Five of the Fastest Growing Cities in Georgia in 2016

The state of Georgia sees a regular influx of new residents for a number of reasons. First, its climate is warm and temperate for most of the time, which can come as a welcome change to those who have been exposed too much to extremes in temperature. Second, its communities encompass both booming cities and peaceful suburbs with affordable housing, thus making it well-suited to a wide range of residents with a wide range of needs and circumstances.

Third, it should be noted that Georgians tend to be situated closer to nature than their counterparts in some of the coastal states, which provides them with plenty of opportunities for some fun out in the sun as well as outstanding access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Summed up, it is no coincidence that the state of Georgia is seeing such a stream of new residents, though more so in some places than in others.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has come up with a list of the fastest-growing cities in Georgia in 2016 based on recent estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau:

5. Keysville

Situated in Burke and Jefferson counties, the city of Keysville saw a 9.8 percent rise in its population, which sounds like a lot but can be attributed at least in part to its small population of 332 at the time of the 2010 Census. Regardless, it is situated not far to the southwest of Downtown Augusta, meaning that it strikes a neat balance between two competing priorities. First, its location ensures that its residents have convenient access to all of that storied city’s cultural landmarks, entertainment venues, and other sites of interest.

Second, its distance from that same storied city means that its housing is more affordable, which can be attractive for those who have been priced out of more urban real estate markets. Better still, its small population can be a plus for people who want to live in more peaceful surroundings because of their lack of fondness for cities as well as all of the things associated with cities.

4. Hamilton

Founded in 1827 to serve as the seat for the newly-formed Harris County, the city of Hamilton was named for Paul Hamilton, who served as the Governor of South Carolina as well as the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. As a result, it holds a place of prominence for the county, which in turn, means that its residents have better access to all of the county’s amenities than otherwise possible. Something that can be seen in the schools situated in the city that serve the county as a whole.

Furthermore, it should be noted that Hamilton is considered to be part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area, so it should come as no surprise to learn that it is situated a little to the north of Columbus. Naturally, this means that its residents have better access to urban amenities that a lot of their fellow Georgians, which can be added as another selling point to Hamilton’s profile.

3. Davisboro

In 2000, Davisboro was home to 1,544 people, but by 2010, that number had increased to 2,010 people, which might not be so much when measured by absolute standards but nonetheless represents a significant increase in relative terms. As a result, it seems natural for the city to have experienced a 12.8 percent increase in its population over the course of 2016, thus making it one of the fastest-growing cities in the whole of the state of Georgia.

Davisboro seems more suited to those who want to live in peaceful surroundings at a distance from their neighbors, seeing as how it has a population density of 498.1 people per square mile in 2000 and has not changed too much since that time. In other words, for people who want affordable housing that is removed from more crowded places, Davisboro might be the place to look for it.

2. Waverly Hall

Found on Alternate U.S. Route 27 and Georgia State Route 85, the town of Waverly Hall is situated in an excellent position to access the rest of the state. In fact, it is one of the communities counted among the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area as well, meaning that Columbus can be found to its south and Shiloh to its north. As a result, its residents have no shortage of access to whatever it is that they need in order to live their lives to the fullest, though it is interesting to note that the town is known for the Village Green walking trail that can found in its center, which passes all sorts of businesses and restaurants for the maximum convenience of local residents.

While Waverly Hall is a little bigger than some of the other communities included on this list, its population remains low at a little more than 800 people, meaning that it is still well-suited to those who want to live somewhere peaceful.

1. Grayson

Curiously, the city of Grayson started out as Trip, which would have been renamed Berkley and Graymount if it wasn’t for the fact that those names had already been taken for use by other communities in the same state. Eventually, the decision was made to use Grayson, which was derived from Graymount, so-called because of its residents’ clear view of Stone Mountain. Based on this fact, it should come as no surprise to learn that the residents of Grayson have good access to some interesting opportunities for outdoor fun, though it should be noted that the main source of its population increase can be found in the trend of exurban growth.

The city of Grayson is situated close to the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, meaning that it has been seeing regular increases in its population throughout the 1990s and the 2000s due to people who want to live close to the state’s most important city without actually paying such high costs in the process. As a result, it is no wonder that it saw a population increase of 13.1 percent in 2016, which makes it the single fastest-growing city in the state of Georgia for 2016.