Central Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Central Georgia
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Region
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Downtown Macon
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Central Georgia highlighted in brown
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Location of Georgia within the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| Largest city | Macon |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 509,994 |
| Demonym(s) | Central Georgian |
Central Georgia is a special area in the U.S. state of Georgia. It has eleven counties and is located just south of the big Atlanta city area. The main cities in Central Georgia are Macon and Warner Robins.
Contents
Where is Central Georgia?
Central Georgia is made up of eleven counties. These counties are Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson.
Who Lives in Central Georgia?
In 2010, about 445,608 people lived in Central Georgia. The number of people living here grew by 11% in ten years. Houston County grew the fastest, with a 26.3% increase in people. Monroe and Jones counties also grew a lot.
By 2020, the total number of people living in Central Georgia had grown to 509,994. Most people in the region are Christian, following different types of Christianity like Baptist, Methodist, and Catholic.
What is the Economy Like?
The economy in Central Georgia focuses on five main areas. These are making things for airplanes (aerospace), healthcare (hospitals), mining kaolin (a type of clay), storing and moving goods (warehousing and distribution), and tourism.
Macon is the main place for shopping and trade. It is also the biggest center for jobs in the region. Many people from nearby counties travel to Macon-Bibb County for work.
Business and Technology
The Central Georgia Business and Technology Park in Thomaston is a large area for businesses. It has companies like Southern Company and Solutions Pest & Lawn.
Houston County is home to the Robins Air Force Base, which is Georgia's largest industrial complex. This county has a lot of land for new businesses and has lower property taxes. Houston County has grown a lot, with its population increasing from about 89,208 in 1990 to 160,000 in 2015.
Major Employers
The biggest employer in Central Georgia is the Robins Air Force Base, with over 22,300 employees. Other large employers include Geico, the Medical Center of Central Georgia, and the Houston County Board of Education. Companies like Perdue Farms, Blue Bird Corp, and Frito-Lay also provide many jobs.
Education in Central Georgia
Central Georgia has several colleges and universities where students can learn and grow. These include:
- Middle Georgia State University
- Mercer University
- Central Georgia Technical College
- Wesleyan College
- Georgia Military College
- Georgia College
- Fort Valley State University
Fun Things to Do and See
Central Georgia has many interesting places to visit. You can explore the Ocmulgee National Monument, which is a historic site. There's also the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, where fun events happen. The Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base is a great place to see airplanes.
Macon has over ten museums, many tours, and seven yearly festivals. Some museums include the Tubman African American Museum, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Museum of Arts & Sciences.
The region also has beautiful nature. The High Falls State Park is just north of Macon. It's a lovely spot for outdoor activities.
Exciting Annual Events
Central Georgia hosts many events each year. Macon is known as the "festival capital of Georgia" because it has over 20 annual events. Some popular events in Macon are the International Cherry Blossom Festival, the Bragg Jam, and the Ocmulgee Indian Celebration.
Other fun events include the Georgia Peach Festival, held in Byron and Fort Valley. Fort Valley also hosts the annual Miss Georgia Peach pageant.
Getting Around Central Georgia
The region has its own airport, the Middle Georgia Regional Airport. It is also only a few hours away from the port of Savannah, a very important seaport in the U.S.
Major roads that help people travel through Central Georgia include:
- Interstate-75
- Interstate-475
- Interstate-16
- Georgia State Route-80
- Georgia State Route-23
- Georgia State Route-19
Famous People from Central Georgia
Many notable people have come from Central Georgia, including:
- Clarence Reid (Blowfly) – Musician and songwriter
- Ed Roberts – Engineer who helped start the computer revolution
- Obie Walker – A boxing champion in the 1930s
- Betty Cantrell – Miss America 2016
- Melvyn Douglas – Actor
- Carrie Preston – Actress
- Jack McBrayer – Actor
- Jason Aldean – Country Singer
- Sonny Perdue – Former Governor of Georgia
- Deborah Roberts – ABC News Correspondent
- Richard "Little Richard" Penniman – Famous Singer
- Casey Hayward – NFL football player
- Kareem Jackson – NFL Football player
- Grey Henson – Actor
