The Five Georgias

 

The map in the County Map section of this website shows the state divided into five multiple areas. They are:

1. Urban (14)
2. Urbanizing (29)
3. Suburban (56)
4. Rural Growth (30)
5. Rural Decline (30)

URBAN

Georgia has 14 urban counties. They are the core centers for the state’s 15 Metropolitan Areas.  Metropolitan area boundaries can cross state lines. For example, Dade, Walker, and Catoosa counties are part of the Chattanooga, Tennessee Metropolitan Area.  Russell County, Alabama is part of the Columbus, Georgia Metropolitan Area, and Aiken, and Edgefield counties in South Carolina are part of the Augusta, Georgia Metropolitan Area.

Fourteen Georgia metro core counties form the heart of the state's major urban centers.  The general concept of a Metropolitan Area is that of a core area containing a substantial population nucleus.  Each metropolitan area, named after the central city must have at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more inhabitants together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with the central city.  The adjacent counties achieve metro status according to the commuting behavior of the work force.  In essence, the metropolitan definition identifies major cities as well as the suburbs or bedroom communities where many of the people who work, shop, and recreate in the central city have their homes.  Georgia has 15 metropolitan areas made up of 70 metropolitan counties (14 metropolitan core and 56 suburban counties).  The remaining  89 counties are the state’s  nonmetropolitan counties. 

Metropolitan core counties are a study in marked contrast.  They are the hub of the state’s social, economic and cultural activity, yet a sizable portion of the residents working in these areas who have the necessary education and skills to qualify for the availability of well paying job opportunities commute from the suburban or bedroom communities that ring these core counties.  The people left behind in urban Georgia are without a doubt some of the state's poorest and least educated.  Urban counties have large numbers of African American, and a growing number of Hispanic residents, many of whom are young, poorly educated, live at or below the poverty level, and generally do not possess the marketable job skills necessary to compete in an increasingly technologically oriented environment.  In addition, these areas also tend to have high crime rates, high rates of births to unwed mothers, and high minority unemployment rates.  They also have high rates of out-migration of both black and white middle class residents.

URBANIZING

The 29 counties in the Urbanizing category are based up on the 2000 US Census Bureau Micropolitan designation.  These counties were previously in the rural growth category, but due to the change of definition to Micropolitan, the urbanizing category was thus added.

These counties have expanding populations due to the growth of viable job opportunities and infrastructure improvements such as access to transportation, quality of life improvements, including education, housing, medical facilities, and cultural attractions. They are showing the beginnings of expanding populations, a diversified economy, growing minority groups, and increased population density.  As the population and economy continues to grow, some of these areas will in all probability evolve into full fledged Metropolitan Areas. 

SUBURBAN

A large portion of the population in Suburban Georgia live in unincorporated subdivisions that have haphazardly leapfrogged over physical and political boundaries, thus evolving into a maze of ungoverned, interconnected, sprawling bedroom communities.  These communities were initially built in an era of un-zoned, unrestricted, "let the developers do what they feel is best" time period.

With suburbanization has come the challenge of water shortages, the need for larger sanitary landfills, increased traffic congestion, funding education, increased cultural activities, and all of the accompanying problems of a rapidly growing area.  These counties desperately need strong state and local leadership to help solve problems that do not stop at county or municipal boundaries and require considerable expertise and financial resources to solve.   The growth of suburban counties is often made at the expense of metropolitan core counties.  Furthermore, over time, the central city may lose population to suburban areas.  In doing so, the core city is often left with a large minority population dependent upon low wage, low skill service and retail sector jobs along with an inadequate tax base to fund schools, public safety, trash collection, road maintenance, and other needed services.

REASONS FOR USING THE 1970 TO 1980 TIME FRAME

The next two categories were developed by using the county-level population growth trends that occurred during the 1980-1990 time period.  This time frame was used because it typifies the prevailing county-level population trends that have historically occurred in the state. Georgia has experienced steady growth since the 1930's (See Figure 1); however, the growth has been uneven, scattered across the state in selected areas.  Information in Figure 2 reveals the number of counties that have lost population every decade since the 1930's.  The long-term trend is overall state growth (see Figure 1) with large numbers of mostly rural counties losing population (see Figure 2). This pattern, however, was interrupted during the 1970's, when only 10 counties lost population.  This short-lived trend was called the "rural turnaround" and occurred not only in Georgia, but across the nation. 

In the 1970's, rural areas were experiencing growth because of seven factors.  First, with the completion of the interstate highway system, transportation in and out of rural areas was significantly easier than in previous years.  Second, many companies were expanding into rural areas because of relatively cheap labor and site acquisition costs.  As a result, rural industrialization experienced significant growth.  Third, agriculture set record prices because of shifts in climate patterns which greatly escalated the demand for agricultural products, (particularly animal feed, especially soybeans).  In addition, the USDA initiated a policy that encouraged farmers to plant "fence row to fence row".  As a result, farmers with excess cash and increased buying power created additional rural job opportunities.  Fourth, a significant number of retirees were choosing small towns as retirement centers.  Their presence also created jobs and investments.  Fifth, baby boomer's reached college age and many attended schools located in rural areas which created numerous job opportunities.  Sixth, America's urban centers experienced high levels of crime, pollution, and racial unrest.  As the appeal of urban living decreased, rural areas became increasingly attractive places to live and work.  Seventh, rural areas experienced a steady improvement in quality of life amenities. Communication, transportation, medical services, shopping, and educational facilities were all improving.  Thus, many Georgians who desired small town or rural living in the 1970's could find employment without experiencing the previous loss in quality of life that existed in many rural areas.  These factors also created an environment where rural residents could find employment opportunities in their home towns instead of migrating to the cities. 

In the 1980's, all of the above mentioned factors abruptly declined.  Instead of locating business in rural Georgia, companies were moving to the Pacific Rim and Latin America.  In addition, urban areas were becoming more attractive.  Yuppies and urban homesteading were in fashion, and agriculture suffered deep set backs from events such as increased international competition, drought, and low prices.  During the 1980's, 43 counties in Georgia lost population.  Thus, Georgia slipped back into the old pattern of rural population decline. 
 
Georgia, however, may once again experience a "rural renaissance".  Only eight counties lost population during 1990’s  while 34  lost from 2000 to 2007 (see Figure 2). Here are the reasons:  First and foremost, agriculture experienced substantial growth compared to the 1980s.  Agriculture prices reached record levels, and in 1996, cotton surpassed the 1953 all time production level.  Poultry also was expanding in south Georgia; while canola, a financially lucrative oil seed crop, was planted in place of winter wheat.  Second, with the advent of the computer, world-wide web, email, and faxes, rural residents could electronically access business offices not only across the nation, but overseas. Specialty crops like blueberries have become extremely popular with consumers.  Third, the developmental highway system made many rural areas easily accessible by car and truck.  Finally, concerted rural leadership efforts have been paying off.  Rural decision makers and citizens have been working hard to attract businesses and improve their communities. 

Rural population growth, however, is in a perpetual state of flux in Georgia.  High fuel prices, increased international competition, and the recessionary problems facing the nation in the last portion of the present decade all impact rural population growth.

RURAL GROWTH

The fourth identified area is non-metropolitan, or rural counties that experienced growth during the 1980’s.  These areas tend to be characterized by having either scenic beauty or some type of physical landscape that makes them attractive places for tourism or retirees.  In addition, some of these areas are located near a military base or a regional growth center capable of sustaining or attracting economic growth. 

A challenge for local decision makers in these areas exists when new residents want to stop or slow down growth while long-term residents desire the jobs and economic prosperity that accompanies growth.  These differences frequently lead to community conflicts that pit newcomers against locals.  Local government leaders are placed at a disadvantage because of the increased demand for services from the new residents.  The limited tax base in many of these areas creates funding problems; and while taxes frequently need to be increased and new policies developed, the prevailing sentiment is opposition to the new policies by both new residents and some long-term residents.

RURAL DECLINE

The last area identified is declining rural counties. These counties lost population during the 1980s, and this area is perhaps the one in greatest peril.  These counties are characterized by long-term population loss, lack of employment opportunities, low levels of infrastructure and business development, a legacy of low educational attainment and skill development, health problems including limited access to medical facilities and health care professionals.  In addition, the continued out-migration of working age residents leaving behind a large number of both young and older residents whom require a large share of governmental services continue to plague the area.  Job creation in these communities must be a major priority in order to keep this area from declining further.

The five categories illustrate a complex pattern of social, economic, and demographic characteristics in a simple and easy-to-understand format.   By understanding the broad dynamics of this categorization, both leaders and interested citizens can define and target programs for appropriate audiences.  By using available data and analysis, it is believed that innovative approaches can be devised for community and economic development programs.

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