Is Georgia "defined" by Atlanta? (Columbus, Savannah: transplants, buy) - (GA) - City-Data Forum

Nauticadon · 01-12-2009, 10:33 AM

It seems that most people's thoughts about Georgia begin and end with Atlanta, meaning aside from the city people know very little about the actual state. This is much the same way with NYC and NYS. But those in the know understand that there are other great places there too such as Savannah and Augusta.

So my question is does ATL define Georgia and if so how can the state go about redefining itself from a state starring Atlanta to a state featuring Atlanta?

atlantagreg30127 · 01-12-2009, 12:17 PM

Advertising.

You NEVER see "Come visit us in ... XXX" travel commercials on TV for any of the cities in Georgia. Atlanta through it's sheer size, airport, and the previous Olympics is now a household name kind of city that everyone around the U.S. is at least aware of. People in California or Montana have never even heard of Macon, Georgia, for instance.

You have to have a visually stimulating TV spot AND web site that people will see and go, "Wow, I never thought that place was like that - let's go there sometime!". I've lived in Georgia for 25 years and I have never seen a TV commercial for Macon, Columbus, Albany, or any other Georgia city at all. Never. Savannah is another word of mouth household name, but even so, no ads. Yet, while living here, I HAVE seen TV spots for Chattanooga, West Virginia, Vermont, and even Texas and Idaho for crying out loud, on our local channels. I mean gee. People don't just pop up the idea to go to Macon or Augusta out of the air - you have to show them what it's like and make them want to visit, visually.

Sure, Atlanta is the financial hub and money generator for the State in many ways, but the other cities have a lot more potential for tourism dollars than they get if they'd just let folks know they exist. A city is a product. Just like any product - if you don't advertise it, no one will buy it.

Nauticadon · 01-12-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

Advertising.

You NEVER see "Come visit us in ... XXX" travel commercials on TV for any of the cities in Georgia. Atlanta through it's sheer size, airport, and the previous Olympics is now a household name kind of city that everyone around the U.S. is at least aware of. People in California or Montana have never even heard of Macon, Georgia, for instance.

You have to have a visually stimulating TV spot AND web site that people will see and go, "Wow, I never thought that place was like that - let's go there sometime!". I've lived in Georgia for 25 years and I have never seen a TV commercial for Macon, Columbus, Albany, or any other Georgia city at all. Never. Savannah is another word of mouth household name, but even so, no ads. Yet, while living here, I HAVE seen TV spots for Chattanooga, West Virginia, Vermont, and even Texas and Idaho for crying out loud, on our local channels. I mean gee. People don't just pop up the idea to go to Macon or Augusta out of the air - you have to show them what it's like and make them want to visit, visually.

Sure, Atlanta is the financial hub and money generator for the State in many ways, but the other cities have a lot more potential for tourism dollars than they get if they'd just let folks know they exist. A city is a product. Just like any product - if you don't advertise it, no one will buy it.

I think it's pretty sad that Georgia doesn't advertise itself and show the world that the state is much more than just Atlanta.

I live in the Charleston area and most people here are familiar with Savannah being that the cities are basically sister cities.

Whenever I met someone from Georgia I can always tell who's from ATL and who's not. The one from Atlanta lets it be known they're from Atlanta whereas the one who isn't just says Georgia.

Nauticadon · 01-12-2009, 03:40 PM

32 views and only 2 replies. This must be a sensitive subject for Georgians.

mmenomen · 01-12-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

32 views and only 2 replies. This must be a sensitive subject for Georgians.

Probably for some, yea, it is sensitive. I would bet more visitors to this site just browse or lurk, too, rather than bother to post. The admins could see that data ;-). It took me over a year or so of occasional reading before I bothered posting on this board.

For people who live far away from the entire area and only somewhat familiar with geography may only be able to name Atlanta as the only city in Georgia, so yes, from that perspective, I would say Georgia is "defined" by Atlanta.

Probably the majority of people in metro Atlanta that do not know much about the rest of the state may think this way as well, but I cannot speak for that many people, just ones I know of. They tend to think that way, even some of the suburbanites. Transplants might think otherwise, but I am sure their answers would vary depending on their own perspectives.

For people who live in the rural areas of Georgia, I think most would argue that the "big" Atlanta gets too much attention, but down at the Georgia Assembly, the representatives from the rural areas tend to get their way with budget allocations at at higher proportion than the representatives from metro Atlanta might get on a whole. This has been going on quite a while and was more pronounced in the earlier decades when Atlanta was more of a provincial city in the Southeast (pre-Hartsfield, aka 1970). So from that perspective, I would say the rest of Georgia probably gets more attention, at least intrastate that is.

It comes down to this: perspective of the person whom you might ask this.

WanderingImport · 01-13-2009, 12:54 AM

People outside of Atlanta have a love/hate relationship with our capital city. Likewise for Atlantans and the rest of Georgia. The post above me is a good example. I do, however, agree with just about all that was stated except for the last little bit about the interstates.
I actually just got back from Atlanta tonight and I noticed a lot of (much needed) work being done near downtown Atlanta. It was the most roadwork I'd seen since I left Savannah. Thats not to say there isn't more construction out there. I know of the ongoing (for 10+ years) I-95 expansion in extreme South Georgia and then theres the 20/520 interchange going on in Augusta. Macon is also about to get started on their 16/75 interchange, which is VERY MUCH needed IMO. All in all though, we're all about to see less construction due to budget deficits.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand... Unfortunately, for most people who don't know much about Georgia, GA is mostly defined by Atlanta, although less so than it was in the past. More and more people, if asked if they've heard of Savannah, will tell you they have heard of it and know its a historic city in GA. That wasn't the case in the not too distant past.

rcsteiner · 01-13-2009, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nauticadon

32 views and only 2 replies. This must be a sensitive subject for Georgians.

Or we just don't know. I've only lived in Georgia for four years, all of that time in the Atlanta area, and I have no idea how folks outside the metro view the city. Thus, no response from me.

southgeorgia · 01-13-2009, 06:07 PM

For the most part, I think most people identify Georgia with Atlanta.

Beyond that, I think Augusta and Savannah are fairly well known outside the state. Its not really a concern to us in the southern part of the state. Anyone wanting to move here either wants to be in Atlanta or out of it, and if they're considering a move, I'm sure they'd explore the rest of the state before making a decision.

As for business, its not a concern either. We have recruiters that spend their time attracting new companies here that would be a good fit for the area; and in that area, a company looking to expand or move is going to pick a spot that makes logistical sense and has the right type of workforce to meet their needs.

Iconographer · 01-13-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nauticadon

32 views and only 2 replies. This must be a sensitive subject for Georgians.

Not really. I'm an Atlanta native and have been all over the state for my whole life. Never got any heat from non-Atlantans for it. People in this state are in and out of Atlanta all the time. The only place I see it being an issue is in the Legislature (predictably).

Motion · 01-14-2009, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nauticadon

It seems that most people's thoughts about Georgia begin and end with Atlanta...

This is true for most states with a major city like your New York example. When most people think of Michigan Detroit comes to mind first. Same when people think of California they think of L.A and Frisco first,Illinois they think Chicago first.