Middle Georgia , also known as Central Georgia , is an eleven-county region in the U.S. state of Georgia . It abuts the Atlanta metropolitan area , just to the north, and is anchored by both the Macon and Warner Robins metropolitan areas. Largest cities in the region: Macon (pop. 157,025), Warner Robins (pop. 80,567), Perry (pop. 20,944), Milledgeville (pop. 17,058), Fort Valley (pop. 8,796), Centerville (pop. 8,260), Eatonton (pop. 6,338).
30-475: According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development , the region consists of the following counties: Baldwin , Bibb , Crawford , Houston , Jones , Monroe , Peach , Pulaski , Putnam , Twiggs , and Wilkinson . In 2010, the estimated total population of Middle Georgia, including the counties of Baldwin , Bibb , Crawford , Houston , Jones , Monroe , Peach , and Twiggs counties,
60-484: A partnership between state government and private corporations. The Georgia Department of Economic Development Tourism Division helps individual visitors and groups discover Georgia's vacation options and helps them to plan their stay. Through its network of regional and international representatives, it also assists the state's communities and attractions in drawing potential travelers to their areas. The state's tourism industry employs more than 400,000 people creating
90-535: A population of 160,000 in 2015. Middle Georgia's largest employer is Robins Air Force Base, with more than 22,300 employees as of 2015, followed by Geico with over 5,690 employees and the Medical Center of Central Georgia, with over 4,600 employees. Other employers in the region include the Houston County Board of Education , Bibb County Board of Education, Houston Healthcare, Perdue Farms ,
120-540: A total economic impact of more than $ 52 billion annually. Formed in 1973, the Georgia Film, Music, and Digital Entertainment Office develops and promotes the state's feature film, television, commercial, music video, recorded music, and digital media industries. Statewide resources and infrastructure information along with an extensive location library provide every assistance for production companies both inside and outside Georgia. The office coordinates and supports
150-525: Is available to both traditional motion picture projects such as feature films, television series, commercials, and music videos, as well as new industries such as game development and animation. During FY2012, GDEcD led more than 100 feature films and television series, movies, specials, pilots, and episodes produced in Georgia, ranking the state number one in the Southeast and among the top five states in
180-629: Is included in the Thomaston, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area , which is included in the Atlanta - Sandy Springs (GA) - Gainesville (GA) - Alabama (partial) CSA. Thomaston was incorporated on January 1, 1825, and designated as the seat of Upson County. The town was named for General Jett Thomas , an Indian fighter in the War of 1812. Thomaston is located near the center of Upson County at 32.90 N, -84.333333 W (32° 54′ 0″ N, 84° 20′ 0″ W). The city
210-605: Is located 75 miles south of the Atlanta International Airport, and home to Georgia's largest industrial complex at the Warner Robins Air Force Base. Houston county has more than 3,000 acres of land for industrial development and one of the lowest property tax rates in middle Georgia. The county is designated one of Georgia's Entrepreneur Friendly Communities. Houston County has experienced a population growth, from 89,208 in 1990 to
240-543: Is located in the west central Piedmont region of the state. U.S. Route 19 is the main north–south route through the city, leading north 16 mi (26 km) to Zebulon and south 28 mi (45 km) to Butler . Georgia State Routes 36 and 74 are the main east–west routes through the city. GA-36 leads northeast 17 mi (27 km) to Barnesville and southwest 18 mi (29 km) to Woodland . GA-74 leads east 12 mi (19 km) to Yatesville and northwest 19 mi (31 km) to Woodbury . As of
270-444: Is only hours away from the port of Savannah , a major U.S. seaport. Major freeways and highways in the region include, Interstate-75 , Interstate-475 , Interstate-16 , Georgia State Route-80 , Georgia State route-23 , and Georgia State route-19 . Georgia Department of Economic Development The Georgia Department of Economic Development ( GDEcD ) is a department of the state of Georgia , United States. The GDEcD
300-489: Is responsible for managing resources to attract new business investments to Georgia, expand Georgia's existing industries and businesses, locate new markets for Georgian products, and promote and fund entertainment projects produced in the state. Originally named the Georgia Department of Commerce, the agency was established by law in 1949. Governor Herman Talmadge appointed the first five-member board under
330-562: Is retail trade at 11.6% of the total industry in Thomaston. The remaining portions of industry include agriculture, construction, wholesale trade, transportation, information, finance, management, administration, arts and entertainment, food service, recreation, accommodation, and public administration. The Upson County courthouse was built in 1908, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places . Thomaston hosts an annual Emancipation Proclamation Celebration each May. It
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#1732780405679360-487: The 2020 United States census , there were 9,816 people, 3,333 households, and 1,779 families residing in the city. Its principal hospital is the Upson Regional Medical Center at 801 West Gordon Street. Industry in the city is driven primarily by manufacturing which makes up 36.5%. The second largest industry is educational, health, and social service comprising 21.0%. The third largest industry
390-744: The Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, the majority of the region is Baptist , non-denominational , Methodist , and Catholic . The largest Christian denominations were the Southern Baptist Convention , United Methodist Church , Catholic Church , National Baptist Convention USA , African Methodist Episcopal Church , National Missionary Baptist Convention of America , and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church . The region's largest non-Christian religions were Hinduism , Islam ,
420-588: The Baha'i Faith , Unitarian Universalism , and Judaism . The largest Jewish movements in the region were Conservative Judaism and Reform Judaism . The economy in Middle Georgia tends to cluster around five areas: aerospace , healthcare and hospitals, kaolin , warehousing and distribution, and heritage and ecotourism . Macon is the region's retail and trade center and the Macon-Bibb county serves as
450-651: The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame , and the Museum of Arts & Sciences. The region has an abundance of nature and wildlife; the High Falls state park is located just north west of Macon. High Falls was a prosperous Industrial town with several stores, including a mill, a cotton gin and a shoe factory until it fell from prosperity. The region hosts several events each year, with Macon, the population center hosting over 20 annual events and has been nicknamed
480-567: The Official Code of Georgia Annotated sections 50-7-1 through 50-7-41. George C. Gaines served as the first commissioner. Pat Wilson was appointed Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development by Governor Nathan Deal in November 2016. As Commissioner, he leads the state agency responsible for creating jobs and investment in Georgia through business recruitment and expansion, international trade and tourism, as well as
510-534: The Arts. These seven divisions are supported by an Administration division and a Marketing and Communications division. Learn more about the department at Georgia.org. The Georgia Department of Economic Development Global Commerce Division assists businesses with an interest in growing or locating in the state by coordinating a variety of services that include site location, employee training, market research and export assistance and consultation. In FY2012, assistance from
540-604: The Global Commerce division led to 403 announced projects and nearly $ 6B in investment. With 97% of all Georgia businesses classified as small businesses, GDEcD supports this sector through several approaches such as direct company relationships, resource awareness, B-2-B opportunities and local-level business development. The Georgia Department of Economic Development International Trade Division works closely with companies in Georgia that are looking for global markets and with international firms looking to either locate to
570-849: The Macon-Bibb County Government, the Blue Bird Corp , Coliseum Health System, and Frito lay . Middle Georgia has several cultural attractions that include the Ocmulgee National Monument , Georgia National Fairground , and the Museum of Aviation at the Robins Air Force Base. Macon is home to over 10 museums, 5 tours and 7 annual festivals. Some of the museums include the Tubman African American Museum ,
600-814: The Macon-Bibb county for work. To assist in business growth and development, the Macon Economic Development Commission recruits new businesses and industries to the region. In August 2017, the Canadian based Irving Consumer Products announced plans to build a manufacturing plant in Macon that would create additional jobs. The Central Georgia Business and Technology Park in Thomaston is a 240-acre facility that houses tenants such as Southern Company , Solutions Pest & Lawn, Criterion Technologies, and Chief Manufacturing. Houston County
630-1008: The United States or secure American business partners. GDEcD has international representation in 11 markets including Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Germany, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Israel and the United Kingdom. The Centers of Innovation (COI) is a program designed to accelerate the growth of technology-based companies. The COI program is composed of six centers: agribusiness, aerospace, energy, life sciences, logistics and manufacturing. Located in Atlanta, Augusta, Gainesville, Savannah, Tifton and Eastman. Tangible services include access to university-level research and development, product commercialization, industry-specific business counsel, matching research grants for qualified companies, networking opportunities and connecting clients to potential investor networks. Formed in 1997 as
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#1732780405679660-549: The arts, film and music industries. Christopher M. Carr served as Commissioner from November 2013 until his appointment as state Attorney General in November 2016. The Georgia Department of Economic Development is divided into seven distinct divisions: Global Commerce; International Trade; Workforce; the Georgia Centers of Innovation; Tourism; Film, Music & Digital Entertainment and the Georgia Council for
690-917: The festival capital of Georgia. Macon's popular events include the International Cherry Blossom Festival , the Bragg Jam, the Ocmulgee Indian Celebration. Other popular events include the Georgia Peach Festival which is hosted in Byron and Fort Valley, and the annual miss Georgia Peach pageant hosted in Fort Valley . The region features a regional airport, the Middle Georgia Regional Airport . The region
720-593: The filming needs of companies with other state agencies and local governments. In FY2012, a $ 879.8 million total investment was placed into the Georgia entertainment industry creating a $ 3.1 billion economic impact, a 29% increase over the previous fiscal year. On May 12, 2008, Governor Sonny Perdue signed into law the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, increasing the state tax credit for qualified production and post-production expenditures by as much as 30%. It
750-485: The highest educational attainment for bachelor's degrees (14.5%) and graduate or professional degrees (11.2%) for the population over 25 years old in the Middle Georgia region in 2011. By the 2020 U.S. census , the counties forming Middle Georgia had a total resident population of 509,994. Forming part of the Bible Belt , Central or Middle Georgia is predominantly Christian , since the colonial era . According to
780-448: The music industry in Georgia is approaching $ 2 billion annually. The industry is responsible for maintaining 9,500 jobs and generating $ 54.3 million in tax revenues. Major recording artists and producers with Georgia ties: The Music & Entertainment Digital Entertainment branch houses emerging media industries such as game development, animation, and interactive entertainment. Currently, more than 30 video game businesses operate in
810-416: The nation for film and TV productions. The Film, Music, & Digital Entertainment Division has helped secure Georgia as the location of choice for over 700 film and television productions. Some of the most notable films shot in Georgia include: The GDEcD Film, Music, & Entertainment Division oversees statewide efforts in Georgia' music industry. The current estimated economic impact of
840-410: The region's center of employment. The Middle Georgia region has been competitive in the United States in terms of economic growth and stability, but within the state of Georgia, the region has not experienced much growth. The region lags behind most other regions in the state in terms of well-being of its residents and overall economic growth. As of 2017, over 46,000 workers from nearby counties commute to
870-403: The state. Georgia's video game workforce is benefited by 15 of the state's colleges and universities offering video game development courses or curriculums, including some graduate degree programs. Thomaston, Georgia Thomaston is a city in and the county seat of Upson County , Georgia , United States. The population was 9,816 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of and
900-471: Was 445,608 people. The population has grown by 11% over the last 10 years. The fastest growth was reported in Houston County, which saw a population growth of 26.3% followed by Monroe (21.5%) and Jones (21.3%) counties. The racial make-up of the region as of 2010 was 55.9% non-Hispanic white, 38.7% African American and 1.6% Asian, with about 1.8% identified as mixed or two more races. Houston County had
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