Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Columbus, Georgia

Okay ... something went horribly wrong!  The city that was fifth in alphabetical order was somehow omitted from my blog.  I remember preparing the information about a week ago, but either it didn't upload properly or I somehow inadvertently deleted it.  I don't think it was a Freudian slip, but I'll invite your thoughts on that after you've read about ...

Columbus, Georgia

Columbus was founded in 1828 and lies at the beginning of the navigable portion of the Chattahoochee River, about 100 miles southwest of Atlanta.  The city's population is just over 300,000 within a metropolitan area of about 465,000.  Like Augusta, Columbus is a fall line city, meaning that the Chattahoochee River begins a steep descent just below the city.

In common with the other Sun Belt cities, Columbus has a humid subtropical climate, meaning hot, humid summers and mild winters with only occasional light snow flurries.  Daytime summer temperatures often reaches a high in the mid 90s, and low temperatures in the winter average in the upper 30s. Columbus is often considered a dividing line or "natural snowline" of the southeastern United States with areas north of the city receiving snowfall annually, with areas to the south typically not receiving snowfall every year or at all.

The largest employer in the area is nearby Fort Benning.  For its relatively small size, Columbus boasts a large number of public parks, museums, and cultural attractions.  More about Columbus is available in the Wikipedia article at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus,_Georgia.

Advantages

Columbus offers a low overall cost of living, as well as a relatively large number of affordable houses in fair to excellent condition.

The city has its own regional airport, in addition to which it is within a 2-hour drive of Atlanta's international airport or the Birmingham, Alabama airport.

With Fort Benning nearby, it appears to offer a solid market for a traditional Japanese dojo.

Topping off its advantages are its several affordable golf courses.

Disadvantages

Other than its hot, humid climate -- which is shared by nearly all the cities I'm considering -- the only notable disadvantage seems to be Columbus' relatively high crime rate, which is 75% above the US national average.   Property crimes account for the majority of this, with burglaries, larceny and motor vehicle thefts nearly double the national average.  Murders, muggings, and robberies are about 10% above the national average, while rapes and aggravated assaults are significantly below nationwide figures.

So once again, I'd like to know your thoughts about Columbus ... Is moving there a good idea or a bad idea for me?  What are your impressions of Columbus?  If you know me, would you be more inclined or less inclined to visit me in Columbus than you would in Marion ... or any of the other locations I'm considering?


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