tore down a nice strip of older buildings for an ugly ass Walgreens in the CENTER of town.  Another strip of less appealing buildings is being tore down right across the street for what looks like an attractive multilevel retail/loft building with streefront retail.  Seems like opposing forces are at work here but shows how places like this should and shouldnt grow.  I also hope that Brunswick Ga., which seems to be a future up and comer, retains some of its charms with all the highrise development going on Downtown.

[krazeeboi]

I think the Census needs to report two different sets of figures for Georgia: metro Atlanta, and the rest of the state.

[andremurra]

socaguy, on Jan 3 2007, 09:57 PM, said:

It will be interesting to see what the 2010 census figures say for "the rest" of Georgia.  I think the mid-sized cities will see a nice but not significant increase,  as usual.  North Georgia and SE Georgia will probably see the highest increases due to half-backs and retirees.  I live here in the Upstate area of SC but often work in areas of NE Georgia (Hartwell, Lavonia, Toccoa) and these towns seem to be growing very nicely.  I just hope that with the growth these towns somehow try to preserve their historically important Dowtowns.  One case in point,  Hartwell Georgia,  with a beautiful little Downtown area just tore down a nice strip of older buildings for an ugly ass Walgreens in the CENTER of town.  Another strip of less appealing buildings is being tore down right across the street for what looks like an attractive multilevel retail/loft building with streefront retail.  Seems like opposing forces are at work here but shows how places like this should and shouldnt grow.  I also hope that Brunswick Ga., which seems to be a future up and comer, retains some of its charms with all the highrise development going on Downtown.

Thats sad about the tacky Walgreens. I have a lot of family in Hartwell, and although its not the most exciting place to visit, it is a wonderful community with a lot of potential - especially as Lake Hartwell eventually will become another resort destination. I cant believe they allowed that, they just finished remodelling their downtown streetscape.... hmm. That doesnt make sense.

[andremurra]

Martinman, on Jan 2 2007, 06:29 PM, said:

From the lastest Census press release

Top 10 Fastest-Growing states

State Percent Change
1. Arizona 3.6
2. Nevada 3.5
3. Idaho 2.6
4. Georgia 2.5
5. Texas 2.5
6. Utah 2.4
7. North Carolina 2.1
8. Colorado 1.9
9. Florida 1.8
10. South Carolina 1.7
Top 10 Numeric Gainers

State Change
1. Texas 579,275
2. Florida 321,697
3. California 303,402
4. Georgia 231,388
5. Arizona 213,311
6. North Carolina 184,046
7. Washington 103,899
8. Colorado 90,082
9. Nevada 83,228
10. Tennessee 83,058
State -- Population 7/1/06

• California - 36,457,549
  
• Texas - 23,507,783
  
• New York - 19,306,183
  
• Florida - 18,089,888
  
• Illinois - 12,831,970
  
• Pennsylvania - 12,440,621
  
• Ohio - 11,478,006
  
• Michigan - 10,095,643
  
• Georgia - 9,363,941
  
• North Carolina - 8,856,505

I think we can obtain the #5 spot sooner than we think.  Illinois, Penn, Mich & Ohio are all clumped right there waiting for us to take the lead. I can definately see us becoming #5, and Florida obtaining #3. That would be nice to be situated next to NY in ranks and FL in geography!

[Pillsbury]

Lady Celeste, on Jan 3 2007, 12:39 PM, said:

I would wager that of that 231,388 newcomers to Georgia, 219,819 of them moved to greater Atlanta. 10,000 of them moved to North Georgia (outside of greater Atlanta) and the remaining 1569 moved to other parts fo Georgia. If only we could get some of these newcomers to spread out. Maybe encourage 25,000 to Columbus, Macon, Savannah and Augusta and Atlanta will take the rest.  

I don't really doubt that Atlanta is capable of growing at that rate, but it seems to me that Atlanta grows between 90,000 and 120,000 every year for the last few years.  Since Atlanta now makes up a little over half of our population, then I would expect it to capture about half the people who moved here, which seems to be the case.   I think Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Savannah, et al, are growing at good rates that can compare to most other sunbelt towns.

krazeeboi, on Jan 4 2007, 01:30 AM, said:

I think the Census needs to report two different sets of figures for Georgia: metro Atlanta, and the rest of the state.

I wish they would.  I'm curious.   Though I do believe we would still be a fast growing state.

Edited by Pillsbury, 04 January 2007 - 10:48 AM.