Columbus, the third largest city in Georgia, among other things supports the large nearby Fort Benning army base. The base occupies the better part of the county and dominates the economy and the local mindset. The area was once a textile producer but has modernized and diversified into financial services, and is in fact headquarters for AFLAC (insurance) and Synovus, a regional banking conglomerate. Even with the transition, the employment picture is fairly bleak.

The area has a number of museums, mostly of a military theme, and some historic interest and urban revitalization in this very Southern city, but there isn’t a lot to do. Other services and amenities are available in Atlanta, 100 miles away.

The area is a mix of gently rolling, wooded hills and a level, open plain. Ground elevations range from 200 feet to 500 feet. The climate is typical of the humid southeast, with pronounced maritime and continental effects. Summers are warm and humid with most days in the 90’s, a few into the 100’s, and frequent thunderstorms. Occasional heavy rains originate from hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. Winters are mild with temperatures seldom below 20 degrees. Snow is rare. First freeze is early November, last is late March.