It may not have been where he was born or grew up, but Douglas played host for a time to none other than James Brown, the legendary singer, as he worked at a local saw mill. The hardest working man in show business was probably dreaming of the big time right then and there as he cut that wood!
The city of Douglas is in a pretty remote part of Coffee County in the center of Georgia
It may not have been where he was born or grew up, but Douglas played host for a time to none other than James Brown, the legendary singer, as he worked at a local saw mill. The hardest working man in show business was probably dreaming of the big time right then and there as he cut that wood!
The city of Douglas is in a pretty remote part of Coffee County in the center of Georgia. There are about 11,589 people here, according to the 2010 census, and roughly 4,200 households. The city is, as mentioned, pretty far from major metropolitan areas, with the nearest major city being Jacksonville, Florida about 100 miles to the south east. The Atlantic coast is a similar distance away, The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is about 40 miles south. There are two areas in Douglas that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Gaskin Avenue and the downtown area.
Douglas is very much its own city. There are no cities nearby within easy commuting distance, so the place has a great local feel to it, with most people working in the area. Wal-Mart is the biggest employer in town, with a large distribution center and retail store that employs more than 1,600 people, well over 10 percent of the population.
If You Don't Have a Car, Get One!
Most people in Douglas drive to work, so this is something to note. Commuting times are really low for the nation, at about 16 minutes on average, so this means there's less traffic on the street. If you're moving from a bigger city where you never needed a vehicle, things are about to change!
What Housing Is Available?
The good news for anyone moving to Douglas is that the vacancy rate is higher than average for the nation. Over 15% of properties are vacant, which makes finding rental houses and apartments for rent real easy. You're going to find a majority of the available rentals are detached housing, usually with 3-4 bedrooms. Apartment buildings are more rare, but there are still plenty to go round in the town center. Being a small town, income levels are generally fairly low in Douglas, meaning that on average rental prices are also low.
Get Your Finances in Order
It doesn't matter where you're moving to, you're always going to need to organize your finances to be a safe bet to any realtor or landlord you deal with. Showing up with no job, no references, and no ability to pay a security deposit is going to have you hightailing it back to where you came from. If you have proof of your recent pay stubs, proof of employment, and previous renting references then you'll be good to go.
Douglas isn't New York, so don't expect hundreds of neighborhoods to choose from. In fact, you're gonna have to settle for just 6, but frankly what else did you expect from a town with 11,000 people?
City Center: Looking for rental apartments with 0-2 bedrooms? Well, the center of the city is for you. There are plenty of useful amenities here, including the post office and Douglas National Bank.
Madison Ave N / Ward St E: Home to General Coffee State Park where hiking, biking, running and other outdoor activities are all popular year round. Golfers will also appreciate Douglas Golf Club being right on their doorstep.
Route 221 / Rebecca S Waldron Rd: Plenty of restaurants and fast food chains are located here, including Subway, Burger King, and McDonald's. Great if you fancy a quick stop off and bite. Roundtree Center Park will give you space to run off those calories later.
Bethel / Mora: More rural here, with the local airport to the east. Hillard's Pond just off to the west for fun under the sun.
Upton: Plenty of detached housing here for a larger home for rent in Douglas. The neighborhood encompasses the northwest of the city and beyond, with Wheeler Park and the local medical center two points of interest.
West Green / Huffer: Dotted with about a thousand small lakes, you'll find lots of rural housing out here beyond the main city. Great if you're looking to move out from the main streets and commute in to work.
Coffee County is known to have some of the most beautiful lands in the state, so people tend to take advantage of that throughout the year, but particularly during the spring and summer months. Hiking out onto the nature trails is a popular activity for locals and visitors alike, while guided tours of the Broxton Rocks are a must.
Locals love to eat fresh, so the various markets in town are really popular. The Second Saturday's Fresh Market downtown, Red Brick Farms, and Coffee County Farmer's Curb Market are all great if you like your veggies just out of the ground. Of course, there are plenty of chain restaurants around if you're not so interested in all that vegan type stuff!
Anyone who likes a bit of history will also enjoy the downtown area. There are three museums to enjoy as well, featuring exhibits about the local area and it's relevance in railroad, aviation, and agricultural history. The WWII Aviation Museum and Ashley-Slater House are particularly interesting here. The Douglas Cemeteries are also great for those with any interest in genealogy.
Love a bit of golf? Well, the General Coffee State Course has your name plus fun in the sun written all over it. It covers nearly 1,500 acres and attracts over 100,000 people each year, making it the city and surrounding area's most popular attraction. Just make sure you book your tee-off slot before those pesky golfing vacationers come along and spoil your Sunday!
Oh, and if you want to know about travel, look at a map! Only joking -- there are plenty of state routes running in every direction in and out of the city and linking it with any nearby towns. These include beautiful and historic Savannah, Augusta for golfers and even Jacksonville, Florida, home of The World's Largest Cocktail Party - the annual game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators. The closest interstate is Interstate 75, which is roughly 30 miles over to the east. In the town itself, there's no transit system, so you're best getting yourself a car if you don't already have one!
