Central Georgia

Central Georgia refers to the region containing the metropolitan region surrounding the city of Macon, in Bibb County in the U.S. state of Georgia.

Similar, and coextensive, names for this region includes Middle Georgia and the Heart of Georgia. While no precise definition exists, there are several ways to group places as part of the area. A partial list:

• Macon-Warner Robins-Fort Valley, GA Combined Statistical Area (population 386,534). Components of the CSA are:
  • Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area (Bibb, Crawford, Jones, Monroe, and Twiggs counties)
  • Warner Robins Metropolitan Statistical Area (Houston County)
  • Fort Valley Micropolitan Statistical Area (Peach County)
• Counties bordering Bibb are Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, and Twiggs.
• Counties belonging to the Middle Georgia Regional Library System are Bibb, Crawford, Jones, Macon, Twiggs, and Wilkinson
• The Macon media market for TV ratings includes Bibb County and all of its neighboring counties, in addition to Baldwin, Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Hancock, Johnson, Laurens, Macon, Pulaski, Telfair, Treutlen, Washington, Wheeler, Wilkinson, and Wilcox Counties. [1]
• Other surrounding counties, such as Lamar, Putnam, Taylor, and Upson, are also often included in the area, though they may also be considered parts of other regions in the state, as well.

Cities of Central Georgia

Some of the most prominent cities in Middle Georgia, each with their a unique history and character, include:

• Macon, the area's anchor city, largest city and the center of the area. Contains many museums, institutions of higher education, and historical buildings. In Bibb County.
• Warner Robins, a major growth center and home of Robins Air Force Base and the 3rd largest aviation museum in the United States. In Houston County.
• Milledgeville, former state capital and home to Georgia College and State University. In Baldwin County.
• Dublin, a medium-sized city, among the farthest away from Macon that can still be considered Middle Georgia. In Laurens County.
• Fort Valley, home of Fort Valley State University and the Lane Peach Packing Factory and Store. One of the 8 Blue Bird Bus factories in the U.S and Canada is located in the city. In Peach County.
• Cochran, home of Middle Georgia College. In Bleckley County.
• Forsyth, once home to Tift College, sits on I-75 just north of Macon. In Monroe County.
• Perry, just south of Warner Robins and home to the Georgia National Fair,grounds and Agricenter, Perdue and Frito Lay. In Houston County.
• Byron, about halfway between Macon and Warner Robins on I-75. It is home to the Peach Factory Outlets. In Peach County.
• Eatonton, birthplace of authors Joel Chandler Harris (the "Uncle Remus" stories) and Alice Walker (The Color Purple). In Putnam County.

Center

Twiggs County contains the actual geographic center of the state.