From The Macon Telegraph, Nov. 16, 2010: 

Social opportunities, community openness and aesthetics are more likely to help Macon retain its residents over time, according to a study released Monday.

...

“We wanted to understand what causes people to become attached to the place they live,” said Paula Ellis, vice president for strategic initiatives for the Knight Foundation.

“We wanted to see what causes them to feel loyalty and pride in where they live. It’s an emotional construction about what people feel and what ties them to the place they live.”
Chuck Boulware, a mechanical engineer who works at the Mercer Engineering Research Center in Warner Robins, moved to Macon nearly four years ago from Louisville, Ky. He said he decided to live in Macon because it offers social opportunities not available in Warner Robins.

“Macon has a downtown, period,” said Boulware, who was not part of the survey. “It’s a city with restaurants and things to do.”

Boulware, who lives near Tattnall Square Park, said there’s a lot more shopping options and other activities within walking distance than when he moved here, thanks to the addition of Mercer Village and other amenities.

Read more at Macon.com:
http://www.macon.com/2010/11/16/1342608/survey-most-residents-not-attached.html#ixzz15Se8OSc6