Coweta County is a mix of suburban and country with a hint of urban thrown in. It has a growing population and, despite the recession, is becoming the economic engine of southwest metro Atlanta. And it has been named by Bloomberg’s BusinessWeek magazine as the “Best Affordable Place in Georgia” in 2011.

“We are very happy with the recognition from BusinessWeek,” said Coweta County spokesperson Patricia Palmer. ”From economic activity, to a low tax rate, to a broad and expanding education and healthcare system, to our proximity to Atlanta and our rural side, we have a lot to offer."

In assessing the counties in each state to win the distinction of being the best and most affordable place to live, BusinessWeek noted that with the economic recovery yet to gain speed, affordable living has become an important consideration for many Americans. Areas that are not only within means, but also safe and close to a steady job market are becoming more attractive to cost-conscious consumers.

To make its determination, Bloomberg analyzed the rankings of more than 3,000 counties across the United States, including factors such as income, housing expenditure, commute time, educational attainment, ethnic diversity, air quality, unemployment, poverty, and crime.

“The resulting ranking aims not to single out communities with high-end homes or luxurious living, but to focus instead on desirable places that offer a good quality of life and are affordable to people who earn the area's median income,” the magazine said.

And in Georgia, the rankings led to the selection of Coweta County as the “Best Affordable Place in Georgia” in 2011.

For people like Candace Boothby, president of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce, the recognition is an honor but not a surprise.

“This confirms what we’ve known all along about Coweta County,” said Boothby. “It’s a great balance between a terrific lifestyle, a great education system, affordability and quality of life.”

In some ways Coweta County is two counties in one. The west side is largely rural with farms and rolling hills while the east features a growing suburban landscape. Positioned between the two and sitting beside I-85 is Newnan, with a large downtown area that is a magnet for shoppers and endless events. The county has a population of nearly 128,00 and growing.

Though perhaps not recognized by some, the growth of the Newnan-Coweta County area, aided in no small part by I-85 and its proximity to Hartsfield Airport and Atlanta, continues to unfold despite the lasting effects of the recession. Business is clearly operating in Coweta County while it has all but dried up in some other areas of metro Atlanta.

Perhaps not yet visible to some, Coweta is already becoming the economic engine of southwest metro Atlanta. But its growing presence of medical, manufacturing and retail venues will not allow that secret to be kept much longer.