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Make it anything you want in Macon and Middle Georgia. It's an area where a low cost of living meets a high quality of life, where front porches are just as much meeting spaces as board rooms and rural roads run near areas of new urbanism. From Manhattan-worthy fine dining to Main Street diners, the eclectic flavor of the new South is alive and well. From the larger counties of Bibb and Houston to the surrounding counties such as Jones, Monroe and Peach, the heart of Georgia still has the hints of small-town charm (No traffic! Friendly neighborhoods! Free parking!) alongside the advantages of metro offerings (Ethnic dining! Broadway musicals! Art exhibits! Symphonies! Theatre! Shopping!). What you won't find anywhere else is the area's unique architecture, historic downtowns and large economic engines Robins Air Force Base, the Medical Center of Central Georgia and several colleges and universities. This region, with its eclectic, diverse, friendly, vibrant, community- driven residents, make it unlike any other part of Georgia. BIBB COUNTY Bibb County is our area's urban center THE COUNTIES of history, higher education, culture, entertainment, healthcare and commerce. Macon was founded in 1823 and respects and honors its long history. Through the efforts of Historic Macon Foundation, more than 6,000 structures and 14 districts have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are dozens of excellent examples of antebellum homes as well as complete neighborhoods with turn-of the century Victorians and early suburban bungalows. One of the most notable is the Hay House, a museum house operated by the Georgia Trust. Built between the years 1855-1859, it's been called the "Palace of the South." However, nothing is quite as historic as the Indian mounds at the Ocmulgee National Monument where archeologists have found evidence of human habitation dating back 12,000 years. Efforts are currently under way to expand the monument to a national park. Higher education has long had a presence in Macon. Wesleyan College was founded in 1836 and was the first DID YOU KNOW? The kazoo was invented in Macon. Alabama Vest, an African American, took his idea for a new musical instrument to Thaddeus Von Clegg, a German clockmaker in Macon. Von Clegg made the first kazoo in the 1840s, and it was later popularized at the Georgia State Fair in 1852. college in the world to grant degrees to women. Mercer University was established in 1833. Its law school was established in 1873, making it one of the oldest law schools in the country. Middle Georgia State College and Central Georgia Technical College are also located in Bibb. Macon is also looking forward. Downtown development has taken flight in recent years and more and more lofts and apartments are appearing in formally unoccupied buildings. Having several colleges also produces a diverse and vibrant cultural scene in Macon. Recreational opportunities are bountiful. Bibb has seven golf courses, two public tennis facilities, and more than 35 parks. One of the most popular parks is the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, a Low Cost of Living, High Quality of Life Living in the Midstate Jones County courthouse 68 l MACON MAGAZINE JUNE/JULY 2014