Micropolitans in Georgia

Abstract

The introduction of micropolitan areas as an official statistical category has raised questions about this intermediate category of formerly rural places. This thesis explores the conventional idea that small urban areas lack economic and social autonomy and that their development relies on proximity to metropolitan areas. Three central questions will examine the concept of autonomy among Georgia micropolitans with regard to income, industry and demographic structures. Workforce commuting patterns show micropolitans in the northern part of the state have less autonomy than those located in Southern Georgia. Policy should reflect these differences, address the reliance on declining manufacturing sectors, and concerns about poverty and education. Profiles of Georgia micropolitans and case studies of three micropolitan cities offer a baseline for policy makers and future researchers. The information provides the framework for questions about the dependence on metropolitans, the ability to provide jobs for the workforce and potential for economic development. Methods include regression analysis and a comparative case study of Georgia micropolitans with a developing Dutch region. The case of the Twente region highlights strategies to transform an old industrial area into an innovative hotspot with an educated workforce.