Macon is located in
Bibb County, it is the county seat, in the
Historic South Region of the state. It lies northeast of
Columbus along Interstate 75 on the banks of the Ocmulgee River, near the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge.
In 1822, the Georgia legislature created Bibb County, named for William Wyatt Bibb, a U.S. Senator. Macon was named in honor of Nathaniel Macon, a North Carolina patriot and statesman. When official surveyor James Webb platted the downtown streets of Macon in 1832, he had the vision to provide wide streets and parks. During the Civil War, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman bypassed Macon in his haste to reach the sea.
As of 1990, Macon's population was estimated at 149,967.
Annual events in Macon include the Cherry Blossom Festival, MidSummer Macon and the Arrowhead Arts & Crafts Festival, among others. Seven recreational centers and more than 75 public parks grace the city, which is also home to Wesleyan College and Mercer University.
Macon is part of the Macon, Georgia metro area.
