From its temperate climate to the year-round beauty of its parks and gardens, there's a lot to draw newcomers to Augusta  the Garden City.

      Augusta is Georgia's second-largest city, following Atlanta, and it's the second-oldest city in the state.  Founded in 1736 by Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe, Augusta was named in honor of Princess Augusta, the wife of Fredrick, Prince of Wales. A large bronze-cast statue of Gen. Oglethorpe stands at the center of Augusta's newest urban park, Augusta Commons, located in the 800 block of downtown's Broad Street.

      With nearly half a million residents, the Augusta area has a variety of amenities, including a vibrant arts community and many fine restaurants.
And unlike other growing cities in the Southeast, the area has fewer of the traffic snarls that plague so many metropolitan areas.

      In addition to the low cost of living and affordable housing, Augusta offers its residents a beautiful historic city with a diverse culture, active arts community and mild climate.

      Augusta is the proud host each spring to the Masters Tournament, one of golf's most prestigious events, held onthe beautiful grounds of Augusta National Golf Club. Augusta and the surrounding area boasts 21 private and 15 public golf courses.

      Water recreation is also prominent. Several state parks dot the area, including Elijah Clark & Mistletoe state parks. Thurmond Lake is one of the largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi River, with a 1,200-mile shoreline that is longer than the entire U.S. eastern seaboard.