If it were not for the river and the flood plains that lie between those three cities, they all would have grown into one big megoplex long ago. Macon County lies to the east of the four squared off counties, and so visually it seems disconnected. Yet it is in many ways closer than Lowndes County because the residential development of East Montgomery is practically touching Macon County, and so our futures are linked. An aerial photograph of these five counties would show that development has been dictated by geography, or rather topography. South Montgomery is swamp and heavy prairie soil.
Builders choose to move east on the high ground.
Elmore County is hilly, but developers are building lakes and clearing hillsides for new residences. Most new residential development in Autauga County has followed the roads and sewers of the City of Prattville. Why Lowndes County has failed to develop, I don't know. Perhaps this visioning process will tell us why, and how to bring our close neighbor into better relations. Lowndes County is on a direct line to Selma, a proud city to the west that is linked to the Montgomery metropolitan area in many ways.