Welcome To Augusta

"We appreciate all the time you took to show us homes in Georgia. We are very excited to begin this new chapter in such a lovely home....We pray that you will be a blessing to many others as you were to our family." John & Alyson

Welcome To Augusta/Columbia County
We are Georgia's second largest city other than Atlanta with almost half a million residents in the surrounding area. The Wall Street Journal recently identified Augusta as "....home of the Masters Tournament and a growing number of retirees."

"Augusta is meeting the 'Goldilocks' requirements of many retirees seeking a spot in the Southeast: not to close to the hurricane-stricken coast or traffic-clogged cities, but not too far away, either. Not too hot, but not too cold....Then there are Augusta's seven hospitals, a historic district, and a boulevard lined with antique shops, locally owned restaurants and museums -- all along a picturesque downtown riverfront."

QUALITY OF LIFE IN AUGUSTA

Overall cost of living 8.2% below national average.
Housing cost 24% below national average.
Health care cost 10.1% below national average.
Utility cost 8.1% below national average.

POPULATION & DEMOGRAPHICS
The Augusta-Aiken Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), with a population of almost half a million, includes Columbia, Richmond (Augusta) and McDuffie counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina.
Augusta 194,398
Columbia County 107,000
Augusta Area 463,080

Augusta borders the Savannah River next to South Carolina. The magazine Where to Retire has ranked Augusta number four among the nation's low-cost cities for retirement. Houses are plentiful and very affordable. Taxes are reasonable. The air is clear and traffic snarls are the exception rather than the rule. As you can imagine, day-to-day life in the South continues at a much slower pace.

The city offers a rich variety of sophisticated amenities including a vibrant arts community and a wealth of fine restaurants. The city is host to the Augusta Symphony, the Choral Society as well as the Augusta Ballet. You will find the area pleasantly devoid of the traffic snarls plaguing so many metropolitan areas.

Augusta's Southern hospitality is evident from the temperate climate to the year-round greenery that reminds everyone of our designation as the Garden City. According to the magazine "Where to Retire", Augusta is ranked number four among the nation's low-cost cities for retirement.

Richmond County Quality of Life-Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce

Bolstered by nearly half a million residents, Augusta which comprises a large part of Richmond County, offers a rich variety of sophisticated amenities including a vibrant arts community and a wealth of fine restaurants.

With a wide variety of amenities within just a short drive, you will find the area pleasantly devoid of the traffic snarls plaguing so many metropolitan areas.

Augusta's Southern hospitality is evident from the temperate climate to the year-round greenery that reminds residents and visitors alike of Augusta's designation as the Garden City.

According to the magazine "Where to Retire", Augusta is ranked number four among the nation's low-cost cities for retirement. This is partially based on the area's low cost of living and proximity to the respected health community.

In addition to the low cost of living and affordable houses, Augusta offers retirees beautiful historic city with a diverse culture, vibrant arts community and mild climate. These are only some of the reasons that over 16,000 retiree family members from Fort Gordon call Augusta home.

HOUSING
Excellent, affordable housing is available in Richmond County. Richmond County homes range from apartment complexes, affordable ($80,000-$90,000) homes, and gated communities with estate level properties. Currently there several golf course communities, with more planned. There are over 40 retirement communities, assisted living and nursing home facilities in the Augusta and Columbia County area.

Augusta has always been committed to its residents' safety and well being. The Augusta Sheriff's Department is manned by over 270 sworn officers. The total crime rate has decreased by 25 percent since 1996. The 1998 crime rate per 100,000 residents for violent crimes was at 492 and the property crime rate is at 798 per 100,000 residents.

The Augusta Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency service from 19 stations around the city. The department is staffed by 309 full-time fire fighters and handles more than 7,000 calls annually. Augusta-Richmond emergency transport system provides advanced life support services with state-of-the-art emergency medical equipment and professional paramedic staffing.

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

HOCKEY
The Augusta Lynx - East Coast Hockey League - Affiliated with NHL's New Jersey Devils & Vancouver Canucks.

BASEBALL
The Augusta Green Jackets - Minor league (Single A) baseball team - Affiliated with the Boston Red Sox

GOLF
Augusta is also proud host each spring to the Masters® golf tournament, the sport's most prestigious event. Since 1934, the golf course designed by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts has awed spectators for one week each April with its lush lawns and brilliant foliage.

GOLF COURSES

9 private
14 public

RECREATION
Clarks Hill Lake, also known as Lake Thurmond, is the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi with a 1200 mile shoreline that is longer than the entire U.S. eastern seaboard.

State Parks
Elijah Clark & Mistletoe

County Park
Wildwood Park

Local Parks 57
Public swimming Pools 8
Health clubs 14
Tennis courts 60

AMUSEMENT PLACES
Funsville
Putt-Putt Golf & Games
Ice Palace (Ice Skating)
Northside Lanes (Bowling)

ARTISTIC VENUES
Augusta Symphony (Ranked #1 in the state, by the GA Arts Council)
Augusta Ballet
Augusta Opera
Augusta Mini Theatre
Augusta Choral Society
Ft. Gordon Dinner Theatre
Augusta Collegiums Museum
Augusta Theatre Company
Storyland Theatre
Augusta Children's Choral
Augusta Jazz Project
Augusta State University - Fine Arts Department
Paine College Evening of Jazz
Paine College Fine Arts Department
Augusta Players
Stage III Productions

PERFORMING CENTERS
Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre
Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center
F. Gordon Dinner Theatre
William B. Bell Memorial Auditorium
Jesse Norman Amphitheater
Sacred Heart Cultural Center
Imperial Theatre
Augusta Technical Institute Theatre

MUSEUMS
Morris Museum of Art
National Science Center's Fort Discovery
Augusta Museum of History
Cotton Exchange Welcome Center Museum
Lucy Craft Laney Museum
Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art

CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
Augusta Genealogical Society
Authors Club of Augusta
Barbershop Chorus
Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art
Greater Augusta Arts Council
Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society
Historic Augusta Incorporated
Richmond County Historical Society
Sand Hills Writers Conference
Sweet Adelines

Columbia County Quality of Life--Columbia County Chamber of Commerce
All sectors of the economy have experienced growth over the past few years. Columbia County's industrial park, Horizon South, nears a point of being fully occupied due to the recent expansion of John Deere Commercial Products (a $23 million investment). Other major manufacturers in the community include Club Car - Ingersoll Rand, Georgia Iron Works, Greenfield Industries, Serta Mattress, and Quebecor World Color. In 1999, Electrolux Home Products located its world headquarters in Columbia County, lending a boost to the service sector. The retail sector continues to see rapid growth, especially along I-20 and Washington Road. The per capita income for 1998 is $24,529; the average household income is $59,288. The annual average unemployment rate was 3.2% in 1999.

SHOPPING AND RETAIL ACTIVITY
According to Sales and Marketing Management magazine's 1999 Survey of Buying Power, total retail sales in Columbia County's shopping centers averaged $748 million, with a total effective buying income of $1.4 billion. This variance provides ample room for supporting additional retail locations in the area.

HOUSING
Excellent, affordable housing is available in Columbia County. Columbia County homes range from apartment complexes, affordable ($70,000-$90,000) homes, and gated communities with estate level properties. Currently there are two golf course communities, with two additional planned.

Augusta Chronicle
Augusta Chronicle Real Estate

Augusta Chamber of Commerce

Augusta Metropolitan Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Shopping and Restaurants
Primary shopping for the area is found at the Augusta Mall which hosts approximately 140 stores. Our newest shopping complex is the Augusta Exchange which a strip outside mall. Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Circuit City, Best Buy are just a few of the stores.

You'll also find many upscale shops at Surrey Center.

Restaurants in Augusta offer most of the popular franchise eateries including T-Bonz, Applebees, Fridays, Carrabba's, Cracker Barrel, Damon's, Zaxby's, Outback, and Olive Garden plus many others unique to the area. For a complete list of Augusta Restaurants:

Augusta Metropolitan Visitors Bureau/dining

Lodging
Lodging is plentiful in the area. You will not have trouble finding a nice place to stay. However, a word of warning. During the week of the Master's® Golf Tournament, lodging is at a premium.

If you need to stay for more than one night, it is suggested that you call a few days ahead and reserve a room.

For a complete list of lodging in the area:
Augusta Metropolitan Visitors Bureau/lodging