Jonesboro, GA Colleges and Universities: Discover Career Education Programs in Georgia

ARTICLE: Jonesboro In-Depth

Situated just 18 miles outside of Atlanta, the city of Jonesboro, Georgia is probably best known as the fictional setting for Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind. With fewer than 4,000 residents, Jonesboro probably looks much the way it did during the Civil War. Despite urban sprawl and widespread business development in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area, Jonesboro has maintained its small-town feel and community ties over the decades.

Per household income is approximately $32,000 a year, and per capita income is just over $16,000 a year. One reason for this relatively low income bracket is the multi-unit public housing complex located within city limits. Because Jonesboro has such a small population, this public housing complex lowers the overall per capita income of Jonesboro proper. But in truth, Jonesboro is considered a suburb of Atlanta, and "nonofficial" population statistics range well above 4,000.

When Atlanta's urban sprawl threatened to engulf Jonesboro, GA, the city quickly decided to capitalize on its historic significance as a major Civil War battleground. These days, Jonesboro is full of antique shops, tourist attractions, restored historic buildings, and museums. Education and government are by far the largest employers in the region, with Clayton County's school system employing 6,800 workers and the local government employing roughly 2,000 locals. The tourism industry is also a fairly substantial employer, and many of the local residents in Jonesboro, GA commute back and forth to Atlanta.

Sources:

• City Data, Jonesboro, GA
• Epodunk, Jonesboro, Georgia
• New Georgia Encyclopedia, Jonesboro
• Jonesboro City Homepage

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