West Georgia (region)

West Georgia
Region
Downtown Columbus
Downtown Columbus
West Georgia highlighted in green
West Georgia highlighted in green
Location of Georgia within the United States
Location of Georgia within the United States
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
Largest cityColumbus
Population
 (2020)
 • Total368,953
DemonymWest Georgian
Websitegeorgia.org/regions/west-georgia

West Georgia is a sixteen-county region in the U.S. state of Georgia, bordering Alabama.[1] Encompassing a portion of the Southern Rivers, West Georgia is anchored by Columbus, the state's second-largest city by population; its metropolitan statistical area, as of 2020, was Georgia's fourth-most populous metropolitan area. Tabulating the region's counties, West Georgia had a 2020 U.S. census population of 368,953. Largest cities in the region: Columbus (pop. 206,998), Americus (pop. 16,201), Cordele (pop. 10,173), Cusseta (pop. 9,481).

Geography

According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, West Georgia made up the following counties: Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster. West Georgia borders the U.S. state of Alabama, being separated by the Chattahoochee River.

Demographics

As of the 2020 U.S. census, the counties comprising the region consisted of 368,953 residents.

Located within the Bible Belt, Christianity is West Georgia's predominant religion, and has been since British colonization of the Americas. According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, Protestantism was the largest form of Christianity practiced. The region's largest Christian denominations were the Southern Baptist Convention, non-denominational Protestants including the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ; the United Methodist Church and National Baptist Convention, USA. The Catholic Church was the largest non-Protestant Christian tradition in the region.[2]

Throughout West Georgia, Islam was the region's second-largest religion, followed by the Baha'i Faith and Judaism.[2]

Economy

The region's economy is primarily stimulated by the Columbus metropolitan area, with prominent employers being Fort Moore, the Muscogee County School District, Total System Services, and Columbus State University.[3]

Transportation

Air

Interstate

U. S. routes

References

  1. ^ "West Central South - Region 8". Georgia Department of Economic Development. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  2. ^ a b "Congregational Membership Reports | US Religion". Association of Religion Data Archives. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  3. ^ [1] Consolidated Government of Columbus, Georgia 2017 Comprehensive Financial Report