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walking/jogging/biking trail along the Ocmulgee River. Bibb County's strategic location on I-75 and I-16 make it an attractive location for distribution centers. A central location also makes Bibb County the perfect place for conventions and meetings. The Macon Centreplex is the largest convention facility outside of metro Atlanta. Macon is historical, cultural, educational, and commercial but most of all, it's beautiful. Every March, the city turns pink as over 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees bloom. POPULATION: 154,721 (quickfacts. census.gov, 2013 estimate) MEDIAN HOUSE VALUE: $123,300 (quickfacts.census.gov, 2008-2012) MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $37,920 (quickfacts.census.gov, 2008- 2012) SALES TAX: 7 percent HOUSTON COUNTY Houston County is a tale of several cities. There's burgeoning Warner Robins in the north end of the county. There's historic Perry, the county seat, which has been a favorite travelers' resting place for nearly two centuries. And there's the business-friendly bedroom community of Centerville located halfway between Macon and Perry. Although the cities differ in qualities, together they have made Houston County a desirable place to live and work. One of the fastest growing counties in Georgia, Houston has seen a more than 25 percent increase in population in the last 10 years. The main growth has occurred in Warner Robins. Robins Air Force Base, the largest industrial complex in Georgia, plays a key role in the economic vitality of Houston County. Houston County has a wide variety of recreational opportunities including six golf courses, hunting and fishing. DID YOU KNOW? Houston County was formed in 1821 and was named after Governor John Houstoun. At some time, the second "u" was dropped from the spelling. However, the pronunciation stayed the same as the governor's name which was pronounced "Howston" instead of the alternate "Hewston" like Houston, Texas. However, the area is probably best known for youth sports. The Southeastern Headquarters of Little League International is located in Warner Robins. Warner Robins is proud to claim the title of Little League World Champions in softball for the 2009 JUNE/JULY 2014 MACON MAGAZINE I 69