Augusta, Georgia

Augusta (also known as Augusta–Richmond County) is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. The city of Augusta and Richmond County governments merged operations in 1996; as of the 2010 Census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.

Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County Metropolitan Statistical Area, which as of 2009 had an estimated population of 539,154, making it both the second-largest city and the second-largest metro area in the state after Atlanta, as well as the 116th-largest city in the United States. Internationally, Augusta is best known for hosting The Masters Tournament each spring, and for being the hometown of funk/soul singer James Brown.

History
The area along the river was long inhabited by varying cultures of indigenous peoples, who relied on the river for fish, water and transportation. The site of Augusta was used by Native Americans as a place to cross the Savannah River, because of its location on the fall line.

In 1735, two years after James Oglethorpe founded Savannah, he sent a detachment of troops to explore up the Savannah River. He gave them an order to build at the head of the navigable part of the river. The expedition was led by Noble Jones, who created the settlement to provide a first line of defense against the Spanish and the French. Oglethorpe named the town Augusta, in honour of Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, the Princess of Waters, daughter-in-law of King George II of Great Britain and mother of King George III of Great Britain. Augusta was the second state capital of Georgia from 1785 until 1795 (alternating for a period with Savannah, the first).

Geography
Augusta is located on the Georgia/South Carolina border, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) east of Atlanta. The city is located at °N, °W (33.470, −81.975).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Augusta-Richmond County balance has a total area of 306.5 sqmi. 302.1 sqmi of it is land and 4.3 sqmi of it (1.42%) is water.

Augusta is located about halfway up the Savannah River on the fall line, which creates a number of small falls on the river. The city marks the end of a navigable waterway for the river and the entry to the Georgia Piedmont area.

The Clarks Hill Dam is built on the fall line near Augusta, forming Clarks Hill Lake. Further downstream, near the border of Columbia County, is the Stevens Creek Dam, which generates hydroelectric power. Further downstream is the Augusta Diversion Dam, which marks the beginning of the Augusta Canal and channels Savannah River waters into the canal.

Climate
According to Köppen classification, Augusta has a humid subtropical climate. The city experiences mild winters and a humid summer. The average high temperature for the summer months is 90.6 °F (32.6 °C). Summer daytime temperatures can soar to 100 or above. The average low temperature is 67.8 °F (19.9 °C). The average high temperature for the winter months is 58.9 °F (14.9 °C); the average low temperature is 34.4 °F (1.3 °C).

Snowfall is not nearly as common as in nearby Atlanta, due largely to Augusta's elevation, with downtown Augusta being about 900 feet lower than downtown Atlanta. Still, snow flurries are typically seen annually. Freezing rain is also a threat in wintertime.

Demographics
In the official 2010 census, Augusta–Richmond County has 195,844 people. In the 2000 census, the population was 195,182 and 73,920 households. The population density was 616.6 people per square mile (249.4/km²)(2000). There were 80,481 housing units at an average density of 266.4 per square mile (102.8/km²). The racial makeup of the balance was 50.37% Black or African American, 44.91% White, 0.27% Native American, 1.52% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 1.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population.

There were 72,307 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 20.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the balance the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the balance was $37,231, and the median income for a family was $45,372. Males had a median income of $32,008 versus $23,988 for females. The per capita income for the balance was $19,558. About 13.2% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
In recent years, Augusta has become a center of medicine, biotechnology, and military. Georgia Health Sciences University, the state's only public health sciences graduate university, employs over 7,000 people. Along with University Hospital, the Medical District of Augusta employs over 25,000 people and has an economic impact of over $1.8 billion.

Along with Georgia Health Sciences University, the city's three largest employers include the Savannah River Site (a Department of Energy nuclear facility) and the U.S. Army Signal Center at Fort Gordon. Despite layoffs from several companies during the U.S. economic recession and a relatively high state unemployment rate, the Augusta Community has experienced a decrease in bankruptcy filings and a slight decrease in the unemployment rate from late 2009 to March 2011.

Companies that have facilities, headquarters or distribution centers in Augusta include CareSouth, T-Mobile, Solo Cup Company, Automatic Data Processing, International Paper, NutraSweet, Teleperformance, Sitel Corporation, E-Z-GO, Elanco, Club Car (Worldwide Headquarters), John Deere, Procter & Gamble, Kellogg's and Delta Air Lines baggage call center.

Teams
Augusta is home to the Augusta Greenjackets minor league baseball club. The team began play in 1988 as the Augusta Pirates, affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Later affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, the Greenjackets are with the San Francisco Giants. The team is owned by Cal Ripken Jr.

The city's ECHL hockey team, the Augusta Lynx, disbanded in December 2008.

The Southern Professional Hockey League would expand to Augusta starting in the 2010–2011 season. The Augusta Riverhawks was the winning name of the new team, the result of a "Name the Team" contest announced on March 13, 2010.

Augusta also has its own all female flat track roller derby team, The Soul City Sirens. Founded in 2008, this league is all volunteer and skater owned.

Tournaments
The city’s famous golf course, the Augusta National Golf Club, hosts the first major golf tournament of each year, The Masters. This tournament is one of the most prestigious in the sport and is one of the four major championships. The best professional and amateur golfers in the world come to Augusta during the first full week of April every year. The grounds of Augusta National are known for being pristine, and the course was ranked in 2009 as the 3rd best golf course in the world by Golf Magazine.

The city also has disc golf facilities. The Augusta Top Gun Series is a series of tournaments sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golf Association. These tournaments are held at various venues in Augusta, including Pendleton King Park and Lake Olmstead. Also, Augusta hosted the 2006 Professional Disc Golf World Championships. Along with Pendleton King and Lake Olmstead, two courses in N. Augusta, SC were used for the tournament. 299 disc golfers from around the world attended the event, with Ken Climo winning the tournament and his 12th world championship.

Augusta is the host of the World's Richest Drag Boat Race, held on the Savannah River (Augusta Southern Nationals). The race is part of the IHBA Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series and is sanctioned by the International Hot Boat Association (held on July 18–20). The event benefits the Augusta Chapter of the Georgia Special Olympics. Over 100 racing teams from 25 states will compete for $140,000 in purse and prizes as they try to beat the record of 252.94 MPH in the ‘World’s Richest Drag Boat Race”.

Parks and recreation

 * Riverwalk Augusta — riverfront park along and on top of city's levee
 * Augusta Common — green space linking Broad St. to Reynolds St., with statue of James Oglethorpe
 * Augusta Canal — historic canal with bike/pedestrian path
 * Aqueduct Park — lagoon converted into park and swimming site by volunteers
 * Phinizy Swamp Nature Park — wetlands park with pedestrian/bike paths and boardwalks
 * Diamond Lakes Regional Park — park in south Richmond County
 * Brookfield Park — public park featuring a playground, putting green, pedestrian/bike path, and a fountain in which children can play

Government
In 1995, the citizens of Augusta and unincorporated Richmond County voted to consolidate their city and county governments. Citizens of Hephzibah and Blythe, Georgia, also located in Richmond County, decided to maintain separate governments. Augusta and Richmond County's consolidation took effect January 1, 1996, with the city and county merging operations. The consolidated government consists of a mayor and 10 commissioners. Eight commissioners represent specific districts, while the other two represent super districts that represents half of the county's population respectively.

Colleges and universities

 * Augusta State University (state university)
 * Augusta Technical College (state technical college)
 * Georgia Health Sciences University (state university)
 * Paine College (private, Methodist historically black college)
 * Georgia Military College (public-independent liberal arts junior college)

K-12 schools
Public K-12 schools in Augusta are managed by the Richmond County School System. The system has eight high schools, 10 middle schools, 36 elementary schools, and four magnet schools, — including C. T. Walker Traditional Magnet School, A. R. Johnson Health Science and Engineering Magnet High School, and Davidson Fine Arts.

Private schools in Augusta include Aquinas High School, Episcopal Day School, St. Mary on the Hill School, Immaculate Conception School, Curtis Baptist School, Gracewood Baptist First Academy, Alleluia Community School, New Life Christian Academy, and Westminster Schools of Augusta. Augusta Christian School, Augusta First Seventh-day Adventist School, and Augusta Preparatory Day School serve Augusta, but are located in neighboring Martinez, Georgia.

Transportation
Augusta is linked to Atlanta to the west and Columbia, South Carolina, to the east by Interstate 20. Interstate 520 (Bobby Jones Expressway) runs from I-20 Exit 196 through Augusta's western and southern suburban areas, eventually crossing the Savannah River to South Carolina where it becomes the Palmetto Parkway.

U.S. and state routes:
 * [[Image:I-20.svg|20px]] Interstate 20 (I-20)
 * [[Image:I-520.svg|23px]] Interstate 520 (I-520) — Bobby Jones Expressway
 * [[Image:US 1.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 1 — Deans Bridge Road (from Jefferson County line to Gordon Highway), Gordon Highway (from Deans Bridge Road to state line)
 * [[Image:US 25.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 25 — Peach Orchard Road (entire length), Gordon Highway (from Peach Orchard Road to state line)
 * [[Image:US 78.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 78 / [[Image:US 278.svg|23px]] U.S. Route 278 / [[Image:Georgia 10.svg|20px]] State Route 10 — Gordon Highway
 * [[Image:Georgia 4.svg|20px]] State Route 4 — follows U.S. Highway 1 from Jefferson County line to Gordon Highway, leaves Georgia at 13th Street bridge
 * [[Image:Georgia 28.svg|20px]] State Route 28 — various roads, including John C. Calhoun Expressway and Washington Road
 * [[Image:Georgia 56.svg|20px]] State Route 56 — Mike Padgett Highway
 * [[Image:Georgia 88.svg|20px]] State Route 88 in south Richmond County
 * [[Image:Georgia 104.svg|20px]] State Route 104 — River Watch Parkway
 * [[Image:Georgia 232.svg|20px]] State Route 232 — Bobby Jones Expressway west of I-20
 * [[Image:Georgia 383.svg|20px]] State Route 383 — Jimmie Dyess Parkway
 * [[Image:Georgia 540.svg|20px]] State Route 540 (Fall Line Freeway) — Deans Bridge Road from I-520 to Jefferson County line
 * [[Image:Georgia 555.svg|20px]][[Image:Georgia 565.svg|20px]] State Route 555 (Savannah River Parkway) — Peach Orchard Road from I-520 to Burke County line

Parts of Augusta are served by city transit service Augusta Public Transit (APT), but the main mode of transportation within the city is by car. The city has two airports: Augusta Regional Airport and Daniel Field Airport. Augusta is also served by a number of Taxi companies.

Sister cities

 * 🇫🇷 Biarritz, France
 * 🇯🇵 Takarazuka, Japan