Columbia County is the ninth fastest-growing county in the state and number 196 nationwide.

High quality of life, low crime rate, award-winning school system and lots of parks and greenways — no wonder people like to call Columbia County home.

“We focus on quality of life,” says Scott Johnson, the county manager. “Columbia County is a great secret, but it’s really no longer a secret.”

Clearly not, as people keep moving to the county year after year after year.

“Columbia County has had double digit census increases since 1950,” Johnson says.

According to the most recent U.S. Census data and worldpopulationreview.com, Columbia County’s estimated population in 2022 is 164,625 with a growth rate of 1.63% in the past year. Columbia County’s estimated population in 2021 was 161,988.

The estimated population of Grovetown is 16,734 in 2022, according to the city website, with a growth rate of 2.72%, and 16,566 in 2021. Harlem’s estimated population in 2022 is 3,751, with a growth rate of 2.46%, and 3,591 in 2021.

According to stacker.com, Columbia County is the ninth fastest-growing county in the state (the top eight counties are in the metro Atlanta area) and number 196 among all counties nationwide.

Good government also attracts people to the area. “Columbia County just lowered its millage rate to the lowest rate it’s had since 1989,” Johnson says.

In August, the Board of Commissioners approved an overall 2022 millage rate of 8.618. The millage is the rate per $1,000 of property value.

To keep pace with the population increase, more homes and businesses are sprouting up in the county as well.

“By all accounts, the economy in Columbia County is thriving,” says Robbie Bennett, executive director of the Development Authority of Columbia County. “Our biggest challenge is the availability of housing to bring people into the community.”

From August 1, 2021 through August 15, 2022, Columbia County issued 1,039 residential building permits and 72 commercial building permits for new construction. From August 1, 2020 through August 15, 2021, the county issued 997 residential building permits and 82 commercial building permits.

From August 1, 2021 through August 15, 2022, Harlem issued 21 residential building permits but no commercial building permits. Harlem issued 64 residential building permits, but no commercial building permits, from August 1, 2020 through August 15, 2021.

“Permit issuance was down due to the availability of buildable lots,” says Debra Moore, the Harlem city manager. “We should see an increase in the residential permits with Hickory Woods coming online in (September) and Heritage Ridge in the coming year.”

Grovetown issued 313 residential building permits and four commercial building permits from August 1, 2021 through August 15, 2022. The city issued 260 residential building permits and seven commercial building permits from August 1, 2020 through August 15, 2021.

“We are our own city, and being a member of the Grovetown community means something,” says Ronald Kurtz, the city’s director of Planning and Community Development. “It has a strategic location between Augusta and the rest of Columbia County. Frequently, professionals have ties to both of these communities.”

In addition, Kurtz says, “We are proactive in developing the type of growth we want to see.”

Johnson believes that newcomers have the same expectations for amenities in Columbia County that they had in their previous homes.

“The key is to stay true to your roots and to your plan,” he says. “We welcome new ideas, but not change just for the sake of change.”

By Leigh Howard

Development in new and existing neighborhoods offers a sense of community.

Home construction in Columbia County is not letting up, and people keep moving into new or expanding existing neighborhoods.

“Most people in Columbia County welcome the growth, but they’re still comfortable with the hometown feel we have,” says Scott Johnson, the county manager.

He says the commissioners have “a good sense of the residential development needed in the county,” and they use Vision 2035, the county’s master plan for growth and development, as their guide.

The county tries not to get too much density in any area, he adds, and the county also tries to install the necessary infrastructure ahead of development.

“We require developers to build a lot of their own infrastructure to county specs and donate it to the county. Then we maintain it for them,” Johnson says.

Scott Sterling, the county Planning Services director, says the highest residential growth areas in the county include the Gateway area, Riverwood and William Few parkways and Harlem.

Home construction is continuing in neighborhoods such as Tillery Park on Baker Place Road, Greenpoint in Harlem, Misty Meadows and Kelarie on Baker Place Road and William Few Parkway, Whispering Pines and Highland Lakes on William Few Parkway, Wrights Farm on Wrightsboro Road and Jackson Heights on Old South Belair Road.

Greenpoint is a 1,200-acre master-planned community that eventually will stretch from Interstate-20 south to the new Harlem Middle School, where the first phases have been constructed on 230 acres.

In the Dublin Village section of Kelarie, two- and three-bedroom ranch-style townhomes are scheduled for completion in December.

Whispering Pines, a 350-acre community in Evans, has more than 50 homes in various stages of construction.

A planned community of 160 homes on a former dairy farm, Jackson Heights in Grovetown features green space, mature pecan trees, alley garage entrances and a community pond.

In Evans, The Heron at River Island, an apartment complex off of Blackstone Camp Road, has opened. A mixed-use development project also has started in The Plaza at Evans Towne Center. In addition to six four-story apartment buildings totaling 301 residential units, the development will include ground-level retail stores, which are under construction.

In Harlem, home construction in Cornerstone III & IV is ongoing. “Construction in Section IV is just starting and will consist of 95 single-family homes,” says Debra Moore, city manager.

Construction in Amesbury Station, a townhouse development of 95 units on North Louisville Road, also is continuing.

The city also was working on a punch list of items to get final plat approval for Hickory Woods, a development of 112 single-family homes at Sawdust Road and North Fairview Drive, in late summer. Moore says the plan is expected to be approved and construction could begin in early fall.

In addition, the city is working on construction plans for Heritage Ridge, a mixed-use development on North Louisville Street that will include three commercial buildings and 72 townhomes.

Residential development is continuing in the city of Grovetown as well.

Site work is underway at Rivercrest Townhomes, a new 45-unit development on Newmantown Road across from Liberty Park in Grovetown. Pending approval of the final plan, construction could begin in the next six to 12 months.

Section II of Deer Hollow off of Wrightsboro Road is nearing completion. This section includes 110 single-family homes, and construction will begin shortly on 54 more homes in Deer Hollow.

Construction also is continuing on 103 new townhomes in Caroleton off of Harlem Grovetown Road and 134 units in Brighton Park Apartments off of Horizon South Parkway.

“Approvals and permits have been issued at a pretty steady rate,” says Ronald Kurtz, director of Planning and Community Development.

The growing number of new businesses in Columbia County speaks volumes.

With medical, government, cyber and energy services, Columbia County and the surrounding areas are able to withstand any downturns to the economy relatively well.

However, from retail to industrial development, the county’s business outlook is trending upward, and that helps local merchants and residents.

Scott Johnson, the county manager, says bringing new businesses to the area enhances the county tax base.

“As our community grows, we want to make sure we keep our shopping dollars in the county because we benefit from that,” he says. “We have lowered the millage rate six times in seven years because the economy is continuing to grow. More businesses puts less demand on individual property owners.”

Robbie Bennett, executive director the Development Authority of Columbia County, sees additional benefits to the business climate. “Quality of life, quality of place is important,” he says. “We want Columbia County residents to want to be in Columbia County.”

From one end of the county to the other, businesses of every variety have opened their doors in new or existing real estate.

In Martinez, Pinnacle Bank opened on Furys Ferry Road in late February. Another branch, which could open by the end of the year, is under construction in Grovetown at the intersection of Lewiston Road and Autumn Trail.

On Furys Ferry Road, Dave’s Appliance Warehouse opened this summer, and Wine & Design opened for sip and paint activities in September. Site work is underway at the intersection of Furys Ferry Road and Inverness Way and Park Lane for construction of a one-story, three-unit commercial building that D.C. Lawrence Real Estate and two other tenants will occupy.

The 41,000-square-foot former Bi-Lo at the corner of Columbia and Belair roads has been divided into two spaces, and Harbor Freight, which carries hardware items, opened in the spring in a 15,000-square-foot space in the building.

The county also has received applications from people on River Watch Parkway to convert their houses to professional properties. “Over time, it will transform into a more professional corridor,” Johnson says.

In Evans, Amazing Lash Studio opened in The Legacy Building on North Belair Road in June.

Cheers Wine & Spirits opened in a newly constructed building at the corner of Evans to Locks and Furys Ferry roads in September. Also on Evans to Locks Road, site work has started for the expansion of Paws in Paradise.

Gas World, a locally owned gas station and convenience store chain, is under construction at the corner of Old Evans Road and Martinez Boulevard.

The long-awaited mixed-use development in The Plaza at Evans Towne Center, which will feature retail, office and residential space, is under construction. Nailed It, a DIY craft studio, is moving into the Meybohm Building soon.

Located at the corner of Ronald Reagan Drive and North Belair Road, a mixed-use retail center called Evans Society Center is under construction. The center has two buildings, which will total 10,000 square feet.

Buff City Soap, a national handmade soap company with an in-store makery, opened in Mullins Crossing in September.

The adjacent Mullins Colony is seeing activity as well. Beverage Outlet is building a 20,000-square-foot discount liquor store next to Belk. Brazilian Wax and Spa also opened in Mullins Colony earlier this year.

Washington Road in Evans has some new faces as well. Lapels Cleaners moved into the former Brickle’s Cleaners site in April, and CBD store Purple Bloomz opened in August. Take 5 Oil Change opened in a new Washington Road building in late summer.

In addition, Queensborough Bank & Trust on Washington Road is expanding onto adjacent property that was the site of Tip Top Taps.

Eclipse at Riverwood is slated to open this fall just outside of Riverwood Plantation on Washington Road. This mixed-used development will include the 85,000-square-foot Eclipse Storage and another building with 9,000 square feet of retail space.

Storage Hotel recently opened in Grovetown near Columbia County Fairgrounds as well. In the Gateway area, developers broke ground in May on an extended-stay TownePlace Suites by Marriott and a midrange Fairfield by Marriott, which will share the same building. They will be built next to Home2Suites.

Other new businesses that have opened in the past year include Southern Dance Company and Light Design Inc. in Harlem and Sparkle Car Wash in the city of Grovetown.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Columbia County,” says Robbie Bennett, executive director of the Development Authority of Columbia County. “They represent nearly 80 to 85 percent of the employment base of the county. A small business can be a business of up to 500 employees, but 80 to 85 percent of employees that work in the county work for a business that employs less than 20 people.”

However, large industries are thriving as well. In White Oak Business Park off of Appling Harlem Road, construction will begin soon on a new 104,000-square-foot spec building. Site plans were being finalized in early September, and construction was expected to start within a month.

Bennett says White Oak, which will be five years old in December, has more than 3.4 million square feet of space and 5,500 employees work there.

In addition, he says, 19 or 20 projects are looking actively at White Oak as a future home. Of its nine available spaces, he says, “There are four or five sites where we can put somebody right now.”

Of the other sites, three have been claimed and a building is going up on another one. The projects represent $30 million to $2 billion in capital investments, says Bennett.

GIW held a grand opening for its foundry expansion – its second enlargement since 2014 – in April.

“Industry growth leads to the growth of retail and restaurant offerings and will drive more business to this market,” Bennett says.

He also says that the availability of a strong workforce – locally and regionally – attracts new businesses to the area.

“The county is well-diversified,” Bennett says. “We can get businesses up and running quicky.”

Eat in or take out, Columbia County is filling up with new restaurants.

Regardless of the type of cuisine that people enjoy, they can find a place in Columbia County to satisfy their cravings. From sweets and snacks to ethnic dishes and American fare, new eateries have made their debut in recent weeks and months.

Whipped Creamery Gourmet Frozen Treats opened a second location in the Centre at Furys Ferry in Martinez in the spring, and to spice things up, Latin food lovers can try Latin Flavor, which opened on River Watch Parkway in August.

Mosh Pit Eats, which serves a side of hard rock and heavy metal music with its sandwiches, salads and such, opened on Old Evans Road in Martinez.

Hibachi Express opened on Washington Road near Bobby Jones Expressway in the former Taco Bell location this summer as well.

When it comes to the restaurant scene, Evans also has gotten a piece of the pie.

For those who like sweet and salty snacks, Mack’s Poppin’ Kettle Corn opened this winter in Publix Plaza on Washington Road.

Roll On In, which offers sushi creations and Asian fusion dishes, and Buzzed Bull Creamery, which serves alcohol-infused ice cream and milkshakes, opened in March at The Plaza at Evans Towne Center.

In early 2023, Goat Kick Coffee Co. is expected to open behind the Performing Arts Center in a new development called Evans Society Center. The shop will anchor one of the two buildings.

“Three or four new restaurants are being discussed in The Plaza and Gateway areas,” says Scott Johnson, the county manager. “Our citizens expect to have shopping and nice restaurants close to home.”

In the meantime, other new food establishments have opened in Evans.

Sinless Sweets, which offers gluten-free, low-carb, sugar-free and vegan desserts, opened in January on Washington Road. Crumbl Cookie also opened in April in Mullins Colony.

Senor Mezcal Mexican Kitchen & Cantina opened on Washington Road near the Evans Walmart in April, and Pizza Central opened its doors on North Belair Road in June. Arie’s Confectionaries, which features full-size and mini cheesecakes, also opened in Evans Town Center in September.

In addition, Yosko Japanese Steakhouse moved to the Market at Riverwood in the former site of The Flying Biscuit Café in the spring.

A Dunkin’ Donuts and Riverwood Wine & Spirits also are under construction in the Eclipse at Riverwood near the intersection of Washington Road and William Few Parkway. A new Dunkin’ Donuts opened in the Grovetown city limits on Wrightsboro Road near the intersection of Horizon South Parkway in July.

Outside the city limits, Sarge’s Soda Shop opened on Columbia Road next to Food Lion in the Grovetown area in January. Sporting a retro look, the shop offers custom sodas, floats, cookies and popcorn.

Vampire Penguin opened a new location in Grovetown on Lewiston Road as well.

“We’re seeing more regional chains and franchises coming into the market, not necessarily the national chains that everybody knows,” says Robbie Bennett, executive director of the Development of Columbia County.