II EO. GA CL\-cts , SI s~ \q9b GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 1 9 9 G 0JA CLtCi5" GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF .~I 510 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, GA 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 An Equal Opportunity Employer If you are disabled and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please contact the Georgia Department of Community Affairs at (404) 679-4915 or 1 (800) 736-1155 (TDD). I:I>.. Printed on ~ Recycled Paper 1 9 9 G GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Preface Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 1998 The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is pleased to bring you the second edition of Georgia County Snapshots. First published in 1994, Georgia County Snapshots provides brief descriptions of the state's 159 counties and has been used by teachers, students, business leaders, elected officials and others. It has become DCA's most popular and most requested publication. As with the previous edition, Snapshots represents not only a major effort on the part of DCA, but also reflects data collection and analysis activities of many state and federal agencies. Snapshots brings together information on each county's history, people, economy, and government in a single publication. These brief analyses offer a glimpse into Georgia's great diversity, current challenges, and future potential. A CD-ROM incorporating Georgia County Snapshots with maps used in The Interactive Atlas of Georgia is being developed as a joint project by DCA and The University of Georgia's Institute of Community and Area Development. The product is scheduled for release in early 1997. Other publications planned by DCA include: Georgia CityScapes, which will include Snapshot-style portraits of cities with 1990 Census populations of 10,000 or more, as well as all county seats. Georgia CityScapes is slated for release in summer 1997. Georgia Trends at a Glance, which will highlight important state demographic, economic, and educational information, is scheduled for release in early 1998. Additional copies of Georgia County Snapshots may be obtained by mailing the enclosed order form or by faxing it to (404) 679-0572. You may also order by telephoning (404) 679-3148. As with all of our publications, we welcome your comments and suggestions. Please let the staff in our Office of Research and Analysis hear from you. Thank you. 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Jim Higdon Commissioner GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS The State Geography GA.. CLtQ5 S \ SI:, 19qb Georgia's land area of 57,919 square miles makes it the largest state east of the Mississippi River (24th overall). The total area of the state's three largest counties -Ware, Burke, and Clinch (2,565 square miles)-is greater than the area of the entire state of Delaware (2,489 square miles). Georgia falls within five major physiographic regions: the Blue Ridge Mountains in the northeast, the Ridge and Valley Province and the Cumberland Plateau in the northwest, the Piedmont across Georgia's center, and the Coastal Plain in the south. Elevations range from sea level to 4,784 feet at Brasstown Bald in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blue Ridge mountain area features the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, a 2,100 mile hiking trail ending in Maine. The mountain range's peaks were once higher than the Rockies, but some 100 million years of erosion has worn them down to about a quarter of their original height. Nonetheless, the mountains attract millions of visitors each year, particularly in the summer and fall. The Piedmont area is home to the red clay soil of Georgia and its rolling hills and valleys. Southwest Georgia is known for its abundant farmland. The Coastal Plains feature the tidal swamps and lowlands of the coast and the northern reaches of the Okefenokee Swamp. Georgia's beaches are popular with vacationers. The Piedmont and the Coastal Plains are separated by the Fall Line, an imaginary line marked by waterfalls and rapids, where rivers abruptly descend from the upland terrain to the lowland. This line also divides the diverse species of birds, trees, and plants found in Georgia. The Fall Line's shoals and rapids hindered the progress of early traders and farmers traveling upriver, forcing them to switch to another method of travel. As a result, settlements developed at these points, and most grew into trading towns. Meanwhile, the falling water proved to be beneficial because it could be harnessed to power textile mills and other industry. Four of the state's principal cities-Columbus, Macon, Milledgeville, and Augusta-were established at the Fall Line where the Chattahoochee, Ocmulgee, Oconee, and Savannah rivers, respectively, drop to the Coastal Plain. Sixty-five percent of the state's land area is forested. The forests tend to modulate the flow of water, filter it, and decrease erosion and sedimentation. All of Georgia's rivers are formed either within the state or along its boundaries; no river flows into Georgia from another state. The Altamaha, Savannah, and Chattahoochee have the highest average flow rates. Among other major rivers are the Flint, Oconee, Ocmulgee, Coosa, Ogeechee, and Satina. The overall quality of the state's water resources is high. Georgia has more than 67 thousand acres of state park land, on which the state operates 48 state parks and 14 historic sites. In 1991, state parks in Georgia recorded 16.3 million visitors. Only 12 other states had more visitors to their state parks. Georgia County Snapshots History Timeline The area we now call Georgia has been inhabited at least 10,000 years. The earliest known residents, the Paleo and Archaic people of B.C. 10,000 to B.C. 1,000, left little evidence of their communities beyond pottery fragments and spear points. Several burial mounds remain from the times of the Woodland people, who lived here between B.C. 1000 and A.D. 700. Larger mounds, such as those at Etowah near Cartersville, were constructed by the Mississipians of A.D. 700 to A.D. 1500. Cherokees and Creeks followed the earlier groups, the former living primarily north of the Chattahoochee River and the latter residing along streams to the south. The first Europeans in Georgia were Spanish soldiers under the command of Hernando de Soto. De Soto and his men traveled across much of the state in 1540, but their exact route is not known. Georgia, the last of the original 13 colonies to be established, was intended to be a buffer between South Carolina and Spain's colony of Florida. It was named in honor of King George II who was persuaded by General James Oglethorpe to allow the creation of a colony. On July 4, 1776, Georgia joined the other American colonies in adopting the Declaration of Independence. Early the following year, the provisional state legislature approved a new constitution creating eight counties in place of the then-existing twelve parishes ofthe Church of England. These new counties-Burke, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Richmond and Wilkes-lay along the coast and up the Savannah River which was the extent of Georgia's settlement at the time. In 1785, The University of Georgia became the nation's first state-chartered university. The university has grown from a few students when classes first began in the fall of 1801 to more than 29,000 students in the fall of 1996. As Georgians gradually moved north and west into Indian lands, the state capital was also relocated. The first move was from Savannah to Augusta in 1786. The capital was moved again in 1796 to Louisville and a third time to Milledgeville in 1807. Finally, it came to permanent rest in Atlanta in 1877. In 1861, Georgia and ten other southern states seceded from the Union to form the Confederacy. Three years later, General William T. Sherman's Union forces invaded the state from the northwest, captured the rail center ofAtlanta, and began the infamous March to the Sea, burning many towns along the way. Confederate forces retreated from Savannah on December 20, 1864. The next day, Sherman telegraphed President Lincoln, "I beg to present to you as a Christmas present the City of Savannah." Georgia began building railroads in the l830s to protect Savannah's status as a leading Atlantic trade port from a challenge by Charleston's new rail line to Hamburg, across the Savannah River from Augusta. In the early l840s, the Central Railroad of Georgia was built connecting Savannah with Macon and the interior of the state. The Georgia Railroad between Augusta and Athens was also constructed during the same period. The latter railroad split into two branches at Union Point, in Greene County. The northerly of the two routes continued to Athens as originally planned; the other ran due west to a point near the Chattahoochee River. First called Terminus, the place later was named Marthasville, and then, in 1845, was renamed Atlanta. Age: %of Population Age (1990) ... 40 - - oUS l.lI GA Georgia's 1990 Census population was 6.478 million. The 18.6% increase over 1980 was greater than neighboring states' 17.4% average increase and the nation's 9.8% growth rate for the same period. The 1994 Census estimates placed the state's population at just over seven million. The 1990 Census reports 30% of Georgians were age 19 or younger, below the 36% national average; 10% of the state's 1990 population were 65 or older, compared with 8% nationally. The 1990 Census reported that 71 % of Georgians were white, and 27% were black. 30 Nationally, the Census reported that 80.3% of U.S. residents were white and 12% were black. Hispanics, who may also be listed as white or black in the Census data, were 1.7% of Georgia's and 8.8% of the nation's residents in 1990. 20 In 1993, Georgia had 182 physicians and 647 nurses per 100,000 population; this figure was below the national average of 225 physicians and 731 nurses per 100,000 population. The 1995 StatisticalAbstract indicates that 6,193 total crimes per 100,000 population were reported 10 in Georgia in 1993. Nationally, 5,483 crimes were reported per 100,000. Census figures indicate that 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote in 1992. Of o those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Nationwide, 68% of the eligible Less Over adult population were registered to vote in 1992, and 61 % voted in the general election. than 65 19 The 1990 Census reports that 41.3 % of Georgians over 25 had at least some college level education, Race: %of Population Age (1990) ... while 29.6% had a high school education alone. Nationally, 45.2% of adults had at least some college level education, and 30.0% only high school education. Georgia has 159 county school systems and 21 independent city school systems, with a combined enrollment of over 1.1 million students. About 94% of the state's school age 80 oUS l.lIGA-- population attends public school, compared with about 91 % nationwide. The 1991 pupil/teacher ratio (number of pupils per one teacher) in Georgia was 18.5, which was slightly higher than the national average of 17.3. Between 1990 and 1994, the average 60 statewide expenditure per pupil in Georgia was $4,002. The average Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score in Georgia in 1993 was 844, ranking 21 st out 40 of 22 states using the SAT for college admission. However, this average represented a 3.2 % increase over the 1983 average score. The national average score increased as well during this ten year period, but at a lesser rate of 1.1 % 20 Nationally, Georgia has the 9th highest number of institutions of higher education. Of these 115 institutions, 69 are public, and 46 are private. Georgia is surpassed by only California, Texas, New York, and North Carolina in its number of public institutions of higher education. o The University System of Georgia includes 34 institutions of higher learning and had a Fall White Black Hisp 1995 enrollment of over 206,000 students. Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 40 - - <> US Iii GA 30 ~ ~ 20 Georgia uses state lottery proceeds to benefit education in four ways: (l) the HOPE scholarship program, (2) the prekindergarten program, (3) technology for educational facilities, and (4) construction of educational facilities. In 1995, lottery funds were appropriated to each category: $187 million for construction programs, $161 million for technology and $78 million to scholarships and prekindergarten programs. The HOPE scholarship program is unique to Georgia. HOPE provides tuition, fees, and a book allowance at Georgia public colleges, universities or technical institutes to post-secondary students graduating from a Georgia high school with a B average or better. HOPE funds are also available (at a reduced rate) to students who attend Georgia's private colleges and universities. In the 1994-1995 school year, 16,376 students received HOPE scholarships. These students had an average high school GPA of 3.6 and represented all regions of the state. In 1996, 97% of the Georgia entering freshmen at The University of Georgia and 96% at the Georgia Institute of Technology received HOPE scholarships. 10 0 NoHS HS Some Call Deg Deg Call Deg State Georgia Alabama Florida North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Population (millions) 1970 1980 1990 4.59 5.46 6.48 3.44 3.89 4.04 6.79 9.75 12.94 5.08 5.88 6.63 2.59 3.12 3.49 3.93 4.59 4.88 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 19.05 13.07 43.51 15.7 20.49 16.94 18.58 3.75 32.75 12.75 11.66 6.23 Economy Georgia County Snapshots State of Georgia With Atlanta as its economic engine, Georgia has become a leader in the South. According to Business Week, the state has 4.6 major corporate headquarters per million population, the eleventh highest ratio in the nation. Fourteen Fortune 500 firms are headquartered in Georgia, including: United Parcel Service (UPS), Coca-Cola Co., BellSouth Corp., The Home Depot Inc., Georgia-Pacific Corp., Delta Air Lines Inc., Southern Co., American Family Life (AFLAC), Coca Cola Enterprises Inc., Genuine Parts Co., SunTrust Banks Inc., Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc., Alumax and Shaw Industries Inc. Five large non-profit organizations have headquarters in Georgia: American Cancer Society, CARE, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, American College of Rheumatology, and the Arthritis Foundation. There are 16 foreign consulates in the state, as well as 25 foreign Chambers of Commerce and 39 trade, tourist, and cultural offices operated by 27 countries with 30 honorary consuls. In 1990, service sector employment accounted for about 23% of the state's jobs, followed by retail with about 16% and manufacturing with about 15%. Nationally, the service sector provided about 28% of all jobs, the retail sector provided about 16% of jobs, and manufacturing provided 14%. By contrast, in 1970 service sector employment provided only 17% of the jobs in Georgia and manufacturing provided almost 23%. Agriculture also plays a strong role in Georgia's economy. Peanuts, cotton and pecans are the state's top crops. In 1994, farm cash receipts totaled $533 million for peanuts, $406 million for cotton and $62.9 million for pecans. Georgia ranked second nationally in poultry production (eggs and broilers) in 1994. In 1991, Georgia had a State Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of$144 billion, the 13th largest state GDP in the nation. In addition, Georgia had just over $118 billion in total assessed property value in that year. While the state's per capita income is below the national level, it has been increasing. In 1992, the state's per capita income was $18,549 compared with $20,105 nationally. In 1970, the state's per capita income was only slightly more than 83% ofthe nation; by 1992 it had risen to approximately 92% of the national figure. Between 1990 and 1994, the unemployment rate in Georgia averaged 5.7%, which was lower than the national five-year average of 6.5%. In 1991, state funding for public transportation in Georgia ranked 7th nationally, with $26.73 spent per capita compared with the national average of $18.85 per capita. In 1990,76.6% of commuters in Georgia drove alone, 15.1 % carpooled, and 2.8% used public transportation. In terms of federal expenditures for mass transit, Georgia ranked 14th nationally with $11.35 spent per capita in fiscal year 1992. Ten urban public transit systems operate within the state: Albany (ATS), Athens (ATS), Atlanta (MARTA), Augusta (APT), Cobb County (CCT), Columbus (MERTA), Douglas County (Douglas County Rideshare), Macon (MBTA), Rome (RTD), and Savannah (CAT). Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the country, ranks second in domestic flights behind Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. In addition, Georgia has deep water port facilities in Savannah and Brunswick and port facilities in Bainbridge and Columbus as well. During the 1995 fiscal year, the Georgia Port Authority facilities had operating revenue of approximately $75 million and handled a total of 9.5 million tons of cargo. There are twelve military bases in Georgia: Dobbins Air Force BaselNavalAir Station (Marietta), Fort Benning (Columbus), Fort Gillem (Atlanta), Fort Gordon (Augusta), Fort McPherson (Atlanta), Fort Stewart (Hinesville), Hunter Army Air Field (Savannah), Kings Bay Submarine Base (St. Marys), Marine Corps Logistical School (Albany), Moody Air Force Base (Valdosta), Navy Supply Corps School (Athens) and Robins Air Force Base (Warner Robins). Commuting, %of Workforce Using (991) T Ii! Solo Auto o Carpool Mass Transit Per Capita Income: ($,OOO/1992) T 20 --;-]----==-------- 15- 10- 5- o--'--J'---" '---" L... US FL GA NC TN AL SC Unemployment Rate: ('9D-'94) T 8--------- 6mm/~ ~----ill( ---ilIi 4--------- 2--------- 0--------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 -o-US --llIJ- GA I D 40 30 20 10 o o o o o o Georgia Department of Community Affairs State of Georgia Government The Golden Dome of the Capitol of the State of Georgia State State government in Georgia includes three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. Unlike many other states, Georgia elects the heads of several major state agencies independently, including the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Commissioner of Insurance, and the Commissioner of Agriculture. The Lieutenant Governor is also elected independently and serves as president of the Senate. The University System of Georgia is overseen by the Board of Regents and includes four research universities, two regional universities, 13 state colleges and universities, and 15 two-year colleges. Enrollment in University System institutions during fall 1995 was 206,484. The Governor's recommended state appropriation for the system was more than $1.3 billion for fiscal year 1997. Georgia has used the executive budget process since the 1930s, giving governors centralized authority for the state budget. The governor has line item veto power, the authority to choose program funding, and a discretionary fund. The executive branch also sets the revenue projections for the fiscal year, which has a major impact on the budgeting process. The state's fiscal year 1997 appropriations totaled more than $11 billion. Over $4.1 billion of these appropriations were earmarked for K-12 education. The Georgia General Assembly is a bicameral legislature comprised of a Senate and House of Representatives. The legislature is made up of part-time legislators who are in session for 40 days beginning the second week of January each year. The lieutenant governor is elected every four years. As president of the Senate, he may cast a vote in the event of a tie. Although he is prohibited from sponsoring legislation, he has the power to make Senate committee assignments and designate committee chairmen. The Speaker is the House of Representatives' presiding officer and is elected every two years from among the members of the House. The Speaker's duties are outlined by the state constitution and include making all committee appointments and assigning chairmen to the 32 standing House committees. The Speaker follows the Lieutenant Governor in the succession to the Office of Governor. There are seven branches of the state judiciary, made up of five trial and two appellate courts. The five types of trial courts are the State Courts, Superior Courts, Juvenile Courts, Probate Courts and Magistrate Courts. The two appellate courts are the court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Most judges are elected in nonpartisan elections, either statewide or by district. 0- D~ o o o ~o H De~ - Georgia County Snapshots State of Georgia Government Local The Clock Tower of the Baldwin County Courthouse in Milledgeville, Georgia Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. If you wish to distribute this Georgia Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 There are two forms of general purpose local government in Georgia: counties and municipalities. Counties, as extensions of the state, receive their authority from the state and function as the administrative arm for the provision of general governmental services such as roads, courts and jails. Cities are incorporated entities, with their powers specified by a charter granted by the General Assembly. School districts in Georgia are separate government units with governing authority residing in the local board of education. County-wide school districts were established by law. The state also has city school districts created by special acts of the Georgia General Assembly before 1945. The law has prohibited the creation of more independent districts since 1945. Both cities and counties have broad home rule powers which allow them to conduct their affairs consistent with state law and the state constitution. A constitutional amendment passed in 1972 gave county governments the authority to provide municipal services. Georgia has 159 counties, 533 municipalities, and nearly 800 registered local government authorities. The only state with more counties than Georgia is Texas. Three consolidated governments are included in the total number of counties: Columbus-Muscogee, Athens-Clarke, and Augusta-Richmond. Municipal governments in Georgia may be structured as a mayor-council, commission, or council-manager form of government. Counties may be organized using the traditional commission, sole commissioner, elected executive, commission-administrator, or commission-manager form of government. County governments in Georgia have anywhere from one to nine commissioners. According to 1995 Census population estimates, county populations ranged from 1,883 in Taliaferro County to over 700,000 in Fulton County. There were 39 counties (about a quarter of the 159 total) with populations under 10,000. Ten counties had fewer than 5,000 residents. Over half the states's population resided in its 15 most populous counties in 1995. Almost 70% resided in the 30 most populous counties. Based on 1994 Census population estimates, city populations ranged from the City ofAtlanta with 396,052 to the City of Edge Hill with a population of 22. Slightly more than 49% (262) of Georgia's cities had estimated populations under 1,000 in 1994. Local governments received more than $7.7 billion in revenues in 1995. Counties accounted for approximately $4.3 billion, municipalities received about $3.1 billion, and the consolidated governments of Athens-Clarke and Columbus-Muscogee received slightly more than $285 million. (AugustaRichmond became a consolidated government after conclusion of the survey on which these figures are based.) Regional Planning Georgia's regional planning efforts have grown from the creation of a single Metropolitan Planning Commission in Atlanta in 1947 to 16 Regional Development Centers (RDCs) statewide today. The RDCs range in size from the Atlanta Regional Commission, serving a population of more than 2.8 million persons, to the Middle Flint RDC, serving a population of 95,445. Georgia Chamber of Commerce (404) 223-2264 Georgia Public Library Services (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia (404) 522-5022 The phone numbers listed in County Snapshots were obtained from these sources. GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Bibliography Bachtel, Douglas C. and Susan R. Boatright, eds., 1995. The Georgia County Guide (l3th edition). Athens, Georgia: Cooperative Extension Service. Boyd, Kenneth W., 1993. The Historical Markers ofNorth Georgia. Marietta, Georgia: Cherokee Publishing Company. Coulter, E. Merton, 1947. Georgia: A Short History. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press. Crutchfield, James A., 1988. The Georgia Almanac and Book ofFacts, 198990. Nashville, Tennessee: Rutledge Hill Press. Georgia Bureau of Investigation, 1995. Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics on Index Crimes by County for 1990-1994. Decatur, Georgia. Georgia Department of Community Affairs, 1992. The Georgia Courthouse Manual. Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Department of Labor, 1995. Annual Average Civilian Labor Force Data 1980-1994. Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Department of Labor, 1995. Industry Sector Data 1994: Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Department of Revenue, 1995. 1994 Statistical Report. Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Historical Markers, 1973. Valdosta, Georgia: Bay Tree Grove Publishers. Georgia, The WPA Guide to Its Towns and Countryside, 1990. University of South Carolina Press. Reprint. Originally published: Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1940. Harmon, Jeanne and Harry, 1992. Georgia at its Best, 2nd Ed. Nashville, Tennessee: Rutledge Hill Press. Hepburn, Lawrence R., ed., 1987. Contemporary Georgia. Athens, Georgia: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia. Krakow, Kenneth K., 1994. Georgia Place-Names, 2nd Ed. Macon, Georgia: Winship Press. Lavoie, Michael R. ed., 1991-1993. Georgia Vital Statistics Report: 19901992. Atlanta, Georgia: Quality Improvement Branch, Division of Public Health, Georgia Department of Human Resources. Logan, William Bryant and Vance Muse, 1989. The Smithsonian Guide to Historic America: The Deep South. New York: Stewart, Tabori and Chang. Georgia County Snapshots Bibliography McCullar, Bernice, 1972. This Is Your Georgia. Montgomery, Alabama: Viewpoint Publications, Inc. Miles, Jim, 1981. Discover Forgotten Georgia. Fort Valley, Georgia: J & R Graphics. Morgareidge, Kay R, ed., 1976. Foundations ofGovernment-The Georgia Counties. Atlanta, Georgia: Association County Commissioners of Georgia. New Gralier Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1993: Compact Disc. Grolier Incorporated. Schemmel, William, 1994. Country Towns of Georgia. Castine, Maine: Country Roads Press. Sears, Joan Niles, 1979. The First One Hundred Years of Town Planning in Georgia. Atlanta: Cherokee Publishing Company. The New Georgia Guide, 1996. Athens, Georgia: The University of Georgia Press. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract ofthe United States: 1991 (l1lth edition) Washington, DC. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract ofthe United States: 1994 (114th edition) Washington, DC. U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract ofthe United States: 1995 (l15th edition) Washington, DC. U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1993.1990 Census ofPopulation: SociaJ and Economic Characteristics Georgia, Section 1 of2. Washington, DC. U.S. Bureau of the Census, USA Counties 1994: Compact Disc. Washington, DC. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 1995. Regional Economic Information System 1969-1993. Washington, DC. U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1994. 1992 Economic Census: Compact Disc. Washington, DC. Utley, Francis Lee and Marion R Hemperley, eds., 1975. Placenames of Georgia: Essays ofJohn H. Goff. Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 GEORGIA COUNTY Appling County Appling County was Georgia's 40th county, created in 1818 from treaty lands obtained from the Creek Indians. The county was named for Colonel Daniel Appling, who was considered Georgia's most outstanding soldier in the War of 1812. At one time, Appling County was known as the "Turpentine Capital of the World." The county has three incorporated municipalities: the county seat Baxley, Graham, and Surrency. Incorporated in 1875, Baxley was named for an early settler who, like most of the early white settlers in the area, came from coastal North Carolina. Lake Mayer and the Altamaha River are available for boating, swimming, and fishing in the county. The Georgia Power Company's Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Power Plant is located in the county on a 2,200 acre site on the Altamaha River. Completed in 1974, the Hatch Plant makes Georgia Power the county's largest employer. Annual events in the county include the week-long Tree City Festival in May, the Piney Bluff Festival in November, and Baxley's "Celebration of Light" Christmas Parade in early December. Appling County was the home of the late writer Caroline Miller, the first Georgian to receive the Pulitzer Prize. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Appling County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .. 50 - - CTYOO GA-- :--~rn~~-l 20 1;!lt--~4~~--t--------l 10 r-----+----+-----1 o '--------'--------'----' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .. 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population ofAppling County was 15,744 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 1.2%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 17,076 persons. In Appling County, 78% of the residents were white and 21 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 33% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Appling County, the 1990 Census reports 7% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 39% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 34.4% of Appling County's adult population had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 22.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.2% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same period. Appling County spent an average of $4,150 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 8.9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the.8 state average. Appling County had 2.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 77% of the housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $39,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,535. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Appling County ranked number 87. Of this five year average, 11 % were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 82% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 66% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote in 1992. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Appling County Baxley Graham Surrency 1970 12,726 3,503 352 Population 1980 1990 15,565 15,744 3,586 3,841 368 253 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 22.3 1.2 2.4 7.1 4.5 -31.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-governmental employers in Appling County include: Catalytic Industrial, Georgia Power Company, and ITT Rayonier Inc. Transportation, communications, and public utilities together form the largest employment sector in the county, providing 18% ofthe jobs and 43% of employment earnings. This is due mainly to the presence of Georgia Power's Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Power Plant. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Appling County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 9.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,78% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 22%, commuted out of Appling County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Appling County's per capita income was $12,801, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Appling County's median household income in 1989 was $22,271. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $10,412 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Appling County had 309 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 3%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Appling County's assessed property value amounted to $171.4 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,889. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Appling County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,20% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 26% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 29% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents ofAppling County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,941 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide, Georgia County Snapshots Appling County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'----'---==,-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 3--------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---rn-- GA Georgia County Snapshots Appling County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 75------ 60 - - - - 45 30 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ 300 200 100 o~ ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Appling County's average own source revenue per capita was $409. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Appling County collected an average of $271 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 65% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Appling County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $321 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Appling County had an average of $8,800 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden ofless than $1. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Appling was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Appling County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Appling County has a six member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers ----------------------------- Chamber of Commerce Central Library County Commission (912) 367-7731 (912) 367-8103 (912) 367-8100 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Atkinson County Atkinson County is one of the GA youngest counties in Georgia, having <:4-95 .S \ Sic been created in 1917 from portions of Clinch and Coffee counties. The county is named for William Yates Atkinson, who served as governor and Speaker of the Georgia House. The county has two municipalities: Pearson, the county seat, and Willacoochee. Pearson was named to honor Benjah Pearson who served in the Indian War of 1838. Willacoochee was named for the river of the same name, a Creek Indian word for Little River. The county's courthouse was constructed in 1921. Willacoochee is the home of the "No Name Bar," fondly referred to by the late Lewis Grizzard in many of his columns. Willacoochee is also home to McCraine's Turpentine Still, a preserved wood-burning turpentine still of 19th-century design that operated from 1936-1942. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Pearson was known as the "Chess Capital" of the state. The town hosted four consecutive championships, and Pearson residents made up one-fourth of the membership of the Georgia Chess Association. The Minnie F. Corbitt Memorial Museum was established in 1955 in the first residence built in Pearson (1873). It is dedicated to the memory of south Georgia pioneers and their way of life. SNAPSHOTS PUblished by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1996 Georgia County Snapshots - Atkinson County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over 8, --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Berrien County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ 45 30 15 o~ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Berrien County's average own source revenue per capita was $275. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Berrien County collected an average of $134 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 43% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Berrien County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $237 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Berrien County had an average of $1.9 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $135. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Berrien was designated a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Berrien County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 686-5123 Central Library (912) 386-3400 County Commission (912) 686-5421 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Bibb County Bibb County, the 54th county formed ~A. in Georgia, was created in 1822. The C-4-QS .S\ county was named for Dr. William Wyatt Bibb. Dr. Bibb lived in Elbert County, and served in the U.S. House Sic of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate. He was appointed governor of the Territory of Alabama in 1816 and became the first elected governor of that state. The county has two incorporated municipalities-Macon, the county seat, and Payne City. Macon's 1990 population of 106,612 made it the fourth most populous city in the state. Macon was incorporated in 1823 and named after Senator Nathaniel Macon of North Carolina - the home state of most of the early white settlers in the area. Macon's City Hall served as the temporary state capitol from November, 1864 to March, 1865. Two notable Georgians from Bibb County are Sidney Clopton Lanier (1842-1881), poet, author, and musician, and the late Otis Redding, the recording star whose hits included "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay." Macon is home to Wesleyan College, founded in 1836 as the Georgia Female College, the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women. Mercer University is also located in Macon. Macon is home to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the future home of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. These two facilities are expected to play an integral role in the ongoing revitalization of downtown Macon. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Bibb County Demographics Educadonal Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (990) ... 40 - - CTY {j GA-- 30 - - - - - - f i - - - - m~.; ~ 20~r:::1:.:r-------'4~--+-------1 ~ 10 f - - - + - - - - f - - - - - - j o '-----_ _L-_ _-'-_ _-' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Ave Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 20------ 15--- According to the 1990 Census, the population of Bibb County was 149,967 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a .2% rate, while the state population grew at an average 13.2% rate during the period. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 147,032 persons. In Bibb County, 57% of the residents were white and 42% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 11 % of Bibb County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that in Bibb County, 31.4% of the adult population had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 36.8% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of9.9% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Bibb County spent an average of $3,777 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 17.3 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 2.8, compared with the .8 state average. Bibb County had 6.4 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 58% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $57,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 9,143. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Bibb County ranked number 5. Of this five year average, 9% were violent crimes, while 91 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 65 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 75% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Bibb County Macon Payne City 1970 143,366 122,423 236 Population 1980 1990 150,256 149,967 116,896 106,612 196 192 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 4.8 -0.2 -4.5 -8.8 -16.9 -2.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Brown & Williamson, Geico, and Mercer University are among the largest non-government employers in Bibb County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 27% of the jobs and 26% of employment earnings. Retail trade is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and II % of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 22% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Bibb County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 5.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 87% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 13%, commuted out of Bibb County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 slightly exceeded that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Bibb County's per capita income was $18,959, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Bibb County's median household income in 1989 was $25,813. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $12,346 per capita. This amount was greater than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Bibb County had 4,396 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Bibb County's assessed property value amounted to $2.1 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $14,249. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Bibb County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered to be part of the Macon television market. During 1989, 19% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 28% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 19% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Bibb County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,778 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Bibb County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... II! Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 0---'------'-------==>- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY u' m--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Bibb County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 75------ 60 - - - - 15 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average $$$s Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 100 o ----M=__ ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Bibb County's average own source revenue per capita was $321. This amount was less than the average of $574 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Bibb County collected an average of $229 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $317 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 67% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Bibb County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $299 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $444 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Bibb County had an average of $33.1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $221. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $491 per capita average for the 8 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Bibb was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Bibb County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Bibb County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Macon averaged $460 per capita in own source revenues and $479 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $724 per capita in own source revenues and $734 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 25% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $116 for residents of Macon. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Macon had an average of $32.7 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $307. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $1,677 per capita average for the 5 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, Macon has a mayor-council form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 741-8000 Central Library (912) 744-0800 County Commission (912) 749-6345 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Bleckley County Bleckley County, the l45th county G,A formed in Georgia, was created in eLf-CiS ~s\ 5b 1912 and was originally part of Laurens and Pulaski counties. The county was named for Georgia Supreme Court Justice Logan E. Bleckley, a poet and philosopher. The county has one municipality, Cochran, the county seat. Cochran was named for Arthur E. Cochran, president of the Macon & Brunswick Railroad, who was influential in the development of the county. Cochran is home to Middle Georgia College, recognized as the oldest twoyear college in America. It is one of the original units ofthe University of Georgia System. The Ocmulgee River & Game Preserve offers fishing, boating, and hunting to outdoor sports enthusiasts. The Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area, shared with Twiggs County, is another attraction. Festivals in Bleckley County include the Spring Hillside Bluegrass Festival, the Barksdale Blast, and the Great Pumpkin Festival. The Middle Georgia College Museum is housed in the 1870s Pace House, home of the first president of the college. It is said to be the oldest home in Cochran. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Bleckley County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over C1990} ... 40 - - . CTY 1!21 GA~~ 30 -------ftf:~l__--_.:IlJJ'" 10~---+----+-----I o '---_ _.1...-_ _--'-_ _-' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Bleckley County was 10,430 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 3.1 % rate, while the state's population grew at an average 13.2% rate during the period. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 11,427 persons. In Bleckley County, 77% of the residents were white and 22% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 8% of Bleckley County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equalling the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and the state. The 1990 Census indicates that in Bleckley County, 31.7% of the adult population had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 28.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of7.2% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Bleckley County spent an average of $3,680 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 6.3 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the.8 state average. Bleckley County had 6 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 75% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $41,000. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,846. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Bleckley County ranked number 110. Of this five year average, 17% were violent crimes, while 83% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,75% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Ofthose registered, 69% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Bleckley County Cochran 1970 10,291 5,161 Population 1980 1990 10,767 10,430 5,121 4,390 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 4.6 -3.1 -0.8 -14.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Alkahn Labels Inc., Lithonia Lighting, and Providence Health are among the largest non-government employers in Bleckley County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 30% of the jobs and 41 % of employment earnings. State and local government is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 21 % of employment earnings. Retail trade is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Bleckley County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,57% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 43%, commuted out of Bleckley County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was less than that of the state and the nation. Bleckley County's per capita income was $15,424, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Bleckley County's median household income in 1989 was $22,690. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,560 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Bleckley County had 194 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Bleckley County's assessed property value amounted to $91 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $8,723. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Bleckley County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989, 18% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 24% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 30% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Bleckley County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,713 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Bleckley County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed n990}T lEi! Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('9O-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- IDl! --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Bleckley County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 45 15 o _ _ ~=m. ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average $$$s Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ 300 - 200 - 100 o- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Bleckley County's average own source revenue per capita was $254. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Bleckley County collected an average of $140 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 54% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Bleckley County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $275 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Bleckley County had an average of $49,600 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $5. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Bleckley was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Bleckley County has a sole commissioner form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 934-2965 Central Library (912) 934-2904 County Commission (912) 934-3200 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Brantley County Brantley was one of the last Georgia GA Ct.\-qS e5 \ 5b counties created (156th). The county was formed in 1920 from Charlton, Pierce, and Wayne counties and was named for Benjamin D. Brantley, a member of a prominent local family, although some historians claim the name honored State Senator William Goodman Brantley of Brunswick. There are two municipalities in Brantley County, Hoboken and Nahunta, the county seat. Nahunta sounds as if it has an Indian name, but in fact the name is a colloquialism derived from railroad maps and a sign, "N.A. Hunter Siding." Because the Okefenokee Swamp is to the south and west of the county, passage through Brantley County was essential to the railroads running from the coast through the southern part of the state. Fort McIntosh was built in the early years of the Revolutionary War to protect the extensive herds of cattle. It was placed under siege from Tories in 1777 and eventually surrendered. Fort Mudge was built in the county at about the same time. This fort was immortalized by Walt Kelly in the "Pogo" comic strip. The 35,789-acre Dixon Memorial State Forest, shared by Brantley and Ware counties, is administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Brantley County residents also have access to the Harrington Tract Wildlife Management Area (shared with Glynn County) and the Rayonier Wildlife Management Area (shared with Wayne County). SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Brantley County Demographics Educadonal Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 50 - - . CTY II GA-- ~ 40 ~ 30 ~ 20 10 ~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births ... 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Brantley County was 11,077 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 27.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 14,863 persons. In Brantley County, 94% of the residents were white and 5% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in Census date, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 34% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 9% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 6% of Brantley County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 44% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 44.8% of the adult population in Brantley County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 19.3% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.4% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Brantley County spent an average of $3,281 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 7.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the Joint Board of Family Practice reported no physicians practicing in Brantley County. That year, there was an average of .8 physicians per 1,000 population in the state. Brantley County also had no general hospital. Statewide, there was an average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 85% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $36,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,931. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Brantley County ranked number 106. Of this five year average, 10% were violent crimes, while 90% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 86% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 50% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Brantley County Hoboken Nahunta 1970 5,940 424 974 Population 1980 1990 8,701 514 951 11,077 440 1,049 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980~1990 46.5 27.3 21.2 -14.4 -2.4 10.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Nahunta Manufacturing Inc., Okefenokee Rural Electric, and Varn Wood Products Company are among the largest non-government employers in Brantley County. State and local governments together form the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. Farming is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Retail trade is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and 6% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Brantley County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.5% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 35% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 65%, commuted out of Brantley County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was less than that of the state and the nation. Brantley County's per capita income was $12,289, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Brantley County's median household income in 1989 was $22,087. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,817 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Brantley County had 121 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county showed no percentage change. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Brantley County's assessed property value amounted to $112.9 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,188. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Brantley County is the Waycross Journal Herald. The county is considered part of the Jacksonville television market. During 1989, 18% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 21 % of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 29% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Brantley County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,646 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Brantley County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T Ii!l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o----'----~ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - 3 ---------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY mam GA Georgia County Snapshots Brantley County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60 - - - - 45 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 _. Government Over the past five years, Brantley County's average own source revenue per capita was $288. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Brantley County collected an average of $183 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 60% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Brantley County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $284 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Brantley County had an average of $47,900 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $4. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Brantley was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Brantley County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Brantley County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. 200 100 o- ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 462-6282 Central Library (912) 462-5454 County Commission (912) 462-5256 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Brooks County Brooks County was formed in 1858 GA from parts of Lowndes and Thomas C4C1S counties and was named for Preston .S i Brooks, a member of Congress prior to the Civil War and an avid defender 5b of state rights. He caned Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts because of a speech that was offensive to the South. (The attack was of such savagery that Sumner could not return to his Senate seat for three years.) The county has two municipalities, Morven and Quitman, the county seat. The county's courthouse was constructed in 1864. Brooks County officials paid for the structure with $14,958 in Confederate money, a fortunate circumstance for the county, since this currency was soon to become useless. The Brooks County Peach Festival is held in Morven. The county is home to several endangered plant and animal species including the Pond Spicebush, the Wood Stork, and the Eastern Indigo snake. The Quitman Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, contains late 19th and early 20th century brick buildings in the commercial district and mainly wood frame homes from various periods and styles in the residential area. The streets are laid out in a grid with several central parks. Also listed on the National Register are the Brooks County Courthouse and the Brooks County Jail. Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Brooks County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - - - " 1 " " 30 -------m----~ 20W-.:i..- - - l - - - - - j 10..----1----+------1 o '--_ _.L-_ _--L-_ _--.J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Brooks County was 15,398 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was .9%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 16,507 persons. In Brooks County, 57% of the residents were white and 41 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 33% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 10% of Brooks County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that in Brooks County, 36% of the adult population had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 22.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 12.5% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Brooks County spent an average of $3,884 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.3, compared with the .8 state average. Brooks County had 2.9 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 72% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $42,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,148. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Brooks County ranked number 70. Of this five year average, 22% were violent crimes, while 78% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,58% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 Brooks County 13,743 15,255 15,398 11.0 0.9 Morven 449 471 536 4.9 13.8 Quitman 4,818 5,188 5,292 7.7 2.0 Economy . Georgia County Snapshots Brooks County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Ithaca Industries, Quitman Manufacturing, and Weeks Textile Company are among the largest non-government employers in Brooks County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 25% of the jobs and 26% of employment earnings. State and local government is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Farming is also important to the county's economy, providing 17% of the jobs and employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Brooks County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,58% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 42%, commuted out of Brooks County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was less than that of the state and the nation. Brooks County's per capita income was $13,288, as compared with $18,549 for the . state and $20,105 for the United States. Brooks County's median household income in 1989 was $19,474. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,342 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Brooks County had 210 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 8%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Brooks County's assessed property value amounted to $153.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,976. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Brooks County is the Valdosta Times. The county is considered part of the Tallahasseeffhomasville television market. During 1989,26% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 35% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 29% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Brooks County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,520 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T rn Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- .m 6 "", ----~ ~. 3-----~---- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY o GA Georgia County Snapshots Brooks County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average 888s Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 100 o ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Brooks County's average own source revenue per capita was $219. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Brooks County collected an average of $110 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 48% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Brooks County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $204 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and J995. Over the past five years, Brooks County had an average of $407,300 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $26. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Brooks was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Brooks County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 263-4841 Central Library (912) 263-4412 County Commission (912) 263-5561 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Bryan County Iqq" o Bryan County, the 16th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1793 from parts of Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties. It was named for Jonathan Bryan, a member of the King's Council who accompanied Oglethorpe and was an early critic of oppressive English rule. o The county has two incorporated communities; the largest is Richmond Hill, and the other, Pembroke, is the county seat. o Fort Stewart, a large U.S. Army training facility, completely divides the northern and southern portions of the county. The northern portion of the county is served by an east-west rail line and Interstate 16 which links Atlanta, Macon and Savannah. The southern portion is crossed by Interstate 95, which follows the coast from New York to Florida. o The Civil War movie "Glory" was filmed in Bryan County. o Fort Argyle, established by General Oglethorpe on the Ogeechee River, was to protect Savannah from Florida's Spaniards. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Also listed on the Register is Fort McAllister, a Civil War fort with the best preserved earthwork fabrications of the Confederate period. o Henry Ford bought a home in Bryan County, Richmond Hill Plantation, in the 1920s. He provided health care and educational opportunities for many county residents. Also of interest to tourists are the Ford Kindergarten Building (1937), St. Anne's Church (1925), and the Henry Ford Community House. o Annual special events in the county include the 4th of July Barbecue, Picnic and Craftshow; the Labor Day & Winter Musters; and the Memorial Day Confederate Re-enactment. Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Bryan County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990). 50 - - . CTY IlIi GA-- 40 ~ 30 20 n ~ 10 ~~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births 15--- 10 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Bryan County was 15,438 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 51.7%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 20,656 persons. In Bryan County, 84% of the residents were white and 15% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 35% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 7% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 7% of Bryan County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 48% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that in Bryan County, 37.3% of the adult population had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 31.2% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Bryan County spent an average of $3,053 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 14.9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the .8 state average. Bryan County had no general hospital in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 80% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $70,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,400. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Bryan County ranked number 55. Ofthis five year average, 8% were violent crimes, while 92% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 83% ofthe adult population in the county was registered to vote. Ofthose registered, 69% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Bryan County Pembroke Richmond Hill 1970 6,539 1,361 826 Population 1980 1990 10,175 1,400 1,177 15,438 1,503 2,934 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 55.6 51.7 2.9 7.4 42.5 149.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Express Food Stores, Hobart Corporation, and Savannah Interstate are among the largest non-government employers in Bryan County. Retail trade is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. State and local government is also important to the county's economy, providing 20% of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. Military personnel assigned to Ft. Stewart are reflected in Liberty County's employment statistics; therefore, military employment appears only as a small employment sector in Bryan County despite the base's significant presence there. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Bryan County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,29% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 71 %, commuted out of Bryan County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was less than that of the state and the nation. Bryan County's per capita income was $13,351, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Bryan County's median household income in 1989 was $28,623. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,786 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Bryan County had 237 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 31 %. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the sarne period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Bryan County's assessed property value amounted to $211.7 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $13,713. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Bryan County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989, 13% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, lower than the statewide level of 15% and equal to the U.S. rate. In addition, 17% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 24% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Bryan County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,411 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Bryan County Commudng, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... Iii Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - Unemployment Rate: 9----"...::.(.'.9:0:c--'9-=4')-=..-.---'------ 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- ~l- -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Bryan County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 45 15 o -' ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ 300 200 - 100 o -- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Bryan County's average own source revenue per capita was $312. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Bryan County collected an average of $156 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 43% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Bryan County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $277 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Bryan County had an average of $60,300 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $4. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Bryan was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Bryan County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Bryan County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 756-2676 Central Library (912) 756-3580 County Commission (912) 653-4681 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Bulloch County GA Bulloch County was created in 1796. Georgia's 21st county was named for C4-QS Archibald Bulloch, who presided over .S\ the Provincial Congress of July 4, S~ 1775, before becoming Georgia's first Provincial Governor in 1776. The county has four incorporated municipalities: Statesboro, Brooklet, Portal, and Register. The largest, and county seat, is Statesboro. Statesboro was created in 1866 and is the only city by that name in the United States. In addition to the county's four incorporated municipalities, a number of unincorporated communities like Nevils, Stilson, and Clito provide a glimpse into the county's history. One of the most interesting community names in Georgia is the Bulloch County community of Hopeulikit, named for a famous dance hall of the big band swing era. Statesboro is home to Georgia Southern University, a state institution of about 14,000 students. Georgia Southern was one of five schools in the South that made U.S. News and World Report's list of the nation's "up-and-coming" regional universities. Ogeechee Technical Institute is also located in Bulloch County and has an enrollment of about 1400 credit students. Festivals and special events held in the county include the Brooklet Peanut Festival, Portal's Cat Face Turpentine Festival, the Bulloch County Azalea Festival, Christmas in Statesboro, and the MusicFest. Georgia Southern University provides a number of resources to the community. It is the home of the Magnolia Gardens and GSU Botanical Gardens. Also being developed are the Georgia Southern University Eagle Sanctuary and the Lamar Q. Ball, Jr., Raptor Center. These facilities will provide an ecological education center, as well as a sanctuary for bald eagles and other native birds of prey. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Bulloch County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY m GA-- 30 .... .- ~, 20 ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population ofBulloch County was 43,125 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 20.5%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 50,292 persons. In Bulloch County, 73% of the residents were white and 26% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 33% ofthe county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 10% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 7% of Bulloch County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 31 % of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.6% of the adult population in Bulloch County had completed high school-greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 37% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.2% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Bulloch County spent an average of $3,795 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.1, compared with the .8 state average. Bulloch County had 3.3 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 60% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $59,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,617. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Bulloch County ranked number 48. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 56% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 68% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Bulloch Couuty 31,585 35,785 43,125 13.3 20.5 Brooklet 683 1,035 1,013 51.5 -2.1 Portal 643 694 522 7.9 -24.8 Register 195 Statesboro 14,616 14,866 15,854 1.7 6.6 -..,..,," Economy According to the Georgia Department ofLabor, Cooper Industries, Emerson Electric Company, and Grinnell Corporation are among the largest non-government employers in Bulloch County. State and local governments together form the largest employment sector in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 26% of employment earnings. Retail trade is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 19% ofthe jobs and employment earnings. University employment is reflected in the state and local government sector figure. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Bulloch County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 82% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 18%, commuted out of Bulloch County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was less than that of the state and the nation. Bulloch County's per capita income was $13,179, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Bulloch County's lower per capita income level may be due in part to its large population of students, who, as a group, tend to have low incomes. Bulloch County's median household income in 1989 was $20,640. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. The county's lower median household also may be partially attributed to the large student population. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $9,163 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Bulloch County had 936 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 10%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Bulloch County's assessed property value amounted to $436.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,129. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Bulloch County is the Statesboro Herald. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,28% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 28% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 22% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Bulloch County's high poverty level may be due in part to its large student population. Bulloch County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,481 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Bulloch County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ---'---_.1--_.. - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('9O-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- ll. u GA Georgia County Snapshots Bulloch County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) .... 60------ 30 15 Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400------ 300 200 -- --- 100 o -ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Bulloch County's average own source revenue per capita was $311. This amount was greater than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Bulloch County collected an average of $153 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 45% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Bulloch County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $216 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Bulloch County had an average of $2.6 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $59. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Bulloch was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Bulloch County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Bulloch County has a seven member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Statesboro averaged $341 per capita in own source revenues and $365 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 31 % of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $106 for residents of Statesboro. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Statesboro had an average of $6.3 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $398. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, Statesboro has a mayor-council form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 764-6111 Central Library (912) 764-7573 County Commission (912) 764-6245 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Burke County GA Ci5 Created in 1777, Burke County was one of Georgia's original eight counties. Originally organized as the .si Parish of St. George, Burke County Sic was named for English political writer, member of the British Parliament and supporter of the colonies' interests, Edmond Burke. The county has five municipalities, the largest of which is Waynesboro, the county seat. Known as the "Bird Dog Capital of the World," Waynesboro was named for General Anthony "Mad Anthony" Wayne, a famous Revolutionary soldier. Georgia Power Company's Alvin W. Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant is located in the county on the Savannah River and began operation in the late 1980s. Burke County is home of numerous festivals and special events. "The Georgia Field Trials" is one of the nation's oldest hunting dog competitions. The Redbreast Festival, celebrates the Ogeechee River's unique variety of redbreasted bream. Other events include the Cotton Harvest Festival, the Sardis Spring Fling, and the Waynesboro Christmas Parade. Burke County claims ten Georgia Governors by birth, residence, or marriage. Lyman Hall, Georgia signer of the Declaration of Independence and member of the Continental Congress, had a plantation in the county. The other nine Governors with Burke County ties are John Houston, Samuel Elbert, Edward Telfair, Jared Irwin, James Jackson, David Emanuel, William Schley, Herschel V. Johnson, and Hoke Smith. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1996 Georgia County Snapshots Burke County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 50 - - . CTY I!i:l GA _ _ ~ 40 30 l 20 .~._N~~ ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 20------ 15 - - - - 10 5 CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Burke County was 20,579 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 6.4%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 20,981 persons. In Burke County, 47% ofthe residents were white and 52% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 36% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 14% of Burke County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 41 % of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that in Burke County, 33.1 % of the adult population had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 22.3% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.9% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Burke County spent an average of $3,852 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 18.6 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the .8 state average. Burke County had 1.9 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 71 % of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $43,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,783. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Burke County ranked number 45. Of this five year average, 20% were violent crimes, while 80% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 75% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population , Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Burke County 18,255 19,349 20,579 6.0 6.4 Girard 241 225 195 -6.6 -13.3 Keysville 284 Midville 665 670 620 0.8 -7.5 Sardis 643 1,180 1,116 83.5 -5.4 Waynesboro 5,530 5,760 5,701 4.2 -1.0 ~""~"", Economy Georgia County Snapshots Burke County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Power Company, Samson Manufacturing, and Sunbeam Corporation are among the largest non-government employers in Burke County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. State and local government is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% ofthe jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Burke County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 11.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 63% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 37%, commuted out of Burke County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was less than that of the state and the nation. Burke County's per capita income was $12,434, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Burke County's median household income in 1989 was $17,667. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $6,525 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Burke County had 296 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 7%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Burke County's assessed property value amounted to $210.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,217. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Burke County is the Augusta Chronicle. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989,30% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 41 % of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 38% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Burke County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,459 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %01 Workforce Employed (1990) T IillI Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 16 12~ 8---------- "".~ ...... w------!r" 4---------- o '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY -- --m- --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Burke County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 90------ 75 - - - - 60 - - - - 45 30 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Due to the location of Plant Vogtle, Burke County's average own source revenue per capita over the past five years was $713. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Burke County collected an average of $584 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 83% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Burke County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $616 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Burke County had an average of $2.3 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $111. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Burke was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Burke County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Burke County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 554-5451 Central Library (706) 554-3277 County Commission (706) 554-2324 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Butts County GA o CLf'15 .S i S" Butts County, the 64th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1825 from Henry and Monroe counties. It was named for Captain Samuel Butts, a militiaman killed fighting Creek Indians in the War of 1812. o The county has three municipalities: Jackson, the county seat, Flovilla, and Jenkinsburg. Jackson was named for President Andrew Jackson. o Lake Jackson, one of the earliest reservoirs in Georgia, was formed in 1910 when the Central Georgia Power Company completed a dam and hydroelectric plant at Lloyd Shoals on the Ocmulgee River. o Indian Springs is the oldest state park in the United States. The Creek Indians used the springs for centuries to heal their sick and to keep the healthy well. It was also the site of the treaty that ceded the Creek Indian lands to the state of Georgia in 1825. o Robert Grier was one of Butts County's notable citizens. He was the publisher of Grier's Almanac which has been published annually since 1807. Current sales average 2.5 million copies a year. o Festivals in Butts County include the Scottish Festival, the Native American Festival, and a Civil War re-enactment each November. o Historic sites abound in Butts County, like Indian Springs Hotel (1823), the Indian Springs Church (1855), the Butts County Courthouse (1898), the Old Flovilla School (1885-1932), and historic private homes. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Butts County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (l990) T 50 - - . CTY ~ G A - - 40 ~~ 30 .:. " 20 k _~ 10 ~~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Butts County was 15,326 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 12.2%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 16,763 persons. In Butts County, 64% of the residents were white and 35% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 29% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 7% of Butts County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that in Butts County, 36.8% of the adult population had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 21.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.6% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Butts County spent an average of $3,557 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the.8 state average. Butts County had 1.8 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 72% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $55,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,409. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Butts County ranked number 93. Of this five year average, 11 % were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 82% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 69% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, American Woodmark, Dundee Mills Inc., and Westbury Med Care Home are among the largest non-government employers in Butts County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. State and local government is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 29% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 18% of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Butts County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,51 % of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 49%, commuted out of Butts County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was less than that of the state and the nation. Butts County's per capita income was $14,082, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Butts County's median household income in 1989 was $24,420. This amount was slightly less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $10,622 per capita. This amount was slightly less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Butts County had 261 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Butts County's assessed property value amounted to $184.1 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $12,012. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Butts County is the Atlanta Journal/ Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 16% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 22% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 18% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Butts County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,147 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Butts County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) .... &l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) .... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ---'-----'--- ==._- us GA cry Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) .... 12 - - - - - - - - - 3 ---------0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 cry --- 0--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Butts County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (19911995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average $$$s Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 - 100 0ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Butts County's average own source revenue per capita was $362. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Butts County collected an average of $170 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 41 % of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Butts County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $338 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Butts County had an average of $2.7 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $174. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Butts was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Butts County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Butts County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 775-4839 Central Library (770) 775-7524 County Commission (770) 775-8200 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Calhoun County GA Calhoun County was created in 1854 C4-qs from parts of Baker and Early counties. It was named for Senator John C. 5\ Sic, Calhoun of South Carolina, who had resigned as Vice President of the u.S. in 1832 so that he could return to the Senate to debate Daniel Webster on state rights. Calhoun County has four incorporated municipalities: Morgan, Arlington, Edison, and Leary. Morgan, the county seat, was named for General Daniel Morgan, a Revolutionary War figure. The county courthouse has burned down twice in Calhoun County, once in 1888 and again in 1920. One site on the National Register Historic Places is the Arlington Methodist Church, built in 1908. It was designed by Columbus architect T. Firth Lockwood, Sr., using the Romanesque style of architecture. Calhoun County hosts many special events including the Mayday Festival in Arlington, the King Cotton Horse Show in Edison, and the Annual Harvest Festival. Agriculture dominates the economy, with more than 50% of the land designated prime farmland by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Calhoun County is home to several endangered plant and animal species including the Swamp Buckhorn, the Yellow Flytrap, the Hirst Panic Grass, and the Gopher Tortoise. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Calhoun County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 50 - - . CTY m G A - -~~ 40 30 20 I 10 a Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Calhoun County was 5,013 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 12.3% rate, while the state's population grew at an average rate of 13.2% during the same period. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 4,733 persons. In Calhoun County, 41 % of the residents were white and 59% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in Census data. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 17% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 10% of Calhoun County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.1 % of the adult population in Calhoun County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 22.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 2.5% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Calhoun County spent an average of $3,915 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the.8 state average. Calhoun County had 8.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 69% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $29,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,142. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Calhoun County ranked number 99. Of this five year average, 24% were violent crimes, while 76% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 83 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 69% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Calhoun County Arlington Edison Leary Morgan 1970 6,606 1,698 1,210 907 280 Population 1980 5,717 1,572 1,128 783 364 1990 5,013 1,513 1,182 701 252 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 -13.5 -7.4 -6.8 -13.7 30.0 -12.3 -3.8 4.8 -10.5 -30.8 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Arlington Oil Mill, Gold Kist, Inc., and Ithaca Industries are among the largest non-government employers in Calhoun County. State and local government is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. Farming is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Calhoun County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 10.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,63% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 37%, commuted out of Calhoun County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was less than that of the state and the nation. Calhoun County's per capita income was $15,120, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Calhoun County's median household income in 1989 was $15,640. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,559 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Calhoun County had 121 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 16%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Calhoun County's assessed property value amounted to $67.9 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $13,540. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Calhoun County is the Albany Herald. The county is considered part of the Albany television market. During 1989,32% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 40% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 38% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Calhoun County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $4,273 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Calhoun County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990). I!ll Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,00011992) 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 "-:;. us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('98-'94) 16 - - - - - - - - - - 12 - - - - - / - - - - - - 8 -----/-------- '. c---_rn" 4--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY -- - -WJ- -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Calhoun County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 75------ 60 - - - - 45 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Calhoun County's average own source revenue per capita was $304. This amount was equal to the average reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Calhoun County collected an average of $215 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 67% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Calhoun County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $279 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Calhoun County had an average of $12,000 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $2. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Calhoun was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Calhoun County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce NA Central Library (912) 835-2012 County Commission (912) 849-4835 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Camden County GA Camden County was the second county organized in Georgia. The CLj-Q0 county dates back to 1777 as a political .si entity, and was named after Charles Sb Pratt, Earl of Camden. Pratt was an outspoken proponent of home rule for the colonies when he was the Lord Chancellor of England. Camden County has three municipalities: Woodbine, the county seat, Kingsland, and St. Marys. All three have listings on the National Register of Historic Places. The county includes unspoiled Cumberland Island. Largely owned by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the island is accessible only by boat or plane. Nevertheless, Cumberland Island has almost 40,000 visitors annually. Camden County is the site of the Kings Bay Submarine Base, home of the Trident Nuclear Submarine. Employment associated with construction of the base made Camden County the fastest growing county in the state in the 1980s. "Light Horse" Harry Lee-an officer in the American Revolution and the father of Robert E. Lee-is buried on Cumberland Island. Cumberland Island is also the site of the ruins of Dungeness, the mansion of the family of Andrew Carnegie. Dungeness was built in the 1880s. Some festivals in Camden County include the Annual Crawfish Festival in Woodbine, the Annual Soberfest in St. Marys, and the Rock Shrimp Festival, also in St. Marys. Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Camden County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 40 - - . CTY f:il GA-- 30 ---------.----m---,..".:;- l~ 20 ~ . "._..'~.-.:".:'~ --~.~,:.:::~:<.' Georgia County Snapshots Charlton County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 50 - - . CTY ill GA-- ::-lJ 20 rn-------.9 .---+----t 10 f----+---+-----1 ~ o '-----'-------'-----' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births .... 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Charlton County was 8,496 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 15.7%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 9,396 persons. In Charlton County, 72% of the residents were white and 28% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 34% ofthe county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 8% of Charlton County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equal to the statewide figure. Total households with children under 18 comprised 40% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 36% of the adult population in Charlton County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 20.2% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of9% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Charlton County spent an average of $3,439 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 6.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared with the.8 state average. Charlton County had 5.4 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average on.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 79% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $41,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,445. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Charlton County ranked number 127. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,75% ofthe adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 66% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Charlton County Folkston Homeland 1970 5,680 2,112 595 Population 1980 7,343 2,243 683 1990 8,496 2,285 981 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 29.3 15.7 6.2 1.9 14.8 43.6 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Preciptech, Inc., Stephenson Enterprises, and Union Camp Corporation are among the largest non-government employers in Charlton County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 29% of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. State and local government is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 22% of employment earnings. Retail trade is also important to the county's economy, providing 18% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Charlton County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,51 % of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 49%, commuted out of Charlton County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was less than that of the state and the nation. Charlton County's per capita income was $11,688, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Charlton County's median household income in 1989 was $22,328. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $4,929 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Charlton County had 143 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 9%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Charlton County's assessed property value amounted to $130.1 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $15,307. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Charlton County is the Jacksonville Times-Union. The county is considered part of the Jacksonville television market. During 1989,18% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 25% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 25% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Charlton County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,986 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Charlton County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T t !ill Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --.~--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Charlton County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ..- 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average $$$s Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Charlton County's average own source revenue per capita was $356. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Charlton County collected an average of $227 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 56% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Charlton County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $394 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Charlton County had an average of $781,700 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $92. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Charlton was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Charlton County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 496-2536 Central Library (912) 493-2041 County Commission (912) 496-2549 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Chatham County Chatham County, the 3rd county formed in Georgia, was created from what had been Christ Church Parish and part of St. Phillip's Parish, dating from 1777. The county was named for one of England's most celebrated prime ministers, William Pitt, the Earl of Chatham. Comprising the state's northernmost coastal area, at the mouth of the Savannah River, Chatham County includes the site on which General James Oglethorpe landed in 1733 to establish the Georgia Colony. The county has eight incorporated municipalities. Savannah, the county seat, is the largest. The others are Bloomingdale, Garden City, Port Wentworth, Pooler, Thunderbolt, Tybee Island, and Vernonburg. Chatham County was the site of the yachting events for the 1996 Olympics. Chatham County claims many notable people. James Habersham was the Secretary and Acting Governor of the Colony, and Joseph Habersham was the first Postmaster of the United States. Joseph also was the leader of a group known as the Liberty Boys who stole British ammunition and sent it to Boston at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Button Gwinnett, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Chatham County. Juliette Gordon Lowe, the founder of the Girl Scouts, was from Savannah. Also, famous songwriter and musician Johnny Mercer hails from the county. Savannah is home to a National Historic Landmark District of 2.5 square miles, and more than 1,100 architecturally significant buildings. The Victorian District is one of the nation's largest collections ofthat period's architecture. Savannah hosts the second largest St. Patrick's Day parade and celebration in the U.S., and is the setting for the national bestseller Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ). COMMUNITY AFFAIRS ,~t;'~.i1.'~.',:.. OCtober 19911 i ~( Georgia County Snapshots Chatham County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 40 - - . CTY m GA-- 30 p ~ I 20 ~1I 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ 10 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Chatham County was 216,935 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 7.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 244,684 persons. In Chatham County, 60% of the residents were white and 38% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% ofthe county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 9% of Chatham County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.0% of the adult population in Chatham County had completed high school, which was slightly greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 43.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of7.2% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Chatham County spent an average of $4,297 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 14 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 2.1, compared with the .8 state average. Chatham County had 5.2 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 59% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $63,300. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 8,372. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Chatham County ranked number 6. Of this five year average, 10% were violent crimes, while 90% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 61 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 74% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Chatham County 187,816 202,226 216,935 7.7 7.3 Bloomingdale 1,855 2,271 22.4 Garden City 5,790 6,895 7,410 19.1 7.5 Pooler 1,517 2,543 4,453 67.6 75.1 Port Wentworth 3,905 3,947 4,012 1.1 1.6 Savannah 118,349 141,390 137,560 19.5 -2.7 /""'."-" Thunderbolt 2,750 2,165 2,786 -21.3 28.7 Tybee Island 1,786 2,240 2,842 25.4 26.9 Vemonburg 136 178 74 30.9 -58.4 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Gulfstream Aerospace, Memorial Medical Center, and Union Camp Corporation are among the largest non-government employers in Chatham County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 26% of the jobs and 25% of employment earnings. Retail trade is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Chatham County's annual unemployment rate was equal to the state average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,95% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 5%, commuted out of Chatham County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 exceeded that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Chatham County's per capita income was $19,108, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Chatham County's median household income in 1989 was $26,721. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $12,208 per capita. This amount was greater than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Chatham County had 5,883 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Chatham County's assessed property value amounted to $3.4 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $15,628. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Chatham County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989, 17% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 25% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 17% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Chatham County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,351 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Chatham County Commuting, %01 Workforce Employed (1990)T 8 Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'-----'---, us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY m~. __ GA Georgia County Snapshots Chatham County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Ave Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ 30 15 o~ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 100 o ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Chatham County's average own source revenue per capita was $465. This amount was less than the average of $574 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Chatham County collected an average of $231 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $317 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 45% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Chatham County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $328 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during ~he same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $444 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Chatham County had an average of $33.6 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $155. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $491 per capita average for the 8 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Chatham was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Chatham County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Chatham County has a nine member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Savannah averaged $564 per capita in own source revenues and $487 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $724 per capita in own source revenues and $734 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of32% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $183 for residents of Savannah. During the same period, similarly sized cities also relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Savannah had an average of $176 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $1,278. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $1,677 per capita average for the 5 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, Savannah has a council-manager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 748-8080 Central Library (912) 652-3600 County Commission (912) 652-7878 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Chattahoochee County ~A Chattahoochee County was formed in ry-,--,-,--,----,-c-;r-, 1854 from parts of Marion and C lfCj5 Muscogee counties. It was named for the .S i Chattahoochee River that forms the Sic county's western boundary. The county seat, and only incorporated municipality, is Cusseta. The city is named for one of the principal tribes of the Lower Creek Indians. The county is home to the Fort Benning Military Reservation, the county's largest employer. Fort Benning was founded at the beginning of the first World War, and was named for General Henry Lewis Benning, a Confederate general who hailed from Columbus. It is the world's largest infantry camp, and is often called the "West Point of the South." Fort Benning recently became the new home of a Regional Civilian Personnel Center and will serve over 40,000 civilian employees of the Department of the Army in the Southeast. Two plants on Georgia's Protected Plant List can be found in the county: Croornia Pauci flora and Rhododendron Prunifolium. Fort Benning and Cusseta boast eight sites located on the National Register of Historic Places, most relating to the establishment of the fort and to Native American culture. The National Infantry Museum, constructed in 1928 as a post hospital, houses a collection of weapons, uniforms, and artifacts illustrating the role ofthe infantry in the nation's wars. Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Talbot ~? ..f Web .ler Georgia County Snapshots Chattahoochee County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over C1990} T 40 - - . CTY lID G A - - 30 ----+----Kl-'f~---""~fJI 10 f---+---+-----j o '--------'---------'------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Chattahoochee County was 16,934 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 22% rate, while the state's population increased at an average rate of 13.2% during the same period. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 18,280 persons. In Chattahoochee County, 59% of the residents were white and 31 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 10% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 36% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 1% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 5% of Chattahoochee County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 72% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.2% of the adult population in Chattahoochee County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 56.2% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of .6% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Chattahoochee County spent an average of $4,571 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 14.5 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the .8 state average. Chattahoochee County had no hospital beds in 1994. Statewide, there was an average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 20% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $42,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 570. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Chattahoochee County ranked number 151. Of this five year average, 15% were violent crimes, while 85% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 16% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 60% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Chattahoochee County Cusseta 1970 25,813 1,251 Population 1980 1990 21,732 16,934 1,218 1,107 Growth (%) 19701980 19801990 -15.8 -2.6 -22.1 -9.1 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Chattahoochee County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Consolidated Services, Tot Town Child Development Center, and Wellington Sears are among the largest non-government employers in Chattahoochee County. Nearly 75% of the county's land area is taken up by the Fort Benning Military Reservation, and the military's presence is evident in several of the social and economic indicators, including low taxable sales, low poverty level, and low per capita assessed property value. Federal military employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 71 % of the jobs and 66% of employment earnings. Retail trade is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 4% of the jobs and 2% of employment earnings. Service employment provides 2% of the jobs and 1% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. In Chattahoochee County, federal government jobs provide the highest average weekly wage of $535. State government employment provides the next highest average weekly wage of $463. Between 1990 and 1994, Chattahoochee County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,68% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 32%, commuted out of Chattahoochee County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was less than that of the state and the nation. Chattahoochee County's per capita income was $14,782, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Chattahoochee County's median household income in 1989 was $25,305. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $533 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Chattahoochee County had 26 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county showed no percentage change. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Chattahoochee County's assessed property value amounted to $21.5 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $1,268. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Chattahoochee County is the Columbus Ledger Enquirer. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989, 10% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 13% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 25% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Chattahoochee County residents received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,021 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T I T IllI Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY m.ffi,--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Crisp County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Crisp County's average own source revenue per capita was $356. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Crisp County collected an average of $137 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 34% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Crisp County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $327 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Crisp County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Crisp was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Crisp County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Cordele averaged $470 per capita in own source revenues and $410 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 29% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $138 for residents of Cordele. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Cordele had an average of $4.1 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $398. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Crisp County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 273-1668 Central Library (912) 276-2644 County Commission (912) 276-2672 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Dade County Dade County, in Georgia's extreme northwestern comer, was established in 1837, a year before the federal government began removing the original inhabitants, the Cherokee Indians. Carved from western Walker County, it was the 91st county created in the state. Dade County was named for a Virginian, Major Francis Langhorne Dade, who was killed in 1835 while fighting the Seminoles. Trenton, the county seat, was named after the city in New Jersey. Located on the "Backside of Lookout Mountain," Dade County was for many years unknown to most Georgians. Until a long-delayed state highway over the mountain was completed in 1948, the only reliable route to the county by automobile was through Alabama or Tennessee. For this reason, the county was known as "The Independent State of Dade." Several annual events highlight life in Dade County. Dade County Days, held each May in Trenton, feature "down home" food, crafts, and entertainment. The New Salem Mountain Festival is held each May and October, and features hand-made arts and crafts, as well as music and dancing. The 2,120-acre Cloudland Canyon State Park is located in Dade County. Encompassing a deep gorge cut by Sitton Gulch Creek, the park has several ridges and valleys for hiking and camping. In the late 1890s Dade County built a new courthouse, jail, and library in downtown Trenton. The old courthouse, a 1926 brick structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places, still stands at the center of the town square. Interstate 59 bisects the county, passing through a scenic valley between the Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain plateaus. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Dade County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 50 - - . CTY Ilill G A - - 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 - - - - - - - m --____i1I!i 20liii'.~-_.~ . - - - + - - - - j 10 }----+----+-----j o L -_ _-'--_ _....l-_ _---.J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Dade County was 13,147 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 6.7%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 14,231 persons. In Dade County, 98% of the residents were white and 1% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black, and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Dade County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 39% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that in Dade County, 29.9% of the adult population had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 25.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.5% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Dade County spent an average of $3,673 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 4.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .9, compared with the .8 statewide average. Dade County had 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 74% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $45,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) for the county was 1,568. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Dade County ranked number 122. Of this five year average, 8% were violent crimes, while 92% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 69% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 72% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Dade Trenton 1970 9,910 1,523 Population 1980 1990 12,318 13,147 1,636 1,994 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 24.3 6.7 7.4 21.9 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Dade County include: Covenant College Inc., Shaw Industries Inc., and Wildwood Sanitarium, Inc. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 24% of the jobs and 29% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 18% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Dade County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.5% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,38% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 62%, commuted out of Dade County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Dade County's per capita income was $12,556, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Dade County's median household income in 1989 was $20,176. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $6,458 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Dade County had 162 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 22%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Dade County's assessed property value amounted to $117.4 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $8,930. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Dade County is the Chattanooga News-Free Press. The county is considered part of the Chattanooga television market. During 1989, 15% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, equal to the statewide level and above the U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 16% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 27% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Dade County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,394 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Dade County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990)T I!fj Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'--_.L.- ==- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---%~-- GA Georgia County Snapshots Dade County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 45 15 o- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400------ 300 ~ 200 100 o ~. ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Dade County's average own source revenue per capita was $230. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Dade County collected an average of $89 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 34% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Dade County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $259 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Dade County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Dade was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Dade County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 657-4488 Central Library (706) 638-2992 County Commission (706) 657-4625 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Dawson County Dawson County was created in 1857 from parts of Lumpkin, Gilmer, and Forsyth counties. Georgia's 118th county, and the county seat of Dawsonville, were named for Judge William I-J--L...-_, C. Dawson, a compiler of the laws of Georgia and commander of a brigade in the Creek Indian War of 1836. Dawson also served in both houses of the state legislature and in Congress before the Civil War. Dawson County is home to 729-foot Amicalola Falls, the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Amicalola Falls State Park surrounds the falls, and the Amicalola Falls Lodge is located at the top of the falls. The approach trail to the start of the Appalachian Trail on Springer Mountain is also located in the park. The Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area is maintained in Dawson County and provides hunting, hiking, bird watching, camping and fishing opportunities. The state purchased 2,031 acres along Wildcat Creek at the northwestern end of the wildlife area in 1993 as part of the Preservation 2000 program. NASCAR driver and former Winston Cup Champion Bill Elliot is a native of Dawson County. ''Awesome Bill from Dawsonville" has many fans throughout the county, as evidenced by the many shops and storefronts in Dawsonville filled with Bill Elliot and other racing memorabilia. Lake Sidney Lanier forms Dawson County's southeastern border, providing recreational and economic opportunities for local residents. The completion of Lake Lanier and development of Georgia Highway 400 has spurred growth and development in the county during the past 30 years. Built in 1857, the historic Dawson County Courthouse has been the focus of recent renovation and preservation efforts. A coalition of interested parties, ranging from the local Women's Club to a local builder, have worked on the building. Dawson County host several annual events including a Spring Wildflowers Celebration at Amicalola Falls State Park in April, the Summer's End Trading Days in August, and a Fall Forest Festival in October. For three Saturdays in October, the Dawsonville town square comes alive with arts and crafts displays, clogging, and other entertainment during the Dawson County Fall Festival. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Dawson County Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 50 - - . CTY rn GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - -... 30 20 9. ~~ 10 o L -_ _.L..-_ _--'---_ _- ' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 15------ Demographics According to the 1990 Census, the population of Dawson County was 9,429 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 97.5%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 12,453 persons. In Dawson County, 100% of the residents were white, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either black or white in the Census data. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 9% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Dawson County, the 1990 Census reports 4% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 41 % of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.7% of the adult population in Dawson County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 26.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.7% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Dawson County spent an average of $4,039 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 10.0 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared with the .8 state average. Dawson County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 66% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $80,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,228. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Dawson County ranked number 65. Of this five year average, 21 % were violent crimes, while 79% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 71 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 80% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Dawson County Dawsonville 1970 3,639 288 Population 1980 4,774 342 1990 9,429 467 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 31.2 97.5 18.8 36.5 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Dawson County include: Ingles Markets, Keith Muller Enterprises, and Sweet Orr & Co. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 22% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Dawson County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.1 % compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,32% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 68%, commuted out of Dawson County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Dawson County's per capita income was $15,473, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Dawson County's median household income in 1989 was $28,380. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $4,816 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Dawson County had 121 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 10%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Dawson County's assessed property value amounted to $209.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $22,253. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Dawson County is the Gainesville Times. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 13% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 17% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 14% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Dawson County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,935 per capita in 1992 compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Dawson County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ..... ~ 121 Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) ..... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ..... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- m-- GA Georgia County Snapshots Dawson County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 45 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 100 o ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Dawson County's average own source revenue per capita was $454. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Dawson County collected an average of $254 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 51 % ofthe county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Dawson County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $396 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Dawson County had an average of $658,600 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $70. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Dawson was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Dawson County has a sole commissioner. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 265-6278 Central Library (706) 265-3221 County Commission (706) 265-3164 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Decatur County G7A CY-95 .Sl S~ Decatur County was created in 1823 from portions of Early County. The county was named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur who defeated the Barbary Coast pirates at Tripoli in 1815. Bainbridge, the county seat, was named for Commodore William Bainbridge, commander of the U.S. Constitution, "Old Ironsides." The Decatur County area was the site of several battles between Indians and early settlers. In the early l700s, both the Spanish and English fought with Creek Indians. In 1818, General Andrew Jackson led troops from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia to victory over the Seminole Indians. Decatur County is divided by the Flint River, which flows to meet the Chattahoochee. Together they form the Apalachicola River which flows to the Gulf of Mexico. At the junction ofthe two rivers, the Jim WoodruffDam forms Lake Seminole. A system of locks at the dam allows barge traffic to travel between the inland port at Bainbridge and the GulfofMexico. The limestone aquifer underlying Decatur County is broken in many places, encouraging the formation of caves and lime sinks-one at Curry's Mill is almost 700 feet wide and reaches a depth of 102 feet. Decatur County is the nation's leader in the production of Fuller's Earth, a type of clay with varied chemical uses. Once used for bleaching petroleum and cleaning grease out of wool, Fuller's Earth is currently used as cat litter and as an additive to insecticides and cements. Decatur County is the home to several annual festivals. During the first week in May, the Riverside Artsfest celebrates a specific state's culture, history, food, and music. The Town of Climax plays host to the annual Swine Time each November. This lighthearted event recognizes the contribution of pork products to the region's economy. Other annual events are the Dogwood Festival in April and the Decatur County Fall Festival and Fair in October. Lake Seminole is widely regarded as one of the nation's best lakes for large mouth bass fishing. In addition, local anglers fish for striped and white bass, catfish, crappy, and bream. Also, Lake Seminole is popular among area duck hunters. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 s Georgia County Snapshots Decatur County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - -.... 30 - - - - - -. - -.... 20 '*I~c---+-------1 10 ]----+----+---...., o '---_ _.1.--_ _--'-_ _--' Coli Some HS No Deg Coli Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Decatur County was 25,511 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was.l %, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 26,735 persons. In Decatur County, 59% of the residents were white and 39% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 33% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Decatur County, the 1990 Census reports 11 % of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 29.5% of the adult population in Decatur County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 30.3% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Decatur County spent an average of $3,366 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 13.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.2, compared with the.8 state average. Decatur County had 3.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 64% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $42,700. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 5,532. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Decatur County ranked number 21. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 61 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 68% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Decatur County Attapulgus Bainbridge Brinson Climax 1970 22,310 513 10,887 231 275 Population 1980 1990 25,495 623 10,553 274 407 25,511 380 10,712 238 226 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 14.3 0.1 21.4 -39.0 -3.1 1.5 18.6 -13.1 48.0 -44.5 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Amoco Fabrics Company, Amoco Fibers, and Englehard Corporation are among the largest non-government employers in Decatur County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 26% of the jobs and 29% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Decatur County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.6% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 84% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 16%, commuted out of Decatur County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Decatur County's per capita income was $14,766, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Decatur County's median household income in 1989 was $20,854. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $7,434 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Decatur County had 558 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 5%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Decatur County's assessed property value amounted to $385.9 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $15,125. At the state level, the per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Decatur County is the Albany Herald. The county is considered part of the Tallahassee, Thomasville television market. During 1989,23% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 31 % of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 31 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Decatur County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,801 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Decatur County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... ~ Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ---,--_..1.- .=::::::::a_ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 12 - - - - - - - - - : ---L--,-,L-,,-[A;!jJ_-_-""'_'~-m<-.~~= .7--rn ~, w' ":"'---11] 3--------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---m--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Decatur County Property Tax as %or Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 100 0ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Decatur County's average own source revenue per capita was $324. This amount was greater than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Decatur County collected an average of $143 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 42% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Decatur County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $255 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Decatur County had an average of $2 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $79. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Decatur was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Decatur County has a six member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Bainbridge has a councilmanager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 246-4774 Central Library (912) 248-2665 County Commission (912) 248-3030 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY DeKalb County DeKalb County was formed in 1822 from parts of Henry, Gwinnett, and Fayette counties. It was the 56th county created in the state and was named after Baron Johann DeKalb who accompanied Lafayette to America and served as a major general in the Continental Army. At one time, the county contained all of Atlanta and much of what is now Fulton County. DeKalb County has eight municipalities including Decatur, the county seat. Other communities are Avondale Estates, Chamblee, Clarkston, Doraville, Lithonia, Pine Lake, and Stone Mountain. The Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located in DeKalb County. Other points of educational interest in the county include Emory University, Agnes Scott College and Oglethorpe University. DeKalb College, with an enrollment of over 16,000 students, is one of the largest colleges in the state. Stone Mountain Park, one of Georgia's most popular tourist attractions, is located on Gwinnett's border with DeKalb County. Highlights of the 3,200acre park include a golf course, a 363acre lake, an antebellum plantation and a carving of Confederate heroes on the world's largest exposed mass of granite. Stone Mountain was also the venue for the 1996 Olympic archery, tennis and track cycling. DeKalb County's recent capital improvement projects include upgrading and renovating many of the local health facilities. The county is also home to one of the largest jails in the country, with over 3,000 beds. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1996 Georgia County Snapshots DeKalb County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY !! G A - - o '--_ _-'---_ _...l-_ _-J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 - 5 -. o ~. GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of DeKalb County was 545,837 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 13%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 625,067 persons. In DeKalb County, 55% of the residents were white and 42% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 3% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 27% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 9% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In DeKalb County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, which equalled the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 31 % of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 23.3% of the adult population in DeKalb County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 60.6% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. DeKalb County spent an average of $4,823 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.4 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 2.9, compared with the .8 state average. DeKalb County had 3.3 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 52% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $91,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 9,371. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, DeKalb County ranked number 4. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 90% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 74% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community DeKalb County Avondale Estates Chamblee Clarkston Decatur Doraville Lithonia Pine Lake Stone Mountain 1970 415,387 1,735 9,127 3,127 21,943 9,157 2,270 866 1,899 Population 1980 1990 483,024 1,313 7,137 4,539 18,404 7,414 2,637 901 4,867 545,837 2,209 7,668 5,385 17,336 7,626 2,448 810 6,494 Growth (%) 19701980 1980-1990 16.3 -24.3 -21.8 45.2 -16.1 -19.0 16.2 4.0 156.3 13.0 68.2 7.4 18.6 -5.8 2.9 -7.2 -10.1 33.4 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Emory University, Sears Roebuck, and Southern Bell are among the largest non-government employers in DeKalb County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 31 % of the jobs and employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Finance, insurance and real estate is also important to the county's economy, providing 10% of the jobs and 8% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, DeKalb County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's, averaging 5.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,47% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 53%, commuted out of DeKalb County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 exceeded that of the state and was greater than that of the nation. DeKalb County's per capita income was $22,542, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. DeKalb County's median household income in 1989 was $35,721. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $13,969 per capita. This amount was greater than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. DeKalb County had 17,084 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 5%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, DeKalb County's assessed property value amounted to $11 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $20,197. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in DeKalb County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 10% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 14% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 10% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents ofDeKalb County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,532 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots DeKalb County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T !iii Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o~-~- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3-----~---- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---~--- GA Georgia County Snapshots DeKalb County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average <1991-1995) .... 60------ 45 30 15 0ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita <19911995) T 400------ 300 200 100 o ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, DeKalb County's average own source revenue per capita was $640. This amount was greater than the average of $574 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. DeKalb County collected an average of $332 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $317 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 50% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, DeKalb County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $483 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $444 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, DeKalb County had an average of $201 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $368. This amount was higher than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $491 per capita average for the eight similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, DeKalb was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, DeKalb County has an eight member board of commissioners, with the chief executive officer elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Decatur averaged $783 per capita in own source revenues and $554 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 74% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $576 for residents of Decatur. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Decatur had an average of $77,200 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $4. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Decatur has a councilmanager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (404) 378-8000 Central Library (404) 370-8450 County Commission (404) 371-2886 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the:. Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Dodge County Dodge County was created in 1870 from parts of Montgomery, Pulaski, and Telfair counties. Georgia's 134th county was named for William E. Dodge, a New York businessman who owned large tracts of forest land in Georgia. Dodge helped persuade Congress to remove taxation from timber and built the first county courthouse in 1908 as a gift. The current courthouse was recently renovated by the county. Dodge County has four municipalities: Chauncey, Chester, Eastman, and Rhine. Eastman is the largest and the county seat. Eastman was named for W. P. Eastman, a friend of Dodge. Eastman is the home of the original Stuckey Candy Plant and is referred to as the "Candy Capital of Georgia." The candy shop, pecan orchards, and several homes are available for touring. One of the major special events in Dodge County is the Pecan Jam Festival, held annually the first weekend in June. Another festival, also in June, is the Spring Lake Bluegrass Festival/Old Timers Fiddlers' Reunion held in Rhine. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Dodge County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY !iJ!I G A - - ~~ 40 - - - - - - - - - . . . , 30 -------m---~ .~., 2 0 0 / . - -H- + - - - - + - - - 1 10 1-~---+---I-----I o '---_ _.L.-_ _--'---_ _---' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 20------ 15--- 10 -IIII! :~I GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Dodge County was 17,607 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 3.8%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 17,775 persons. In Dodge County, 71 % of the residents were white and 28% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 29% of the county's residents, were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Dodge County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equalling the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county, again equalling the state rate. The 1990 Census indicates that 34.3% of the adult population in Dodge County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 22.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.1 % of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Dodge County spent an average of $3,705 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 17.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .8, which was equal to the state average. Dodge County had 5.3 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 67% of the housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $33,700. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,248. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Dodge County ranked number 61. Of this five year average, 10% were violent crimes, while 90% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 79% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 61 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Dodge County Chauncey Chester Eastman Rhine 1970 15,658 308 409 5,416 471 Population 1980 1990 16,955 350 409 5,330 590 17,607 312 1,072 5,153 466 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 8.3 3.8 13.6 -10.9 0.0 162.1 -1.6 -3.3 25.3 -21.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Gilman Investment Company, Sara Lee Knit Products, and Standard Candy Company are among the largest non-government employers in Dodge County. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 25% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and 21 % of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 17% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Dodge County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's, averaging 6.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,65% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 35%, commuted out of Dodge County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Dodge County's per capita income was $13,237, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Dodge County's median household income in 1989 was $18,244. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,799 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Dodge County had 385 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Dodge County's assessed property value amounted to $142.7 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $8,105. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Dodge County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989,22% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 28% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 36% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% ofthe elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Dodge County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,782 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Dodge County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T Ell Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,OOO/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'------"-----==>--- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY u,rn uo GA Georgia County Snapshots Dodge County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 100 0ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Dodge County's average own source revenue per capita was $180. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Dodge County collected an average of $85 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 46% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Dodge County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $206 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Dodge County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Dodge was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Dodge County has a sole commissioner. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 374-4723 Central Library (912) 374-4711 County Commission (912) 374-4361 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY ODDly County GA Dooly County, the 48th county formed in elfers- Georgia, was created in 1821. It was one of the original landlot counties and was later S\ divided to make Crisp and parts of Macon, Sla Pulaski, Turner, Wilcox, and Worth counties. The county was named for Colonel John Dooly, a revolutionary war hero who helped prosecute Tories in 1779 and was murdered by them the following year. Vienna (pronounced vye'-enna locally), the county seat, was named after the capital of Austria. Dooly County claims several notable Georgians past and present. Walter F. George was a member of the U.S. Senate from 19221957, served as President Pro Tem of the Senate and chaired the Finance and Foreign Relations Committees. A museum honoring George operates in Vienna. George Busbee, governor from 1975-1983, was born and raised in Dooly County. Roger Kingdom, gold medalist in the high hurdles at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, was born in Dooly County. Jody Powell, press secretary to President Jimmy Carter, also hails from the county. Historic sites in the county include the Dooly County Courthouse. Built in 1891 of granite, slate, and brick, the structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Dooly Campground, which was built in 1875, is an open-air tabernacle constructed with hand-hewn timbers that still hosts many community activities. Dooly County is home to two annual events that celebrate the area's fine cuisine. The Southern Wild Game & Fish Cookout, held every March, features a cooking competition with participants from throughout the Southeast, a flea market, entertainment, and a shooting competition. Held during October, the county's Big Pig Jig is Georgia's Official Barbecue Cooking Championship. The festival attracts over 30,000 spectators and sends the Grand Champion to compete in the "Memphis in May International Barbecue Cook-off." Hunting is popular in Dooly County, with sportsmen bagging deer, dove, quail, duck, rabbit, squirrel, and turkey. The county participates in a pilot deer hunting program designed to increase the number of large bucks in the area. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots ODDly County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 ------------1 30 ------~!::,l----~ 20 r:m------}.---+------1 According to the 1990 Census, the population of Doo1y County was 9,901 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 8.5% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 10,115 persons. In Dooly County, 50% of the residents were white and 49% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 33% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. 10.----+----+------1 o '---_ _-l...-_ _--'---_ _- ' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 20------ In Dooly County, the 1990 Census reports 11 % of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 31.8% of the adult population in Dooly County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 22.9% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. 15 - - - - Dooly County spent an average of $4,453 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. 10 @T Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 15.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number ofphysicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the .8 state average. Dooly County had 4.6 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, 61 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $39,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,836. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Dooly County ranked number 111. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 70% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 70% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 Dooly County 10,404 10,826 9,901 4.1 -8.5 Byromville 419 567 452 35.3 -20.3 Dooling Lilly 155 202 138 30.3 -31.7 Pinehurst 405 431 388 6.4 -10.0 Unadilla 1,457 1,566 1,620 7.5 3.4 Vienna 2,341 2,886 2,708 23.3 -6.2 -""', '. Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Pacific, Oxford Industries, and Red Kap Industries are among the largest non-government employers in Dooly County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and 23% of employment earnings. Farming is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Dooly County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.7% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 64% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 36%, commuted out of Dooly County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Dooly County's per capita income was $14,924, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Dooly County's median household income in 1989 was $16,326. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $6,138 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Dooly County had 181 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Dooly County's assessed property value amounted to $125.5 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $12,677. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Dooly County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989,33% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 40% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 40% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Dooly County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,888 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots ODDly County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T III Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: . ('90-'94) T 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY -- - ID" - - GA Georgia County Snapshots Oooly County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average <1991-1995) .... 60------ 45 30 15 o -- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita <1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 -- 100 o ~- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Dooly County's average own source revenue per capita was $347. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Dooly County collected an average of $154 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 42% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Dooly County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $355 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Dooly County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Dooly was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Dooly County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Dooly County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 268-4554 Central Library (912) 268-4687 County Commission (912) 268-4228 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Dougherty County G,A Dougherty County was created in 1853 from part of Baker County. Georgia's CL.j-96 102nd county was named for Charles ~S\ Dougherty of Athens, a judge of the Western Circuit and a popular advocate Sb of state rights. The only incorporated community in the county is the county seat of Albany. The city is named for the New York State capital. Radium Springs is located within the county just south of Albany. The springs are the largest in Georgia, discharging 70,000 gallons of 68 degree water each minute. The springs received its current name in 1925 when the spring water tested was found to contain traces of radium isotopes. During the 1920s a club casino was operated on the banks of the springs. The casino has been restored and is currently operated as a restaurant. Dougherty County, which has more pecan trees than any other county in the nation, is a strong contributor to south Georgia's claim as the pecan capital of the world. Dougherty and Lee counties share Chehaw Wild Animal Park, a 100-acre wildlife preserve where native and exotic animals move about freely in natural habitats. Some notable Albany natives include naturalist Jim Fowler and former major league baseball player Ray Knight. LPGA great Nancy Lopez also makes her home in Albany. Dougherty County was also home to Alice Coachman, the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal. Coachman, who grew up in Albany, ~.".,_.."+-. ,.~ won the high jump competition in 1948. Albany has several sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among them are St. Teresa's Catholic Church, built in 1859 and the oldest Catholic Church in continuous use in Georgia, and Heritage Plaza, a collection of historic buildings and educational facilities. Annual events in Albany and Dougherty County include the Fall on the Flint Festival in September, the Chehaw National Indian Festival in May, and the Celebrity Quail Hunt in February. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Dougherty County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T m 40 - - . CTY GA-- ~. 30 ~ *"il 20 ~~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15--- 10 5 CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Dougherty County was 96,311 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 4.4% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 98,200 persons. In Dougherty County, 49% of the residents were white and 50% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 35% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 10% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Dougherty County, the 1990 Census reports 14% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 39% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 28.8% of the adult population in Dougherty County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 38.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 10% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Dougherty County spent an average of $3,865 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 14.9 for the county. The statewide tate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.8, compared with the .8 state average. Dougherty County had 7.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 48 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $57,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 10,188. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Dougherty County ranked number 2. Of this five year average, 10% were violent crimes, while 90% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 64% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 19701980 19801990 Dougherty 89,639 100,710 96,311 12.4 -4.4 Albany 72,623 74,059 78,122 2.0 5.5 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Dougherty County '---'-" According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Miller Brewing Company, Phoebe Commuting, Putney Memorial, and Proctor & Gamble are among the largest non-government employers in Dougherty County. %of Workforce Employed (1990) T Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Dougherty County's annual unemployment rate was higher El Outside County Inside County than the state's mark, averaging 8.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 93% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 7%, commuted out of Dougherty County for employment. Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Dougherty County's per capita income was $15,801, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. 18 Dougherty County's median household income in 1989 was $23,587. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. 12 In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $11,116 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Dougherty County had 2,614 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Dougherty County's assessed property value amounted to $1 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,388. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Dougherty County is the Albany Herald. The county is considered part of the Albany television market. 6 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - During 1989,24% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 35% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 24% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. 3--------- Residents of Dougherty County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,385 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --.~-_. GA Georgia County Snapshots Dougherty County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 200 =I 0 ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Dougherty County's average own source revenue per capita was $390. This amount was greater than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Dougherty County collected an average of $142 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 34% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Dougherty County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $262 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Dougherty County had an average of $11.9 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $124. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Dougherty was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Dougherty County has a seven member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Albany averaged $524 per capita in own source revenues and $548 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $724 per capita in own source revenues and $734 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 22% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $118 for residents ofAlbany. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Albany had an average of $50.2 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $642. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $1,677 per capita average for the 5 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Albany has a counci1manager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 434-8700 Central Library (912) 431-2900 County Commission (912) 431-2121 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Douglas County GA Douglas County was formed in 1870 from parts of Carroll and old Campbell counties t4-95 plus a small section ofthe original Cherokee , Si County. Sb The county was named after Stephen A. Douglas, a U.S. Congressman and rival of Abraham Lincoln for the presidency. Douglasville, the county seat, was named after the county in 1875. The area around Douglas County was settled in 1848 by Abe, Reuben and Young Vansant, three brothers from South Carolina. Within the boundaries of Douglas County lies Sweetwater Creek State Conservation Park. Offering fishing, boating, and hiking, the park is the third most visited facility in the state park system. Douglas County is home to several Civil War battle sites. The ruins of the New Manchester Manufacturing Company's cotton factory lie on the banks of Sweetwater Creek. The factory was destroyed by Union troops during Sherman's March to the Sea. Around the turn of the century, Lithia Springs was the site of a prestigious resort hotel for the nation's rich and famous. Visitors were attracted to the therapeutic mineral waters of Lithia Springs until fire destroyed the hotel in 1911. Ceremonial mounds of the Mississippian Indians are located in the county. Other Indian artifacts and remains, such as pottery, tools, and weapons, can be found within Douglas County. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Douglas County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over C1990} T 50 - - . CTY &aI G A - - 40 -------=---- 30 ------e;I----~ffl!lI'J 20rn------~~--+_-__1 of 10 l-~--_+--_+--__1 o '----_ _.L-_ _---'-----_ _----J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ I10 - flj!! ---- 5 -11- iii Wfil o _ ;iiAmt:.i~~_ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Douglas County was 71,120 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 30.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 91,311 persons. In Douglas County, 91 % of the residents were white and 8% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 7% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Douglas County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 38% of the adult population in Douglas County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 34.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Douglas County spent an average of $3,801 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 8.4 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1, compared with the .8 state average. Douglas County had 5.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 71 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $73,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,994. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Douglas County ranked number 39. Of this five year average, 5% were violent crimes, while 95% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 65 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 80% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 Douglas County 28,659 54,573 71,120 90.4 30.3 Douglasville 5,472 7,641 11,635 39.6 52.3 Lithia Springs Economy Georgia County Snapshots Douglas County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, HCA Parkway Medical, Help Unlimited Inc., and Wal-Mart Stores are among the largest non-government employers in Douglas County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 26% of the jobs and employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 23% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. In Douglas County, jobs in the engineering/management services field provide the highest average weekly wage of $681. The federal government provides the next highest average weekly wage of $623. Between 1990 and 1994, Douglas County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's, averaging 4.7% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 33% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 67%, commuted out of Douglas County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Douglas County's per capita income was $16,550, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Douglas County's median household income in 1989 was $37,138. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $11,013 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Douglas County had 1,430 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 18%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Douglas County's assessed property value amounted to $1 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $14,345. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Douglas County is the Douglasville/Douglas County Sentinel. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,7% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 8% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 12% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Douglas County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,998 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T '" Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,OOO/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'------'----.-<=...- - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 6 ' ~ " ",m",., .,; ... _""'. ID --ill ,,;. +--. 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY mll--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Douglas County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ ALL CTY ' Government Over the past five years, Douglas County's average own source revenue per capita was $387. This amount was greater than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Douglas County collected an average of $224 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 54% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Douglas County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $382 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Douglas County had an average of $2.6 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $36. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Douglas was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Douglas County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Douglas County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Douglasville averaged $546 per capita in own source revenues and $446 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 21 % of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $117 for residents of Douglasville. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. During the past five years, the City of Douglasville had no long-term debt outstanding. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Douglasville has a council-manager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 942-5022 Central Library (770) 920-7125 County Commission (770) 920-7266 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Early County GA Early County was created in 1818 from land obtained from the Creek Indians. The eli-Cis- .51 counties of Calhoun, Clay, Decatur, Dougherty, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, and Seminole were all created from territory Sfo originally belonging to Early County. Georgia's 41st county was named for Peter Early, Governor of Georgia from 1813 to 1815, Superior Court Judge, and member of Congress. Blakely, the county seat, was named for Captain Johnson Blakely, a North Carolinian lost at sea during the War of 1812. In the north central Early County is a row of mounds of Native American origin dating to around the year 800. One mound believed to have been a temple base is the largest in the United States. Kolomoki Mounds State Park preserves the site. A museum there contains artifacts depicting the indigenous culture's history to about 5000 B.C. The southernmost covered bridge in the United States, Coheelee Creek Bridge, is located in the western part of the county. Built for $490 in 1891, the bridge stretches 96 feet across the Coheelee Creek. The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and completely restored in 1984. The area surrounding the bridge is now operated as a county park. As with many counties in Southwest Georgia, peanut farming is a vital component of Early County's economy. Early County is the largest peanut quota holding county in the nation. In recognition of this crop's importance, a statue of a peanut was erected on the square in Blakely in 1954. Each year the county hosts the Kolomoki Indian Festival in October, as well as a community Christmas parade during the first week of December. Erected in 1861, the only known Confederate Flag Pole still standing is located outside of the Early County Courthouse in Blakely. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Early County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T m 50 - - . CTY GA-- 40 30 20 ~ ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 20------ 15 - - - - 10 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Early County was 11,854 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 9.9% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 11,772 persons. In Early County, 56% of the residents were white and 44% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either black or white in the Census data. In addition, 33% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 16% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Early County, the 1990 Census reports 10% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 29.2% of the adult population in Early County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 24.9% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Early County spent an average of $3,773 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 16.6 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the .8 state average. Early County had 4.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 63% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $40,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,051. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Early County ranked number 140. Of this five year average, 16% were violent crimes, while 84% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 67% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 75% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Early County Blakely Damascus Jakin 1970 12,682 5,267 272 172 Population 1980 1990 13,158 5,880 403 194 11,854 5,595 290 137 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 3.8 -9.9 11.6 -4.8 48.2 -28.0 12.8 -29.4 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Amy Industries, Birdsong Corporation, and Great Northern are among the largest non-government employers in Early County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 31 % of the jobs and 55% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Early County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,79% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 21 %, commuted out of Early County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Early County's per capita income was $14,617, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Early County's median household income in 1989 was $16,421. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $6,031 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Early County had 233 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 5%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Early County's assessed property value amounted to $221.4 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $18,679. At the state level, the per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Early County is the Albany Herald. The county is considered part of the Dothan, Alabama, television market. During 1989,31 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 42% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 38% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Early County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,996 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Early County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) .. I'Zl Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) .. 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) .. 12 - - - - - - - - - 3 ---------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---m--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Early County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ 45 30 15 o ~. ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Early County's average own source revenue per capita was $329. This amount was greater than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Early County collected an average of $169 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 46% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Early County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $276 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Early County had an average of $1.7 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $145. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Early was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Early County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Early County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers ----------------------------- Chamber of Commerce Central Library County Commission (912) 723-3741 (912) 336-8372 (912) 723-4304 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Echols County Echols County, located on the Georgia! GA Florida border, was created in 1858 from CY-C(6 portions of Clinch and Lowndes counties. It was named for Robert M. Echols, a oSI member of the General Assembly for 24 5b years and a Senate President, who died fighting as a brigadier general in the Mexican War. Echols County is the only county in Georgia with no incorporated municipalities in the traditional sense. Statenville is the county seat; however, only the boundaries of the courthouse were ever incorporated. The rest of the town remains unincorporated. Statenville is named for Capt. James W. Staten, who built the first store in the town. Statenville was previously known as Troublesome. Echols County is one of Georgia's least populated counties. Over 90% of the county is forest and under contract to private companies. Echols County is the home of newly published mystery writer Virginia Lanier. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Echols County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . cry 1!3 GA-- ~ 40 - - - - - - + - - -.... 30 - - - - - -. ft..:: } - - - f i ) 20 ro..r - - - - - - + - - - t - - - - - - - - i 10 f--------'~--+---_j ~ o L-.._ _-'-----_ _--'-_ _- ' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Echols County was 2,334 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 1.6%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 2,442 persons. In Echols County, 86% of the residents were white and 12% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 33% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 10% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Echols County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 41 % of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 45.3% ofthe adult population in Echols County had completed high school, which was greaterthan the state average of29.6%. A total of 15.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Echols County spent an average of $3,811 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 7.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the Joint Board of Family Practice reported no physicians practicing in Echols County. That year, there was an average of .8 physicians per 1,000 population in the state. According to the State Health Planning Agency, Echols County had no general hospitals in 1992. Statewide, there was an average of 3.9 hospital beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 71 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $40,000. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the five year average index crime rate for the county was 94. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Echols County ranked number 159. Of this five year average, 18% were violent crimes, while 82% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 88% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 63% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Echols County 1970 1,924 Population 1980 1990 2,297 2,334 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 19.4 1.6 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Cherokee Reforestation, Circle C Produce, and Coggins Farms & Produce are among the largest non-government employers in Echols County. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 27% of the jobs and employment earnings. Farming is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 29% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs andll % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Echols County's annual unemployment rate equalled the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 16% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 84%, commuted out of Echols County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Echols County's per capita income was $12,571, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Echols County's median household income in 1989 was $21,574. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $1,444 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Echols County had 10 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 11 %. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Echols County's assessed property value amounted to $58 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $24,855. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Echols County is the Valdosta Times. The county is considered part of the Tallahassee, Florida-Thomasville television market. During 1989,15% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, equal to the statewide level and greater than the U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 17% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 26% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% ofthe elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Echols County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,447 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Echols County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T It! Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3-----~---- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY h_@ GA Georgia County Snapshots Echols County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 75------ 60 - - - - 30 CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Echols County's average own source revenue per capita was $301. This amount was slightly less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $43l. Echols County collected an average of $239 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 71 % of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Echols County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $303 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Echols County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Echols was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Echols County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Snapshots of Georgia are listed in a separate bibliography. If you wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. Phone Numbers GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Suite 250 Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Chamber of Commerce NA Central Library (912) 559-3086 County Commission (912) 559-6538 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Effingham County Effingham County was created in 1777 from the colonial parishes of St. Matthew and St. Philip. Georgia's 4th county was named for Lord Effingham, an English nobleman who was a colonial rights advocate and who refused to take up arms against the revolutionaries. qq" . I The county has three incorporated communities: Rincon, Springfield, and Guyton. The largest, and the county seat, is Springfield, named for a mineral spring in the area. Almost 81 % of Effingham County's residents live in the unincorporated areas of the county. Effingham County is one of the oldest settlement areas in America. The Lutheran Salzburg community established in 1734 at Ebenezer (German for "Stone of Help"), was the second settlement in Georgia. There are several buildings and sites on the National Register of Historic Places in the county. These include the Effingham County Courthouse, the New Hope AME Church, the Guyton-Whitesville Historic District, the Jerusalem Church, and the New Ebenezer Town site. Every year the county is host to the model plane fly-in held at Sandhill Park, as well as the Guyton Tour of Homes. A length of the 314-mile long Savannah River forms Effingham County's eastern border, separating it from South Carolina. SNAPSHOTS @/ @/ / l:: \ / /"' ~ w~. ~" %.. Georgia County Snapshots Effingham County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- ~ 40 ~ 30 -;'.' 20 m ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Effingham County was 25,687 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 40.2%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 35,887 persons. In Effingham County, 85% of the residents were white and 14% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 34% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 8% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reported 6% of the county's households were headed by females with children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 45% of all households in the county compared with 36% statewide. The 1990 Census indicates that 43.1 % of the adult population in Effingham County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 22.9% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Effingham County spent an average of $3,312 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.3, compared with the.8 state average. Effingham County had 1.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 73% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $61,300. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,877. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Effingham County ranked number 108. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,63% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 71 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Effingham County Guyton Rincon Springfield 1970 13,632 742 1,854 1,001 Population 1980 1990 18,327 749 1,988 1,075 25,687 740 2,697 1,415 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 34.4 40.2 0.9 -1.2 7.2 35.7 7.4 31.6 Economy According to the Georgia Department ofLabor, the largest non-government employers in Effingham County include: Fort Howard Corp., Kroger Company, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. Construction is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 23% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Effingham County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.1 % compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 34% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 66%, commuted out of Effingham County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Effingham County's per capita income was $14,202, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Effingham County's median household income in 1989 was $29,443. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,843 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Effingham County had 274 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 22%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Effingham County's assessed property value amounted to $261.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,192. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Effingham County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989, 13% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 16% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 15% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Effingham County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,138 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Effingham County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... III Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('98-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---!:$l_u GA Georgia County Snapshots Effingham County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average C1991-1995} .... 60------ 45 o -"'=""'-- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita C1991-1995} ..... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Effingham County's average own source revenue per capita was $258. This amount was less than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Effingham County collected an average of $113 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 39% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Effingham County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $234 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Effingham County had an average of $1.5 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $57. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Effingham was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Effingham County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Effingham County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. 200 -i' . .. 0--- .:---ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 754-3301 Central Library (912) 754-3003 County Commission (912) 754-6071 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Elbert County Elbert County was formed in 1790 from parts of Wilkes County. Georgia's 13th county and its county seat, Elberton, were named for Samuel Elbert, a Revolutionary War hero and an early Governor of Georgia. Elbert County's only other municipality, Bowman, was named for Thomas J. Bowman, a local resident who helped finance the Elberton Airline Railroad. Elberton is known as the "Granite Capital of the World." Elberton's more than 40 quarries produce more granite monuments than any other area in the world. In addition to mineral resources, Elbert County is rich in water resources. The Broad River forms the county's western and southern border. The county's eastern border with South Carolina is formed by the Savannah River, which has been dammed to create Lake Richard B. Russell and the Clark Hill Reservoir. Elbert County is home to the Richard B. Russell and Bobby Brown State Parks, located on the fork of the Broad and Savannah Rivers at the Clark Hill Reservoir. During 1995 and 1996, Lake Richard B. Russell was used as an Olympic training site for rowing events. A rowing dock and boathouse were installed on the lake with cooperation from theArmy Corps ofEngineers and the Governor's Development Council. The fork of the Broad and Savannah Rivers was the site of Fort James, built in the Revolutionary War to protect settlers in the nearby community of Dartmouth. After the war, the town of Petersburg was established near the fort and became a thriving tobacco farming center, eventually growing into the third most populous city in the state. Cotton's rise to being the region's primary crop saw Petersburg's demise. The site is now covered by the waters of the Clark Hill Reservoir. Several notable persons spent time in Elbert County. Nancy Morgan Hart and Stephen Heard, both heroes of the Revolutionary War, lived in Elbert County. Hart (for whom the neighboring county is named) served as a spy for Elijah Clarke and once captured six Tories who came to her home demanding food. Heard established a fort in Georgia in 1773, fought with Elijah Clarke at the Battle of Kettle Creek, and served as President of the Executive Council of Georgia for a short period. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Elbert County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 50 - - . CTY III G A - - ~ 40 ~ 30 20 n 10 ~~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 20------ 15--- 10 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Elbert County was 18,949 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 1%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 19,831 persons. In Elbert County, 69% ofthe residents were white and 30% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Elbert County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equalling the 8% statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 35% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.9% of the adult population in Elbert County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 20.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.1 % of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Elbert County spent an average of $3,559 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure is less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 19.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the .8 state average. Elbert County had 2.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 66% ofthe housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $44,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,878. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Elbert County ranked number 42. Of this five year average, 14% were violent crimes, while 86% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 64% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 69% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Elbert County Bowman Elberton 1970 17,262 724 6,438 Population 1980 1990 18,758 890 5,686 18,949 791 5,682 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 8.7 22.9 -11.7 1.0 -11.1 -0.1 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Elberton Manufacturing, Oxford Industries, and Seaboard Farms are among the largest non-government employers in Elbert County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 34% of the jobs and 37% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Elbert County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.6% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,79% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 21 %, commuted out of Elbert County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Elbert County's per capita income was $14,783, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Elbert County's median household income in 1989 was $20,501. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $6,009 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Elbert County had 513 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Elbert County's assessed property value amounted to $219.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,569. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Elbert County is the Anderson Independent. The county is considered part of the GreenvilleAsheville television market. During 1989, 20% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 25% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 28% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Elbert County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,652 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Elbert County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... lEI Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 12 ----~---9 ----+------"~-- 3 ---------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 --4..--CTY ---m-- GA Georgia County Snapshots Elbert County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 4WfZ%!f---- 200 100 Government Over the past five years, Elbert County's average own source revenue per capita was $273. This amount was slightly less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Elbert County collected an average of $114 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 37% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Elbert County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $234 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Elbert County had an average of $2.1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $113. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Elbert was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Elbert County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 283-5651 Central Library (706) 283-5375 County Commission (706) 283-2000 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Emanuel County Emanuel County was the 39th county formed in Georgia and was named for David Emanuel, former governor of . Si Georgia and a Revolutionary War soldier who had settled in Burke County. Created in 1812 from lands then designated as the Bulloch and Montgomery counties, Emanuel's boundaries and configuration have shifted and it is now comprised ofland that was once part of Washington and Effingham counties. The county has eight incorporated communities: Adrian, Garfield, Nunez, Oakpark, Stillmore, Summertown, Swainsboro, and Twin City. The largest, and county seat, is Swainsboro. East Georgia College, a two-year unit of the University System of Georgia with a 1992 enrollment of 893, is located in Swainsboro. Swainsboro Technical Institute, with an enrollment of almost 3,600 in 1995, is also located in the city. The George L. Smith, II, State Park is in Emanuel County. The Emanuel County Courthouse has been destroyed by fire five times-in 1841, 1855, 1857,1919, and 1938. Swainsboro was named for Colonel Stephen Swain, a member of the state legislature. Its name was changed to Paris for a brief period, and then changed back to Swainsboro. SNAPSHOTS 80 ~ ~i;i;\.,.. ~r l..l.'.........'.t.....n ....,.9...'.2.t.. ~ ii~ilJl.. \~ ...................... ,,@s . J.. ...........~ ,.,..... ~ ( ~ Georgia County Snapshots Emanuel County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 50 - - . CTY m GA-- ~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 -------m------t. .... lEI Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) .... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ---'---'----- """"=v>._ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) .... 9---------- 6 m------_-_,g.," -'---~m"". - - _-- -- -m 3~. 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ----lElill--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Fayene County Government Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) 'Y 75------ 60 - - - - 45 o -"'-",,"-- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average $$$s Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 800------ 600 - - - - 400 - - - - ALL CTY Over the past five years, Fayette County's average own source revenue per capita was $324. This amount was less than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Fayette County collected an average of $213 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 61 % of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Fayette County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $256 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Fayette County had an average of $46.6 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $747. This amount was higher than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. (Much of Fayette's debt is held in water/sewer bonds that are to be repaid from system revenues.) In 1996, Fayette was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Fayette County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Fayette County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Peachtree City averaged $411 per capita in own source revenues and $266 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 26% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $108 for residents of Peachtree City. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Peachtree City had an average of $3.6 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $188. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, Peachtree City has a mayor-council form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 461-9983 Central Library (770) 461-8841 County Commission (770) 461-6041 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Floyd County G-A Floyd County was formed from part of Cherokee County in 1832. Georgia's 82nd CY.ClS county was named for General John Floyd, Si 56 a South Carolina Indian fighter and U.S . Congressman. Rome, the county seat, was established in"1834. Cave Spring is known for its antique shops, old residences, and its namesake crystal clear springs. The town features Rolater Park, which includes the world's largest natural springs swimming pool. Cave Spring is also home to the Georgia School for the Deaf. In northern Floyd County is the $800 million Rocky Mountain pumped storage power plant. Generating enough power for 290,000 households, the plant pumps water to a 550acre lake on the mountain top, channels the water down a 570-foot vertical shaft and through a 2,500-foot horizontal tunnel to a series ofturbines inside the mountain's base. Berry College, just north of Rome, is a private four year college with the largest college campus in the world-26,000-acres. Located on the campus are the Martha Berry Museum and Oak Hill, the Berry family home, commemorating the school's founder "'0. and major benefactor. Shorter College is also in Rome. Floyd County has two historic courthouses, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other places of historic note are Rome's City Clock, built in 1872; Myrtle Cemetery, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and resting place of Ellen Axson Wilson, wife of President Woodrow Wilson; and the Capitoline Wolf, a 1,500pound sculpture given to the City of Rome by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1929. Floyd County hosts a number of annual events. During the spring, Rome comes alive for Mayfest on the River and the Coosa Valley Arts and Crafts Fair. In the early summer, Cave Spring hosts an Arts and Crafts Festival. Finally, the Coosa Valley Fair, a country fair, is held in the county each September. Notable Floyd County residents include Martha Berry, noted educator and founder of Berry College; Medora Field Perkerson, author of the "Marie Rose" newspaper column; and Elizur and Esther Butler, missionaries to the Cherokee Indians. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 \ ~. Georgia County Snapshots Floyd County ' Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Populadon Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY ~ GA-- ~ 30 ." til H 20 If ~~ ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Floyd County was 81,251 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 1.8%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 85,662 persons. In Floyd County, 85% of the residents were white and 14% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 28% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Floyd County, the 1990 Census reports 7% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32% of the adult population in Floyd County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 31.9% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Floyd County spent an average of $4,050 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.4 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 2.4, compared with the .8 state average. Floyd County had 6.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 62% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $50,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 5,952. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Floyd County ranked number 18. Of this five year average, 10% were violent crimes, while 90% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 57% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 79% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Floyd County 73,742 79,800 81,251 8.2 1.8 Cave Spring 1,305 883 950 -32.3 7.6 Rome 30,759 29,654 30,326 -3.6 2.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Galey & Lord, Inc., Inland Container Corp., and Lindale Manufacturing are among the largest non-government employers in Floyd County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 24% of the jobs and 32% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 23% of the jobs and 22% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23 % of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Floyd County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,86% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 14%, commuted out of Floyd County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Floyd County's per capita income was $17,515, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Floyd County's median household income in 1989 was $25,536. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $10,909 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Floyd County had 1,828 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 5%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Floyd County's assessed property value amounted to $1.2 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $14,639. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Floyd County is the Rome NewsTribune. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 14% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 18% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 19% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Floyd County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,074 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Floyd County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (l990) ... [] Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,OOO/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'-_-L-_,",,=>:<. __ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('9D-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --.ro, --. GA Georgia County Snapshots Floyd County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 200 100 o ~="'--- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Floyd County's average own source revenue per capita was $388. This amount was greater than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Floyd County collected an average of $180 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 45% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Floyd County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $315 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Floyd County had an average of $25.2 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $310. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Floyd was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Floyd County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Rome averaged $627 per capita in own source revenues and $600 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $517 per capita in own source revenues and $550 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of28% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $177 for residents of Rome. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 30% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Rome had an average of $30.3 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $998. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $852 per capita average for the 9 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, Rome has a council-manager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 291-7663 Central Library (706) 377-4621 County Commission (706) 291-5110 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Forsyth County Forsyth County was created in 1832 GA from parts of the original Cherokee County. It was named for John Forsyth, C4<15 Governor of Georgia from 1827-1829 SI and Secretary of State under President Sb Martin Van Buren. Cumming, the county seat and only incorporated municipality, was established in 1834. The city is thought to be named either for Colonel William Cumming of Augusta, a prominent lawyer, or by local Cherokees for Sir Alexander Cumming of England, who settled in America in 1729 and became a Cherokee leader. Several Indian archaeological sites are located within Forsyth County. An Indian mound and village are located on Settendown Creek near the mouth of the Etowah River. Another Indian village is located near Sawnee Mountain on Big Creek. Two places of historic note in Forsyth County are Pool's Mill Covered Bridge and the Settles Home. One of the few remaining covered bridges in the country, Pool's Mill is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Settles Home is considered to be the oldest home in the county and is under consideration to be listed as a historic landmark. Famous residents of Forsyth County include Hiram P. Bell, a Confederate Officer and U.S. Congressman, and William Rogers, Johnson Rogers, and George Welch, signers of the Treaty of New Echota which established the terms of removal for the Cherokee Indians. Much of the eastern side of the county lies on the shores of Lake Sidney Lanier, one of the busiest recreational bodies of water in the nation. Created in the 1950s with the impoundment of the Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam, the lake has accelerated the growth of the county, as well as provided recreational enjoyment for many throughout north Georgia. The lake is home to Southern Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons, both endangered species. Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Forsyth County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... m 40 - - . CTY GA-- 30 20 ~' ~ 10 ~ > E~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 15------ 5 0GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Forsyth County was 44,083 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 57.7%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 61,230 persons. In Forsyth County, 99% of the residents were white, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 29% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 9% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Forsyth County, the 1990 Census reports 4% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 29% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.7% of the adult population in Forsyth County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 36.9% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Forsyth County spent an average of $4,022 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was slightly greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 6.3 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the .8 state average. Forsyth County had .6 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 73% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $96,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 5,267. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Forsyth County ranked number 26. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 66% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 79% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Forsyth County Cumming 1970 16,928 2,031 Population 1980 1990 27,958 44,083 2,094 2,828 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 65.2 57.7 3.1 35.1 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Forsyth County include: Panduit Corp., Scientific Games, and Tyson Foods Inc. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% ofthe state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Forsyth County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 39% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 61 %, commuted out of Forsyth County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county exceeded that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Forsyth County's per capita income was $19,420, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Forsyth County's median household income in 1989 was $36,642. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $11,934 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Forsyth County had 879 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 31 %. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Forsyth County's assessed property value amounted to $1.2 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $26,958. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Forsyth County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 7% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 7% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 21 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Forsyth County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,777 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Forsyth County CDmmuting, %Df WDrkfDrce EmplDyed (1990) T r 1'3 Outside County Inside County Per Capita IncDme (S,00011992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 us GA CTY UnemplDyment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---Im--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Forsyth County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 200~1 - - 300 -" ~rl::~"- 1O:~1 ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Forsyth County's average own source revenue per capita was $446. This amount was greater than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Forsyth County collected an average of $166 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 32% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Forsyth County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $310 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Forsyth County had an average of $10.5 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $239. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Forsyth was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Forsyth County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Forsyth County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 887-6461 Central Library (770) 781-9840 County Commission (770) 7812100 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Franklin County Franklin County was created in 1784 and originally encompassed all of what would become Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Oconee, and Stephens counties, and parts of Gwinnett, Hall, Hart, and Madison counties, as well as three counties in South Carolina. Georgia's 9th county was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. \q'1(, Carnesville, the county seat, was named for Judge Thomas Peter Carnes, a lawyer and Congressman of the Revolutionary War era. The county's most famous resident, baseball legend Ty Cobb, lived in Royston. Cobb donated $100,000 to establish the Ty Cobb Healthcare System which continues to provide healthcare services to area residents. A memorial to Cobb is located at the Royston City Hall. Other notable individuals from the county include former Georgia Governor Ernest Vandiver and D.W. Brooks, founder and chairman of Goldkist, Inc. Annual events in Franklin County include the Lavonia Fall Festival in September, and the Royston Autumn Festival and the Harvest Festival at Tugaloo State Park in October. The Jr.-Sr. Catfish Rodeo in April and Pioneer Skills Day in November are both held at Victoria Bryant Park. Lake Hartwell, Georgia's largest man-made reservoir, spans the northern end of the county. Formed by the impoundment of the Savannah River at Hartwell Dam, the lake's 55,950 acres have 962 miles of shoreline. Franklin County leads the state in poultry production and ranks fourth in beef cattle production. The Franklin County Livestock Market is the state's largest and the sixth largest in the Southeast. Places of historic note in the county include Cromers Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1906, and the Lavonia Carnegie Library, established in 1911 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. 8 . Lavonia is the smallest city in the U.S. with an original Carnegie Library Building. ~... Two state parks are in Franklin County. The 406-acre Victoria Bryant State Park, near Royston, features a nine hole golf course, as well as facilities for camping, swimming and hiking. Tugaloo State Park, on a 393-acre peninsula on Lake Hartwell, offers outdoor enthusiasts excellent opportunities for fishing and camping. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Franklin County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over {l990) ... 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 ------------1 30 - - - - - - - f ! l - - - - i : ; 20 m.I----+---+--------1 10.----+----+------1 o '-----_ _.1...-_ _-'--_ _-' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Franklin County was 16,650 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 9.6%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 19,246 persons. In Franklin County, 90% of the residents were white and 9% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 27% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 16% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Franklin County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 28.5% of the adult population in Franklin County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 25.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.5% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Franklin County spent an average of $3,655 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.3 for the county, equalling the state rate for the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .9, compared with the .8 state average. Franklin County had 4.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 65% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $49,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,017. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Franklin County ranked number 73. Of this five year average, 20% were of violent crimes, while 80% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,70% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Franklin County Canon Carnesville Franklin Springs Lavonia Royston 1970 12,784 709 510 501 2,044 2,428 Population 1980 1990 15,185 704 465 797 2,024 2,404 16,650 737 514 475 1,840 2,758 Growth (%) 1970-1980 19801990 18.8 9.6 -0.7 4.7 -8.8 10.5 59.1 -40.4 -1.0 -9.1 -1.0 14.7 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Franklin County include: Cobb Hospital/Brown Convalescent, Employers Resource, and TNS Mills Inc. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 23% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 17% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Franklin County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 58% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 42%, commuted out of Franklin County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Franklin County's per capita income was $16,389, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Franklin County's median household income in 1989 was $21,663. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $9,033 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Franklin County had 390 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 6%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Franklin County's assessed property value amounted to $220.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $13,262. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Franklin County is the Athens Banner-Herald. The county is considered part of the Greenville/Asheville television market. During 1989, 17% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 21 % of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 25% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Franklin County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,600 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Franklin County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - 3--------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---rn"U GA Georgia County Snapshots Franklin County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 45 :~~I:l----- 30 15 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Franklin County's average own source revenue per capita was $287. This amount was slightly greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Franklin County collected an average of $87 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 29% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Franklin County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $256 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Franklin County had an average of $944,800 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $57. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Franklin was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Franklin County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Franklin County has a sole commissioner. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 384-4659 Central Library (706) 245-6748 County Commission (706) 384-2483 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY \~- Fulton County GA Fulton County was formed from DeKalb County in 1853. In 1932, Milton and t4-95 Campbell counties were consolidated .SI with Fulton County, resulting in its 5b current elongated shape. The county was the l44th county created in the state and was named after Robert Fulton who built the Clermont, a boat that revolutionized river travel and played an important role in the development of the South. Atlanta, the county seat and state capital, was named Terminus in 1842. Its name was later changed to Marthasville, in honor of Governor Wilson Lumpkin's daughter, and then to Atlanta in 1848. Several of the state's top attractions are located in the county, including Underground Atlanta, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, the World of Coca Cola Museum, and Zoo Atlanta. Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Piedmont Park served as the grounds for the 1895 Cotton States and International Exposition. The park was designed by the noted architect Frederick Law Olmstead, who also designed New York City's Central Park. The High Museum ofArt, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Atlanta Ballet all contribute towards the city's claim as the cultural capital of the South. Atlanta is also home to several highly regarded universities and colleges including the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, and Clark Atlanta University. Famous individuals from Fulton County have included golfer Bobby Jones, civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., and Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Fulton County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 40 - - . CTY I!il G A - - 30 I--~--------ll!!j-----= 20m.---+-----j--------I 10 1----+---+-----1 o L -_ _- ' -_ _--'--_ _- ' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Fulton County was 648,951 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 10%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 716,710 persons. In Fulton County, 48% of the residents were white and 50% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 28% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 10% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Fulton County, the 1990 Census reports 11 % of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 29% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 22.3% of the adult population in Fulton County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 55.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 4.8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Fulton County spent an average of $5,163 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 13 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 3.8, compared with the .8 state average. Fulton County had 6.8 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 43% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $97,700. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 14,836. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Fulton County ranked number 1. Of this five year average, 19% were violent crimes, while 81 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992,75% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 70% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Fulton County Alpharetta Atlanta College Park East Point Fairburn Hapeville Mountain Park Palmetto Roswell Union City 1970 605,210 2,455 495,039 18,203 39,315 3,143 9,567 268 2,045 5,430 3,031 Population 1980 1990 589,904 3,128 425,022 24,632 37,486 3,466 6,166 378 2,086 23,337 4,780 648,951 13,002 394,017 20,457 34,402 4,013 5,483 784 2,612 47,923 8,375 Growth (%) 19701980 19801990 -2.5 27.4 -14.1 35.3 -4.7 10.3 -35.5 41.0 2.0 329.8 57.7 10.0 315.7 -7.3 -16.9 -8.2 15.8 -11.1 107.4 25.2 105.4 75.2 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Cox Enterprises, Delta Air Lines Inc., and Southern Bell are among the largest non-government employers in Fulton County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 31 % of the jobs and 30% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 14% of the jobs and 8% of employment earnings. Finance, insurance and real estate are also important to the county's economy, providing 11 % of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Fulton County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 70% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 30%, commuted out of Fulton County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county exceeded that of the state and was greater than that of the nation. Fulton County's per capita income was $28,194, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Fulton County's median household income in 1989 was $29,978. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $16,778 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Fulton County had 24,982 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 10%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Fulton County's assessed property value amounted to $14.4 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $22,116. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Fulton County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 18% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 28% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 19% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Fulton County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,046 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Fulton County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T Ell Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 30 - - - - - - - - - 24------- 18 12 6 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY u_[} GA Georgia County Snapshots Fulton County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 45 30 1O5 -~Ifl ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 600 -------= 500 - - - 400 - - - 300 ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Fulton County's average own source revenue per capita was $714, vs. the overall county average of $431. Similarly sized counties own source per capita revenues averaged $574. In the past five years, Fulton County collected an average of $428 per capita in property tax-more than the average of $317 per capita for similarly sized counties or the $223 statewide per capita average. On average, property taxes accounted for 58% of the county's own source revenue from 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Fulton County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $515 per capita, which was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita or the average yearly general operating expenditures per capita of $444 for similarly sized counties. Over the past five years, Fulton County had an average of $385 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $593. This amount was higher than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $491 per capita average for the 8 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Fulton was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program, meaning eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Fulton County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Fulton County has a seven member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Atlanta averaged $918 per capita in own source revenues and $999 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $724 per capita in own source revenues and $734 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 34% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $309 for residents ofAtlanta. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Atlanta had an average of $1.1 billion in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $2,906. This amount was higher than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $1,677 per capita average for the 5 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 993-8806 Central Library (404) 730-1700 County Commission (404) 730-8200 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Gilmer County C;A Gilmer County was created in 1832 from part of Cherokee County. C4cp3 Georgia's 84th county was named for .Si George Rockingham Gilmer, a State S6 Legislator, member of Congress, and Georgia Governor from 1829 to 1831 and from 1837 to 1839. The county seat of Gilmer County is Ellijay. The county has one additional incorporated community, East Ellijay. Ellijay was the site of an Indian village and bears an Indian name meaning "earth green there." Cherokee Indians lived in this area until their removal in 1838 to Oklahoma via the "Trail of Tears." Some of the local festivals include the Georgia Apple Festival, the Cherry Log Festival, the Apple Classic Auto Show, and the Gilmer County Fair. Nearly half the territory of Gilmer County is within the Chattahoochee National Forest and is protected from development by the Federal Government. Carters Lake provides a major recreational area in the county. Carters Lake is formed from the Coosawatee River, which is formed from the Cartecay and Ellijay Rivers. The rivers were formerly used for timber operations in the area. With a special technology grant from Georgia's Department of Education, Gilmer High School is developing a "Mobile Technology Center" equipped with a computer lab, distance learning equipment, satellite receiving, science equipment, and telescopes in order to teach at-risk students and their parents. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Gilmer County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over :--+Cn99r0r}Tm:J 20 cllll,,,r----.t: ---+------1 10 - - - - / - - - - + - - - - - - 1 o '------'-----'------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ rr&. 10 -.' .~.<, ~~:l---- O~-~ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Gilmer County was 13,368 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 20.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 15,988 persons. In Gilmer County, 99% of the residents were white, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 28% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Gilmer County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 35% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.8% of the adult population in Gilmer County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 21.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.7% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Gilmer County spent an average of $3,617 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the $4,002 statewide average. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 4.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .9, compared with the .8 state average. Gilmer County had 3.3 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 58% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $56,800. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 469. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Gilmer County ranked number 155. Of this five year average, 6% were violent crimes, while 94% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 80% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Gilmer County East Ellijay Ellijay 1970 8,956 488 1,326 Population 1980 1990 11,110 469 1,507 13,368 303 1,178 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 24.1 20.3 -3.9 -35.4 13.7 -21.8 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Gilmer County include: Blue Ridge Carpet, Gold Kist, Inc., and Shaw Industries, Inc. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 33% of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Gilmer County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,69% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 31 %, commuted out of Gilmer County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Gilmer County's per capita income was $14,925, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Gilmer County's median household income in 1989 was $21,410. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $9,263 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Gilmer County had 313 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 24%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Gilmer County's assessed property value amounted to $182.1 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $13,620. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Gilmer County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,17% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 20% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 29% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Gilmer County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,498 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Gilmer County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... rn Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'-_...J..-_' us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 12 - - - - - - - - - 3--------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---ID---- GA Georgia County Snapshots Gilmer County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Gilmer County's average own source revenue per capita was $326. This amount was slightly greater than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Gilmer County collected an average of $155 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 41 % of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Gilmer County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $402 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Gilmer County had an average of $637,300 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $48. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Gilmer was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Gilmer County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 635-7400 Central Library (770) 635-4528 County Commission (706) 635-4361 The phone numbers listed above w.ere obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Glascock County Glascock County, the 120th county fonned GA in Georgia and one of the smallest (both C115 geographically and in population), was .5 \ created in 1857. Originally part of Warren S~ County, Glascock County was named for General Thomas Glascock, a hero in the War of 1812 and Georgia House Speaker. The county has three municipalities. The largest of these is Gibson, the county seat. The other two are Edgehill and Mitchell. Gibson was named for Judge William Gibson, a former Colonel in the Confederate Army, who donated $500 for the first public building (the courthouse) in Glascock County. Within Hamburg State Park is an industrial museum located in a 1920 water-turbine powered gin and milling complex. The park is also the location of the Hamburg Harvest Festival, held each September. The Ogeechee River, which forms a portion of the western boundary of the county, provides a wide variety of recreational activities. Rocky Comfort Creek also provides fishing and camping. The Glascock County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Other interesting historic sites include the Kelley House (1880), the Victorian Peebles Home (1890), and the James Kelley/Sherman Harris place (1828). The county has one kaolin mining and processing plant. Farming and forestry are the dominant sectors of the economy. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Glascock County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - + CTY m GA~~ 40 30 ;. 1;:1 20 If 10 ~~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 25------ 20 - - - - 15 - - - - 10 -.ilfliI :~I GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Glascock County was 2,357 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 1.0% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 2,480 persons. In Glascock County, 87% of the residents were white and 13% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either black or white in the Census data. In addition, 26% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 18% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Glascock County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 31.8% of the adult population in Glascock County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 18.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Glascock County spent an average of $3,532 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 22.4 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, there were no physicians in the county per 1,000 population, compared with the .8 state average. Glascock County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 65% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $30,700. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 118. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Glascock County ranked number 158. Of this five year average, 14% were violent crimes, while 86% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 84% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Glascock County Edgehill Gibson Mitchell 1970 2,280 46 701 187 Population 1980 2,382 53 730 214 1990 2,357 22 679 181 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 4.5 -1.0 15.2 -58.5 4.1 -7.0 14.4 -15.4 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Stroud Inc., Thiele Kaolin Company, and Thomson Company are among the largest non-government employers in Glascock County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 37% of the jobs and 48% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Glascock County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 5.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,38% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 62%, commuted out of Glascock County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Glascock County's per capita income was $15,867, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Glascock County's median household income in 1989 was $21,806. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,595 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Glascock County had 25 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county showed no percentage change. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Glascock County's assessed property value amounted to $37.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $15,815. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Glascock County is the Augusta Chronicle. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989, 17% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 18% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 37% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Glascock County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,712 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Glascock County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T IE Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- ,ffi. _ 6 / .. -- -a,. ~ .... _~. - _ ;'. ,i'. 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY urn- -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Glascock County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) .... 75------ 60 - - - - 30 15 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Glascock County's average own source revenue per capita was $296. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Glascock County collected an average of $206 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 64% ofthe county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Glascock County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $315 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Glascock County had an average of $4,300 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $2. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Glascock was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Glascock County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Glascock County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce NA Central Library (706) 821-2600 County Commission (706) 598-2671 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Glynn County GA Glynn County, on the Atlantic coast south of the Altamaha River, is one of Georgia's CifQS original eight counties. The county was .S \ Slo created in 1777 from 423 square miles of land formerly held by Creek Indians. Glynn County is named for John Glynn, a member of the British Parliament and a friend of the colonies who once held the position of Sergeant of London. Brunswick is the county's only municipality and serves as the county seat. Brunswick was named in honor of England's King George III, who was of the House of Brunswick. Glynn County's coastal location is a recreational haven for residents and visitors alike. The county features 207 holes of golf, as well as beautiful beaches on the four coastal islands. Brunswick is home to the Coastal Georgia Community College. Brunswick was among the fifteen cities that built Liberty Ships during World War II. In response to German V-Boat threats to shipping lanes, construction of Liberty Ships, a larger, stronger cargo vessel, was begun at the J.A. Jones Construction Company Shipyards. The shipyards built 99 Liberty Ships during the war. To commemorate this impressive feat, a 23foot replica of the Liberty Ship was installed at the foot of the F.J. Torras Causeway in 1991. Several famous individuals are from Glynn County. They include author Bill Diehl, tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds, noted architect William Portman, and PGA golfer Davis Love, III. Glynn County is home to several annual festivals and cultural events. Brunswick hosts an Old Town Tour of Homes in April, a King Fish Tournament in June, and the Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet every Mother's Day. Jekyll Island features an Art Festival in March, a Beach Music Festival in August, and a Bluegrass Festival in December. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Glynn County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 40 - - . CTY m GA-- 30 ~ 20 fI ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ 10 5 -X""W&::I- o ->=::=*'-- GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Glynn County was 62,496 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 13.7%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 70,055 persons. In Glynn County, 74% of the residents were white and 25% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 29% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Glynn County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, matching the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 31.4% of the adult population in Glynn County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 42.9% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Glynn County spent an average of $4,326 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 13.0 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.9, compared with the .8 state average. Glynn County had 5.2 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 56% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $67,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 8,334. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Glynn County ranked number 7. Of this five year average, 15% were violent crimes, while 85% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,72% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 69% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Glynn County Brunswick 1970 50,528 19,585 Population 1980 1990 54,981 62,496 17,605 16,433 Growth (%) 19701980 19801990 8.8 13.7 -10.1 -6.7 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Glynn County include: Georgia Pacific-Brunswick Division, Rich-Seapak Corp., and Sea Island Co. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 29% of the jobs and 28% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 15% ofemployment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Glynn County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,94% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 6%, commuted out of Glynn County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county slightly exceeded that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Glynn County's per capita income was $18,881, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Glynn County's median household income in 1989 was $27,887. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $13,850 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Glynn County had 2,001 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Glynn County's assessed property value amounted to $1.2 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $19,730. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Glynn County is the Brunswick News. The county is considered part of the Jacksonville television market. During 1989, 14% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 22% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 14% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Glynn County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,269 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Glynn County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T Ell Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'-----'-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY -- -!Z}-- GA Georgia County Snapshots Glynn County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) .... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 ~ 100 -~ 0ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Glynn County's average own source revenue per capita was $564. This amount was greater than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Glynn County collected an average of $243 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 44% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Glynn County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $474 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Glynn County had an average of $4.5 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $72. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Glynn was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Glynn County has a seven member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Brunswick averaged $611 per capita in own source revenues and $588 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 26% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $157 for residents of Brunswick. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Brunswick had an average of $21.4 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $1,305. This amount was higher than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, Brunswick has a council-manager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 265-0620 Central Library (912) 267-1212 County Commission (912) 267-5408 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Gordon County Gordon County was created in 1850 from parts of Floyd and Bartow counties. The 93rd county formed in the state was named after William Washington Gordon, who was president of what was then the Central Railroad and Banking Company and later became the Central of Georgia Railroad. The county has five municipalities. The largest is Calhoun, the county seat. Others include Fairmont, Ranger, Resaca and Plainville. Calhoun was named for Senator John Calhoun. Originally, it was called Dawsonville. Calhoun was virtually wiped out by Sherman's troops little more than a decade after being incorporated in 1852 but was rebuilt after the war. Gordon County is the home of New Echota, which was once the capital of the Cherokee Nation. It was the birthplace of the written Cherokee language and the newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix. The county's location on the Interstate 75 corridor between the metro areas ofAtlanta and Chattanooga, Tennessee, has had a strong influence on the local economy. The county has numerous outdoor recreation opportunities. The Chattahoochee National Forest makes up a large part of the western part of the county. The Coosawattee and Conasauga rivers join to form the Oostanaula River, and there is also the Salacoa Creek Park, a 343-acre park with a 126-acre lake. Gordon County was home to Roland Hayes, an internationally recognized classical singer in the 1920s. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Cheroke~L '~""''''=''''''.J'7 Georgia County Snapshots Gordon County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - CTYm GA-- 40 -----------:r~ 30 -----~.;----!&l 1 10~--+_--_+--_____I o ' -_ _.L-_ _--'-_ _-.! Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Gordon County was 35,072 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 16.6%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 43,369 persons. In Gordon County, 95% of the residents were white and 4% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Gordon County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 39% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.1 % ofthe adult population in Gordon County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 25.3% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 14.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Gordon County spent an average of $3,663 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9.9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.7, compared with the.8 state average. Gordon County had 1.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 67% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $53,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 4,231. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Gordon County ranked number 34. Of this five year average, 7% were vioient crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 73 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 60% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Gordon County include: Carriage Carpet Mills, Horizon Industries, and Wellco Carpet Corp. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 46% of the jobs and 53% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 12% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and 8% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Gordon County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.7% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 78% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 22%, commuted out of Gordon County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Gordon County's per capita income was $15,944, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Gordon County's median household income in 1989 was $26,981. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $9,556 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Gordon County had 953 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 34%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Gordon County's assessed property value amounted to $485.7 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $13,849. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Gordon County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 11 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 13% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 22% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Gordon County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,342 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Gordon County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (l990) T c Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --L_~ t==-_ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ----m. u GA Georgia County Snapshots Gordon County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average <1991-1995) T 60------ 45 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita <1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 .-- 100 o ~~ ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Gordon County's average own source revenue per capita was $341. This amount was greater than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Gordon County collected an average of $91 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 25% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Gordon County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $231 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Gordon County had an average of $2.4 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $68. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Gordon was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Gordon County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently Phone Numbers of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. ----------------------------- Chamber of Commerce Central Library County Commission GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF (706) 625-3200 (706) 629-3405 (706) 629-3795 \ COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Grady County Grady County was created in 1905 from portions of Decatur and Thomas counties. It was named for Henry W. Grady, who was editor of the Atlanta Constitution and an advocate of the "New South." Cairo, the county seat, was named for either the city in Egypt or the town of Cairo, Illinois. The city's name, however, is pronounced "Kayro." Whigham is the county's only other incorporated municipality. Accounts of Hernando DeSoto's trek through the southeast in 1540 indicate that he entered Georgia in what is now Grady County. Several famous individuals hail from Grady County. These include football standouts Rosie Grier and Bill Stanfill; Teresa Edwards, a gold medalist in Olympic basketball; and baseball great Jackie Robinson, who was born in Cairo. Mack Robinson, Jackie's older brother, took the 200-meter dash silver medal behind Jessie Owens at the 1936 Olympics held in Munich. Annual events in Grady County include the Rattlesnake Roundup, held in Whigham each January; the Great Southern Antique Car Rally, held in Cairo every May; and Calvary's annual Mule Day in November. All of the events feature arts and crafts and local cuisine, and the Mule Day's parade often attracts 30-40,000 spectators. The Birdsong Nature Center is located in Grady County. Dedicated to providing natural history education programs for the public and preserving the natural environment of the area, the center is located on a 565-acre tract that was formerly known as Birdsong Plantation. The center features several nature trails and exhibits that highlight the diverse wildlife of the area. Herons, bluebirds, anhingas, wood ducks, otters, and alligators inhabit the center's grounds. Grady County is located in the heart of South Georgia's famed "Plantation Trace" and is only 60 miles from the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. SNAPSHOTS PUblished by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Grady County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - + CTY m GA-- ~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ------{!!J---~ :.~ 20 rn.r--~---t-----1 10 ~j----+----t------1 o '--_ _-'---_ _--'--_ _.....J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Grady County was 20,279 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 2.2%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 21,665 persons. In Grady County, 67% of the residents were white and 32% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Grady County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 34.1 % of the adult population in Grady County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 20.8% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Grady County spent an average of $3,565 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 13.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the .8 state average. Grady County had 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 66% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $41,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,461. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Grady County ranked number 54. Of this five year average, 13% were violent crimes, while 87% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,59% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 70% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Grady County Cairo Whigham 1970 17,826 8,061 381 Population 1980 1990 19,845 8,777 507 20,279 9,035 605 Growth (%) 1978-1980 1980-1990 11.3 2.2 8.9 2.9 33.1 19.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Grady County include: Ithaca Industries, W.B. Roddenbery Co., and Wight Nurseries Inc. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 26% of the jobs and 27% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Grady County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.1 % compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,70% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 30%, commuted out of Grady County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Grady County's per capita income was $13,021, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Grady County's median household income in 1989 was $19,507. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $6,525 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Grady County had 378 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 9%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Grady County's assessed property value amounted to $236.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,676. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Grady County is the Thomasville Times-Enterprise. The county is considered part of the Tallahassee-Thomasville television market. During 1989,22% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 30% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 31 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Grady County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,133 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Grady County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) .... Iilll Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,000/1992) .... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 0-'-----'----.<- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) .... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---~ --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Grady County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ~ 60------ 45 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 - 100 -- o -- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Grady County's average own source revenue per capita was $204. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Grady County collected an average of $110 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 51 % of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Grady County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $199 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Grady County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Grady was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Grady County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers ----------------------------- Chamber of Commerce Central Library County Commission (912) 377-3663 (912) 377-3632 (912) 377-1512 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Greene County Greene County, the 11th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1786. Originally part of Washington County, Greene County was named for Revolutionary War hero General Nathaniel Greene. The county has five municipalities, the largest of which is Greensboro, the county seat. The others are Siloam, Union Point, White Plains, and Woodville. Union Point is at the intersection of two separate railroad lines, and was originally called Scruggsville. The top floor of the Greene County courthouse was built as a Masonic Lodge by arrangement with the county. The courthouse was constructed in 1848-1849. The county has a consolidated school system with neighboring Taliaferro County. There are several historical figures of note from Greene County. Thomas P. Janes was the first Commissioner of Agriculture in Georgia; William C. Dawson was a judge, a U.S. congressman and senator; George Foster Pierce was a Methodist bishop who served as the first president of Wesleyan College and later as president of Emory; and Peter Early was a state senator, congressman and Governor of Georgia. There are two houses on Lick Skillet Road in Greensboro that are reputed to be haunted. At Ducaro Hall, built in 1837, footsteps can be heard late at night. At Early Hill, built in 1840, two ghosts appear. One is a man who sits in the rocking chair on the front porch; the other is a small girl who wanders upstairs and in the backyard. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 ".,.....,. ~ Georgia County Snapshots Greene County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T m 50 - - CTY GA -----, 40 30 .~ 20 Iii!! .~~. 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ 10 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Greene County was 11,793 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 3.5%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 12,820 persons. In Greene County, 49% of the residents were white and 50% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71% of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 34% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Greene County, the 1990 Census reports 10% ofhouseholds were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 35% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.2% of the adult population in Greene County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 21 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Greene County spent an average of $3,991 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 14.5 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number ofphysicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the.8 state average. Greene County had 3.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 67% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $38,800. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,098. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Greene County ranked number 71. Of this five year average, 8% were violent crimes, while 92% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 70% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 71 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Greene County Greensboro Siloam Union Point White Plains Woodville 10,212 2,583 319 1,624 236 379 11,391 2,985 446 1,750 231 455 11,793 2,860 329 1,753 286 415 11.5 3.5 15.6 -4.2 39.8 -26.2 7.8 0.2 -2.1 23.8 20.1 -8.8 '~-" Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Chipman-Union Inc., Reynolds Plantation, and Wellington Puritan are among the largest non-government employers in Greene County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 34% of the jobs and 37% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Greene County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,79% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 21 %, commuted out of Greene County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Greene County's per capita income was $14,162, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Greene County's median household income in 1989 was $20,264. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,680 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Greene County had 235 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 10%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Greene County's assessed property value amounted to $170.1 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $14,421. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Greene County is the Athens Banner-Herald. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,25% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 34% of the .children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 31 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Greene County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,324 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Greene County Commuting, %01 Workforce Employed (1990) .... !!I Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) .... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('98-'94) .... 12 - - - - - - - - - 3 ---------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- -fll- -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Greene County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 Government Over the past five years, Greene County's average own source revenue per capita was $324. This amount was greater than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Greene County collected an average of $187 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 50% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Greene County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $317 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Greene County had an average of $807,400 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $68. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Greene was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Greene County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Greene County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. 0ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 453-7592 Central Library (706) 453-7276 County Commission (706) 453-7716 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Gwinnett County Gwinnett County was formed in 1818 from lands obtained through the treaty with the Creek and Cherokee Indians. Georgia's 42nd county was named for Button Gwinnett, one of Georgia's three signers of the Declaration of Independence. Lawrenceville, the county seat, was named after Captain James Lawrence, Commander of the Frigate Chesapeake during the War of 1812. Mortally wounded, he gave his men the battle cry, "Don't give up the ship." There are 11 more municipalities in the county including Berkely Lake, Buford, Dacula, Duluth, Grayson, Lilburn, Norcross, Rest Haven, Snellville, Sugar Hill and Suwanee. Built in 1885 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse was recently renovated and reopened as a community attraction and meeting facility. The graves of seven soldiers who were killed in a battle with Indians in 1830 are located on the courthouse grounds. Stone Mountain Park, one of Georgia's most popular tourist attractions, is located on Gwinnett's border with DeKalb County. Highlights of the 3,200-acre park include a golf course, a 363-acre lake, an antebellum plantation and a carving of Confederate heroes on the world's largest exposed mass of granite. Stone Mountain was also the venue for the 1996 Olympic archery and, .. ~te~nenics~c~o~m~;p~e~t:it~io:n~se.~i~e~r~~~~r~~~~i:: ~/~I'QI ">"w .":>- ample opportunity for fishing, boating and Vrr141\ other outdoor activities in the county. A part f of the 4,000-acre Chattahoochee River ' National Recreation Area is also located within the county. The National Football League's Atlanta Falcons operate their training complex in Suwanee. Open practices at the complex during the summer draw pro football fans from around the metropolitan Atlanta area. Gwinnett residents and visitors enjoy several festivals and events each year. The Gwinnett County Fairgrounds hosts an Indian Festival in May, a rodeo in July and a countywide fair in September. Most of the 12 municipalities in Gwinnett have an annual celebration or festival, as well. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Gwinnett County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 40 - - . CTY II GA-- 30 ~~ ~~ 20 ~~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births ... 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Gwinnett County was 352,910 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 111%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 531,971 persons. In Gwinnett County, 92% of the residents were white and 5% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 3% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 5% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Gwinnett County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 43% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 25.7% of the adult population in Gwinnett County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 61.0% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 3.6% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Gwinnett County spent an average of $3,832 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 6.9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number ofphysicians in the county per 1,000 population was .9, compared with the .8 state average. Gwinnett County had 1 hospital bed per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 63% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $95,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 5,237. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Gwinnett County ranked number 28. Of this five year average, 5% were violent crimes, while 95% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,74% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 80% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Gwinnett County Berkeley Lake Buford Dacula Duluth Grayson Lawrenceville Lilburn Norcross Rest Haven Snellville Sugar Hill Suwanee 1970 73,349 219 4,640 782 1,810 366 5,207 1,668 2,755 188 1,990 1,745 615 Population 1980 1990 166,808 503 6,697 1,577 2,956 464 8,928 3,765 3,317 231 8,514 2,340 1,026 352,910 791 8,771 2,217 9,029 529 16,848 9,301 5,947 176 12,084 4,557 2,412 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 127.4 129.7 44.3 101.7 63.3 26.8 71.5 125.7 20.4 22.9 327.8 34.1 66.8 111.6 57.3 31.0 40.6 205.4 14.0 88.7 147.0 79.3 -23.8 41.9 94.7 135.1 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, AT&T, Gwinnett Hospital, and Scientific-Atlanta are among the largest non-government employers in Gwinnett County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 21 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Gwinnett County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's, averaging 4.2% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,47% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 53%, commuted out of Gwinnett County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 exceeded that of the state and was greater than that of the nation. Gwinnett County's per capita income was $21,543, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Gwinnett County's median household income in 1989 was $43,518. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $14,639 per capita. This amount was greater than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Gwinnett County had 10,237 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 40%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Gwinnett County's assessed property value amounted to $8.3 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $23,396. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Gwinnett County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,4% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 4% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 10% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Gwinnett County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,312 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Gwinnett County Commuting, %01 Workforce Employed (1990) T IJi1 Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 6 ...)1~, ..... 1!l-. ~ 3---------- 0---------- ~O '91 ~2 ~3 ~4 CTY ---Iill--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Gwinnett County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 1200------ 900--- 600--- ~:I ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Gwinnett County's average own source revenue per capita was $674. This amount was greater than the average of $574 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Gwinnett County collected an average of $385 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $317 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 52% ofthe county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Gwinnett County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $491 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $444 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Gwinnett County had an average of $401 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $1,136. This amount was higher than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $491 per capita average for the 8 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Gwinnett was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Gwinnett County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Gwinnett County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Lawrenceville averaged $384 per capita in own source revenues and $315 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 24% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $91 for residents of Lawrenceville. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. During the past five years, the City of Lawrenceville had no long-term debt outstanding. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, Lawrenceville has a mayor-council form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 513-3000 Central Library (770) 822-4522 County Commission (770) 822-7000 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Habersham County SA o eLf-QS .S I 56 Habersham County was created in 1818 from Indian treaty lands. Georgia's 43rd county was named for Major Joseph Habersham, who fought in the Revolutionary War, was Mayor of Savannah, served in Congress and was President George Washington's Postmaster General. o Clarkesville, the county seat, was named for Revolutionary War hero, and former governor, John Clarke. Other municipalities are Alto, Baldwin, Cornelia, Demorest, Mount Airy, and Tallulah Falls. o Several famous individuals have roots in Habersham County. Johnny Mize, a member ofthe Baseball Hall of Fame, was born in Demorest. Robert Toombs was a U.S. Senator from 1848 to 1852 and lost the bid for president of the Confederacy to Jefferson Davis by one vote. o Annual events in Habersham County include the Mountain Laurel Festival held in Clarkesville every May. Clarkesville also hosts the Chattahoochee Mountain Fair each September. Cornelia hosts the Big Red Apple Festival during October. o A Civil War iron works in the county produced guns and cannons for the Confederacy. Most of Habersham County was spared from pillage after Confederate troops turned back Union calvary in a skirmish near Currahee Mountain. o The Eastern Continental Divide runs through downtown Cornelia on South Main Street. Water falling on the north side of the street runs into the Chattahoochee River and the Gulf of Mexico; water draining to south of the street winds up in the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean. o Habersham's mountains, lakes and rivers make it a nature lover's paradise. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the county is crossed by parts of the Chattahoochee National Forest, and the Tallulah and Tugaloo Rivers. Part of Tallulah Gorge, considered to be the Grand Canyon of the South, is located in Habersham County. Previously diverted underground for hydroelectric purposes by the Georgia Pow~r Company, the Tallulah River is once again flowing through the gorge over a series of breathtaking waterfalls. Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1996 Georgia County Snapshots Habersham County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (990) T m 50 - - . CTY GA-- 40 -----------1~ 30 ------Q!-------tt1 20 l""':~-~ ''f'----+-----i 10 I-~--_+_--___+--__I o '--_ _.l...-_ _--'-_ _-! Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA cry According to the 1990 Census, the population of Habersham County was 27,621 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 10.4%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 31,179 persons. In Habersham County, 92% of the residents were white and 6% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 29% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Habersham County, the 1990 Census reports 4% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 35% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 29.9% of the adult population in Habersham County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 29.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of7% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Habersham County spent an average of $3,813 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 13.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.7, compared with the .8 state average. Habersham County had 1.8 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 69% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $57,800. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,725. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Habersham County ranked number 115. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 56% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 79% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 Habersham County Alto Baldwin Clarkesville Cornelia Demorest Mount Airy Tallulah Falls 20,691 372 772 1,294 3,014 1,070 463 255 25,020 618 1,080 1,348 3,203 1,130 670 162 27,621 651 1,439 1,151 3,219 1,088 543 147 20.9 66.1 39.9 4.2 6.3 5.6 44.7 -36.5 10.4 5.3 33.2 -14.6 0.5 -3.7 -19.0 -9.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Ethicon Inc., Fieldale Farms, and Scoville Apparel are among the largest non-government employers in Habersham County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 34% of the jobs and 35% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Habersham County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,76% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 24%, commuted out of Habersham County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Habersham County's per capita income was $16,193, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Habersham County's median household income in 1989 was $24,386. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $8,292 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Habersham County had 613 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 12%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Habersham County's assessed property value amounted to $416.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $15,089. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Habersham County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,12% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 11 % of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 25% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Habersham County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,684 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Habersham County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T I'll Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 0----'-----'----- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9--------- .ffi ~~ 6 '- . 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 cry --- jJjJj --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Habersham County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Habersham County's average own source revenue per capita was $279. This amount was less than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Habersham County collected an average of $140 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 47% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Habersham County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $200 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Habersham County had an average of $301,700 in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $11. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Habersham was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Habersham County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 778-4654 Central Library (706) 754-4413 County Commission (706) 754-6264 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Hall County Hall County was created in 1818 from Indian treaty lands. Georgia's 44th county was named for Dr. Lyman Hall, signer of the Declaration of Independence and later governor of Georgia. The county seat is Gainesville, which may have been named for early settlers in the area, or for General Edmund P. Gaines, who arrested Aaron Burr for treason. The other incorporated municipalities in the county are Clermont, Flowery Branch, Gillsville, Lula and Oakwood. Gainesville is often referred to as the "Poultry Capital of the World." Gainesville College is located in Hall County. Gainesville's municipal power plant was built in 1899. Gainesville was the first southern city to have electric streetlights. Hall County is split by the Chattahoochee River and Lake Lanier, the most northerly impoundment of the river. Lake Lanier is a major recreation and tourism site and served as the venue for many of the rowing and kayaking events in the 1996 Olympic Games. General James Longstreet of the Confederate Army made his post-Civil War home in Hall County. He was appointed Minister to Turkey by President Grant. There are several festivals held annually in Hall County, including the Georgia Mountain Jubilee held in late April, and the Holiday Marketplace, held in midNovember. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Hall County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 40 - - . CTY .~ GA-- ~ 30 ------.---,+,t;~ r'; 20 1.l!;r-------4....---+------I ~~ 10 f--------f------j------1 o '--------'-------'-------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Hall County was 95,428 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 26.1 %, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 120,001 persons. In Hall County, 87% ofthe residents were white and 8% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 5% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 29% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Hall County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30% of the adult population in Hall County had completed high school, which was slightly greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of35.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Hall County spent an average of $3,437 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9.0 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.8, compared with the .8 state average. Hall County had 4.3 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 63% of the housing units in county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $75,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 5,008. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Hall County ranked number 31. Of this five year average, 11 % were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 58% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 79% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Hall County Clermont Flowery Branch Gainesville Gillsville Lula Oakwood 1970 59,405 290 779 15,459 100 736 250 Population 1980 1990 75,649 300 755 15,280 142 857 723 95,428 402 1,251 17,885 113 1,018 1,464 Growth (%) 1970-1980 19801990 27.3 3.4 -3.1 -1.2 42.0 16.4 189.2 26.1 34.0 65.7 17.0 -20.4 18.8 102.5 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in the county include: C Poultry Co., Fieldale Farms, and Northeast Georgia Medical. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 26% of the jobs and 29% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 22% of the jobs employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Hall County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 78% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 22%, commuted out of Hall County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Hall County's per capita income was $17,972, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Hall County's median household income in 1989 was $29,774. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $11,414 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Hall County had 2,453 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 10%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Hall County's assessed property value amounted to $1.6 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $16,726. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Hall County is the Gainesville Times. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 11 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 13% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 16% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Hall County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,321 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Hall County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... I'.ll Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 cry --- fj, - - GA Georgia County Snapshots Hall County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 - .-- 100 ~. oALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Hall County's average own source revenue per capita was $395. This amount was greater than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Hall County collected an average of $180 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 45% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Hall County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $350 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Hall County had an average of $4.8 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $50. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Hall was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Hall County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Hall County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Gainesville averaged $832 per capita in own source revenues and $818 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 40% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $329 for residents of Gainesville. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Gainesville had an average of $60.5 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of$3,380. This amount was higher than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, Gainesville has a council-manager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 532-6206 Central Library (770) 532-3311 County Commission (770) 535-8260 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Hancock County GA Hancock County was created in 1793. CLf-Q5 Originally part of Greene and Washington counties, Georgia's 15th county was .Si named for the first signer of the ~b Declaration of Independence, John Hancock. The county has only one municipality, Sparta, which serves as the county seat. Founded in 1795 during Georgia's Greek Revival Period, Sparta was named for the classical Greek city. Four Georgia governors have come from Hancock County: Nathaniel Harris, James McDonald, William Northen, and William Rabun. Several other notable people have called Hancock County home including: Lucius H. Holsey. Born a slave, Holsey went on to found Paine College in Augusta; Charles L. Harper, a civil rights leader who founded the Atlanta branch of the NAACP; and David Dixon, who advocated crop rotation, cover crops and other innovative agricultural ideas, until he became known as the "Prince of Farmers." Millmore Gristmill, which is located within the county, was the site of the historic 1786 peace treaty between the Georgia and the Creek Indian Nation. The Oconee River makes up much of the western border of the county. Located on its banks are the Shoulderbone Indian Mounds, which date back to approximately 1300 - 1450. Lake Sinclair is formed by the impoundment of the Oconee River by the Sinclair Dam. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Hancock County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Populadon Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 50 - - . CTY rei GA~ 40 30 I 20 i~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 20--- 15--- 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Hancock County was 8,908 persons. The county's population declined 5.9% between 1980 and 1990, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 9,411 persons. In Hancock County, 20% of the residents were white and 79% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 35% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Hancock County, the 1990 Census reports 14% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 35% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 34.1 % of the adult population in Hancock County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 15.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Hancock County spent an average of $3,861 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 20.0 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared with the.8 state average. Hancock County had 5.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 67% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $29,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 965. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Hancock County ranked number 143. Of this five year average, 31 % were violent crimes, while 69% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 87% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 59% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Hancock County Sparta 1970 9,019 2,172 Population 1980 9,466 1,754 1990 8,908 1,710 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 5.0 -5.9 -19.2 -2.5 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Delta Apparel Inc., Hancock Hospital Corp., and Sparta Providence Health are among the largest non-government employers in Hancock County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 30% of the jobs and 25% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 19% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Hancock County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.2% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,44% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 56%, commuted out of Hancock County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Hancock County's per capita income was $12,340, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Hancock County's median household income in 1989 was $17,825. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,766 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Hancock County had 77 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 18%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Hancock County's assessed property value amounted to $102.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,470. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Hancock County is the Milledgeville Union-Recorder. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989, 30% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 38% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 35% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Hancock County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,803 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Hancock County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990)T III Outside County Inside County Per CapRa Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('98-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - - :7~S 1!!lJ--- __ ~,' --om 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---{::ion GA Georgia County Snapshots Hancock County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 90------ 75 - - - - 60 - - - - 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 500------ 400 - - - - 300 Government Over the past five years, Hancock County's average own source revenue per capita was $559. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Hancock County collected an average of $457 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 77% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Hancock County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $442 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Hancock County had an average of $4.3 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $481. This amount was higher than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Hancock was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Hancock County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. 100 o ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 444-5715 Central Library (706) 444-5389 County Commission (706) 444-5746 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Haralson County GA Haralson County was created in 1856 C4<15 .5\ from parts of Carroll and Polk counties. Georgia's l12th county was named for General Hugh A. Haralson, Sb a U.S. Congressman and an officer in the state militia. There are four municipalities in Haralson County. The largest is Bremen; however, Buchanan is the county seat. Buchanan was named for the 15th President of the United States, James Buchanan, who favored slavery. The other two communities are Tallapoosa and Waco. The old county courthouse, built in 1891 and now home of the local historical society, is a prime example of a public building constructed in the Queen Anne style. The clock tower was added in 1897. Tallapoosa, the "Dogwood City," was named for the river that runs through Haralson County. Tallapoosa is an Indian word meaning "Golden Water." Tallapoosa is also known for having opened the first free school in Georgia in 1889. Some notable people from Haralson County are Speaker Thomas B. Murphy, who has held the office of a state Speaker of the House longer than anyone else in the U.S.; Whitlow Wyatt, a former Braves pitcher; and Leroy Almon, a well respected southern folk artist who has had work exhibited by the Smithsonian. There are several special festivals planned throughout the year in Haralson County. These include the Annual Dogwood Festival in April, the Haralson County Arts & Crafts Festival, the Waco Fest and the Annual Anniversary Celebrations. John Tanner State Park is a major recreational attraction of the county. This park includes nature trails, canoeing and paddle boating, fishing, and camping. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Haralson County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 50 - - . CTY Iia GA-- ~ 40 ~ 30 20 i~ J ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Haralson County was 21,966 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 19.2%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 25,495 persons. In Haralson County, 93% of the residents were white and 7% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % ofresidents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either black or white in the Census data. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Haralson County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.6% of the adult population in Haralson County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 22.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 11.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Haralson County spent an average of $3,580 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number ofphysicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the .8 state average. Haralson County had 2.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 70% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $47,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,609. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Haralson County ranked number 82. Of this five year average, 8% were violent crimes, while 92% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 70% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Haralson County Bremen Buchanan Tallapoosa Waco 1970 15,927 3,484 800 2,896 431 Population 1980 1990 18,422 3,966 1,019 2,647 471 21,966 4,356 1,009 2,805 461 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 15.7 19.2 13.8 9.8 27.4 -1.0 -8.6 6.0 9.3 -2.1 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Ambrock Manufacturing, King Packaging Co., and United States Can Company are among the largest nongovernment employers in Haralson County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 32% of the jobs and 36% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23 % of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Haralson County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,52% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 48%, commuted out of Haralson County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Haralson County's per capita income was $14,594, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Haralson County's median household income in 1989 was $22,775. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,550 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Haralson County had 384 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 6%, virtually matching the statewide rate of increase for the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Haralson County's assessed property value amounted to $238.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,860. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Haralson County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 14% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 17% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 24% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Haralson County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,000 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Haralson County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... !iil Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 12 - - - - - . - - - - - 9 ---..r----------lIk__-- 6 =----....,.L----'-"- m-----m' 3--------- 0--------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY mlli] m GA Georgia County Snapshots Haralson County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ..- 400------ 300 200 - 100 o- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Haralson County's average own source revenue per capita was $258. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Haralson County collected an average of $132 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 50% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Haralson County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $213 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Haralson County had an average of $709,700 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $32. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Haralson was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Haralson County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Haralson County has a sole commissioner. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 537-5594 Central Library (770) 537-3937 County Commission (770) 646-2002 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Harris County GA o Harris County was created in 1827 from portions of Muscogee and Troup c'Lf95 counties. Georgia's 7lst county was ~S \ 5b named for Charles Harris, a lawyer who served as mayor of Savannah. The county seat is Hamilton. Other municipalities are Pine Mountain, Shiloh and Waverly Hall. o Several events occur annually in Harris County. Callaway Gardens hosts the Masters Water Ski Tournament in May, the Buick Southern Open PGA Golf Tournament in September and an Antique Show & Sale in November. Hamilton is the site of the Harris County Cattleman's Rodeo in September. Every October, Pine Mountain hosts the Pine Mountain Heritage Festival. o Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park is located on Pine Mountain in Harris County. This 1O,000-acre park features two lakes, hiking and backpacking trails, an FDR Museum, and warm springs famous for their curative powers. o The 500-acre Pine Mountain Animal Park allows visitors the opportunity to observe giraffes, camels, zebras, llamas, buffalo, elk and antelopes in natural habitats. Other attractions at the animal park include a monkey house, a serpentorium and an alligator pit. o The nationally known Callaway Gardens Resort is located in the county. The l2,000-acre resort features 63 holes of golf, a 1,OOO-acre hunting preserve and one of the largest botanical gardens in the world. The Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, featuring more than 50 species of tropical butterflies, and the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center are located within the resort. The Chattahoochee River and Lake Harding form the western border of Harris County, providing ample opportunity for fishing, swimming, boating and other outdoor activities. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1996 ~/ Meriwe~er Georgia County Snapshots Harris County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 40 - - . CTY I!!ll G A - - ~~ 30 - - - - - - - - @ :.. -----"bI~ &:l 20 ~--...----_\_-----j ~ 10 1 - - - - + - - - - + - - - - 1 o '--------'----------'--------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ o _.' GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Harris County was 17,788 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 15.0%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 20,884 persons. In Harris County, 73% of the residents were white and 26% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 28% ofthe county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Harris County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.1 % of the adult population in Harris County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 32.9% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.1 % of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Harris County spent an average of $3,672 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 8.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared with the .8 state average. Harris County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 68% of the housing units in county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $64,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,100. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Harris County ranked number 101. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 73 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 72% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Harris County Hamilton Pine Mountain Shiloh Waverly Hall 1970 11,520 357 862 298 671 Population 1980 1990 15,464 506 984 392 913 17,788 454 875 329 769 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 34.2 15.0 41.7 -10.3 14.2 -11.1 31.5 -16.1 36.1 -15.8 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Cagle's Inc., Callaway Gardens Resort, and Ida Cason Callaway are among the largest non-government employers in Harris County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 30% of the jobs and 34% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Harris County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,31 % of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 69%, commuted out of Harris County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Harris County's per capita income was $16,895, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Harris County's median household income in 1989 was $27,616. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,262 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Harris County had 240 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 11 %. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Harris County's assessed property value amounted to $288.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $16,205. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Harris County is the Columbus Ledger Enquirer. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989, 14% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 16% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 22% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Harris County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,792 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Harris County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T I:l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---ll'!!--' GA Georgia County Snapshots Harris County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ 300 200 100 o ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Harris County's average own source revenue per capita was $313. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Harris County collected an average of $157 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 43% ofthe county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Harris County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $276 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Harris County had an average of $5.6 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $314. This amount was higher than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Harris was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Harris County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers ----------------------------- Chamber of Commerce Central Library County Commission (706) 628-4381 (706) 628-4585 (706) 628-4958 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Hart County Hart County was created in 1853 from parts of Elbert, Franklin and Madison counties, and is the only Georgia county named for a woman. Nancy Hart, who lived in the area during the Revolutionary War, served as a rebel spy and killed five Tories who threatened her home. Hartwell, the county seat, is also named for her. The only other municipality is Bowersville. Hartwell Lake, which forms parts of the county's eastern and southern borders, is a major tourist attraction in the region. The lake covers 55,950 acres, and is one of the three most visited Corps of Engineer lakes in the country. Other important attractions in Hart County include Hart State Park, Victoria Bryant State Park and Hart County Recreational Area. The Teasley-Holland House, in Hartwell, is home to the Hart County Historical Society and Museum. The historic museum is a one-story, Victorian style home built in 1880 by Isham Asbury Teasley. Annual events in Hart County include the Blessing of the Fleet on Lake Hartwell in May, a pre-Labor Day gospel sing, and the Hartwell Fall Festival Arts and Crafts Show. The Cherokee Indian "Center of the World" is located in the county on Highway 29 South. This Cherokee Indian Assembly ground, marked by a roadside monument, was the site of council meetings and trade with white settlers. The 118-year old Hartwell Sun provides the community with news coverage of local government, social and recreation stories. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Hart County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- ~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 - - - - - - . f . l . : . } - - - - - f . ;~':;' 10.---+----+-----1 o '----------'-----'-----' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Hart County was 19,712 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 6.1 %, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 22,410 persons. In Hart County, 80% of the residents were white and 20% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either black or white in the Census data. In addition, 28% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 16% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Hart County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.9% of the adult population in Hart County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 24% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 4.7% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Hart County spent an average of $3,687 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the .8 state average. Hart County had 5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 66% of the housing units in county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $51,700. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,303. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Hart County ranked number 130. Ofthis five year average, 21 % were violent crimes, while 79% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 71 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Hart County 15,814 18,585 19,712 17.5 6.1 Bowersville 301 318 311 5.6 -2.2 Hartwell 4,865 4,855 4,555 -0.2 -6.2 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Dundee Mills Inc., Hartwell Manufacturing Co., and Monroe Auto Equipment are among the largest non-government employers in Hart County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 44% of the jobs and 52% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 13% of the jobs and 7% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 11 % of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Hart County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.6% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,71% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 29%, commuted out of Hart County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Hart County's per capita income was $15,452, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Hart County's median household income in 1989 was $24,333. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $6,328 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Hart County had 295 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 7%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Hart County's assessed property value amounted to $326.9 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $16,583. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Hart County is the Anderson Independent. The county is considered part of the Greenville, Asheville television market. During 1989, 14% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 18% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 18% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents in 1992 of Hart County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,738 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Hart County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... !!l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o us .::::~;:::<::~ GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... ~ 9 _ _..'. - - - - - - - 6 .~=---------j"::'"~"-'----m 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 --4.~-r.TV ---~--- f.:A Georgia County Snapshots Hart County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 45 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 100 o ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Hart County's average own source revenue per capita was $265. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Hart County collected an average of $146 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 51 % of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Hart County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $227 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Hart County had an average of $424,700 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $22. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Hart was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Hart County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Hart County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 376-8590 Central Library (706) 376-4655 County Commission (706) 376-2024 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Heard County GA Heard County was created in 1830, by the Treaty of Indian Springs, from parts of C15 Carroll, Coweta and Troup counties. It is .s\ named for Stephen Heard, a Revolutionary War hero and the first president of the S6 Executive Council of Georgia. There are four incorporated municipalities in Heard County: Centralhatchee, Corinth, Ephesus, and Franklin, the county seat. Franklin, incorporated in 1831, is on the site of a large Creek town. Centralhatchee is a Native American word for "fish stream," while Corinth and Ephesus were named for famous Greek cities. Every Labor Day holiday weekend, the Powers Crossroads Festival is held on the line between Coweta and Heard counties. This is rated as one of the ten best arts & crafts festivals in the country. There are several interesting old gristmills and cotton gins scattered throughout the county, including the Armstrong Mill in the northeast section of the county. The Chattahoochee River bisects Heard County from northeast to southwest. The West Point Reservoir is a popular recreation area. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Heard County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T - - + 50 CTY Iiil GA~~ 40 30 ; .; 20 ~.~ l;fS " 10 ~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Heard County was 8,628 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 32.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 10,760 persons. In Heard County, 85% ofthe residents were white and 14% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Heard County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 38% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.6% of the adult population in Heard County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 16.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Heard County spent an average of $3,878 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 7.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number ofphysicians in the county per 1,000 population was .1, compared with the .8 state average. Heard County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 69% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $43,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,288. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Heard County ranked number 131. Of this five year average, 15% were violent crimes, while 85% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 77% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 69% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Heard County Centralhatchee Corinth Ephesus Franklin 1970 5,354 186 107 212 749 Population 1980 6,520 240 75 184 711 1990 8,628 301 136 324 876 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 21.8 32.3 29.0 25.4 -29.9 81.3 -13.2 76.1 -5.1 23.2 .-"~."" Economy Georgia County Snapshots Heard County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Heard County include: Franklin Aluminum, Georgia Power Co., and Private Line Group Inc. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 29% of the jobs and 31 % of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. The transportation, communications and public utilities sector is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% ofjobs and 28% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Heard County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,38% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 62%, commuted out of Heard County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Heard County's per capita income was $11,555, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Heard County's median household income in 1989 was $21,513. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $11,487 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Heard County had 78 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Heard County's assessed property value amounted to $90.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,452. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Heard County is the LaGrange Daily News. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,19% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 24% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 31 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Heard County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,690 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ..... I:iI Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income (S,OOO/1992) ..... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 I---===~'llY: - 6 ~ o ----'-----'---- ""~~""""""-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('9D-'94) ..... 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---.jjli]--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Heard County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ 45 30 15 0- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400 - - - - 300 200 100 o ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Heard County's average own source revenue per capita was $474. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Heard County collected an average of $232 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 48% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Heard County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $459 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Heard County had an average of $3.4 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $398. This amount was higher than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Heard was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Heard County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Heard County has a six member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 675-0560 Central Library (706) 675-6501 County Commission (706) 675-3821 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Henry County GA Henry County was formed in 1821 from Creek Indian lands. Georgia's 50th county C-495 was named for Patrick Henry, whose .Si powerful rhetoric helped push the Colonies into the Revolutionary War. McDonough, the Sio county seat, was named for Captain James McDonough, the victor over the British on Lake Champlain in the War of 1812. The other municipalities are Hampton, Locust Grove and Stockbridge. Famous individuals from Henry County include James Weldon Johnson, founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and Martin Luther King, Sr., who was born and raised on a farm near Stockbridge. Henry County hosts several major sporting events each year. The Chick-Fil-A Charity Championship, a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour Event, is held at the Eagles Landing Country Club each April. The Atlanta Motor Speedway, located in Hampton, is home to two major National Association of Stock Car Racing (NASCAR) events. Several communities in the county host annual fairs or cultural events. The Henry County Fair is held each October in McDonough. McDonough also hosts the Geranium Festival in May. Stockbridge is home to the Old Stockbridge Days Festival in May and Locust Grove celebrates Old Locust Grove Days in May, as well. The Fairview Fall Festival is held each year in early October. There are several historic places throughout Henry County. The Brown House in McDonough is home to the Henry County Historical Society. Built in 1826, the building was the home of Andrew McBride, a Revolutionary War Veteran from South Carolina. The home became the Brown House Hotel after it was expanded in 1874. The Romanesque style county courthouse, built in 1897, is also located in McDonough. Locust Grove features a century-old hardware store that has been owned and operated by four generations of the Gardner family. The Panola Mountain State Conservation Park is located east of Stockbridge on the county's border with Rockdale County. The 537-acre park surrounds Panola Mountain, a rnillion-year-old granite monadnock. The South River, which eventually flows into Lake Jackson, also flows through the park. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Henry County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 ~ 30 ~I! a 20 I 10 o Coli Some HS No Deg Coli Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Henry County was 58,741 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 61.8%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 84,810 persons. In Henry County, 89% of the residents were white and 10% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 8% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Henry County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 42% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 38.1 % of the adult population in Henry County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 34.8% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Henry County spent an average of $3,606 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 7.0 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the .8 state average. Henry County had 1.6 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 79% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $81,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,584. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Henry County ranked number 49. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 72% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 79% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 Henry County 23,724 36,309 58,741 53.0 61.8 Hampton 1,551 2,059 2,694 32.8 30.8 Locust Grove 642 1,479 1,681 130.4 13.7 McDonough 2,675 2,778 2,929 3.9 5.4 Stockbridge 1,561 2,103 3,359 34.7 59.7 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Kroger Company, NEC Technologies, and Snapper Power Equipment are among the largest non-government employers in Henry County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 22% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Henry County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's, averaging 4.5% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,30% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 70% commuted out of Henry County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Henry County's per capita income was $16,512, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Henry County's median household income in 1989 was $37,550. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $8,630 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Henry County had 935 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period between 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 37%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Henry County's assessed property value amounted to $985.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $16,772. At the state level, the per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Henry County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,6% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 6% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 14% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Henry County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,029 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Henry County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... &;l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('98-'94) ... 9---------- .6 m__ ~/-' --" -~ ---1..1.- -~ 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 cry ---w--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Henry County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Henry County's average own source revenue per capita was $369. This amount was greater than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Henry County collected an average of $230 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for . 55% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Henry County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $360 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Henry County had an average of $4.4 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $75. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Henry was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Henry County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Henry County has a six member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 957-5786 Central Library (770) 954-2806 County Commission (770) 9542400 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Houston County GA Houston County (pronounced House-ton), the 51st county formed in Georgia, was c.1f~5 created in 1821. Originally part of the . SI Creek nation's land, the county was named for John Houston, a member of the Sb Continental Congress and Governor of Georgia from 1778 to 1784. The county has three municipalities: Centerville, Warner Robins, and Perry, the county seat. Robins Air Force Base is also located in the county. Both Warner Robins and Robins Air Force Base were named for Brigadier General Augustine Warner Robins. Robins Air Force Base, the center of the Warner Robins Air Material Area, was built in 1941 for around $15 million. It covers 6,400 acres and is Georgia's largest single employer, providing an important economic boost to central Georgia. Perry is named in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry, the naval officer who said "We have met the enemy and they are ours," after a fleet under his command defeated the British at Lake Erie. Perry is also home to the Georgia National Fairgounds and Agricenter. U.S. Senator Sam Nunn is from Perry. Warner Robins is home to one of the top Air Museums in the country, the Museum of Aviation. This facility also includes the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame as well as the Robert L. Scott Vistascope Theater. Some of the county's special events include the World Class Air Show and the International City Festival, in Warner Robins; and the Georgia National Fair, the Mossy Creek Barnyard Arts & Crafts Festival, and the Dogwood Festival in Perry. The Georgia National Fair is an oldfashioned, state-sponsored fair held nine days at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 ODDly Georgia County Snapshots Houston County Demographics EducatiDnal Attainment: %Df PDpulatiDn Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY ~ GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - - - 30 ------Il!ll----kf~:' ~~ 20g:;.r-E~---t---t---~ 10 f---+----+-----j o L -_ _l -_ _.-l-_ _--J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant MDrtality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 - 5- o -' GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Houston County was 89,208 persons. The county's population growth betw~en1980and 1990 was 15.0%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 107,858 persons. In Houston County, 76% of the residents were white and 22% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 8% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Houston County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equal to the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 40% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 37% of the adult population in Houston County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 42.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Houston County spent an average of $3,857 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 10.6 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.0, compared with the.8 state average. Houston County had 2.4 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 61 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $62,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 5,391. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Houston County ranked number 23. Of this five year average, 9% were violent crimes, while 91 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 67% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 77% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. CDmmunity Houston County Centerville Perry Warner Robins 1970 62,924 1,725 7,771 33,491 PDpulatiDn 1980 1990 77,605 2,622 9,453 39,893 89,208 3,251 9,452 43,726 GrDwth (%) 19701980 19801990 23.3 15.0 52.0 24.0 21.6 0.0 19.1 9.6 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Anchor Glass Container, Frito Lay Inc., and Northrop Corporation are among the largest non-government employers in Houston County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 8% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 9% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Houston County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,78% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 22%, commuted out of Houston County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Houston County's per capita income was $16,251, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Houston County's median household income in 1989 was $31,229. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $8,292 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Houston County had 1,629 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 9%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Houston County's assessed property value amounted to $993.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,134. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Houston County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989, 11 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 16% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 13% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Houston County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,872 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Houston County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 6~,"m..""'.~,., l'*J-----r.n. ' -'--.m... 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---JZj--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Houston County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average <1991-1995) .... 75-----60 - - - - 30 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita <1991-1995) T 400------ ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Houston County's average own source revenue per capita was $178. This amount was less than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Houston County collected an average of $121 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 64% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Houston County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $174 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Houston County had an average of $5.7 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $64. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Houston was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Houston County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credit, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Houston County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Warner Robins averaged $302 per capita in own source revenues and $326 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $517 per capita in own source revenues and $550 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 47% ofthe city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $143 for residents of Warner Robins. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 30% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Warner Robins had an average of $25.2 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $575. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $852 per capita average for the 9 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Warner Robins has a mayor-council form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 953-5407 Central Library (912) 987-3050 County Commission (912) 542-2115 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Irwin County &A Irwin County, the 45th county created, retains only a small portion of the territory C i'f-C,5 given to it when it was formed from Creek .Si Indian lands in 1818. It once encompassed all of south central Georgia, but now S~ contains the upper reaches of the Alapaha, Willacoochee and Satilla rivers. Irwin County was named for Governor Jared Irwin, aNorth Carolina native. Irwin was famous for his opposition to the Yazoo Law of 1795, by which the state of Georgia sold a vast tract of land at one and a half cents per acre to several companies, including one owned in part by a U.S. Senator. Irwin rescinded the law in 1796 during his term as governor. The county has one incorporated municipality, Ocilla, the county seat. Ocilla is a version of an old Indian name, Osceola. The county's first courthouse was constructed in 1848-1849, and the one currently in use was built in 1905. During the Civil War, Irwinville to the northeast of Ocilla was the county seat, and the location where Union soldiers captured Jefferson Davis. The site is now the Jefferson Davis Park and Museum. There are two entries on the National Register from Irwin County: the Irwin County Courthouse and the Jefferson Davis Capture Site. The state has also identified 27 archaeological sites worth exploring in the county. These are being kept secret to avoid contamination problems. There are several endangered species found in the county, including the Florida Panther, the Peregrine Falcon and the Southern Bald Eagle. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Berrien\ I r\ @ ! I. Georgia County Snapshots Irwin County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY Ii1l GA-~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 - - - - - - @ j - - - U 20 ~m':'r---~'1'----+--------1 10 ~~---l~----t------j o '---_ _.1..-_ _--'--_ _-' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 25------ 20--- 15--- According to the 1990 Census, the population of Irwin County was 8,649 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 3.8% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 8,685 persons. In Irwin County, 69% of the residents were white and 30% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% ofthe county's residents, were age 19 or younger, while 16% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Irwin County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equalling the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 35% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.9% ofthe adult population in Irwin County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 20.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Irwin County spent an average of $3,816 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 22.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared with the .8 state average. Irwin County had 4 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 66% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $40,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median average of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,692. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Irwin County ranked number 47. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 66% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 70% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 Irwin County 8,036 8,988 8,649 11.8 -3.8 Ocilla 3,185 3,436 3,182 7.9 -7.4 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Irwin Manufacturing Co., Osceola Nursing, and Ross of Georgia are among the largest non-government employers in Irwin County. Farming is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 23% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Irwin County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 51 % of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 49%, commuted out of Irwin County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Irwin County's per capita income was $13,997, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Irwin County's median household income in 1989 was $20,169. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,708 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Irwin County had 143 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 3%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Irwin County's assessed property value amounted to $99.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,534. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Irwin County is the Tifton Gazette. The county is considered part of the Albany television market. During 1989,27% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 38% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 29% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Irwin County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,057 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Irwin County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... t Il3 Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -L_---'---_"""""""''''.__ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --, W:l- --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Irwin County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ..... 60------ 45 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average $$$s Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Irwin County's average own source revenue per capita was $242. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Irwin County collected an average of $150 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 57% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Irwin County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $198 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Irwin County had an average of $94,400 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $11. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Irwin was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Irwin County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 468-9114 Central Library (912) 468-5456 County Commission (912) 468-9441 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Jackson County GA Jackson County, the 22nd county of Georgia, was created in 1796 from C495 part of Franklin County. It is named .S\ for Revolutionary War General, '010 Congressman, and Senator James Jackson. The county has nine municipalities. The county seat is Jefferson, named for President Thomas Jefferson. It was originally located on the site of an Indian village, Thomocoggan. Commerce, the most populous city in the county, has become a major outlet center. Much of the city of Braselton was purchased and sold by movie star Kim Bassinger. The other municipalities are Arcade, Hoschton, Maysville, Nicholson, Pendergrass and Talmo. The Jackson County Courthouse was constructed in 1879 and is a prime example of the neoclassical architecture of that time. A clock tower was added in 1906, and renovations were completed in 1978. The courthouse is one of the few examples of such architecture still in use in Georgia. State high school track and field championships are held in Jefferson, which has one of the top track facilities in the state. One notable person from Jackson County is Crawford W. Long, the doctor who discovered using ether as an anesthetic. He was studying in Jefferson when he made this revolutionary discovery. Some of the festivals in Jackson County are the Spring Fling in April, Cold Sassy Days Fall Festival in August, and Crawford Long Days in November. Jackson is also home to several racetracks that draw racing fans from across the country. These tracks include the Atlanta International Dragway in Commerce and Road Atlanta in Braselton. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Jackson County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 50 - - . CTY I'::J G A - - ~~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ------.--~ 2 0 . - -.~...~..----+------1 10...----+-----+------1 o '---_ _-'-_ _-L-_ _-' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average (,89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births ... 15------ 5 o -M="-__ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Jackson County was 30,005 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 18.4%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 34,753 persons. In Jackson County, 90% of the residents were white and 9% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 29% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Jackson County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 31.9% of the adult population in Jackson County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 22.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 15.4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Jackson County spent an average of $3,694 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the.8 state average. Jackson County had 2.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 68% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $55,300. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,237. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Jackson County ranked number 62. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 61 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 69% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Jackson County Arcade Braselton Commerce Hoschton Jefferson Maysville Nicholson Pendergrass Talmo 1970 21,093 229 386 3,702 509 1,647 553 397 267 Population 1980 1990 25,343 223 308 4,092 490 1,820 619 491 302 30,005 697 418 4,108 642 2,763 728 535 298 189 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 20.1 -2.6 -20.2 10.5 -3.7 10.5 11.9 23.7 13.1 18.4 212.6 35.7 0.4 31.0 51.8 17.6 9.0 -1.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Mitsubishi Consumer, TEXFI Blends, and Wayne Poultry are among the largest non-government employers in Jackson County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 31 % of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 11 % of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Jackson County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 5.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,46% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 54%, commuted out of Jackson County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Jackson County's per capita income was $15,223, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Jackson County's median household income in 1989 was $25,418. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $12,570 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Jackson County had 540 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 13%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Jackson County's assessed property value amounted to $423.9 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $14,126. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Jackson County is the Athens Banner-Herald. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 14% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 17% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 18% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Jackson County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,589 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Jackson County Commuting, %01 Workforce Employed (1990) T Ii.l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,000I1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3-----_---- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --_f2i_h GA Georgia County Snapshots Jackson County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (19911995) ... 60------ 45 30 15 0- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 .-- 100 0ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Jackson County's average own source revenue per capita was $251. This amount was less than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Jackson County collected an average of $117 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 43% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Jackson County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $270 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Jackson County had an average of $1.8 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $60. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Jackson was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Jackson County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 367-6300 Central Library (706) 3678012 County Commission (706) 3676304 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS / Jasper County Jasper County was created in 1807 from a part of Baldwin County. Georgia's 34th county was named for Sergeant William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero who died trying to retrieve a flag during the siege of Savannah. Jasper County was actually the first Georgia county named for John Randolph of Virginia. It was given its current name when the Georgia General Assembly became irritated with Randolph's stand on the War of 1812. By 1828, John Randolph was back in favor and a new county in Georgia was named for him. The county has two municipalities: Shady Dale and Monticello, the county seat. Monticello was named for Thomas Jefferson's home in Virginia, mainly due to the large number of Virginian transplants in the area. Parts of Lake Jackson and the Oconee National Forest are located in Jasper County. Two notable people are claimed by the county. Benjamin Harvey Hill was both a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator. He also served in the Confederate Senate and was a staunch supporter of Jefferson Davis. Monticello is also home of country music star Trisha Yearwood. Special events in Jasper County include the Shady Dale Rodeo, the Piedmont Classic Horse Show and the Deer Festival. There are several homes in the county on the National Register of Historic Places including the Hitchcock-Roberts Home (circa 1817), the Jordan-Bellew House (circa 1838), and Reese Hall (circa 1820). Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1996 Georgia County Snapshots Jasper County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY !:!iI G A - - ~ ~ 30 ~ 20 ~ ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Jasper County was 8,453 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 11.9%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 8,599 persons. In Jasper County, 64% of the residents were white and 35% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents, were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Jasper County, the 1990 Census reports 7% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 35% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 35.9% of the adult population in Jasper County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 28.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Jasper County spent an average of $3,578 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 6.6 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 0, compared with the.8 state average. Jasper County had 3.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 64% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $51,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,729. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Jasper County ranked number 114. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 71 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 70% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% ofeligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Jasper County Monticello Shady Dale 1970 5,760 2,132 190 Population 1980 7,553 2,382 155 1990 8,453 2,289 180 Growth (%) 19701980 19801990 31.1 11.9 11.7 -3.9 -18.4 16.1 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Jasper County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Pacific Company, Oxford Industries, and Tomkins Industries are among the largest non-government employers in Jasper County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 35% of the jobs and 45% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Jasper County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 51 % of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 49%, commuted out of Jasper County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Jasper County's per capita income was $14,876, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Jasper County's median household income in 1989 was $25,736. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,280 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Jasper County had III business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Jasper County's assessed property value amounted to $110.1 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $13,030. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Jasper County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 17% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 21 % of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 26% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Jasper County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,890 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed C1990}T lEI Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income (S,OOO/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 0---'----'--== us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---1'].--. GA Georgia County Snapshots Jasper County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average C1991-1995} ... 75------ 60 - - - - 45 30 15 CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita C1991-1995} T 400------ 300 Government Over the past five years, Jasper County's average own source revenue per capita was $388. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Jasper County collected an average of $282 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 64% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Jasper County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $397 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Jasper County had an average of $125,300 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $15. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Jasper was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Jasper County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. 100 0ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 468-8994 Central Library (706) 468-6292 County Commission (706) 468-4900 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Jeff Davis County GA Jeff Davis County was created in 1905 from parts ofAppling and Coffee counties. C-4-<1'S Georgia's 140th county was named for . Sl Jefferson Davis, President of the S~ Confederacy. Davis had served as the U.S. Secretary of War prior to the Civil War. The county has two municipalities: Hazlehurst, the largest and the county seat, and Denton. Hazlehurst was named for Colonel George Hazlehurst, a civil engineer who surveyed the Macon & Brunswick Railroad. In August of 1995, Hazlehurst celebrated its "Censilver," 150 years of existence. The Altamaha River is formed from the merger of the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers just northwest of Jeff Davis County. This is the largest free-flowing stream in Georgia and a haven for sports enthusiasts. Some of the largest largemouth bass in Georgia are found in these rivers. At least ten fishing tournaments are held in the county every year. The tobacco crop was very important in the early history of Jeff Davis County, and the Hazlehurst Tobacco Market was one of Georgia's strongest. There are many festivals and special events in the county including the Pilot's Club Antique Car and Truck Show, the Altamaha River Races, the Golden Leaf Arts & Crafts Festival, and the Annual Cotton Arts & Crafts Harvest Festival. Jeff Davis County shares the Bullard Creek Wildlife Management Area, 16,000 acres, with Bacon County. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1996 Georgia County Snapshots Jeff Davis County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- ~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 - - - - - f : i j - - ! - - - l t 3 'j" 20~:.. c - - - - 10 ~.l-~----+---I--------1 o '--------'-------'------! Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Jeff Davis County was 12,032 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 4.9%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 13,262 persons. In Jeff Davis County, 84% of the residents were white and 15% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Jeff Davis County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, the same percentage as the state. Total households with children under 18 comprised 39% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.5% of the adult population in Jeff Davis County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 22.8% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.7% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county, equal to the state rate for the same period. Jeff Davis County spent an average of $3,451 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the .8 state average. Jeff Davis County had 4.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 67% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $39,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 4,140. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Jeff Davis County ranked number 36. Of this five year average, 9% were violent crimes, while 91 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992,78% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Jeff Davis County Denton Hazlehurst 1970 9,425 244 4,065 Population 1980 1990 11,473 286 4,249 12,032 335 4,202 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 21.7 4.9 17.2 17.1 4.5 -1.1 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Amoco Fabrics Co., ERO Industries, and Olin Wooten Transport are among the largest non-government employers in Jeff Davis County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 39% of the jobs and 50% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 10% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Jeff Davis County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 78% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 22%, commuted out of Jeff Davis County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Jeff Davis County's per capita income was $14,375, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Jeff Davis County's median household income in 1989 was $21,470. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $7,851 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Jeff Davis County had 314 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 9%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Jeff Davis County's assessed property value amounted to $147.1 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $12,227. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Jeff Davis County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,19% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 24% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 29% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Jeff Davis County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,897 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Jeff Davis County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990> T fjJ Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o _ _ ----'--_--L-_.~_:><_ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY u-m--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Jeff Davis County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 100 o- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Jeff Davis County's average own source revenue per capita was $360. This amount was greater than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Jeff Davis County collected an average of $125 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 32% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Jeff Davis County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $299 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Jeff Davis County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Jeff Davis was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Jeff Davis County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 375-4543 Central Library (912) 375-2386 County Commission (912) 375-6611 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Jetterson County Jefferson County, originally part of Burke GA and Warren counties, was created in 1796 and named for Thomas Jefferson. (,lfCj5. Wadley, the largest municipality in S i Jefferson County, was originally known as Sb "Shakerag." The name was changed to Wadley in the 1870s in honor of the president of the Central of Georgia Railway. The name change coincided with the designation of Wadley as an official stop on the railroad. Louisville, the county seat, was named in honor of King Louis XVI of France, because of the support given by France to the Colonials in the Revolution. Louisville was Georgia's third state capital, but its first "permanent" one. The Jefferson County Courthouse, built in 1904, stands on the site of Georgia's first permanent capitol, constructed in 1795. The Old Market House, the county's major tourist attraction, dates to the 1790s and served as the commercial center for the region during the time that the state capital was in Louisville. One of Georgia's most infamous characters hailed from Jefferson County. James Gunn (1753-1801), who was a U.S. Senator, used intimidation to support the Yazoo Act (1795) in which Georgia sold 35 million acres to four companies, including his own, for one and a half cents per acre. The act was later deemed fraudulent and burned on the site of the present courthouse in Louisville. Louisville was the site of the Constitutional Convention of 1798 in which the state's pre-Civil War constitution was adopted. Georgia's Great Seal, which is still in use today, was adopted at the same time. Jefferson County is the site of multiple festivals including the Hometown Fest in Wadley (August), Pig Pickin' Festival in Wrens (June), and Spier's Turnout Festival in Bartow (May). Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 , \I """~.,~s."<..~@)J~"1"\,,N/. 221 . j/~,~:r Georgia County Snapshots Jefferson County Demographics EducaUonal Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 50 ----+ CTY ~ GA---J~ 40 30 20 !.~ i~ ~ 10 ~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 20 ----------- 15 - - - - - 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Jefferson County was 17,408 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of 5.4%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 17,730 persons. In Jefferson County, 44% of the residents were white and 56% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 34% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Jefferson County, the 1990 Census reports 13% of households were headed by females with children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county as well as in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.1 % of the adult population in Jefferson County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 19.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education, compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Jefferson County spent an average of$3,416 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002 for the same period. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 17.7 in the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the.8 state average. Jefferson County had 3.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 69% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $38,300. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,189. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Jefferson County ranked number 137. Of this five year average, 15% were violent crimes, while 85% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 72% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 68% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Jefferson County Avera Bartow Louisville Stapleton Wadley Wrens 1970 17,174 217 333 2,691 390 1,989 2,204 Population 1980 1990 18,403 248 357 2,823 388 2,438 2,415 17,408 215 292 2,429 330 2,473 2,414 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 7.2 -5.4 14.3 -13.3 7.2 -18.2 4.9 -14.0 -0.5 -14.9 22.6 1.4 9.6 0.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Forstmann & Company, Stapleton Garment, and Thermo King are among the largest non-government employers in Jefferson County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 33% of the jobs and 44% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Jefferson County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 78% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 22%, commuted out of Jefferson County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Jefferson County's per capita income was $13,843, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Jefferson County's median household income in 1989 was $17,076. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $7,137 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Jefferson County had 309 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 2%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Jefferson County's assessed property value amounted to $186.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,721. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Jefferson County is the Augusta Chronicle. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989, 31 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 44% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 37% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Jefferson County received total government transfer payments amounting to $4,098 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Jefferson County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T fJ Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'---'---- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---0,-- GA Georgia County Snapshots Jefferson County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Jefferson County's average own source revenue per capita was $261. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Jefferson County collected an average of $145 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 52% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Jefferson County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $267 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Jefferson County had an average of $399,000 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $23. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Jefferson was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Jefferson County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Jefferson County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 625-8134 Central Library (912) 625-3751 County Commission (912) 625-3332 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Jenkins County GA Jenkins County, the 138th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1905 from C495 territory then belonging to the counties of ,S} Bulloch, Burke, Emanuel and Screven. CSt., The county was named for Governor Charles J. Jenkins. It was originally proposed that the county be called Dixie. 11'Ci" The Jones House, near Millen, was built t as a stage coach stop in 1762. A century later, General Sherman's troops looted and set it afire on their march to the sea. Learning that the mistress of the house refused to leave her sickbed, the same troops extinguished the flames. The county seat, and only incorporated municipality, is Millen. Forty-six percent of the population of Jenkins County lives in Millen. Millen was originally called Seventy-Nine or Old 79 because of its distance from Savannah. Magnolia Springs State Park is in Jenkins County. This 948-acre park is named for the crystal clear spring that puts out nine million gallons of clear, cold (64 degree) water every day. Within the county is the site of Fort Lawton, a 42-acre stockade. This was the largest camp ever built by the Confederacy to receive prisoners-of-war. Built in 1864, it was later burnt down. The Millen Big Buckhead Church, constructed in 1830, is one of the oldest structures in Georgia. SNAPSHOTS ..........~ If ~{ ) . .~::: Georgia County Snapshots Jenkins County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T - - + 50 CTY mGA~~ 40 30 20 .~:~. 10 ~. o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15 - - - - - - GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Jenkins County was 8,247 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of6.7%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 8,040 persons. In Jenkins County, 58% ofthe residents were white and 42% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Jenkins County, the 1990 Census reports 10% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 29.4% ofthe adult population in Jenkins County had completed high school, which was slightly less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 20.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Jenkins County spent an average of $3,633 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002 for the same period. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 7.3 in the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the .8 state average. Jenkins County had 4.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 71.1 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $39,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) averaged 3,167. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Jenkins County ranked number 68. Of this five year average, 16% were violent crimes, while 84% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 76% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 62% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Jenkins County Millen 1970 8,332 3,713 Population 1980 8,841 3,988 1990 8,247 3,808 Growth (%) 19701980 1980-1990 6.1 -6.7 7.4 -4.5 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Bellcrest Homes, Inc., Jockey International, and Metal Industries are among the largest non-government employers in Jenkins County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 26% of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Jenkins County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,75% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 25%, commuted out of Jenkins County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Jenkins County's per capita income was $12,561, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Jenkins County's median household income in 1989 was $16,967. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,415 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Jenkins County had 140 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Jenkins County's assessed property value amounted to $73.9 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $8,961. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Jenkins County is the Augusta Chronicle. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989,28% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 34% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 38% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Jenkins County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,901 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Jenkins County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T 121 Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 0----'------'------< us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - - 3--------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---l2l--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Jenkins County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Jenkins County's average own source revenue per capita was $316. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Jenkins County collected an average of $173 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 50% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Jenkins County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $313 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Jenkins County had an average of $95,300 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $12. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Jenkins was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Jenkins County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. If you wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 982-5595 Central Library (912) 982-4244 County Commission (912) 982-2563 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Johnson County GA Johnson County, the 129th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1858. Originally C-1f'1S part of Emanuel, Laurens and Washington oS\ counties, Johnson County was named for s6 Georgia governor, senator, and unsuccessful U. S. vice-presidential candidate, Hershel V. Johnson. The county has two municipalities, the largest of which is the county seat of Wrightsville, which was named for James B. Wright, a member of the committee that selected the site for the town. The other community is Kite, named for Shaderick Kight who donated the land for the town. He requested the simpler spelling of his name to facilitate mail delivery. The Johnson County Courthouse, built in 1895, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is built of masonry in the Romanesque Revival/Colonial Revival style. It was renovated in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration. The Grice Inn, also listed on the National Register, was built in 1905 by John Grice as a family home and inn. It served as the town's social center for many years. Johnson County is the home of Herschel Walker, professional football player and 1982 Heisman trophy winner from The University of Georgia. The Kite Museum, in the former Masonic Lodge (1890), relates the history of the Kite community. Originally the second floor was used by the Masons and the first floor was used as the community center. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Johnson County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ------@-----@If' 20 m - - - 1:;:1 _ _+-_-----1 10 f----'.----+----I o '--------'----------'--------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 25------ 20--- 15--- 10 CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Johnson County was 8,329 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of3.8%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 8,706 persons. In Johnson County, 66% of the residents were white and 34% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Johnson County, the 1990 Census reports 10% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 36.6% of the adult population in Johnson County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 15.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.1 % of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Johnson County spent an average of $3,713 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 23.4 in the county. The statewide rate during the same period was 11.3. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .1, compared with the.8 state average. Johnson County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average is 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 78% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $31,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 542. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Johnson County ranked number 152. Of this five year average, 35% were violent crimes, while 65% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 83% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Johnson County Kite Wrightsville 1970 7,727 336 2,106 Population 1980 8,660 328 2,526 1990 8,329 297 2,331 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 12.1 -3.8 -2.4 -9.5 19.9 -7.7 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Johnson County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Apparel Brands Inc., Crowntex Inc., and Springtown Apparel Corporation are among the largest non-government employers in Johnson County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 36% of the jobs and 35% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Johnson County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 59% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 41 %, commuted out of Johnson County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Johnson County's per capita income was $12,693, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Johnson County's median household income in 1989 was $18,064. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,984 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Johnson County had 137 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 11 %. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Johnson County's assessed property value amounted to $65.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $7,827. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Johnson County is the Dublin Courier Herald. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989,22% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 31 % of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 34% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Johnson County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,821 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... [l] Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income (S,OOO/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- ~O '91 ~2 ~3 ~4 CTY -- -rn -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Johnson County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average <1991-1995) .... 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita <1991-1995) ... 400 Government Over the past five years, Johnson County's average own source revenue per capita was $213. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Johnson County collected an average of$121 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 50% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Johnson County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $241 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Johnson County had an average of$7,100 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $ J. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Johnson was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Johnson County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 864-9875 Central Library (912) 864-3940 County Commission (912) 864-3388 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Jones County GA Jones County, the 30th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1807, Originally C.'LfqS part of Baldwin County, it was named for GS\ 56 James Jones, an early Georgia Congressman and a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1798. The county seat, and only incorporated municipality, is Gray. The town was originally known as James in honor of the man whose land it was on, James H. Blount. It was changed to Gray to honor James Madison Gray, a major financier of the Confederacy. The Ocmulgee River, the restored Jarrell Plantation, and the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge are located in the county. Jarrell Plantation is a State Historic Site within the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. Jones County was the site of the first iron foundry in Georgia, founded in 1820 by Samuel Griswold from Connecticut. His factories and properties were destroyed by the Union forces because he made guns and ammunition for the Confederacy. Old Clinton, built in 1809, was a center for New England settlers whose influence is reflected in the architecture of the town. The houses stand close to the streets which fan out from a central square. At one time, this was the fourth largest city in the state. Clinton was one of 187 inactive municipalities to lose its charter in 1995, as a result of a 1993 Act of the General Assembly. There are seVeral festivals in Jones County including Old Clinton War Days (May), Sheep to Shawl Day (May), and Family Farm Day. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Putnam Georgia County Snapshots Jones County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY IfrkJ G A - - 40 --------:---- 30 ------l---tIIlt 20 ~r;;r---~----+----I 10 ~I-~--__+_--___+--___j o '--_ _.1...-_ _-'--_ _---' Coli Some HS No Deg Coli Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Jones County was 20,739 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 25.1 %, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 26,786 persons. In Jones County, 74% of the residents were white and 26% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 9% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Jones County, the 1990 Census reports 7% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 41 % of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 37.4% of the adult population in Jones County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 32.8% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.1 % of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Jones County spent an average of $3,066 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002 for the same period. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) was 14.4 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .1, compared with the .8 state average. Jones County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 84% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $63,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,599. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Jones County ranked number 120. Of this five year average, 9% were violent crimes, while 91 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992,73% ofthe adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Jones Gray 1970 12,270 2,014 Population 1980 1990 16,579 20,739 2,145 2,189 Growth (%) 19701980 1980-1990 35.1 25.1 6.5 2.1 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Cherokee Products Co., Geriatric Health, and Peach State Pies are among the largest non-government employers in Jones County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Construction is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Jones County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.6% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 18% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 82%, commuted out of Jones County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Jones County's per capita income was $16,751, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Jones County's median household income in 1989 was $31,934. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,559 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Jones County had 149 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Jones County's assessed property value amounted to $222.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,731. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Jones County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989,11 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 13% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 24% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Jones County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,259 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Jones County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) .... f' ., Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,00011992) .... 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) .... 9---------- }iL. 6 , "'~ ~ 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY um--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Jones County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ o _Ii. ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ WO-I ~:::II--- Government Over the past five years, Jones County's average own source revenue per capita was $194. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Jones County collected an average of $102 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 47% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Jones County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $222 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Jones County had an average of $2.1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $102. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Jones was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Jones County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 986-1123 Central Library (912) 986-6626 County Commission (912) 986-6405 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Lamar County Lamar County was created in 1920 from portions of Monroe and Pike counties and is named for Lucius Quintus Cinncinatus Lamar, a Confederate Army colonel, Secretary of the Interior under Grover Cleveland, and a Supreme Court Justice. It was the 158th county created. \ ~ '" '1 ~ Barnesville is the county seat and the largest municipality. The other municipalities are Aldora and Milner. Lamar County is home to Gordon College, a two-year unit of the University System of Georgia. Gordon College had a 1992 enrollment of 1,914. It was known as Gordon Military College from 1927 until 1972. The history of Barnesville includes a period in which the city was designated "Buggy Capital ofthe World." Around the turn of the century, Barnesville had four buggy companies. The Barnesville Hardware Store now occupies the site of the former Smith Buggy Company showroom built in 1891. Also of historical note are several homes and buildings in Lamar County. These include the Brown-Kennedy home (1850), Jackson G. Smith home (1870), and Gachet House (1821) which is particularly notable because it was visited by three presidents. Since its beginnnings 20 years ago, the "Barnesville Buggy Days" festival has grown to become one of Georgia's largest community festivals. Held annually the third week in September, the festival attracts more than 50,000 people and features a parade of original Barnesville Buggies and some 200 horses. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Lamar County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY ~ GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ------m----rn 20'm'0'.--------"I'--------+------/ 10..----+----+-----1 o '--_ _-L-_ _--'-_ _---' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Lamar County was 13,038 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 6.7%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 13,654 persons. In Lamar County, 66% of the residents were white and 34% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports 8% of Lamar County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equalling the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.3% of the adult population in Lamar County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 24.8% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for that same time period. Lamar County spent an average of $3,741 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000) was 12.5 in the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared with the .8 state average. Lamar County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 70% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $47,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,442. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Lamar County ranked number 90. Of this five year average, 24% were violent crimes, while 76% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 67 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 69% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Lamar County Aldora Barnesville Milner 1970 10,688 322 4,935 270 Population 1980 1990 12,215 139 4,887 320 13,038 127 4,747 321 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 14.3 6.7 -56.8 -8.6 -1.0 -2.9 18.5 0.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, General Tire Inc., Weyerhauser Company, and William Carter Company are among the largest non-government employers in Lamar County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 37% of the jobs and 42% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Lamar County's annual unemployment rate was equal to the state's average of 5.7% for the period. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 49% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 51 %, commuted out of Lamar County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Lamar County's per capita income was $13,159, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Lamar County's median household income in 1989 was $23,336. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,773 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Lamar County had 194 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Lamar County's assessed property value amounted to $143.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,982. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Lamar County is the Griffin News. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 16% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 20% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 22% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Lamar County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,802 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Lamar County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T t El Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'---_..1.- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY -- - f!j --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Lamar County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400-----300 _.: .i" . - - - 200 I_.~--- 100-";.--- o -"'==---ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Lamar County's average own source revenue per capita was $195. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Lamar County collected an average of $110 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 50% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Lamar County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $232 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Lamar County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Lamar was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Lamar County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Lamar County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 358-2732 Central Library (770) 358-3270 County Commission (770) 358-5146 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Lanier County Lanier County, the 155th county fonned in Georgia, was created in 1920. The county was named in honor of Georgia state poet, Sidney Lanier. Lakeland, the county seat, is Lanier County's only incorporated municipality. Originally called Mill Town, Lakeland received its current name in 1925 in honor of its proximity to several lakes including Grand Bay Lake, Lake Erma and Banks Lake. For many years, Lakeland owned and operated its own railroad. The county is famous for its excellent fishing in the Alapaha River, as well as in its many small lakes. Banks Lake Wildlife Refuge, which includes a 3,900-acre lake, is located in the county. One notable person from Lanier County was Eunith Dickinson "Ed" Rivers, a Georgia governor and speaker of the Georgia House. He was a strong proponent of the "New Deal" and an outspoken opponent of Eugene Talmadge. Lanier shares Moody Air Force Base with Lowndes County on its western boundary. One festival held in the county is the Flatlanders Arts & Crafts Show. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Lanier County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over {1990} T 50 - - CTY ~ GA---, 40 - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 - - - - - - - & - - - - - m 200/1:::1::0----+-----+------1 10 f----+-----+------1 ~~ o '-----'-----'-----' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 5 o -"'==<>--- GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Lanier County was 5,531 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of2.2%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 6,255 persons. In Lanier County, 72% of the residents were white and 27% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Lanier County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 40% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 29.9% of the adult population in Lanier County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 21.4% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.5% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for that same time period. Lanier County spent an average of $3,720 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9.5 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the .8 state average. Lanier County had 6.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 72% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $37,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,229. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Lanier County ranked number 64. Of this five year average, 24% were violent crimes, while 76% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 73 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 60% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Lanier County Lakeland 1970 5,031 2,569 Population 1980 5,654 2,647 1990 5,531 2,467 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 12.4 -2.2 3.0 -6.8 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Ithaca Industries, Louis Smith Memorial, and Patten Seed Company are among the largest non-government employers in Lanier County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Farming is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 29% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Lanier County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.2% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,48% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 52%, commuted out of Lanier County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Lanier County's per capita income was $14,049, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Lanier County's median household income in 1989 was $17,618. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,381 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Lanier County had 104 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 11 %. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Lanier County's assessed property value amounted to $52.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,432. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Lanier County is the Valdosta Times. The county is considered part of the Albany television market. During 1989,26% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 40% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 23% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Lanier County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,614 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Lanier County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... ll1l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --0--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Lanier County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ..- 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average 888s Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Lanier County's average own source revenue per capita was $241. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Lanier County collected an average of $123 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 48% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Lanier County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $248 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Lanier County had an average of $81 ,300 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $15. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Lanier was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Lanier County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce NA Central Library (912) 482-2904 County Commission (912) 482-2088 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Laurens County GA Taken from Wilkinson County in 1807 and absorbing part of Washington County in C4-CI5 1811, Laurens County was named in honor .SI of Colonel John Laurens, an aide-de-camp Sb to General George Washington. There are seven municipalities in Laurens County. Dublin is the county seat. The others are Cadwell, Dexter, Dudley, East Dublin, Montrose, and Rentz. Dublin was named at the request of an Irishman, Jonathan Sawyer, who donated the land for the town after stipulating its name. He wanted to please his wife, who was from Dublin. The Ocute Indian Mounds at Blackshear's Ferry date back to 1000 B.C. In the Oconee River, on the Laurens County border, government biologists have discovered what seems to be a new species of fish. There are several festivals in Laurens County, the biggest is the two-week long St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin. This event includes the world's biggest Irish Stew. The county also hosts the Possum Hollow Country Fair and the Dublin Antique Fair Show and Sale. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 ....:.:.:-:-:-: \f?ftlBlI1 ""~ ... ',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',',"""'0 I Georgia County Snapshots Laurens County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990). 40 - - CTY m GA----, 30 - - - - - - - a . :. --""'~:jl 20 """11-- Il ---+------1 10 1-~--_+---t--___1 o '--------'------'-----' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'9S): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births. 20------ 15--- 10 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population ofLaurens County was 39,988 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 8.1 %, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 43,970 persons. In Laurens County, 66% of the residents were white and 33% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Laurens County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Totalhouseholds with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.6% ofthe adult population in Laurens County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 27.5% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.7% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was also 6.7% for the same time period. Laurens County spent an average of $3,854 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 15.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.7, compared with the .8 state average. Laurens County had 4.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 71 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $46,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 5,413. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Laurens County ranked number 22. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 65% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 75% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Laurens County 32,738 36,990 39,988 13.0 8.1 Cadwell 354 353 458 -0.3 29.7 Dexter 438 527 475 20.3 -9.9 Dublin 15,143 16,083 16,312 6.2 1.4 Dudley 423 425 430 0.5 1.2 East Dublin 2,000 2,916 2,524 45.8 -13.4 ,......~" Montrose 199 170 117 -14.6 -31.2 Rentz 392 337 364 -14.0 8.0 C Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Dublin Community Hospital, Forstmann & Company, and Mohawk Carpet Corporation are among the largest non-government employers in Laurens County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 26% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 18% of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Laurens County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,87% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 13%, commuted out of Laurens County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Laurens County's per capita income was $15,524, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Laurens County's median household income in 1989 was $21,788. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $10,294 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Laurens County had 970 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 10%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Laurens County's assessed property value amounted to $486.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $12,173. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Laurens County is the Dublin Courier Herald. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989,21 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 29% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 27% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Laurens County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,344 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Laurens County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T !3 Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---@--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Laurens County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400-----300 200 - o _.. ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Laurens County's average own source revenue per capita was $295. This amount equalled the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Laurens County collected an average of $106 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 34% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Laurens County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $269 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Laurens County had an average of $91,700 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $2. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Laurens was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Laurens County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Laurens County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Dublin averaged $350 per capita in own source revenues and $358 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 19% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $66 for residents of Dublin. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Dublin had an average of $9.2 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $566. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Dublin has a councilmanager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 272-5546 Central Library (912) 272-5710 County Commission (912) 272-4755 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Lee County Lee County was one ofthe originallandlot counties acquired from the Creek Indians in 1826. Georgia's 68th county, it was named for Richard Henry Lee who had proposed in the Continental Congress that the colonies declare themselves free and independent. He was noted for capturing Augusta from the British in 1781, and was the father of Robert E. Lee. The first county courthouse in Lee County was in Starkville, but fire destroyed it in 1856. The courthouse in Leesburg, the present county seat, was also hit by fire in 1872. Smithville is now the county's only other incorporated municipality. Starkville lost its charter in 1995 when it was declared an inactive city under a law passed by the General Assembly. Lee County boasts opportunities for hunters and fishermen. Hunters can find quail, duck, and deer, with quail being most prevalent. Although public hunting land is limited, hunters can rent land seasonally on south Georgia plantations. Fishing is also popular along the Flint River and Kinchafoonee and Muckalee Creeks, which abound with bass, catfish, and bream. In June, Lee County hosts the Southern Heritage Festival. The festival includes arts and crafts exhibits, food booths, live entertainment, and a talent contest. The annual Lee County Home and Plantation Tour showcases some of the area's most beautiful places. Chehaw Park, a wild animal park that falls within Lee and Dougherty counties, has camping and picnic facilities as well as wildlife in simulations of their natural environments. Animals include elk, bison, zebra, and elephants. The Lee County Primary School was named a 1990 National School of Excellence. Lee County was once the site of Kennard's Settlement & Cowpens, a major Creek Indian center named for Jack and William Kennard, two Lower Creek chiefs friendly to white settlers. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Lee County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY rn GA-- 30 ~ r" E 20 ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Lee County was 16,250 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 39.1 %, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 23,338 persons. In Lee County, 80% of the residents were white and 19% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of the residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 35% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 7% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Lee County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 51 % of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.5% of the adult population in Lee County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 37.3% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 3.8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Lee County spent an average of $3,204 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .1, compared with the .8 state average. Lee County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 78% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $65,300. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,579. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Lee County ranked number 84. Of this five year average, 4% were violent crimes, while 96% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 73% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Lee County Leesburg Smithville 1970 7,044 996 713 Population 1980 1990 11,684 1,301 867 16,250 1,452 804 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 65.9 39.1 30.6 11.6 21.6 -7.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, McCleskey Mills Inc., Oak Hill Farms, and Superior Surgical are among the largest non-government employers in Lee County. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 26% of the jobs and 38% of employment earnings. Farming is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 11 % of the jobs and 8% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Lee County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.5% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 16% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 84%, commuted out of Lee County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed the state and was less than that of the nation. Lee County's per capita income was $13,557, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Lee County's median household income in 1989 was $30,974. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $1,895 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Lee County had 89 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 19861991, the number of business establishments in the county showed no percentage change. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Lee County's assessed property value amounted to $169.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,409. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Lee County is the Albany Herald. The county is considered part of the Albany television market. During 1989, 13% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 15% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 23% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Lee County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,889 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Lee County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T e I:J Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 --------~ 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY m-Ljm GA Georgia County Snapshots Lee County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995h' 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400 300 -_:~.-- - - Government Over the past five years, Lee County's average own source revenue per capita was $283. This amount was equal to the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Lee County collected an average of $173 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of$151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 55% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Lee County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $231 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Lee County had an average of $59,800 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $4. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Lee was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Lee County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. o - ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 759-2422 Central Library (912) 759-2369 County Commission (912) 759-6000 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Liberty County GA Liberty County was created in 1777 from c..'-f6 the colonial parishes of St. Andrews, St. James, and St. John. The land that made C.::;> \ up these parishes was originally held by Sk, the Creek Indians. The county's name honors Lyman Hall and Button Gwinnett of Midway, who were Georgia's first delegates to the Continental Congress and signers of the Declaration of Independence. Liberty County has seven incorporated municipalities: Allenhurst, Flemington, Gumbranch, Hinesville, Midway, Riceboro and Walthourville. The largest, and county seat, is Hinesville. Although not born in Georgia, Lyman Hall moved to present day Liberty County to serve as a physician to the settlers. Elected Governor in 1783, Hall became the first in that office to exercise strong executive leadership. An advocate of public schools, Hall helped to charter the University of Georgia. Almost half of Liberty County's usable land area is occupied by the U.S. Army installation, Fort Stewart. In 1990, 11,682 military personnel lived in the county. Naturalist, mathematician and scholar Louis LeConte, for whom the LeConte pear was named, resided in Liberty County. His home is now the site of the LeConte Botanical Gardens. The county's historical sites include the Midway Museum, located in a typical 18th-century house; the Dorchester Church built in 1854; and Fort Morris. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Liberty County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY III GA-- 40 30 111 20 r3'--~~ ~~ 10 o Coli Some HS No Deg Coli Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Liberty County was 52,745 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 40.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 65,537 persons. In Liberty County, 55% of the residents were white and 39% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 6% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of the residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 35% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 4% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Liberty County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 53% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 40% of the adult population in Liberty County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 42.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 3.6% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Liberty County spent an average of $3,351 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 10.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the.8 state average. Liberty County had.8 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 44% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $60,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,887. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Liberty County ranked number 41. Of this five year average, 5% were violent crimes, while 95% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 30% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 72% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Liberty County 17,569 37,583 52,745 113.9 40.3 Allenhurst 230 606 273 163.5 -55.0 Flemington 265 440 279 66.0 -36.6 Gumbranch 272 291 7.0 Hinesville 4,115 11,309 21,603 174.8 91.0 Midway 167 457 863 173.7 88.8 Riceboro 252 216 745 -14.3 244.9 --,." Walthourville 905 2,024 123.6 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Coastal Utilities, Interstate Paper Company, and Winn Dixie Stores are among the largest non-government employers in Liberty County. Fort Stewart's presence is evident in several of the county's social and economic indicators, including low taxable sales, high educational attainment rates, and low per capita assessed property value. Federal military employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 49% of the jobs and 51 % of employment earnings. Retail trade is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 10% of the jobs and 5% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 8% of the jobs and 7% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Liberty County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 88% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 12%, commuted out of Liberty County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Liberty County's per capita income was $10,973, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Liberty County's median household income in 1989 was $21,596. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $4,762 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Liberty County had 518 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 11 %. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Liberty County's assessed property value amounted to $297.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $5,642. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Liberty County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989, 17% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 23% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 26% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. NationallY, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Liberty County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,775 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Liberty County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T El Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'---_...L..-_=_l._ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY -- m -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Liberty County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average <1991-1995) ..- 60------- 45 If.::t!- - - - 15 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita <1991-1995) T 400------ :1o::-~1lr-.----- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Liberty County's average own source revenue per capita was $207. This amount was less than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Liberty County collected an average of $76 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 32% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Liberty County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $175 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Liberty County had an average of$1.4 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $26. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Liberty was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Liberty County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Liberty County has a seven member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Hinesville averaged $337 per capita in own source revenues and $309 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 29% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $99 for residents of Hinesville. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Hinesville had an average of $6.6 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $306. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Hinesville has a mayorcouncil form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 368-4445 Central Library (912) 368-4003 County Commission (912) 876-2164 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Lincoln County GA Lincoln County was created in 1796 C4Gt5 and named for General Benjamin Lincoln, who accepted the British .SI surrender at Yorktown bringing to an 51.:, end the Revolutionary War. Lincoln County has one municipality, Lincolnton, which serves as the county seat. Lincoln County is the site of the 447acre Elijah Clark State Park which is located on the western shore of Clarks Hill Lake. Lincoln County borders 380 miles of lake shoreline. In addition to boating and fishing activities, a museum in the park offers colonial life demonstrations. Revolutionary War hero Elijah Clarke and his wife are buried in the park. Lincoln County hosts numerous events and festivals during the year including the Lewis Family Homecoming & Bluegrass Festival, a three-day bluegrass festival in early May featuring nationally known musicians; Old Timers Day (October); the Town and Country Arts and Crafts Festival (October); and a Log Cabin Christmas at Elijah Clark State Park. Lincoln County has numerous historic buildings and was the first county in Georgia to have a county-wide listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Over 160 historic buildings in Lincoln County are listed in the National Register. Price's Store in Lincolnton, established 1897, is one of the oldest authentic general stores still in operation in Georgia. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 \ Elbert\ Georgia County Snapshots Lincoln County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 30 ; 20 i 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Lincoln County was 7,442 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 10.8%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 7,918 persons. In Lincoln County, 62% of the residents were white and 37% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Lincoln County, the 1990 Census reports 7% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 34.5% of the adult population in Lincoln County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 24.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.1 % of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Lincoln County spent an average of $3,792 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9.7 for the county. The statewide rate during the same period was 11.3. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the .8 state average. Lincoln County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average is 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 80% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $46,000. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,034. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Lincoln County ranked number 141. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 84% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 65% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Lincoln County Lincolnton 1970 5,895 1,442 Population 1980 6,716 1,406 1990 7,442 1,476 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 13.9 10.8 -2.5 5.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Crider Inc., FDB Inc., and Mayfair Mills are among the largest non-government employers in Lincoln County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 38% of the jobs and 37% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 14% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Lincoln County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.1 % compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,45% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 55%, commuted out of Lincoln County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Lincoln County's per capita income was $14,129, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Lincoln County's median household income in 1989 was $21,472. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $28,906. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,272 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Lincoln County had 114 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 2%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Lincoln County's assessed property value amounted to $82.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,057. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Lincoln County is the Augusta Chronicle. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989, 18% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 22% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 30% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Lincoln County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,952 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Lincoln County I'il Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) .... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -L_---'---_ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) .... 9 3-----...,...----- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---liili} --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Lincoln County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) 'Y 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 x/t::},- - - 20I0_1--- 100 o~lEE~ ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Lincoln County's average own source revenue per capita was $311. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Lincoln County collected an average of $131 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 38% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Lincoln County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $328 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Lincoln County had an average of$1.2 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $162. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Lincoln was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Lincoln County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credit, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Lincoln County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 359-7970 Central Library (706) 359-4014 County Commission (706) 359-4444 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Long County GA Long County was created in 1920 from C4-95 parts of Liberty County. Georgia's 157th county was named for Dr. Crawford W. . 51 Long, the Georgian responsible for S~ introducing anesthesia to modern medical practice. The county seat, and sole incorporated municipality, is Ludowici. Ludowici was named to honor a German immigrant, William Ludowici, who contributed substantially to the construction of the county high school. The northeastern tip of Long County is occupied by part of the sprawling U.S. Army installation, Fort Stewart, which also occupies significant portions of the neighboring counties. Some sites of historical significance are the Ludowici Well Pavilion (1907), the Jones Creek Baptist Church (1856), and the Walthourville Presbyterian Church (1884). One exciting special event held annually is the Long County Wildlife Festival, held in Ludowici each October. Originally a trail used by Indians, Old Barrington Road became an important trade route between the Carolinas and Florida in the early 1700s. It also was critical during the Revolutionary War for the troop movements. The Altamaha River forms the boundary between Long and its southern neighbor, Wayne County. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Long County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY ~ GA-- ~ 40 ~ 30 ~.~ 20 !~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 -+ 5- ..~ o- GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Long County was 6,202 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 37.1 %, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 6,769 persons. In Long County, 76% of the residents were white and 21 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 3% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of the residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 35% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 9% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Long County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 42% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 42.9% of the adult population in Long County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 20.7% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Long County spent an average of $3,397 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 3.7 for the county. The statewide rate during the same period was 11.3. In 1992, there were no physicians in the county, compared with the state average of .8 per 1,000 population. Long County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 67.1 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $40,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,251. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Long County ranked number 134. Of this five year average, 9% were violent crimes, while 91 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 69% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 68% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Long County Ludowici 1970 3,746 1,419 Population 1980 4,524 1,286 1990 6,202 1,291 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 20.8 37.1 -9.4 0.4 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Dairy Queen of Ludowici, GHM Rock & Sand, Inc., and Huddle House are among the largest non-government employers in Long County. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 36% of the jobs and 40% of employment earnings. Farming is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and 7% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Long County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.1% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 18% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 82%, commuted out of Long County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Long County's per capita income was $10,148, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Long County's median household income in 1989 was $18,802. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,055 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Long County had 34 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 17%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Long County's assessed property value amounted to $65.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,577. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Long County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989, 24% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 30% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 35% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Long County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,985 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Long County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T E3 Outside County o Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ......J-_-L-.."""'~._ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---@--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Long County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ..- 75------ 60 - - - - 30 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Long County's average own source revenue per capita was $187. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Long County collected an average of $166 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 66% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Long County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $268 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Long County had an average of $52,100 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $8. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Long was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Long County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those counties may receive an additional $500 in tax credit, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Long County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. If you wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 545-9034 Central Library (912) 545-2521 County Commission (912) 545-2143 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Lowndes County GA Lowndes County is named for William Lowndes, a South Carolina statesman who C-lf<;=""'-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) .... 9---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---li'lIm GA Georgia County Snapshots Lumpkin County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Lumpkin County's average own source revenue per capita was $291. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Lumpkin County collected an average of $159 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 46% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Lumpkin County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $360 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Lumpkin County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Lumpkin was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Lumpkin County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Lumpkin County has a sole commissioner form of government. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 864-3711 Central Library (706) 864-3668 County Commission (706) 864-3742 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Macon County Macon County is named in honor of General Nathaniel Macon, a North Carolina statesman and president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate. Macon County was carved from Houston and Marion counties in 1837. The county seat, Oglethorpe, takes its name from Georgia's founder. Other municipalities include Ideal, Marshallville, and Montezuma. Montezuma was named for the Aztec leader by soldiers returning from the Mexican War. Andersonville National Cemetery and Park is in the southwest tip of Macon County. Approximately 45,000 Union soldiers were imprisoned here during the Civil War, with 13,000 perishing from hunger and disease. Sam Henry Rumph of Macon County developed the Elberta Peach, the variety responsible for establishing Georgia as the peach state. John Donald Wade, famous Georgia author, also hails from the county. The Colonel Fish's House is said to be haunted by the ghost of Colonel George Fish after he was found murdered here in the late l800s. This house was originally located in Oglethorpe and then moved to Americus. The ghost followed the house to its new location. There is a large Mennonite colony in Macon County near Montezuma. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 ODDly Georgia County Snapshots Macon County Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 -----------1 o '--------'------'----' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births ... 15------ 10 5 0---'"GA CTY Demographics According to the 1990 Census, the population of Macon County was 13,114 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of 6.3%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 13,798 persons. In Macon County, 41 % of the residents were white and 59% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of the residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 35% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Macon County, the 1990 Census reports 13% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 39% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.9% of the adult population in Macon County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 22.8% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.6% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Macon County spent an average of $3,858 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9.3 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.4, compared with the .8 state average. Macon County had 3.8 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, slightly less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 69% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $35,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,483. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Macon County ranked number 125. Of this five year average, 19% were violent crimes, while 81 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992,75% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Ofthose registered, 57% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Macon County Ideal Marshallville Montezuma Oglethorpe 1970 12,933 543 1,376 4,125 1,286 Population 1980 1990 14,003 619 1,540 4,830 1,305 13,114 554 1,457 4,506 1,302 Growth (%) 1970-1980 19801990 8.3 -6.3 14.0 -10.5 11.9 -5.4 17.1 -6.7 1.5 -0.2 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Southern Frozen Foods, Watkins Engineering, and Weyerhaeuser Company are among the largest non-government employers in Macon County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 30% of the jobs and 48% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Macon County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 11.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,65% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 35%, commuted out of Macon County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Macon County's per capita income was $14,092, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Macon County's median household income in 1989 was $17,526. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,506. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,498 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Macon County had 225 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county showed no percentage change. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Macon County's assessed property value amounted to $191.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $14,606. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Macon County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989,29% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared to a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 39% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 36% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children arid 20% Of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Macon County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,870 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Macon County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T l::J Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'---'--""=>:'>._- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 15 - - - - - - - - - 9 7 12 ~. ........ 6[1 ~ ~ . / 5 " " 3--------- 0--------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- -ID. --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Macon County Property Tax as %or Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ 45 o _. ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 100 0ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Macon County's average own source revenue per capita was $276. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Macon County collected an average of $139 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 32% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Macon County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $214 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Macon County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Macon was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Macon County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 472-2391 Central Library (912) 472-6585 County Commission (912) 472-7021 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Madison County GA CY.Q5 4 'Sj 56 Madison County, the 38th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1811 from parts of Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Jackson and Oglethorpe counties. It was named for President James Madison. The county has six municipalities, with Danielsville serving as the county seat. The other communities are Carlton, Colbert, Comer, Hull and Ila. No municipality in Madison County has a population over 1,000; only one, Comer, exceeds 500. Crawford W. Long, the first doctor to use ether in surgery, was born in Danielsville in 1815. The soils of Madison County were heavily damaged by the cotton monoculture common in this region prior to the 1930s. Presently, 23% of the land is considered prime agricultural land. Agribusiness dominates the local economy, with poultry and egg production particularly important. Madison and Oglethorpe counties share Watson Mill Bridge State Park, the site of the longest covered bridge in Georgia. The bridge, which is over 100 years old, spans 229 feet of the South Fork of the Broad River. There are also facilities for camping, hiking trails, picnicking and fishing in the park. The Madison County Courthouse, one of the most ornate in Georgia, was built in 1901 for the sum of $18,314. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. New Hope Presbyterian Church, established in 1788, is the third oldest church in Georgia. Some of the local festivals include the Georgia Indian Awareness Weekend, the Madison County Agricultural Fair and Christmas on the Lawn. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Madison County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY IEl G A - - 40 ~~ 30 , 20 ~., 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'9S): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Madison County was 21,050 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 18.6%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 24,199 persons. In Madison County, 91 % of the residents were white and 8% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of the residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Madison County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with the state average of 8%. Total households with children under 18 comprised 38% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 37.1 % of the adult population in Madison County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 22.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 10.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Madison County spent an average of $3,317 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared with the .8 state average. Madison County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 82.1 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $53,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 374. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Madison County ranked number 156. Of this five year average, 2% were violent crimes, while 98% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 59% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 76% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 19701980 1980-1990 Madison County 13,517 17,747 21,050 31.3 18.6 Carlton 294 291 282 -1.0 -3.1 Colbert 532 498 443 -6.4 -11.0 Comer 828 930 939 12.3 1.0 Danielsville 378 354 318 -6.3 -10.2 Hull 222 188 156 -15.3 -17.0 Ila 202 287 297 42.1 3.5 /'"" Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, American Vans Inc., Cobb Health Care, and Patriot Uniform are among the largest non-government employers in Madison County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Farming is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 21 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Madison County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 5.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,25% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 75%, commuted out of Madison County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Madison County's per capita income was $14,722, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Madison County's median household income in 1989 was $25,092. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,835 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Madison County had 268 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 14%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Madison County's assessed property value amounted to $210.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,990. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Madison County is the Athens Banner-Herald. The county is considered part of the Greenville/Asheville television market. During 1989, 16% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 20% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 25% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Madison County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,617 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Madison County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) (lj Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'-----'----"'=-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ----!lclI--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Madison County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Rve Year Average C1991-1995} ... 60------ 30 15 o ---...i= _ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita C1991-1995} ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Madison County's average own source revenue per capita was $246. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Madison County collected an average of $115 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 44% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Madison County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $198 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Madison County had an average of $169,700 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $8. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Madison was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Madison County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Madison County has a six member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 795-3473 Central Library (706) 795-5597 County Commission (706) 795-3351 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Marion County GA Marion County was created in 1827. C'-+95 Georgia's 72nd county was named for the Revolutionary War hero General Francis 0;C:) j Marion. Known as the "Swamp Fox," Sb Marion campaigned successfully against the British in South Carolina. The county seat, and only incorporated municipality, is Buena Vista. Originally known as Pea Ridge, the city was renamed in honor of a famous battle in the Mexican War. Two antebellum courthouses still stand in Marion County: the Old Courthouse in Tazewell, erected in 1848 at a cost of $1,637, and the present courthouse built in 1850 in Buena Vista. The very first courthouse was built in 1839 in Horry, but burned down in 1845. Buena Vista is hoping to become the next Branson, Missouri. It is home to such attractions as the Silver Moon Music Bam, the Elvis Collection Museum, the National Country Music Museum and the Front Porch Music Hall. Another interesting tourist attraction is Pasquan, created by Eddie Owens Martin on his family farm. Martin painted and decorated virtually every square foot of every structure on the farm inside and out with images from Asian, African and Native American cultures. Fort Perry was built in Marion County by General John Floyd, on the old Alabama Road. It was named in honor of the hero of the Lake Erie Battle in 1812. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Marion County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 30 fo 20 ~ ~ 0" ~ 10 ~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 5 . ~ :. :~ , o i::- .". GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Marion County was 5,590 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 5.5%, compared to a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 5,688 persons. In Marion County, 58% of the residents were white and 41 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of the residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Marion County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared to 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 36% of the adult population in Marion County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 18.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared to the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Marion County spent an average of $3,846 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 4.5 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 durihg the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared to the .8 state average. Marion County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 79% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $38,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 508. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Marion County ranked number 154. Of this five year average, 30% were violent crimes, while 70% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 76% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Marion County Buena Vista 1970 5,099 1,486 Population 1980 5,297 1,544 1990 5,590 1,472 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 3.9 5.5 3.9 -4.7 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Baby's Dream Furniture, Cargill Inc., and Marion Community Nursing are among the largest non-government employers in Marion County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 39% of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Marion County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.9% compared to the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 54% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 46%, commuted out of Marion County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Marion County's per capita income was $12,805, as compared to $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Marion County's median household income in 1989 was $18,343. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,713 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Marion County had 74 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Marion County's assessed property value amounted to $63.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,375. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Marion County is the Columbus Ledger Enquirer. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989,28% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 35% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 42% of the elderly, persons over 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Marion County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,188 per capita, compared to $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Marion County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... llll Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('98-'94) ... 12.---------- 9 --+---------- 3 ---------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---IZl--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Marion County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average C1990-1994} ", 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita C1991-1995} ..... 400------ 300 200 100 o~ ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Marion County's average own source revenue per capita was $210. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Marion County collected an average of $102 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $157 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $210. On average, property taxes accounted for 48% of the county's own source revenue during the past five years. Between 1990 and 1994, Marion County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $196 per capita. This amount was less than the $330 average during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $275 between 1989 and 1994. Over the past five years, Marion County had an average of $3,000 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $1. This was lower than the $321 average among the 135 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $116 per capita average for the 35 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Marion was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Marion County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently Phone Numbers of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. Chamber of Commerce GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF (912) 649-2842 Central Library (912) 649-6385 County Commission (912) 649-2603 COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY McDuffie County McDuffie County was created in 1870 from parts of Columbia and Warren counties. Georgia's 132nd county was named for George McDuffie, who was born in Georgia and served as a governor of and a senator from South Carolina. The county has two municipalities: Thomson, the county seat, and Dearing. Thomson at various times has been called Frog Pond, Hickory Level and Slashes. Gold was discovered near Thomson in 1823, although local gold mines only produced a total of $80,000 in gold bullion. The presence of Interstate 20 and its location within commuting distance of Augusta should continue to provide an economic boost to McDuffie County. The Belle Meade Fox Hunt, held from November to March, draws participants from Europe as well as all over the United States. This hunt is noted for not killing the fox; they merely chase it for the sport. One notable person from McDuffie County was Thomas Edward Watson, a U.S. Senator and leader of the Populist Party. He is credited with being the "Father of Rural Free Delivery." There are several noteworthy historic sites in the county. These include the Rock House, a 1785 stone structure which is Georgia's oldest documented dwelling. Also of interest is Wrightsboro, a community founded by Quakers in 1768. (The Quakers all departed by the early 1800s because of their opposition to slavery and the town gradually declined after residents refused the railroad a rightof-way.) SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots McDuffie County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - CTY lSI GA-- ~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - . 1 30 - - - - - - m ----;;);j 20~P---+---------l ~ 10._. ._---+----+---1 o -'-----_ _--'-_ _--.J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ 10 o -~ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of McDuffie County was 20,119 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 8.5%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 23,006 persons. In McDuffie County, 64% of the residents were white and 36% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of the residents were white, 27 % were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In McDuffie County, the 1990 Census reports 10% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 39% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.7% of the adult population in McDuffie County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 25.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. McDuffie County spent an average of $3,428 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 10.6 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the .8 state average. McDuffie County had 2.2 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 69% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $48,000.. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,654. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, McDuffie County ranked number 116. Of this five year average, 11 % were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 69% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 66% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community McDuffie County Dearing Thomson 1970 15,276 555 6,503 Population 1980 1990 18,546 539 7,001 20,119 547 6,862 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 21.4 8.5 -2.9 1.5 7.7 -2.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department ofLabor, Milliken & Company, Shaw Industries Inc., and Thomson Company are among the largest non-government employers in McDuffie County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 24% of the jobs and 28% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 18% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, McDuffie County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.5% greater than the state average of 5.7% and equalling the national unemployment rate for the same period. In 1990, 63% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 37%, commuted out of McDuffie County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. McDuffie County's per capita income was $15,185, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. McDuffie County's median household income in 1989 was $21,292. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $10,835 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. McDuffie County had 456 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 5%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, McDuffie County's assessed property value amounted to $218.1 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,840. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in McDuffie County is the Augusta Chronicle. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989,22% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 31 % of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 27% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of McDuffie County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,212 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots McDuffie County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed Cl990) ... *~ Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 I 12 I 6 o -'-'-----'----""="'--- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('98-'94) ... 9---------- ~. 6 a.' :---:----m' , '."--1!lil 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY -- ,ro- -- GA Georgia County Snapshots McDuffie County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 _. Government Over the past five years, McDuffie County's average own source revenue per capita was $259. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. McDuffie County collected an average of $93 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 32% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, McDuffie County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $268 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, McDuffie County had an average of $84,300 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $4. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, McDuffie was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to McDuffie County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, McDuffie County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. 0ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 597-1000 Central Library (706) 595-1341 County Commission (706) 595-2100 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Mcintosh County GA McIntosh County was created in c'49S 1793 from part of Liberty County. The state's 17th county was named 'Si for the McIntosh clan who s<:, pioneered the area. Darien, the county seat, is the only municipality in the county. Originally called New Inverness by its Scottish founders, its name was changed to Fort Darien and then Darien. Because of its location at the mouth of the Altamaha River, it was often referred to as the "Queen of the Delta." McIntosh County is rich in historical sites. Fort King George, the first English fort in Georgia, was on the site of Darien. In the late 16th century, Franciscan friars from Spain established a mission on a bluff near Darien. On the same site had been an Indian village of great antiquity. Ruins of a Spanish fort and mission are also found on Sapelo Island. McIntosh County contains Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area, Fort King George, Wolf Island National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness, and Sapelo Island National Estuarine Sanctuary. Darien is the source of 90% of the caviar found in Georgia. The "black gold" is an important part of the economy, as are other types of fishing. The biggest festival in McIntosh County is the annual blessing of the fleet each spring, which is now known as the Altamaha Heritage and Seafood Festival. The Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation is a state-run park that is a classic example of a working rice plantation from around 1807. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1996 Georgia County Snapshots Mcintosh County Demographics Educational Attainment: %o' Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 50 - - . CTY Q G A - - 40 - - - - - - - - - - 1 t 30 - - - - - - - 1 i l't!'l-------8i3 w <. 20 m;,r-.- - - +.~- - - - + - - - - , 10~---+----+--_1 o '--_ _-'---_ _--L._ _-J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 25------ 20 - - - - 15 - - - - 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of McIntosh County was 8,634 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 7.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 11,091 persons. In McIntosh County, 57% of the residents were white and 42% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of the residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % ofthe county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In McIntosh County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.2% of the adult population in McIntosh County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 23.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. McIntosh County spent an average of $3,889 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 22.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared with the.8 state average. McIntosh County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to 1990 Census, 84% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $37,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,370. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, McIntosh County ranked number 57. Of this five year average, 11 % were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 82% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 69% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community McIntosh County Darien 1970 7,371 1,826 Population 1980 8,046 1,731 1990 8,634 1,783 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 9.2 7.3 -5.2 3.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Altama Delta Corp., Ben's Seafood Co., and Canadian Motels Association are among the largest non-government employers in McIntosh. Agricultural services is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 23% of the jobs and 8% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 26% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 18% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, McIntosh County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,49% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 51 %, commuted out of McIntosh County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. McIntosh County's per capita income was $11,849, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. McIntosh County's median household income in 1989 was $19,182. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,686 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. McIntosh County had 127 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 31 %. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, McIntosh County's assessed property value amounted to $109.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $12,664. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in McIntosh County is The Brunswick News. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,22% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 28% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 34% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of McIntosh County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,350 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Mcintosh County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T III Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'--_..L-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('98-'94) T 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- m--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Mcintosh County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) .... 60------ 45 30 o -..<0=_- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400------ Government Over the past five years, McIntosh County's average own source revenue per capita was $424. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. McIntosh County collected an average of $196 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 43% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, McIntosh County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $412 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, McIntosh County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, McIntosh was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, McIntosh County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. 200 1: ,=i: 100 -;.t"~t:i:.1#i: ~I---- o _t:%::: ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 437-4192 Central Library (912) 437-2124 County Commission (912) 437-6671 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Meriwether County GA Meriwether County was created in 1827, the 73rd county created. The county was Cy.QS . Sj named for General David Meriwether, a state militiaman often called on by the federal government to negotiate with the S~ Indians. General Meriwether served in the Revolutionary War and was a state legislator and a member of congress. The county seat is Greenville, named for Revolutionary war hero General Nathaniel Greene. The largest municipality is Manchester, and others include Gay, Lone Oak, Luthersville, Warm Springs and Woodbury. Warm Springs-site of President Roosevelt's "Little White House"-is in the county. The historic site, operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, draws over 100,000 visitors annually. An effort is underway to rehabilitate the warm springs pools used by Roosevelt and others in the 1930s and 1940s. The springs' waters stay naturally at 90 degrees, and were used by Indians as a healing spring and later as a spa for white settlers. More recently, Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as other polio victims, have benefited from the therapeutic water. The Warm Springs Foundation opened its doors to people suffering from other types of crippling disease and conditions after the invention of the polio vaccination. Governor John Marshall Slaton is from Meriwether County. He was also, at one point, the president of the Georgia Senate. The first courthouse in Meriwether County was destroyed in 1893 by a cyclone. The Red Oak Creek flows through Meriwether County into the Flint River. It is named for the beautiful red oak trees that grow in this area. Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Meriwether County Demographics Educadonal Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T m 50 - - CTY GA. - - - c 40 30 ~ l~ 20 .f' 10 ~~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Meriwether County was 22,411 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 5.6%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 22,917 persons. In Meriwether County, 55% of the residents were white and 44% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71% of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Meriwether County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county as well as those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.1 % of the adult population in Meriwether County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 19.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Meriwether County spent an average of $3,790 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the .8 state average. Meriwether County had 1.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.1 beds per 1,000 population. According to 1990 Census, 75% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $39,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population was 2,830. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Meriwether County ranked number 77. Of this five year average, 11 % were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 89% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 19701980 1980-1990 Meriwether County Gay Greenville Lone Oak Luthersville Manchester Warm Springs Woodbury 19,461 200 1,085 129 400 4,779 523 1,422 21,229 175 1,213 119 597 4,796 425 1,738 22,411 133 1,167 161 741 4,104 407 1,429 9.1 -12.5 11.8 -7.8 49.3 0.4 -18.7 22.2 5.6 -24.0 -3.8 35.3 24.1 -14.4 -4.2 -17.8 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Pacific Company, Goody Products, Inc., and Oxford Industries are among the largest non-government employers in Meriwether County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 34% of the jobs and 42% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 23% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs and 8% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Meriwether County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.1 % compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,53% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 47%, commuted out of Meriwether County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that ofthe nation. Meriwether County's per capita income was $11,972, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Meriwether County's median household income in 1989 was $20,212. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $4,531 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Meriwether County had 305 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 13%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Meriwether County's assessed property value amounted to $202.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,037. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Meriwether County is the Columbus Ledger Enquirer. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,22% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 31 % of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 26% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Meriwether County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,111 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Meriwether County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) .... iii Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) .... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'---'----- us GA cry Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) .... 12 - - - - - - - - - 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY -- - -l]]- --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Meriwether County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Ave Year Average <1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita <1991-1995) .... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Meriwether County's average own source revenue per capita was $203. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Meriwether County collected an average of $85 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 50% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Meriwether County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $151 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Meriwether County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Meriwether was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Meriwether County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Meriwether County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 655-2558 Central Library (706) 846-2186 County Commission (706) 672-1314 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Miller County Miller County was created in 1856 from GA C49S , Si parts of Baker and Early counties. It was named after Judge Andrew J. Miller, who served as a commander of the Oglethorpe Infantry, served in the legislature for more SL:, than 20 years, and several times as president of the Senate. Miller is best remembered for introducing a bill to give property rights to married women. The county seat is Colquitt. It is the only incorporated municipality within the county, and was named for U.S. Senator Walter Colquitt, who was previously a clergyman, attorney and judge. Peter Toth, an Hungarian-born sculptor, spent several years of his life traveling across America carving memorial gift monuments, one in each state, dedicated to the Native Americans. The only such monument in Georgia is in Colquitt. The 23-foot Red Oak tree is hewn into the head of an Indian brave. Colquitt is home to "Swamp Gravy," Georgia's official Folk Life Play. Some of the festivals in Miller County are the Flower Show, Fall Fest Days, and the Annual Mayhaw Festival which attracts almost 20,000 visitors. Colquitt is known as the "Mayhaw Capital of the World." A Mayhaw is a small, red berry often used for jams and jellies. The entire town square in Colquitt is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also listed is the Tarrer Inn, built in 1861, currently in use as a bed and breakfast. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Miller County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - CTY il G A - - 40 ~ 30 ~. ;'. 20 :.: ~~ ~ 10 ~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'9S): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 25------ 20--- 15--- GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Miller County was 6,280 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of 10.8%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 6,114 persons. In Miller County, 72% of the residents were white and 28 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 17% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Miller County, the 1990 Census reports 7% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 35.5% of the adult population in Miller County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 21.9% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 4.7% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Miller County spent an average of $3,795 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 21.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .8, equal to the.8 state average. Miller County had 6.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to 1990 Census data, 76% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $41,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 691. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Miller County ranked number 148. Of this five year average, 8% were violent crimes, while 92% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,72% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Miller County Colquitt 1970 6,424 2,026 Population 1980 7,038 2,065 1990 6,280 1,991 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 9.6 -10.8 1.9 -3.6 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Farmers Fertilizer, Green Circles Farm Inc., and Hardee's of Colquitt are among the largest non-government employers in Miller County. Farming is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 25% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 30% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23 % of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Miller County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,59% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 41 %, commuted out of Miller County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Miller County's per capita income was $15,182, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Miller County's median household income in 1989 was $20,488. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $4,516 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Miller County had 113 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Miller County's assessed property value amounted to $99.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $15,813. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Miller County is the Albany Herald. The county is considered part of the Tallahassee-Thomasville television market. During 1989,22% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 27% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 37% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Miller County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,333 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Miller County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... 181 Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'----'---== us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 12 - - - - - - - - - - 9--------,"------" - - . 6=8----__~-,.<---.::..r"'-l- t~El 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY mgm GA Georgia County Snapshots Miller County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 75------ 60 - - - - 45 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Miller County's average own source revenue per capita was $226. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Miller County collected an average of $143 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 61 % of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Miller County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $258 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Miller County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Miller was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Miller County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Miller County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 758-2400 Central Library (912) 758-3131 County Commission (912) 758-4104 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Mitchell County GA Mitchell County was created from Baker CLf15 .sl County in 1857. The Act creating the county noted that it was named after General Henry Mitchell. He had been a 56 state senator from Warren County, president of the Senate, a presidential elector, and commander of the Georgia troops after the Revolutionary War. The widely held view among historians, however, was that the county was named for General David B. Mitchell, who was twice governor of Georgia. There are four incorporated municipalities in the county: Baconton, Camilla, Pelham, and Sale City. Camilla, the county seat, is named for General David Mitchell's daughter. Pelham was named for Major John Pelham, the "boy artillerist" who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Kelly's Ford in 1863. The western border of the county is defined by the Flint River. Mitchell and Baker counties have one of the state's few combined school systems. Sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the downtown districts of Camilla and Pelham, as well as the residential historic district in Baconton. Landmark buildings in the county include the Bacon Family Homestead (1913), the James Price McRae House (1907) and Mt. Emon Church and Cemetery (1889). Some of the county's special events are the Gold Leaf Festival, held every August in Pelham, and the Com Festival, held in October in Camilla. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 I Decatur Grady Thomas Georgia County Snapshots Mitchell County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY fg G A - - ~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 20 ~--l:~-----+-----1 ~ 1O~f - - - - + - - - - t - - - - I o '--_ _-'--_ _....l-_ _---! Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Mitchell County was 20,275 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of 4.0%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 20,983 persons. In Mitchell County, 51 % of the residents were white and 48 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 35% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Mitchell County, the 1990 Census reports 12% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 38% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33% of the adult population in Mitchell County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 22% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.5% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Mitchell County spent an average of $3,827 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the .8 state average. Mitchell County had 1.6 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 70% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $40,800. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,259. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Mitchell County ranked number 59. Of this five year average, 19% were violent crimes, while 81 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 64% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 65% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 Mitchell County Baconton Camilla Pelham Sale City 18,956 710 4,987 4,539 323 21,114 763 5,414 4,306 336 20,275 623 5,008 3,869 324 11.4 -4.0 7.5 -18.3 8.6 -7.5 -5.1 -10.1 4.0 -3.6 ~~'. Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Cagle Foods, Darwood Manufacturing, and Ithaca Industries are among the largest non-government employers in Mitchell County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 22% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Mitchell County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 9.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,72% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 28%, commuted out of Mitchell County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Mitchell County's per capita income was $13,620, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Mitchell County's median household income in 1989 was $18,926. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,961 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Mitchell County had 404 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 2%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Mitchell County's assessed property value amounted to $242.1 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,942. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Mitchell County is the Albany Herald. The county is considered part of the Albany television market. During 1989, 29% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 40% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 31 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Mitchell County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,172 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Mitchell County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990> T Ia Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,00011992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ----m---- GA Georgia County Snapshots Mitchell County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Ave Year Average n991-1995} T 60------ 45 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita n991-1995} ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Mitchell County's average own source revenue per capita was $226. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Mitchell County collected an average of $128 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 51 % of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Mitchell County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $267 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Mitchell County had an average of $94,200 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $5. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Mitchell was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Mitchell County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. 200 0- ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 336-5255 Central Library (912) 336-8372 County Commission (912) 336-2000 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Monroe County Monroe County was formed in 1821 from Creek Indian land. It is named for President James Monroe, the 5th President of the United States and author of the Monroe Doctrine. Forsyth, the county seat, is named for John Forsyth, who, as minister to Spain, negotiated the purchase of Florida in 1819. Culloden is the only other municipality. Culloden was named for a Scottish Highlander who opened a store there in 1780. Culloden is also the site ofthe oldest Methodist church in Georgia. High Falls State Park, the Chattahoochee National Forest, and Lake Juliette are located in the county. High Falls used to be the site of a prosperous town that faded away after being bypassed by the railroads. The Georgia Public Safety Training Center is located in Forsyth. Juliette, in Monroe County, is home to the Whistle Stop Cafe, made famous by the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. It has become a tourist attraction, and is still serving fried green tomatoes. Some of the festivals in the county are the Forsythia Festival held every spring to honor the flower, and the Culloden Highland Games and Scottish Festival. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Monroe County Demographics EducaUonal Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 40 - - . CTY GA-- 30 - - - - - - + - - - - - j 20 .-------'~--_+_--...., 10 1-----+---_+_--...., o L -_ _L -_ _...L..-_ _- ' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 15 - - - - - - GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Monroe County was 17,113 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 17.1 %, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 19,752 persons. In Monroe County, 68% ofthe residents were white and 31 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Monroe County, the 1990 Census reports 7% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 38% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.1 % of the adult population in Monroe County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 33.1 % ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Monroe County spent an average of $3,770 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number ofphysicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the.8 state average. Monroe County had 2.2 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 75% ofthe housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $62,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (number of crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,554. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Monroe County ranked number 52. Of this five year average, 11 % were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,68% ofthe adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Monroe County Culloden Forsyth 1970 10,991 272 3,736 Population 1980 1990 14,610 281 4,624 17,113 242 4,268 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 32.9 17.1 3.3 -13.9 23.8 -7.7 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in the county include: Aladdin Mills Inc., Bibb Company, and Georgia Power Company. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Monroe County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,51 % of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 49%, commuted out of Monroe County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Monroe County's per capita income was $14,792, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Monroe County's median household income in 1989 was $27,770. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $11,328 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Monroe County had 266 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 10%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Monroe County's assessed property value amounted to $248.1 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $14,500. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Monroe County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989, 14% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 17% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 20% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Monroe County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,724 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Monroe County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T IS Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,OOO/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---IIi]} - -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Monroe County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 30 15 o -- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Monroe County's average own source revenue per capita was $521. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Monroe County collected an average of $315 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 56% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Monroe County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $430 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Monroe County had an average of $1.3 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $77. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Monroe was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Monroe County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Monroe County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 994-9239 Central Library (912) 994-7025 County Commission (912) 994-7000 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Montgomery County GA. o Montgomery County, the 18th county C>tq5 formed in Georgia, was created in 1793 from part of Washington County. The .S\ county was named for Revolutionary War 5(.., General Richard Montgomery who was mortally wounded at the siege of Quebec. Portions of the original county went to form parts of Wheeler, Tattnall, Toombs, Emanuel, Treutlen and Dodge counties. o The county has six incorporated municipalities: Ailey, Alston, Higgston, Mount Vernon, Tarrytown and Uvalda. Mount Vernon is the largest and the county seat. o The Ocmulgee and Oconee Rivers join to form the Altamaha River at the county's southern border. o Mount Vernon is home to Brewton-Parker College, a four-year Baptist college with an enrollment of over 2,000. o Almost 53% of the county's land is in farms. Only 20 Georgia counties have a larger proportion of land area dedicated to farming. o The City of Uvalda hosts an "Old Time Farm Festival" every August. Over 25,000 people attended in 1994. Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Montgomery County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY ~ GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ------.m-----l 20 _-~:~.~.--_j_-_____1 10..----+----+------1 o ' - -_ _.1-_ _---'----_ _--' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Montgomery County was 7,163 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 2.2%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 7,865 persons. In Montgomery County, 70% of the residents were white and 28% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Montgomery County, the 1990 Census reports 7% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.0% of the adult population in Montgomery County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 25.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Montgomery County spent an average of $3,630 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 5.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the.8 state average. Montgomery County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average is 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 74% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $40,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 536. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Montgomery County ranked number 153. Of this five year average, 15% were violent crimes, while 85% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 79% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 63% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Montgomery Connty Ailey Alston Higgston MountVemon Tarrytown Uvalda 1970 6,099 487 104 175 1,579 188 663 Population 1980 7,011 579 III 152 1,737 145 646 1990 7,163 579 160 274 1,914 130 561 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 15.0 18.9 6.7 -13.1 10.0 -22.9 -2.6 2.2 0.0 44.1 80.3 10.2 -10.3 -13.2 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Montgomery County include: Ailey Manufacturing Company, Brewton Parker College, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Farming is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings~ Between 1990 and 1994, Montgomery County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.6% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,36% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 64%, commuted out of Montgomery County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Montgomery County's per capita income was $13,697, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Montgomery County's median household income in 1989 was $20,054. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,407 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Montgomery County had 118 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 10%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Montgomery County's assessed property value amounted to $68.4 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,544. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Montgomery County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,25% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 34% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 38% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Montgomery County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,389 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Montgomery County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed Cl990) T ~ El Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ---'-----'---. = = - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - 3 ---------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 cry ---1]--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Montgomery County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 Government Over the past five years, Montgomery County's average own source revenue per capita was $223. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Montgomery County collected an average of $110 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 46% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Montgomery County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $180 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Montgomery County had an average of $239,000 in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $33. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Montgomery was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Montgomery County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an extra $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Montgomery County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. 200 100 o ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 537-4466 Central Library (912) 583-2780 County Commission (912) 583-2363 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Morgan County Morgan County was created in 1807 from a portion of Baldwin County. Georgia's 32nd county is named for Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan who defeated the British at Cowpens. The county has four municipalities: Bostwick, Buckhead, Madison and Rutledge. The largest is the county seat, Madison. Madison has some of the finest antebellum homes in the state. During the Civil War, Madison was spared destruction by Sherman's Army because it was the home of pro-Union Senator Joshua Hill. Hard Labor Creek State Park is located in the county. The park is named for the creek that runs through it, named by the slaves who had to work in its low lying lands. At 5,804 acres, it is the largest park in Georgia. There are two lakesRutledge and Brantley-within the park as a golf course. Among the notable people who hail from Morgan County are William Tappan Thompson, a journalist and author who founded and edited the Savannah Morning News, and Lancelot Johnson, who first developed the process of pressing oil out of cottonseed. The Madison Collegiate Institute was founded in 1849 by Baptists. It was later renamed the Georgia Female College. The Methodist Female College was also founded in Madison. These two schools were among the first women's colleges in the United States. Both were destroyed by fire and ceased operation. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Morgan County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (l990) T m 40 - - . CTY G A l 30 .;-----l l:~ 20 JVJ,;,e---------t----f----! 10 }---+----+----I o '---_ _-'--_ _....L.-_ _.-J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Morgan County was 12,883 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 11.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 15,115 persons. In Morgan County, 65% of the residents were white and 34% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Morgan County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equal to the state average. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.2% of the adult population in Morgan County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 26.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Morgan County spent an average of $3,714 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 7.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the.8 state average. Morgan County had 1.9 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 76% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $55,000. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,716. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Morgan County ranked number 80. Of this five year average, 8% were violent crimes, while 92% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,78% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 62% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election. Community Morgan County Bostwick Buckhead Madison Rutledge 1970 9,904 289 177 2,890 628 Population 1980 1990 11,572 357 219 2,954 694 12,883 307 176 3,483 659 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 16.8 11.3 23.5 -14.0 23.7 -19.6 2.2 17.9 10.5 -5.0 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Morgan County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Denon Digital, Inc., Georgia Pacific Co., and Wellington Puritan are among the largest non-government employers in Morgan County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 28% of the jobs and 38% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Morgan County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.7% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,66% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 34%, commuted out of Morgan County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Morgan County's per capita income was $15,701, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Morgan County's median household income in 1989 was $26,018. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $7,652 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Morgan County had 263 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 6%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Morgan County's assessed property value amounted to $241.9 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $18,779. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Morgan County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,15% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 15% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 21 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Morgan County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,863 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (l990) .. >:lOutside County -Inside County Per Capita Income {S,OOO/1992} .. 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 us GA cry Unemployment Rate: {'9D-'94} .. 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 cry m-ID--- GA GEORGIA COUNTY Murray County Murray County, created in 1832 from part of Cherokee County, was named for Thomas Walton Murray, a Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives. The county has two municipalities: Chatsworth, the county seat, and Eton. One version of how Chatsworth got its name, is that a sign fell off of a passing freight car. The sign was placed on a pole by the tracks and the name stuck. Among the county's attractions are the Vann House Historic Site at Spring Place. Constructed in 1805 for James Vann, a Cherokee chief, the two-story red brick home was built alongside the Federal Road, a major early path in northwest Georgia. Fort Mountain State Park, an 1,897 acre park in the Cohutta Mountains, is also a popular destination. This area was presented to Georgia in 1934 by Ivan Allen, Sr. for a state park. It includes possibly the oldest fortifications in North America, believed to have been built in 1530 to defend against DeSoto's men. Another major asset is the Chattahoochee National Forest, which occupies a large portion of northeastern Murray County. Within the forest is the Cohutta Wilderness Area, a roadless, mountainous landscape featuring several of Georgia's premier backpacking trails. Carter's Lake, on the Coosawatee River, was formed by the Carter Dam, which is the largest earth-rock dam east of the Mississippi. The 3,200 acre lake attracts fishermen, boaters and campers. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Murray County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - CTY m GA ~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ------a~.~--m 20m.. - -..W+..- - - + - - - - - 1 10 f-----j-----t----j ~ o '--------'-------'-------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Murray County was 26,147 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 32.8%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 33,736 persons. In Murray County, 99% of the residents were white and 0% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 8% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Murray County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 42% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 31.2% of the adult population in Murray County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 20.9% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 12.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Murray County spent an average of $3,425 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 5.5 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the .8 state average. Murray County had 1.6 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 75% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $52,000. Across the state, 76% of the housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,589. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Murray County ranked number 83. Of this five year average, 2% were violent crimes, while 98% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 59% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 66% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Murray County Chatsworth Eton 1970 12,986 2,706 286 Population 1980 1990 19,685 2,493 301 26,147 2,865 315 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 51.6 32.8 -7.9 14.9 5.2 4.7 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Murray County include: Diamond Rug & Carpet, Galaxy Carpet Mill, and Shaw Indu~tries, Inc. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 54% of the jobs and 60% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 10% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 9% of the jobs and 7% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Murray County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.1 % compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,54% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 46%, commuted out of Murray County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Murray County's per capita income was $13,517, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Murray County's median household income in 1989 was $26,517. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056~ In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $6,480 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Murray County had 183 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 49%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Murray County's assessed property value amounted to $326.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $12,478. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Murray County is the Dalton Citizen-News. The county is considered part of the Chattanooga television market. During 1989,11 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 12% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 26% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Murray County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,882 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Murray County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990> T [2] Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o----'----~,,==- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---lil--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Murray County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average n991-1995} .... 60------ 45 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita n991-1995} T 400------ 300 - 200 100 - o -.' ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Murray County's average own source revenue per capita was $236. This amount was less than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Murray County collected an average of $94 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 37% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Murray County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $194 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Murray County had an average of $629,400 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $24. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Murray was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Murray County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 695-6060 Central Library (706) 695-4200 County Commission (706) 695-2413 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Muscogee County GA Muscogee County was acquired from Creek Indian territory in 1826 and CLt-qS was the 69th county established. The ,S \ county is named for the Muscogee Indians, whose family included the $lo Creek and Seminoles. Columbus-Muscogee County was Georgia's first consolidated citycounty government. The county's only other incorporated municipality is Bibb City which has a population under 600. Bibb City is a small enclave within Columbus that was created as a mill village. The last land battle of the Civil War was fought at Columbus, one week after General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. The county has completed the first phase of its River Walk project along the Chattahoochee River. Every April they now celebrate Riverfest Weekend which includes the Columbus Pig Jig and the Salisbury Fair. Fort Benning Military Reservation encompasses the southeastern part of the county. The base is one of the area's largest employers. ~31 /' Robert Winship Woodruff, a noted industrialist and philanthropist from Muscogee County, became the president of the Coca-Cola Company \. ~~.. "~.',. 19 : at the age of 33. Dr. John Pemberton, the inventor of the Coke formula, also lived in Columbus. Noteworthy historical sites in the county include: the Springer Opera House, built in 1871, which is now the State Theater of Georgia; the Columbus Museum; the Confederate Naval Museum; and the Columbus Historical District which includes the Columbus Ironworks, built in 1853. Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Tba:t Har.r.i.s........ Georgia County Snapshots Muscogee County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY II GA-- 30 ------f:=i~--~""'.~ .~~-__+-____1 10 1----+----+----1 o "--_ _-'----_ _--'-_ _....J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Muscogee County was 179,278 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 5.4%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 196,966 persons. In Muscogee County, 59% of the residents were white and 38% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 3% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Muscogee County, the 1990 Census reports 11 % of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county as well as those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 29.9% of the adult population in Muscogee County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 41.7% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Muscogee County spent an average of $4,049 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 13.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.9, compared with the .8 state average. Muscogee County had 5.3 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 54% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $58,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 6,592. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Muscogee County ranked number 13. Of this five year average, 9% were violent crimes, while 91 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 54% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 72% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Muscogee County Bibb City Columbus 1970 167,377 812 155,028 Population 1980 1990 170,108 179,278 667 597 169,441 178,681 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 1.6 -17.9 9.3 5.4 -10.5 5.5 Georgia County Snapshots Morgan County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .. 400------ Government Over the past five years, Morgan County's average own source revenue per capita was $440. This amount was greater than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Morgan County collected an average of $209 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 42% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Morgan County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $429 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Morgan County had an average of $194,400 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $15. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Morgan was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Morgan County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Morgan County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 342-4454 Central Library (706) 342-4974 County Commission (706) 342-0725 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 Economy The Georgia Department of Labor's list of the county's largest non-government employers includes: American Family Life, Medical Center, and Swift Textiles Inc. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 24% of the jobs and 23% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 17% of the jobs and 22% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Muscogee County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.2% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 85% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 15%, commuted out of Muscogee County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that ofthe nation. Muscogee County's per capita income was $16,823, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Muscogee County's median household income in 1989 was $24,056. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $8,960 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Muscogee County had 4,215 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 2%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Muscogee County's assessed property value amounted to $2.1 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,742. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Muscogee County is the Columbus Ledger Enquirer. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989,19% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 28% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 19% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Muscogee County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,493 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Muscogee County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... ill Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ---'----'--.== us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY mll3'" GA Georgia County Snapshots Muscogee County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 30 15 o~ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400------ Government Columbus-Muscogee County was Georgia's first consolidated city-county government. The consolidated government's financial data will be shown here and compared with traditional county governments. When interpreting the data, it is important to remember that consolidated governments have a municipal service component. In general, consolidated governments spend more per capita than do counties because of their "city services," but spend less than cities due to their broader population base. Columbus-Muscogee County collected an average of $186 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $317 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 35% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Columbus-Muscogee County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $424 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $444 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Columbus-Muscogee County had an average of $52.1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $290. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $491 per capita average for the 8 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Muscogee was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, ColumbusMuscogee County has an eleven member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 327-1566 Central Library (706) 649-0780 County Commission (706) 571-4860 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Newton County G,A Newton County was created in 1821 from parts of Henry, Jasper and Walton C'+'15 counties. Georgia's 53rd county is .S i S6 named for Revolutionary War hero, John Newton. The county has five municipalities. The largest of these is Covington, the county seat. The others are Mansfield, Newborn, Oxford, and Porterdale. Covington was named in honor of General Leonard Covington. The Newton County Courthouse was built in 1884. Emory At Oxford, a branch of Emory University, is located just north of Covington. It is the original campus of the university, chartered in 1836. In 1919, part of the college, known as Oxford College, moved to the Atlanta campus and became Emory University Gold mining was important in the county during the late nineteenth century. However, there are no active mines today. The television show "In the Heat of the Night" was filmed in Covington. The Newton County library was used as the city hall. Oma Villa, an elegant home in Oxford, is believed to be haunted by the spirit of Dr. Alexander Means who bought the house in the 1830s. Others believe it is the ghost of his son Tobe who makes the strange sounds and footsteps that are often heard. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Newton County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 50 - - . CTY III GA-- 40 ~ 30 20 ~ !~ ~~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births ... 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Newton County was 41,808 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 21.2%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 58,283 persons. In Newton County, 77% of the residents were white and 22% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black, and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports 7% of Newton County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 39% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.7% of the adult population in Newton County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 27.0% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 9.5% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Newton County spent an average of $3,841 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.7, compared with the .8 state average. Newton County had 1.9 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 71 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $65,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 6,342. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Newton County ranked number 15. Ofthis five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 59% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 78% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 19701980 19801990 Newton County 26,282 34,489 41,808 31.9 21.2 Covington 10,267 10,586 10,026 3.1 -5.3 Mansfield 340 435 341 27.9 -21.6 Newborn 294 391 404 33.0 3.3 Oxford 1,373 1,750 1,945 27.5 11.1 Porterdale 1,773 1,451 1,278 -18.2 -11.9 /",..;.">\ Economy Georgia County Snapshots Newton County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Newton County include: C.R. Bard, Inc., Hercules, Inc., and Mobil Oil Corp. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 26% of the jobs and 37% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 17% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23 % of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Newton County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.1 % compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,49% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 51 %, commuted out of Newton County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Newton County's per capita income was $14,973, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Newton County's median household income in 1989 was $27,992. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $8,306 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Newton County had 747 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 12%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Newton County's assessed property value amounted to $562 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $13,442. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Newton County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 14% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 20% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 20% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Newton County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,610 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed C1990} T IllI Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income {$,OOO/1992} T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: {'90-'94} T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---m--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Newton County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 100 ~ o -- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Newton County's average own source revenue per capita was $354. This amount was greater than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Newton County collected an average of $159 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, propelty taxes accounted for 45% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Newton County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $278 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Newton County had an average of $4.4 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $106. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Newton was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Newton County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Newton County has a six member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Covington averaged $399 per capita in own source revenues and $681 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 25% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $100 for residents of Covington. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Covington had an average of $5.2 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $470. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Covington has a councilmanager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 786-7510 Central Library (770) 784-2090 County Commission (770) 784-2000 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Oconee County GA C,lfQ5 .S i 5lo Oconee County, the 135th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1875. Originally part of Franklin County, Oconee County takes its name from the Oconee River. The county has four municipalities. The largest is Watkinsville, the county seat. The others are Bishop, Bogart and North High Shoals. Keowee Town, an important Cherokee settlement, was located within the county. Several Indian mounds have also been discovered at the Keowee site. The cotton monoculture prior to the 1930s badly damaged the soils of Oconee County. Today, only about 5% of the land is identified as prime farm land. About 56% of the land is forest. The Eagle Tavern State Historical Site is located in the county. Originally built as Fort Edward in 1789, the building had become a tavern by 1801. Some other interesting sites in the county are the Elder Covered Bridge and the Mockingbird Forge. Jeanette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, kept her summer home in Oconee County. She was elected to represent Montana before many states even allowed women to vote. Rankin was a pacifist and was the only representative to vote against the U.S.'s entry into war against Japan. Some of the special events in Oconee County include the Annual Oconee Fall Festival and the Christmas Parade. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Oconee County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY I!:iI G A - - 30 ~~ ... ~ ~~ ~.~ ~ 20 ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Oconee County was 17,618 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 41.8%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 23,310 persons. In Oconee County, 92% of the residents were white and 7% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 9% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Oconee County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 43% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 27.2% of the adult population in Oconee County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of29.6%. A total of 49.8% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 4.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Oconee County spent an average of $3,330 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.4 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the.8 state average. Oconee County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, compared with the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 78% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $77,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,948. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Oconee County ranked number 75. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 80% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 81 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Oconee County 7,915 12,427 17,618 57.0 41.8 Bishop 235 172 158 -26.8 -8.1 Bogart 667 819 1,018 22.8 24.3 North High Shoals 165 256 268 55.2 4.7 Watkinsville 986 1,240 1,600 25.8 29.0 , Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Oconee County include: Athens Packaging Inc., Family Life Enrichment, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Finance, insurance and real estate is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 3% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Oconee County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 3.7% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 25% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 75%, commuted out of Oconee County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Oconee County's per capita income was $18,447, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Oconee County's median household income in 1989 was $34,566. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,513 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Oconee County had 381 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 49%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Oconee County's assessed property value amounted to $285.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $16,190. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Oconee County is the Athens Banner-Herald. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,8% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 9% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 15% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Oconee County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,835 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Oconee County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T e EJ Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'---_.L..-==_ us GA cry Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- {ll' - - GA Georgia County Snapshots Oconee County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average C1991-1995} ... 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita C1991-1995} ... 400------ 300 200 ~. 100 o~ ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Oconee County's average own source revenue per capita was $314. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Oconee County collected an average of $165 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 47% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Oconee County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $265 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Oconee County had an average of $4.1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $230. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Oconee was designated as a tierthree county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Oconee County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Oconee County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 769-7947 Central Library (706) 769-3950 County Commission (706) 769-5120 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Oglethorpe County GA Oglethorpe County was created in 1793. Georgia's 19th county is named for the Cttct5 state's founder, General James E. '01 Oglethorpe. 5(., The county has four municipalities. Lexington, the county seat, is named in honor of the Revolutionary War battle. The largest city is Crawford, named for William H. Crawford, former Governor, U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Treasury and Minister to France. The other cities are Arnoldsville and Maxeys. The site known as Cherokee Corner was once an angle in the boundary between Creek and Cherokee lands. At one time, the site was important to surveying in the region. Two Georgia governors, who also served in the U.S. Congress, hailed from Oglethorpe County: George Matthews, who served under General Washington during the Revolutionary War; and George Rockingham Gilmer, for whom the North Georgia county is named. Gilmer served in the Creek Indian Wars. Other important sites are the home of Governor Gilmer and Watson Mill Bridge State Park, which is shared with Madison County. The bridge, which is located on the South Fork Broad River, is the largest in Georgia, and was in the past the site of a grist mill and power generation plant. Bartram Buffalo Lick, located in Philomath, is an iron-bearing clay pit of about 1.5 acres. This site was often visited by buffalo, deer and cattle, although it has no saline properties. It was a meeting place for the area's Indians. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 "" .. \ Georgia County Snapshots Oglethorpe County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ..... m 50 - - . CTY GA-- 40 ~ 30 " 20 m ~ ~. 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ..... 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Oglethorpe County was 9,763 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 9.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 11,314 persons. In Oglethorpe County, 75% of the residents were white and 24% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 29% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Oglethorpe County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 36.7% of the adult population in Oglethorpe County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 25.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.6% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Oglethorpe County spent an average of $3,893 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 10.6 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the.8 state average. Oglethorpe County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 82% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $52,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,487. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Oglethorpe County ranked number 124. Of this five year average, 10% were violent crimes, while 90% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,68% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 75% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Oglethorpe County Arnoldsville Crawford Lexington Maxeys 1970 7,598 181 624 322 229 Population 1980 8,929 187 498 278 205 1990 9,763 275 694 230 180 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 17.5 3.3 -20.2 -13.7 -10.5 9.3 47.1 39.4 -17.3 -12.2 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Classic Groundcovers, Quiet Oaks Health Care, and Wilkes Transportation are among the largest non-government employers in Oglethorpe County. Farming is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Oglethorpe County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 25% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 75%, commuted out of Oglethorpe County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Oglethorpe County's per capita income was $14,053, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Oglethorpe County's median household income in 1989 was $24,667. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,999 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Oglethorpe County had III business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Oglethorpe County's assessed property value amounted to $99.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,165. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Oglethorpe County is the Athens Banner-Herald. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 16% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 19% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 41 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Oglethorpe County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,318 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Oglethorpe County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T !3 Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'--_---l-_..$>j="'-~_ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---.m-- --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Oglethorpe County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Oglethorpe County's average own source revenue per capita was $248. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Oglethorpe County collected an average of $133 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 48% ofthe county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Oglethorpe County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $262 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Oglethorpe County had an average of $118,700 in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $12. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Oglethorpe was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Oglethorpe County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Oglethorpe County has a six member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. 200 ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 743-3113 Central Library (706) 743-8817 County Commission (706) 743-5270 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Paulding County o Paulding County, the 87th county created in the state, was formed from part of Cherokee County in 1832. It was named after John Paulding, a soldier in the Revolutionary War who helped capture Major Andre, an accomplice in Benedict Arnold's plot to overthrow the nation. o The county has three municipalities; the largest is Dallas, the county seat. The others are Braswell and Hiram. Dallas was named for George M. Dallas, Vice President under James Polk. o The county courthouse, built in 1892, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another historic site is Pickett's Mill, a very well preserved Civil War battlefield. In the Atlanta Campaign, Sherman's forces clashed with Confederates here prior to heading to Kennesaw. o Along with the civil war reenactments at Pickett's Mill, the county hosts several other large events including the Paulding Meadows Arts & Crafts Festival, the Hunt's Meadow Country Fair and the Raccoon Creek Music Fest. o Country music stars Travis Tritt and Patty Loveless are from Paulding County. o According to the 1990 Census, Paulding County is one of the ten fastest growing counties in the U.S. o Paulding County is home to the "Hardy Lights," a spirited Christmas tradition which attracts over 10,000 people annually. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Paulding County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 50 - - . CTY I!l!I G A - - 40 -------a---- 30 ------~--__m 20w-_ ..- - + - - - - 1 10 1---+----+-----1 ~~ o L..-_ _-'----_ _--"---_ _- ' Coli Some HS No Deg Coli Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births .... 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Paulding County was 41,611 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 59.4%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 60,902 persons. In Paulding County, 95% of the residents were white and 4% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 7% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Paulding County, the 1990 Census reports 5% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 45% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 38.9% of the adult population in Paulding County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 25.2% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Paulding County spent an average of $3,410 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 5.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the.8 state average. Paulding County had 1.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 81 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $68,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,233. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Paulding County ranked number 63. Of this five year average, 5% were violent crimes, while 95% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 65 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 79% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Paulding County Braswell Dallas Hiram 1970 17,520 30 2,133 441 Population 1980 1990 26,110 282 2,508 1,030 41,611 247 2,810 1,389 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 49.0 840.0 17.6 133.6 59.4 -12.4 12.0 34.9 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Paulding County include: Kroger Company, Shaw Industries Inc., and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 21 % of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Construction is also important to the county's economy, providing 18% of the jobs and 22% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Paulding County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,25% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 75%, commuted out of Paulding County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Paulding County's per capita income was $13,775, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Paulding County's median household income in 1989 was $33,085. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,696 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Paulding County had 487 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 22%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Paulding County's assessed property value amounted to $506.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $12,174. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Paulding County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,9% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 10% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 22% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Paulding County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,798 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Paulding County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T .. Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'---'----- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 0---------- ~O '91 ~2 ~3 ~4 CTY --.@--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Paulding County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) '" 60------ 45 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 500------ 400 - - - - 300 -' ~~:~:~:~:~~~~~~~~~. IIIJIIII ::~I o _..1.1111.111111.1. ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Paulding County's average own source revenue per capita was $320. This amount was greater than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Paulding County collected an average of $135 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 38% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Paulding County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $247 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Paulding County had an average of $18.9 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $455. This amount was higher than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Paulding was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Paulding County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. If you wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 445-6016 Central Library (770) 445-5680 County Commission (770) 443-7514 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Peach County Peach County was the last county formed in Georgia. Created from Houston and Macon counties in 1924, it is named after the area's most famous crop. Fort Valley is the county seat; the only other municipality is Byron. Fort Valley was originally called Fox Valley because of the good hunting, but its name was accidentally changed to Fort Valley. Fort Valley is home to Fort Valley State University, with an enrollment of over 2,500. It is a member of the University System of Georgia. The American Camellia Society is headquartered at Massee Lane Gardens in Peach County. This park is nine acres and has over 2,000 varieties of camellias. There are several special events in Peach County including the Camellia Festival, the Georgia Peach Festival, the Festival of Trees, and the Jail House Alley Art Show. Byron was named for the English writer and poet, Lord Byron. It was the site of the South's largest "pop festival" held on the Fourth of July weekend in 1970. Some interesting historical sites include the McArthur-Saxon House (1850), the Thweat-Brown Home (1863), and the Everett-Culpepper-Grady Home (1834). SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Peach County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Populadon Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY GA-- 30 ~ 20 ~ ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 20------ 15--- 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Peach County was 21,189 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 10.6%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 23,161 persons. In Peach County, 51 % ofthe residents were white and 47% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who also may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 33% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 10% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Peach County, the 1990 Census reports 11 % of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those statewide. The 1990 Census indicates that 31 % of the adult population in Peach County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 36.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 3.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Peach County spent an average of $3,258 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 17.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the .8 state average. Peach County had 1.6 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 69% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $56,700. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,361. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Peach County ranked number 95. Of this five year average, 14% were violent crimes, while 86% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 62% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. COmmunity Peach County Byron Fort Valley 1970 15,990 1,368 9,251 Population 1980 1990 19,151 1,661 9,000 21,189 2,276 8,198 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 19.8 10.6 21.4 37.0 -2.7 -8.9 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Bibb Company, Blue Bird Body Co., and Southern Orchard Supply are among the largest non-government employers in Peach County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 32% of the jobs and 48% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 8% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Peach County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,50% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 50%, commuted out of Peach County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Peach County's per capita income was $16,367, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Peach County's median household income in 1989 was $25,604. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $7,579 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Peach County had 388 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Peach County's assessed property value amounted to $202.9 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,576. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Peach County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989,24% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 32% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 29% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Peach County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,446 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Peach County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T E!I Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'----'--.0"""".-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: (,90-'94) T 9 --~-----41'------ ..6- ---- ]lI.. ~ " m------rn" -----m 3---------- 0---------- ~O '91 ~2 ~3 ~4 CTY - ---I!'} --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Peach County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ 145 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Peach County's average own source revenue per capita was $292. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Peach County collected an average of $159 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 49% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Peach County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $289 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Peach County had an average of $1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $49. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Peach was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Peach County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Peach County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. If you wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 825-3733 Central Library (912) 825-6992 County Commission (912) 825-2535 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Pickens County GA Pickens County was created in 1853 from C495 parts of Cherokee and Gilmer counties. Georgia's lOOth county was named for , SI General Andrew Pickens, a Revolutionary S6 War soldier. The county seat is Jasper; other incorporated municipalities include Talking Rock and Nelson. Jasper was named for Sergeant William Jasper of South Carolina, who died during the siege of Savannah during the Revolutionary War. The Old Federal Road, the earliest vehicular route through northwest Georgia, crossed northern Pickens County at Talking Rock Creek. A railroad line built in 1883 from Atlanta, through the valleys and mountain passes of Pickens County to Tate and Newton, made possible the development of large marble quarries. One of the largest marble veins in the world is in Pickens County, running at least four miles long. It is a halfmile deep and almost that wide in places. Over 60 percent of the monuments in Washington, D.C. are made from Pickens County marble. The Pickens County school system pioneered the first Headstart program in the United States over 25 years ago. The Blue Ridge Mountains define the county's borders on the north and east. These mountains have encouraged developments of vacation and second home communities in the area. Several special events take place in Pickens County. Two of the biggest are the Marble Festival, held every October, and the Maypole Fest, held every May. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Bartow Chero~ '-:o===-"",l==F' Georgia County Snapshots Pickens County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 50 - - CTYm G A - - ~ 40 ~ 30 'jl 20 i~ ~~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 20------ 15 - - - - o ---"'="--- GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Pickens County was 14,432 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 23.9%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 18,604 persons. In Pickens County, 98% of the residents were white and 2% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 28% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Pickens County, the 1990 Census reports 4% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county as well as in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 34.0% of the adult population in Pickens County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 22.8% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 9.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Pickens County spent an average of $3,853 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 18.9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the.8 state average. Pickens County had 2.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 80% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $59,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,123. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Pickens County ranked number 138. Of this five year average, 8% were violent crimes, while 92% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 69% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 77% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Pickens County Jasper Nelson Talking Rock 1970 9,620 1,202 613 76 Population 1980 1990 11,652 1,556 562 72 14,432 1,772 486 62 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 21.1 23.9 29.5 13.9 -8.3 -13.5 -5.3 -13.9 -~'. Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, AWH Corp., Georgia Marble, and Pickens Healthcare are among the largest non-government employers in Pickens County. Retail trade employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Pickens County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.7% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,56% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 44%, commuted out of Pickens County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Pickens County's per capita income was $16,526, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Pickens County's median household income in 1989 was $25,248. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $13,152 per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Pickens County had 290 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 17%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Pickens County's assessed property value amounted to $210.5 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $14,587. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Pickens County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,13% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 16% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 22% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Pickens County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,943 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Pickens County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... 011 Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,00011992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 0----'------'------' us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---0--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Pickens County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400 300 Government Over the past five years, Pickens County's average own source revenue per capita was $251. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Pickens County collected an average of $116 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 40% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Pickens County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $295 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Pickens County had an average of $84,800 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $6. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Pickens was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Pickens County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Pickens County has a sole commissioner form of government. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 692-5600 Central Library (706) 692-5411 County Commission (706) 692-3556 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Pierce County Pierce County was created in 1857 from GA parts of Appling and Ware counties. C-Lfg5 Georgia's 119th county was named for .Sl Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States. (Georgia Place Names Sb notes that Pierce was nominated because he was "unobjectionable to the South.") In addition to the county seat of Blackshear, Pierce County has one other municipality, Patterson. Blackshear was named for General David Blackshear, who supervised construction of the Blackshear Road. Patterson was named for William Patterson who resettled in the county from New York. He ran a sawmill in the area. The Pierce County courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There have been preliminary efforts to have the old Blackshear Jail and its hanging tower listed on the National Register. The Marion Anderson Library Black Heritage Collection in Blackshear contains about 300 volumes and oil paintings addressing black heritage. This is the largest publicly accessible collection of this type in the region. A Confederate prison camp in Pierce County held about 5,000 Union prisoners of war during the last months of the Civil War. Prisoners were transferred to Pierce County from Millen, and possibly Andersonville, so that Sherman's troops would not be able to free them on their march south. Pierce County shares the Little Satilla Wildlife Management Area with Wayne County to the east. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Pierce County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY a GA-- 40 30 20 l~ <. 10 ~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Pierce County was 13,328 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 12%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 15,097 persons. In Pierce County, 88% of the residents were white and 11 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Pierce County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 40% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 39.1 % of the adult population in Pierce County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 20.9% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Pierce County spent an average of $3,283 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 10.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the.8 state average. Pierce County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average is 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census data, 80% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $41,700. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,213. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Pierce County ranked number 98. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 70% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Pierce County Blackshear Patterson 1970 9,281 2,624 788 Population 1980 1990 11,897 3,222 763 13,328 3,263 626 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 28.2 12.0 22.8 1.3 -3.2 -18.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Blackshear Industries, Gilman Building Products, and Julie Hat Company are among the largest non-government employers in Pierce County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and 21 % of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Pierce County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,47% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 53%, commuted out of Pierce County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Pierce County's per capita income was $14,453, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Pierce County's median household income in 1989 was $20,499. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $4,624 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Pierce County had 271 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Pierce County's assessed property value amounted to $124.4 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,333. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Pierce County is the Waycross Journal Herald. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,21 % ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 26% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 32% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Pierce County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,040 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Pierce County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T !i1l Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o----'----~ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- @. --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Pierce County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Pierce County's average own source revenue per capita was $259. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Pierce County collected an average of $130 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 46% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Pierce County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $233 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Pierce County had an average of $12,000 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $1. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Pierce was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Pierce County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 449-7044 Central Library (912) 449-7040 County Commission (912) 449-2022 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Pike County 19 C[ (,. Pike County was created from part of Monroe County in 1822. Georgia's 57th county and its county seat, Zebulon, were named for Zebulon Montgomery Pike. An expedition led by Pike in 1805 attempted (and failed) to trace the Mississippi River to its source. He discovered Pike's Peak on the same expedition. In addition to Zebulon, Pike County has four incorporated municipalities, none of which exceeded 500 in population in 1990. These are Concord, Meansville, Molena, and Williamson. Agriculture and forestry are still the main industries in Pike County, though the county is feeling the effects of Atlanta's growth. The county is one of Georgia's major peach producers. The Pike County Courthouse, built in 1895, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Pike County has been the site for the filming of several motion pictures, including Murder In Coweta County, Cold Sassy Tree, and Tank. The City of Concord hosts the Concord Jubilee, an arts and crafts festival, each fall and spring. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Pike County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - - 30 -------II!iIl----m 20 ~J!1l~r-I---4'----+------j 10.----+-----1-----1 o '----_ _.l.--_ _--'-_ _--' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Pike County was 10,224 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 14.4%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 11,486 persons. In Pike County, 79% of the residents were white and 20% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Pike County, the 1990 Census reports 4% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Totalhouseholds with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 38.8% of the adult population in Pike County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 26.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.6% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Pike County spent an average of $3,232 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 6.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number ofphysicians in the county per 1,000 population was .1, compared with the .8 state average. Pike County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 75% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $51,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with an median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,242. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Pike County ranked number 136. Of this five year average, 9% were violent crimes, while 91 % were non-violent crimes In 1992, 71 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 77% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Pike County Concord Meansville Molena Williamson Zebulon 1970 7,316 312 313 389 284 776 Population 1980 1990 8,937 317 303 379 250 995 10,224 211 250 439 295 1,035 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 22.2 1.6 -3.2 -2.6 -12.0 28.2 14.4 -33.4 -17.5 15.8 18.0 4.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Exploration Surveys Inc., Southern Mills, and Thomaston Cotton Mill are among the largest non-government employers in Pike County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 21 % of employment earnings. Farming is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 8% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Pike County's annual unemployment rate was slightly higher than the state's mark, averaging 5.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 25% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 75%, commuted out of Pike County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Pike County's per capita income was $15,380, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Pike County's median household income in 1989 was $27,733. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,668 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Pike County had 111 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 19%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Pike County's assessed property value amounted to $106.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,444. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Pike County is the Griffin News. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 13% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 17% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 19% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Pike County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,759 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Pike County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T 13 Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- ~ 6th::::;' 7"'"". ,-, ..... ' .. 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ----$---- GA Georgia County Snapshots Pike County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ..- 60------ 30 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Pike County's average own source revenue per capita was $211. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Pike County collected an average of $126 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 56% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Pike County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $203 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Pike County had an average of $2,400 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of less than $1. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Pike was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Pike County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. 200 -tlf:l?m..- - - - Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 567-0616 Central Library (706) 567-3904 County Commission (706) 567-3406 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Polk County Created in 1851 from parts of Floyd and GJA Paulding counties, Polk County was CifCls named for President James K. Polk. ~Sl The county has three municipalities, Cedartown, the county seat, Aragon 56 and Rockmart. Cedartown carries the same name as a Creek Indian town previously found in the area. The name comes from the many Red Cedar trees around the county. Rockmart is at the end of a state-owned abandoned railroad line to Atlanta. Longrange plans are to reconstruct the line to provide commuter rail service. Until then, the line may be used as a bike trail. Cedartown's Big Spring is the largest natural limestone spring in the South. Ivy Ledbetter Lee, known as the founder of modern public relations, was from Polk County. There are several special events in the county, including the Rockmart Homespun Festival in July, the Cedar Valley Arts Festival in May, the Annual Antioch Comboiling in July and the Beaver Creek Arts & Crafts Fair in October. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places is the downtown district of Cedartown, an example of l890s architecture. Also included is the Hawkes Children's Library, built in 1921. It is now a museum. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Polk County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY ill G A - - 40 - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 -------{l.lII-----m 20 "".r--_ _ l$l ----+-----1 10 f----+----+----I o L -_ _-L-_ _--L.._ _- ' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Polk County was 33,815 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 4.4%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 35,146 persons. In Polk County, 85% of the residents were white and 14% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Polk County, the 1990 Census reports 7% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 35% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 31.3% of the adult population in Polk County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 20.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 9.4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Polk County spent an average of $3,534 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared with the.8 state average. Polk County had 1.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to 1990 Census data, 72% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $41,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 4,160. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Polk County ranked number 35. Of this five year average, 11 % were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 57% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 75% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Polk County Aragon Cedartown Rockmart 1970 29,656 9,253 3,857 Population G 1980 1990 32,382 855 8,619 3,645 33,815 902 7,978 3,356 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 9.2 4.4 5.5 -6.9 -7.4 -5.5 -7.9 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Cluett-Peabody, Hon Industries, and Tip Top Poultry are among the largest non-government employers in Polk County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 33% of the jobs and 41 % of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Polk County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 9.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,57% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 43%, commuted out of Polk County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Polk County's per capita income was $13,767, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Polk County's median household income in 1989 was $22,326. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $4,671 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Polk County had 528 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Polk County's assessed property value amounted to $326.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,663. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Polk County is the Rome NewsTribune. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 16% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 19% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 28% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Polk County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,260 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Polk County Commuting, %01 Workforce Employed (1990) T l!lOutside County -Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 3 ---------- 0--------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---Ili]f --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Polk County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Polk County's average own source revenue per capita was $267. This amount was less than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Polk County collected an average of $128 per capita in property tax during the past five years, equalling per capita collections for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 44% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Polk County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $214 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Polk County had an average of $2.1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $61. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Polk was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Polk County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Polk County has a six member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 684-8760 Central Library (770) 748-5644 County Commission (770) 749-2100 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Pulaski County Q:,A Pulaski County was created in 1808 from what was then Laurens County. Georgia's CLt-Cf5 36th county was named for Polish Count ~Sl Casimir Pulaski who died in Savannah of wounds suffered in the Revolutionary War. '5~ The Pulaski area was the capital of the Creek Indian Confederacy. The county has only one incorporated municipality, Hawkinsville, which is the county seat. It was named for Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, a Revolutionary War hero. Hawkinsville is home to one of the largest harness racing training facilities in the country. The town has had a long history of horse racing, and celebrates the Hawkinsville Harness Festival every spring. There are two entries on the National Register of Historic Places from Pulaski County; the Hawkinsville Opera House which was built in 1907 and Taylor Hall, the oldest residence in the county, built around 1824. The Ocmulgee River runs through the county. Several notable people have ties to Pulaski County. Butler Brown, an artist, has had his work displayed in the White House; Mary Culler White was a missionary in China for most of her life; and "Salty Sol" Fleischman, a respected sportscaster in the Tampa Bay area, was born in the county. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Pulaski County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (l990) ... 40 - - CTY !Sl GA,~~ ~ 30 If! E~ 20 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Pulaski County was 8,108 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of 9.4%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 8,280 persons. In Pulaski County, 67% of the residents were white and 32% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 16% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Pulaski County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 32% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.6% ofthe adult population in Pulaski County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 28% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 4.5% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Pulaski County spent an average of $3,730 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.7, compared with the .8 state average. Pulaski County had 6.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 71 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $44,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,843. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Pulaski County ranked number 43. Of this five year average, 16% were violent crimes, while 84% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 83% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 70% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Pulaski County Hawkinsville 1970 8,066 4,077 Population 1980 8,950 4,372 1990 8,108 3,527 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 11.0 -9.4 7.2 -19.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Opelika Industries, Progressive Health Care, and Taylor Regional Hospital are among the largest non-government employers in Pulaski County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 25% of the jobs and 31 % of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Pulaski County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.5% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 62% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 38%, commuted out of Pulaski County for employment. Pulaski's per capita income in 1992 trailed the state's and the nation's. The county's per capita income was $17,367, compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Pulaski County's median household income in 1989 was $21,376. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $6,627 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Pulaski County had 198 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 9%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Pulaski County's assessed property value amounted to $93.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,500. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Pulaski County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989,24% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 33% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 36% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Pulaski County received total government transfer payments amounting to $4,467 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Pulaski County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T tlI Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'---'--""="'~- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY -- --~ --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Pulaski County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 75-----60 - - - - Long Term Debt: Average $$$s Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Pulaski County's average own source revenue per capita was $286. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Pulaski County collected an average of $182 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 63% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Pulaski County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $278 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Pulaski County had an average of $43,400 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $5. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Pulaski was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Pulaski County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Pulaski County has a sole commissioner form of government. o -11-----'-ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 783-1717 Central Library (912) 8923155 County Commission (912) 783-4154 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Putnam County Putnam County was created in 1807 from a portion of Baldwin County. Georgia's 33rd county was named to honor General Israel Putnam of Connecticut one of the Patriot commanders at Breeds Hill, in the engagement misnamed the Battle of Bunker Hill. The county's only incorporated community is Eatonton, the county seat. Eatonton is home to the Uncle Remus Museum, as well as a Br'er Rabbit Statue standing on the courthouse square. Rock Eagle State 4-H Club Center and the Oconee National Forest are located in the county. Rock Eagle is an eagle-shaped mound of white quartz boulders created by the early Indians. Over 1,000 acres around the mound were made into a preserve maintained by 4-H. It is a popular conference and meeting place. Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Uncle Remus Tales, was born and grew up in Putnam County. Contemporary writer, Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, is also from Putnam County. Portions of Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair are in the county, providing an impetus for growth and development. The two main special events in Putnam County are the Dairy Festival and the Christmas Ramble. The Dairy Festival is held every June to celebrate the importance of the dairy industry to Putnam County. The county claims the title of "Dairy Capital of Georgia," although there are several other contenders to that title. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF , COMMUNITY AFFAIRS \, October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Putnam County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 40 - - . CTY @ G A - - ~ 30 :" ~ 20~,. ~ 10~ o '---_ _.L-_ _--'-_ _--' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ 10 5 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Putnam County was 14,137 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 37.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 16,426 persons. In Putnam County, 65% of the residents were white and 34% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 28% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Putnam County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equal to the 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 32% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 34.6% of the adult population in Putnam County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 27.2% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.7% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Putnam County spent an average of $3,671 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 14.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the .8 state average. Putnam County had 3.2 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to 1990 Census, 75% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $59,000. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,921. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Putnam County ranked number 107. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 63 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 71 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Putnam County Eatonton 1970 8,394 4,125 Population 1980 1990 10,295 14,137 4,833 4,737 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 22.6 37.3 17.2 -2.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Power Company, Horton Homes, and Sara Lee Knit Products are among the largest non-government employers in Putnam County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 30% of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 14% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and 7% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Putnam County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.6% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 63% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 37%, commuted out of Putnam County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Putnam County's per capita income was $15,243, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Putnam County's median household income in 1989 was $24,325. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $10,044 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Putnam County had 217 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 12%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Putnam County's assessed property value amounted to $258.1 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $18,259. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Putnam County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 16% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 23% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 18% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Putnam County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,076 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Putnam County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (990) T I1l Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'---_..L-.==_ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9--------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 w- CTY --- GA no Georgia County Snapshots Putnam County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Putnam County's average own source revenue per capita was $513. This amount was greater than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Putnam County collected an average of $310 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 54% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. The county's higher than average per capita own source revenue and property tax revenue are attributable to a Georgia Power plant, dam facilities, and lake front developments on Lake Oconee and Lake Sinclair. Between 1991 and 1995, Putnam County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $453 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Putnam County had an average of $160,700 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $11. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Putnam was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Putnam County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Putnam County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 485-7701 Central Library (706) 485-6768 County Commission (706) 485-5826 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Quitman County GA Quitman County was created from parts c..4-95 of Randolph and Stewart counties in 1858. The county was named for General John Sj A. Quitman, a leader in the Mexican War, 5(, once Governor of Mississippi, and an avid spokesman for states rights. The county's only incorporated municipality is Georgetown, the county seat. It was named for the area in Washington, D.C. It was originally called Tobanana after a nearby creek. An earlier fortified settlement, believed to have been built by prehistoric Indians, was located where Cool Branch flows into the Chattahoochee River. Much of that areaindeed all of Quitman's western borderis now beneath the waters of Lake Walter F. George, an impoundment on the Chattahoochee River. The world's first long distance phone call was made from Georgetown. Quitman County shares the Lake Walter F. George Wildlife Management Area with Clay County to the south. The Quitman County Jail is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Harrison-Guerry-Brannon-Crawford Family Cemetery has many distinguished Georgians buried in it. The county has several endangered species living within its borders, including the Gray Bat, the Indiana Bat, and the Bald Eagle. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Quitman County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 50 - - + CTY m GA-----' 40 30 -tiJ 20 I!" w. ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 30------ 20--- GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Quitman County was 2,209 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of 6.3%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 2,053 persons. In Quitman County, 50% of the residents were white and 50% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 28% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 18% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Quitman County, the 1990 Census reports 10% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 28% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 27.7% of the adult population in Quitman County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 21.8% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Because Quitman County does not have a public high school, the five year average drop-out rate for students in grades 8 to 12 could not be calculated. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts between 1991 and 1995 was 6.7%. Quitman County spent an average of $4,758 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 27.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, there were no physicians in the county, compared with the state average of .8 physicians per 1,000 population. Quitman County also had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, compared with the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 74% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $36,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,602. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Quitman County ranked number 119. Of this five year average, 21 % were violent crimes, while 79% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 86% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 66% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Quitman County Georgetown 1970 2,180 860 Population 1980 2,357 935 1990 2,209 913 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 8.1 -6.3 8.7 -2.4 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Beeline Stores Inc., Bennett Logging, and Sam's Bar-b-que are among the largest non-government employers in Quitman County. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 24% of the jobs and 32% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Farming is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 7% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Quitman County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,24% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 76%, commuted out of Quitman County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Quitman County's per capita income was $12,966, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Quitman County's median household income in 1989 was $15,972. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,647 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Quitman County had 18 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 31 %. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Quitman County's assessed property value amounted to $25.7 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,632. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Quitman County is the Albany Herald. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989,33% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 46% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 36% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Quitman County received total government transfer payments amounting to $4,506 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Quitman County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T IE] Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'------'----..<;j-"'--- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- m, 6~1tt~ "~ 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- {:)l. --. GA Georgia County Snapshots Quitman County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ..- 60------ 45 30 15 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Quitman County's average own source revenue per capita was $213. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Quitman County collected an average of $128 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 58% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Quitman County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $257 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Quitman County had an average of $3,600 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $2. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Quitman was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Quitman County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently Phone Numbers of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. Chamber of Commerce Central Library County Commission GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NA (912) 334-8972 (912) 334-0903 ,......-,.\, COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Rabun County GA Rabun County was created in 1819 from the cession of Cherokee Indian territory. (4-95 Georgia's 47th county was named for SI Governor William Rabun, the state's 11 th governor. 'S6 The county seat of Clayton was named for Judge Augustin S. Clayton, a prominent jurist and congressman. Other incorporated municipalities are Dillard, Mountain City, Sky Valley and Tiger. Tallulah Gorge is located in Rabun County; it is 1,000 feet deep. The river feeding its waterfall was diverted through a tunnel in the 1930s, when a power plant was built there. The waterfall was recently reactivated, and is the highest in the state. Rabun County is bounded on the west by the mountain ridges of the Appalachian Trail. The Tallulah River, which flows through Lakes Burton, Seed and Rabun to join the Tugaloo River, forms a central pass through the mountains. This, and surrounding areas, were ruled by Chief Attakullakulla, "Little Carpenter," who mediated early conflicts between the Cherokee Indians and the white settlers. Sky Valley, now incorporated, was formerly a resort development. To get to this city, visitors must first drive to North Carolina and enter from the north. In 1994, Money magazine ranked Clayton in its top 20 of "best places to retire." According to Indian legend, Rabun Bald Mountain is inhabited by fire-breathing demon people. Campers and other visitors _.. ...... often report hearing strange sounds throughout the night. '""""' SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1996 Georgia County Snapshots Rabun County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T m 50 - - . CTY GA-- 40 ~ 30 , 20 .q, ~~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Rabun County was 11,648 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 11.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 13,286 persons. In Rabun County, 99% of the residents were white and 0% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 25% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 18% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Rabun County, the 1990 Census reports 4% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 29% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.9% of the adult population in Rabun County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 28.9% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Rabun County spent an average of $4,193 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 10.6 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.1, compared with the .8 state average. Rabun County had 6.2 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 82% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $65,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,414. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Rabun County ranked number 92. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 70% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 72% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Rabun County Clayton Dillard Mountain City Sky Valley Tiger 1970 8,327 1,569 186 594 312 Population 1980 1990 10,466 1,838 238 701 65 299 11,648 1,613 199 554 187 301 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 25.7 11.3 17.1 -12.2 28.0 -16.4 18.0 -21.0 187.7 -4.2 0.7 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Rabun Apparel, Inc., Sara Lee Knit Products, and Woodlands Foundation are among the largest non-government employers in Rabun County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 23% of the jobs and 28% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 19% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23 % of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Rabun County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.6% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,85% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 15%, commuted out of Rabun County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Rabun County's per capita income was $13,733, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Rabun County's median household income in 1989 was $21,177. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $8,466 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Rabun County had 381 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 10%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Rabun County's assessed property value amounted to $383.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $32,946. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Rabun County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 14% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 16% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 23% of the elderly, the persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Rabun County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,343 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Rabun County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... III Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 12 - - - - - - - - - - 3--------- 0--------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY -- rn --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Rabun County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 75------ 60 - - - - 45 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 ~. 200 100 o -, ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Rabun County's average own source revenue per capita was $545. This amount was greater than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and exceeded the overall county average of $431. Rabun County collected an average of $371 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $162 ]1er capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 63% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Rabun County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $441 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Rabun County had an average of $224,800 in long-tenn debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $19. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Rabun was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Rabun County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chainnan elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 782-4812 Central Library (706) 785-3731 County Commission (706) 782-5271 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Randolph County GA Randolph County was created in 1828 from a portion of Lee County. Georgia's C/fQS Sl 75th Georgia county was named for John Randolph of Virginia, a Republican Congressman and a descendent of S6 Pocahontas. There are three incorporated muni- cipalities in the county: Coleman, Shellman, and Cuthbert, the county seat. Cuthbert was named for John A. Cuthbert, editor, congressman, and judge. Randolph's first county seat was Lumpkin. Lumpkin, however, became the seat of government for Stewart County, when it was created from a portion of Randolph. One of the first pecan trees brought to Georgia from Texas was planted in Cuthbert. The tree eventually became known as the "mother of the Georgia pecan industry" in honor of its great age and size. Grier's Cave in Randolph County is a huge underground limestone cavern that was first discovered via an entrance ofless than three feet. Each March, Cuthbert hosts an annual Historic Tour of Homes. Randolph County is home to Andrew College, a private, two-year, Methodist college. This institution was the second in the nation to confer degrees on women. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Randolph County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... m 50 - - CTY GA-------'. 40 - - - - - - - - - - 30 - - - - - - - l l W l - - - . - r . \.;.. 20 _--.9...---1-----1 10 I----+-----+------i o '-----_ _-L.-_ _---'---_ _---.J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 20------ 15--- GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Randolph County was 8,023 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of 16.4%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 7,936 persons. In Randolph County, 41 % ofthe residents were white and 58% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 34% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 17% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Randolph County, the 1990 Census reports 11 % of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 28.8% of the adult population in Randolph County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 20.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Randolph County spent an average of $3,765 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 18.9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the .8 state average. Randolph County had 4.9 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 67 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $33,000. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,248. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Randolph County ranked number 135. Of this five year average, 17% were violent crimes, while 83% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 79% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 66% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 Randolph County Coleman Cuthbert Shellman 8,734 168 3,972 1,166 9,599 164 4,340 1,254 8,023 137 3,730 1,162 9.9 -16.4 -2.4 -16.5 9.3 -14.1 7.5 -7.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Day Plywood, Kellwood Company, and Peerless Manufacturing are among the largest non-government employers in Randolph County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 24% of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 19% of the jobs and 23% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Randolph County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,77% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 23%, commuted out of Randolph County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Randolph County's per capita income was $13,128, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Randolph County's median household income in 1989 was $13,972. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,718 per capita. This amount was less than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Randolph County had 163 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 7%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Randolph County's assessed property value amounted to $76.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,551. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Randolph County is the Albany Herald. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989,36% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 49% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 38% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Randolph County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,661 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Randolph County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T EI Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 0---'------'------' us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - 3--------- 0--------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---m--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Randolph County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 45 15 o _. ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 - 200 100 o- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Randolph County's average own source revenue per capita was $223. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Randolph County collected an average of $85 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 36% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Randolph County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $220 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Randolph County had an average of $1,900 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of less than $1. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Randolph was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Randolph County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 732-2683 Central Library (912) 732-2566 County Commission (912) 732-6440 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Richmond County GA Richmond County, Georgia's 7th, was created in 1777. Originally including Co/ts Columbia, Glascock and McDuffie ~Sl counties, plus parts of Warren and Jefferson counties, Richmond County was named for the Duke of Richmond, a British defender of the colonists' cause. It was first known as the Parish ofSt. Paul. The county has three municipalities. Augusta, the county seat, is the largest. The others are Blythe and Hephzibah. Hephzibah is one of Georgia's oldest settlements and was originally the home of the Uchee Indians. Augusta was the capital of Georgia from 1785 to 1795, and is the second oldest city in Georgia. The city was named for the Princess of Wales. In 1995, voters in Augusta and Richmond County agreed to consolidate the city and county governments. Augusta-Richmond County is the third consolidated government in the state. The Augusta Canal, completed in 1846 and still in use, is a rare example of a canal built for industrial power supply purposes. The canal played a critical role in Augusta's growth. Augusta is the home of the famed Augusta National Country Club and the Masters Golf Tournament, one of men's golf's four "majors." The Morris Museum of Art, located in Richmond County, has the largest collection of Southern Art in the world. The Fort Gordon Military Reservation is located in Richmond County. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Burke Georgia County Snapshots Richmond County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over C1990} T 40 - - . CTY G A - - 30 ------if--r:nl;J ~,~ 20 nt~J- - - 4 - - - I - - - - - - - - 1 10 1----+---+----1 o '------'------'-------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Richmond County was 189,719 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 4.5%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 211,688 persons. In Richmond County, 55% of the residents were white and 42% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 3% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 10% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Richmond County, the 1990 Census reports 11 % of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 35% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.1 % of the adult population in Richmond County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 40.9% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for that same time period. Richmond County spent an average of $3,775 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 13.3 for the county. The statewide average was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 5.2, compared with the .8 state average. Richmond County had 10 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 56% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $58,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 7,619. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Richmond County ranked number 9. Of this five year average, 11 % were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 61 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 71 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Richmond County Augusta Blythe Hephzibah 1970 162,437 59,864 333 987 Population 1980 1990 181,629 47,532 367 1,452 189,719 44,639 300 2,466 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 11.8 -20.6 10.2 47.1 4.5 -6.1 -18.3 69.8 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Doctors Hospital, Saint Joseph Hospital, and University Hospital are among the largest non-government employers in Richmond County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 24% of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% ofthe jobs and 10% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Richmond County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.6% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,83% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 17%, commuted out of Richmond County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Richmond County's per capita income was $17,322, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Richmond County's median household income in 1989 was $25,265. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $10,685 per capita. This amount was slightly greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Richmond County had 4,496 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 2%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Richmond County's assessed property value amounted to $2.6 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $13,523. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Richmond County is the Augusta Chronicle. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989, 18% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 26% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 20% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Richmond County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,628 per capita, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Richmond County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... rn Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income (S,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'-----'-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---m--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Richmond County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 -.' 200 100 ~ 0ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Richmond County's average own source revenue per capita was $422. This amount was less than the average of $574 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Richmond County collected an average of $103 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $317 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 24% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Richmond County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $306 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $444 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Richmond County had an average of $44.5 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $235. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $491 per capita average for the 8 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Richmond was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Richmond County has an eight member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Between 1991 and 1995, the City ofAugusta averaged $575 per capita in own source revenues and $643 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $517 per capita in own source revenues and $550 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 22% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $127 for residents ofAugusta. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 30% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City ofAugusta had an average of $30.8 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $690. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $852 per capita average for the 9 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Augusta has a mayorcouncil form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 821-1300 Central Library (706) 821-2600 County Commission (706) 821-2400 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Rockdale County Rockdale County was created in 1870 from parts of Henry and Newton counties. It was the l33rd county created, and was named after the Rockdale Church, as well as the vein of granite running beneath the county. Conyers, the county seat and the only incorporated municipality in Rockdale County, was named for a local physician who donated a right-of-way for the first railroad and a lot in town for the railway depot. Conyers was the venue for the equestrian and mountain biking events of the 1996 Olympics. The International Horse Park was constructed for the events. One of the first battles over Prohibition was fought in Rockdale County. The Monastery of the Holy Ghost was founded in the county in 1944 by a group of monks who practice self-sufficiency, cultivating their own food. Visitors are welcomed at church services and in the greenhouse and gift shop, although some areas are off-limits to women. The Panola Mountain State Conservation Park was Georgia's first conservation park. Near the center of the 617 acre park is a 100 acre granite monadnock often compared to Stone Mountain. The park has been designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service. The Annual Olde Town Fall Festival is held in downtown Conyers. Most of downtown Conyers, both the residential and business districts, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as the Dial Mill (1830) and the first Rockdale County Jail (1897). SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Rockdale County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 40 - - . CTY ~ G A - - 30 l'i'I ~ ~,~ ~ 20f~ 10 o '-----_ _-'-_ _---'---_ _--.J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Rockdale County was 54,091 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 47.2%, compared to a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 74,432 persons. In Rockdale County, 90% ofthe residents were white and 8% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 8% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Rockdale County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared to 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 43% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.6% of the adult population in Rockdale County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 44.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared to the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Rockdale County spent an average of $4,124 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 9.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.1, compared to the.8 state average. Rockdale County had 1.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 69% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $86,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 5,263. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Rockdale County ranked number 27. Of this five year average, 8% were violent crimes; 92% were non-violent. In 1992, 75% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 78% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Rockdale County Conyers 1970 18,152 4,890 Population 1980 1990 36,750 54,091 6,567 7,380 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 102.5 47.2 34.3 12.4 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Rockdale County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, AT&T Communications, Lithonia Lighting, and Sweetheart Cup are among the largest non-government employers in Rockdale County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 27% of the jobs and 14% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 31 % of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Rockdale County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.3% compared to the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 39% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 61 %, commuted out of Rockdale County for employment. In 1992, per capita income in the county slightly exceeded that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Rockdale County's per capita income was $18,648, as compared to $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Rockdale County's median household income in 1989 was $39,389. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $11, III per capita. This amount was greater than the amount of $10,636 per capita for the state as a whole. Rockdale County had 1,418 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 10%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Rockdale County's assessed property value amounted to $1 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $19,216. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Rockdale County is the Conyers Rockdale Citizen. The county is considered to be part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989,6% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared to a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 8% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 10% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. In 1992, residents of Rockdale County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,907 per capita, compared to $2,708 per capita statewide. CDmmuting, %Df WDrkfDrce EmplDyed (1990> T ~ [:J Outside County -Inside County Per Capita IncDme (S,000I1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'---'--- us GA CTY UnemplDyment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- .m.. 6 ., , .. ~ ~ 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --ID - -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Rockdale County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) .... 60------ 30 15 o~ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400------ 300- 200 100 o~ ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Rockdale County's average own source revenue per capita was $433. This amount was greater than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and slightly exceeded the overall county average of $431. Rockdale County collected an average of $271 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 56% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Rockdale County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $361 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Rockdale County had an average of $7.3 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $136. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Rockdale was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Rockdale County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 483-7049 Central Library (770) 388-5041 County Commission (770) 929-4001 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Schley County (;/\ o Schley County was created in 1857 from parts of Marion, Macon, and Sumter CLJ-Cf5 counties. Georgia's l22nd county was named for Georgia Governor William SI Schley. The name of the county is S~ pronounced "sly." o Ellaville, the county seat, is the only municipality in Schley County. The city was named for Ella Burton, the daughter of the man who sold the land for the town site. o Built in 1899, the county courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. The clock tower, once known as the "Leaning Tower of Ellaville," was straightened and reinforced in 1991. o Schley County students graduate from a tri-county high school which also serves Marion and Webster counties. A new elementary school for the county's younger students will be completed in the fall of 1996. o Schley County's economy is primarily agricultural, with beef cattle, poultry, peanuts, and cotton as the largest products. Broiler production has increased more than tenfold since 1992. Once a center for the manufacture of mobile homes, the county is still home to major manufacturers of portable classrooms and offices. o Each April the residents of Schley County host a "Homecoming" weekend to welcome back people who have moveOV from the community. At Christmas, the courthouse, water tower, and some store fronts are outlined in lights and can be seen by passers-by on U.S. 19. "Candy Cane Lane," a small residential area, also attracts visitors with elaborate Christmas decorations. o The City of Ellaville's water system is one of only two in the state which use duckweed as a natural water filter instead of chemicals. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Schley County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of PopulaUon Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 50 - - CTY Ii3 G A - - ~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 - - - - - - 0 -------R 2 0 r n " ' - - {.~ -t - - - t - - - - - - - i 10 }-~---+----1f--------i o '--------'-------'--------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ 5 o _: GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Schley County was 3,588 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 4.5%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 3,946 persons. In Schley County, 64% of the residents were white and 34% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Schley County, 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equal to the statewide average. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 34.3% ofthe adult population in Schley County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 22.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the state average of 41.3%. Schley County has no public high school. Schley County spent an average of $3,739 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 8.5 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the .8 state average. Schley County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 66% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $40,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 947. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Schley County ranked number 144. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were composed of non-violent crimes. In 1992, 72% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 71 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Schley County Ellaville 1970 3,097 1,391 Population 1980 3,433 1,684 1990 3,588 1,724 Growth (%) 19701980 19801990 10.8 4.5 21.1 2.4 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Schley County include: Kings Custom Builders, McCrackin Industries, and TR Custom Inc. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 42% of the jobs and 52% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 11 % of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 10% of the jobs and 6% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Schley County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.5% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,50% of the county's workforce was employed within the county and 50% commuted out of Schley County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Schley County's per capita income was $14,073, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Schley County's median household income in 1989 was $21,417. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $4,108 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Schley County had 65 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county iacreased by 5%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Schley County's assessed property value amounted to $38 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,592. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Schley County is the Americus Times-Recorder. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989,20% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 26% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 28% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Schley County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,950 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Schley County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T lZ:l Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'--_---l.-_'""="'__ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- -el~ -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Schley County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 75------ 60 - - - - 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Schley County's average own source revenue per capita was $249. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Schley County collected an average of $169 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was slightly less than the average of$171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 64% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Schley County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $235 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Schley County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Schley was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Schley County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Schley County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 821-1300 Central Library (912) 937-2004 County Commission (912) 937-2609 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Screven County GA Screven County, the 14th county formed in Georgia, was named for Revolutionary C:495 War General James Screven who died in .. S,i the war. Created in 1793 from parts of Burke and Effingham counties, parts of the Sic original county later formed Bulloch and Jenkins counties. Iqq 6 The county has five incorporated municipalities: Sylvania, Hiltonia, Newington, Rocky Ford and Oliver. The largest, and the county seat, is Sylvania. The Savannah River is the county's eastern border and is also the border between Georgia and South Carolina. The Ogeechee River forms the southwestern boundary of the county. The founding of Sylvania is said to have been the result of a curse. In 1821 an itinerant minister, Lorenzo Dow, came to preach at the local church in Jacksonborough, the small town that was at that point Screven's county seat. A pack of rowdy drunks attacked Dow but he was rescued by a man named Seaborn Goodall. Later, as Dow was leaving town, he was attacked again. As he stood on the bridge out of town, he prayed that the town be destroyed except for the home of Goodall. Within 30 years, Jacksonborough had disappeared due to mysterious fires and floods. By 1847, a new town, Sylvania, grew up just south of the site of Jacksonborough and became the county seat. The Seaborn Goodall House, built in 1850, is all that is left of the town of Jacksonborough. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the festivals in Screven County include the Annual Air Show and Fly-In, the Screven County Livestock Show and the Christmas Open House. The Brier Creek Battle Site, with visible breastworks, is a Revolutionary Battle Site located east of Sylvania. SNAPSHOTS Georgia County Snapshots Screven County Demographics EducatiDnal Attainment: %Df PDpulatiDn Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY l:;:} G A - - 40 --------,------;. 30 - - - - - - - n - - - - r : ! '~l 20~~?---+----I ~ 10 ~--__t_---+-----1 o '-----_ _.L.-_ _---'---_ _---' Coli Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant MDrtality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Screven County was 13,842 persons. The county's population declined 1.4% between 1980 and 1990, compared to a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 13,536 persons. In Screven County, 55% of the residents were white and 45% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either black or white in the Census data. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports 10% of Screven County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared to 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 37.4% of the adult population in Screven County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 21.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared to the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Screven County spent an average of $3,717 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.7 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .6, compared to the .8 state average. Screven County had 3.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 63% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $41,800. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,092. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Screven County ranked number 102. Of this five year average, 12% were violent crimes, while 88% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 78% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 57% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. PDpulatiDn GrDwth (%) CDmmunity 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Screven County Hiltonia Newington Oliver Rocky Ford Sylvania 12,591 294 402 217 252 3,199 14,043 515 402 239 223 3,352 13,842 402 319 242 197 2,871 11.5 75.2 0.0 10.1 -11.5 4.8 -1.4 -21.9 -20.6 1.3 -11.7 -14.3 F .... ~:, Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, BASF Corporation, Spartan Mills, and Torrington Company are among the largest non-government employers in Screven County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 34% of the jobs and 46% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Screven County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.8% compared to the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 71 % of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 29%, commuted out of Screven County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was also less than that of the nation. Screven County's per capita income was $14,520, as compared to $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Screven County's median household income in 1989 was $20,531. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,494 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Screven County had 205 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 8%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Screven County's assessed property value amounted to $166.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $12,015. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Screven County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,23% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared to a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 29% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 30% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Screven County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,481 per capita in 1992, compared to $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Screven County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T E1 Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income (S,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - - 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 m- CTY --- u GA Georgia County Snapshots Screven County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) .... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400------ 300 - 200 100 - o -" ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Screven County's average own source revenue per capita was $358. This amount was greater than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Screven County collected an average of $177 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 47% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Screven County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $369 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Screven County had an average of $777,200 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $56. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Screven was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Screven County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Screven County has a seven member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 564-7878 Central Library (912) 564-7526 County Commission (912) 564-7535 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Seminole County GA Seminole County was created in 1920 from portions of Decatur and Early C4<15 counties. It was named for the Seminole .'01 Indians who, faced with settlement, left 'S(., their lands in the Chattahoochee River Valley and moved to the Florida Everglades. Led by their chief, Osceola, they fought two bloody frontier wars with the U.S. Army. The county has two incorporated municipalities, Iron City and Donalsonville, the largest and the county seat. Donalsonville was named for Jonathan E. Donalson, a member of a prominent family who had pioneered Decatur County. The creation of Lake Seminole behind the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam inundated many acres in the southern portion of the county. What had largely been swampland was turned into a water recreation resource. Fairchild State Park, Reynoldsville State Park and Seminole State Park are all on the Seminole County side of the lake. Seminole County is located directly above one of the largest known aquifers in the world. Local festivals include the Harvest Festival in October, and the Christmas Tour of Homes in Donalsonville. The famous Three-Notch Road runs through Seminole County. This road was built by a volunteer army in 1814, and was marked by three carved notches which are still visible on the trees today. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Early'l MiII~~II. Decatur Georgia County Snapshots Seminole County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over ... [,J Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('98-'94) ... 12 - - - - - - - - - - 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- -l. --- GA Georgia County Snapshots Stewart County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average <1991-1995) T 60------ 15 0ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita <1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Stewart County's average own source revenue per capita was $211. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Stewart County collected an average of $129 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 56% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Stewart County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $263 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Stewart County had an average of $12,500 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $2. This amount was lower than the $3l2per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Stewart was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Stewart County has a sole commissioner form of government. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 838-6419 Central Library (912) 838-6472 County Commission (912) 838-6769 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Sumter County GA Sumter County was created in 1831 from C495 a portion of Lee County and was named for General Thomas Sumter of South .. SI Carolina, a soldier of the French and Indian Sb Wars as well as the American Revolution. The county has five municipalities including Americus, the county seat. The others include Andersonville, DeSoto, Leslie, and Plains. Americus-the masculine version of America-was the name pulled from a hat. The town of Andersonville has won a Phoenix Award for Preservation, Conservation and Beautification. The site of the infamous Civil War prison camp that bore the community's name is in nearby Macon County. Pennington St. James, a log church built in 1927 of cypress logs and native fieldstone, was designed by the same architects who designed the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Americus is home to Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing around the world. It is now one of the top ten homebuilders in the country. Jimmy Carter, former President of the United States and former Governor of Georgia, is from Plains. Charles Lindbergh learned to fly in Sumter County. Mr. Lindbergh bought a military surplus "Jenny" aircraft in the county and had it assembled at Souther Field. Mechanics there gave him flying lessons and saw him off on his first solo flight. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 ..... Georgia County Snapshots Sumter County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY 1] G A - - ~ til 30 ---------!"';"j------r.!:. !~ 20 g,,.r----~----+-----1 ~ 10 1---+----j------1 o '-----_ _L-_ _---l.-_ _-' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Sumter County was 30,228 persons, The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 3.0%, compared to a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 32,248 persons. In Sumter County, 53% of the residents were white and 46% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 33% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Sumter County, the 1990 Census reports 13% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared to 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 28.8% of the adult population in Sumter County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 34.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared to the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.5% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Sumter County spent an average of $3,508 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 14.3 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.2, compared to the .8 state average. Sumter County had 5.3 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 57% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $45,300. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 5,180. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Sumter County ranked number 29. Of this five year average, 8% were composed of violent crimes, while 92% were composed of non-violent crimes. In 1992, 69% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 63% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Sumter County Americus Andersonville DeSoto Leslie Plains 1970 26,931 16,091 274 321 562 683 Population 1980 1990 29,360 16,120 267 248 470 651 30,228 16,512 277 258 445 716 Growth (%) 1970-1980 19801990 9.0 3.0 0.2 2.4 -2.6 3.7 -22.7 4.0 -16.4 -5.3 -4.7 10.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Davidson Exteriors, McGrawEdison Co., and Sumter Regional are among the largest non-government employers in Sumter County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 26% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 17% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Sumter County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.7% compared to the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 86% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 14%, commuted out of Sumter County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Sumter County's per capita income was $15,283, as compared to $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Sumter County's median household income in 1989 was $20,957. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $7,872 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Sumter County had 695 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 8%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Sumter County's assessed property value amounted to $293.7 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,715. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Sumter County is the Americus Times-Recorder. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989, 25% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared to a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 33% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 29% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Sumter County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,293 per capita in 1992, compared to $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Sumter County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... E:l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'---'---- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: (,90-'94) ... 12 - - - - - - - - - - 3---------- 0--------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ----81J---- GA Georgia County Snapshots Sumter County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Sumter County's average own source revenue per capita was $235. This amount was less than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Sumter County collected an average of $91 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of$128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 38% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Sumter County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $255 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Sumter County had an average of $83,700 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $3. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Sumter was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Sumter County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Sumter County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Americus averaged $373 per capita in own source revenues and $365 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 29% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $108 for residents ofAmericus. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Americus had an average of $14.6 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $881. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Americus has a mayorcouncil form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 924-2646 Central Library (912) 924-8091 County Commission (912) 924-3090 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Talbot County GA Talbot County, Georgia's 74th county, was created in 1827 from part of Muscogee ClfQS County. The county and county seat, .5i Talbotton, were named for Governor 56 Matthew Talbot, who was serving as president of the Senate when Governor Rabun died. In addition to Talbotton, Talbot County has three other municipalities, Geneva, Junction City and Woodland. The first session of the Georgia Supreme Court was held on January 26, 1846 at the old Claiborne Hotel in Talbotton. Here, the state's first fifteen attorneys were sworn in and qualified to practice law. Lazarus Straus, an immigrant from Bavaria, settled in Talbot County with his family and established a business which was the forerunner of Macy's department stores. Straus' sons, Isadore, Oscar and Nathan, were known nationally for their leadership in business, diplomacy and health reform, respectively. Lying at the edge of the coastal plain, Talbot used to be at the ocean's edge. Now the county has large deposits of white sand which are valuable in the construction industry. "Magic Hill," in Talbot County, is located at the foot of Pine Mountain. It is so named because of the illusion that a car with its brakes released appears to roll uphill on the road. The county is also home to the Big Lazer Creek Wildlife Management Area. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Talbot County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of PopulaUon Age 25 and Over (1990)T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- ~~ 40 30 iI 20 .. fi~ ~ 10 ~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ ::;:;;;;;:;:;=-~ 10 - ..... GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Talbot County was 6,524 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a .2% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 6,562 persons. In Talbot County, 37% of the residents were white and 62% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports 10% of Talbot County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 35.2% of the adult population in Talbot County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 21 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Talbot County spent an average of $4,085 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.3 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared with the .8 state average. Talbot County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 69% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $35,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,275. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Talbot County ranked number 133. Of this five year average, 11% were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 98 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 55% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Talbot County Geneva Junction City Talbotton Woodland 1970 6,625 250 269 1,045 689 Population 1980 6,536 232 254 1,140 664 1990 6,524 182 182 1,046 552 Growth (%) 19701980 1980-1990 -1.3 -0.2 -7.2 -21.6 -5.6 -28.3 9.1 -8.2 -3.6 -16.9 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Harold Hugh Oliver, Junction City Quarry, and Morie Company are among the largest non-government employers in Talbot County. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 23% of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. Farming is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 14% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 13 % of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Talbot County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.6% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,25% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 75%, commuted out of Talbot County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Talbot County's per capita income was $11,277, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Talbot County's median household income in 1989 was $20,489. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,260 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Talbot County had 71 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Talbot County's assessed property value amounted to $77.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,899. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Talbot County is the Columbus Ledger Enquirer. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989,25% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 36% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 25% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Talbot County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,943 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Talbot County Commuting, %01 Workforce Employed (l990}T Ell Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income {$,OOO/1992} T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'------'--....="'-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: {'90-'94} T 12 - - - - - - - - - 3--------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---{;!j----GA Georgia County Snapshots Talbot County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ~ 75------ 60 - - - - 45 30 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Talbot County's average own source revenue per capita was $291. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Talbot County collected an average of $212 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 64% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Talbot County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $315 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Talbot County had an average of $884,400 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $136. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Talbot was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Talbot County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. 200 100 0ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce NA Central Library (706) 665-3134 County Commission (706) 665-3220 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Taliaferro County GA Taliaferro County, the 65th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1825. Originally C4QS part of Hancock, Greene, Oglethorpe, .Sl S'-' Wilkes and Warren counties, Taliaferro County was named for Revolutionary War hero and U.S. Congressman Benjamin Taliaferro. The county's name is pronounced as if it were "oliver" preceded by a "t." The county has two municipalities, the largest of which is Crawfordville, the county seat. The other is Sharon. One notable citizen of Taliaferro County was Richard M. Johnston, an educator and author, who wrote "Dukesborough Tales" and "Old Mark Lampton." Also from Taliaferro County was Roselle M. Montgomery, who was considered one of America's finest poets and often wrote about Crawfordville. The Alexander H. Stephens State Park and the A.H. Stephens Memorial are both in the county. The antebellum home of the Vice President of the Confederacy is now the A. H. Stephens House & Confederate Museum. It contains arms and memorabilia of the Civil War. National Register of Historic Places' listings in the county include Liberty Hall, Colonsay Plantation, and the Taliaferro County Courthouse. Festivals in the county include the Labor Day Festival, Christmas in the Park, Christmas in Dixie and the Summer Jamboree. The Twelve Oaks Barbecue and Ball, which takes place in June in Liberty Hall, features two days of living history, Confederate encampments, and arts & crafts. Taliaferro County has had several movies filmed in it, including Coward of the County (with Kenny Rogers) and Through Hazel's Eyes (with Jane Seymour). Taliaferro County has ajoint school system with Greene County. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Taliaferro County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY !?J GA~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 -------It::!;;j-.-----,-,-ffi 20[!;'j--- 10 f----+------+-----1 ~ o '------'-------'------.1 Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 5 o --="'---'-'=N=R --- GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Taliaferro County was 1,915 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a rate of5.8%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 1,921 persons. In Taliaferro County, 38% of the residents were white and 61 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 19% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports 7% of Taliaferro's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 28% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 36% of the adult population in Taliaferro County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 12.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Taliaferro County, which shares a school system with Greene County, has no public high school. Taliaferro County spent an average of $4,942 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the county's infant mortality rate was not reported. The statewide rate was 11.3 (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .5, compared with the.8 state average. Taliaferro County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 79% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The average value of these units was $28,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,545. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Taliaferro County ranked number 123. Of this five year average, 14% were violent crimes, while 86% were non-violent crimes. ';'''''. Of the county's registered voters, 71 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Taliaferro County Crawfordville Sharon 1970 2,423 735 160 Population 1980 2,032 594 140 1990 1,915 577 94 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 -16.1 -19.2 -12.5 -5.8 -2.9 -32.9 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Midway Truck Stop, Pittman Packing, and Surety Contracting are among the county's largest non-government employers. Farming is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 28% of the jobs and 26% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Taliaferro County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,30% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 70%, commuted out of Taliaferro County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Taliaferro County's per capita income was $14,464, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Taliaferro County's median household income in 1989 was $14,700. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $1,755 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Taliaferro County had 24 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 14%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Taliaferro County's assessed property value amounted to $33.9 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $17,685. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Taliaferro County is the Augusta Chronicle. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989,32% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 43% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 35% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Taliaferro County received total government transfer payments amounting to $4,271 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Taliaferro County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed C1990} ... e El'l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income {S,OOO/1992} ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'---_-L- ><==,- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: {'90-'94} ... 12 - - - - - - - - - 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY - - - 8 . - - GA Georgia County Snapshots Taliaferro County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ~ 75------ 60 - - - - 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Taliaferro County's average own source revenue per capita was $343. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Taliaferro County collected an average of $240 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 66% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Taliaferro County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $364 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Taliaferro County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Taliaferro was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Taliaferro's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Taliaferro County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce NA Central Library (706) 454-2531 County Commission (912) 868-7956 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Tattnall County C':7/\ Tattnall County was created in 1801 from parts of Montgomery and Washington C1f95 counties. Georgia's 26th county was . Si slo named for Josiah Tattnall, the governor who signed the legislation creating it. The county has five incorporated communities including: Glennville, the most populous city in the county; Reidsville, the county seat; Collins; Cobbtown; and Manassas. Reidsville was named for Robert E. Reid, a Superior Court Judge. The Georgia State Penitentiary, the state's central holding facility, is located just south of Reidsville. This is Georgia's oldest state prison, and was constructed of marble in 1936. The prison, which was designed to hold 2,000 inmates, cost $1.5 million to build. Gordonia Alatamaha State Park and Big Hammock Natural Area are located in the county. Gordonia Alatamaha State Park, originally named Reidsville State Park, was renamed for a small, rare tree discovered in 1765. It is found naturally only in the state of Georgia and is known as the "Lost Camilla." Glennville hosts a Vidalia Onion Festival each year in honor of the county's significant production of the famous sweet onion. The Wiregrass Trail, a historic route through southeastern Georgia, runs through Tattnall County. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Tattnall County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (l990) T 50 CTY 0 GA 40 ------~----1 ~~ 30 - - - - - - @ , .~--B 20 tffi,"'--...---t-----l 10 1---+---+-----1 ~ o L -_ _-'----_ _....L-_ _--' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population ofTattnall County was 17,722 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 2.3% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 18,943 persons. In Tattnall County, 68% of the residents were white and 29% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 3% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 27% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Tattnall County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equalling the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 35% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 37.8% of the adult population in Tattnall County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 19.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Tattnall County spent an average of $3,389 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.6 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .4, compared with the .8 state average. Tattnall County had 2.2 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 60% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $43,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,784. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Tattnall County ranked number 79. Of this five year average, 16% were violent crimes, while 84% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 68 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 65% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Tattnall County Cobbtown Collins Glennville Manassas Reidsville 1970 16,557 321 574 2,965 144 1,806 Population 1980 1990 18,134 494 639 4,144 116 2,296 17,722 338 528 3,676 123 2,469 Growth {%} 1970-1980 1980-1990 9.5 53.9 11.3 39.8 -19.4 27.1 -2.3 -31.6 -17.4 -11.3 6.0 7.5 Economy Georgia County Snapshots lattnall County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Glennville Nursing Home, Ithaca Industries, and Rotary Corporation are among the largest non-government employers in Tattnall County. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 28% of the jobs and 31 % of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Tattnall County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.2% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 68% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 32%, commuted out of Tattnall County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Tattnall County's per capita income was $13,812, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Tattnall County's median household income in 1989 was $20,293. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $4,996 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Tattnall County had 299 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Tattnall County's assessed property value amounted to $169.7 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,574. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Tattnall County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,22% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 28% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 29% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents ofTattnall County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,565 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... mOutside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ---'-_.L-. US GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---m--- GA Georgia County Snapshots TaUnal1 County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 45 30 0- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Tattnall County's average own source revenue per capita was $251. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Tattnall County collected an average of $131 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 49% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Tattnall County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $220 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Tattnall County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Tattnall was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Tattnall County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Tattnall County has a six member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. 300 200 ~. 100 ~. 0ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently Phone Numbers of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. Chamber of Commerce Central Library County Commission GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF (912) 557-6323 (912) 557-6247 (912) 557-4335 ~" COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Taylor County GA Taylor County was created from Macon, Marion and Talbot counties in 1852, the C/.fct5 98th county organized. The county was . SI SL, named after Zachary Taylor, who won a victory at Buena Vista in the Mexican War and later became the 12th President of the United States. The county has two municipalities: Butler, the county seat, and Reynolds. Butler was named for General William Orlando Butler, another hero of the Mexican War. The Tuscaloosa Formation, located in the county, is a sand clay formation that represents the first prominent coastal plains deposits laid. The Wire Road, which ran through Taylor County, was named for the telegraph wire that stretched along it. The road was part of the stage highway from Richmond to New Orleans. The Crackerland Country Fair is held in the community of Howard each April. Points of interest in Taylor County include: Beechwood Farm, the home of Confederate General John B. Gordon; and the site of Fort Lawrence, which was established by Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, for whom Hawkinsville was named. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Taylor County Demographics Educadonal Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - CTY l!3 GA-----, 40 ------------j 30 ------1!'t----r;'a 20 ~--.!.--__+----1 10 r----+----+------J ~ o '--_ _-'-----_ _-L-_ _-' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15 --------,-- GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Taylor County was 7,642 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 3.3% rate, compared to a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 7,529 persons. In Taylor County, 56% of the residents were white and 43% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Taylor County, the 1990 Census reports 10% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared to 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 31.2% of the adult population in Taylor County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 20% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared to the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Taylor County spent $3,588 per pupil for public education between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.6 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number ofphysicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared to the .8 state average. Taylor County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 65% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $35,800. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,570. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Taylor County ranked number 121. Of this five year average, 16% were violent crimes, while 84% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 82% ofthe adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 64% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Taylor County Butler Reynolds 1970 7,865 1,589 1,253 Population 1980 7,902 1,959 1,298 1990 7,642 1,673 1,166 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 0.5 -3.3 23.3 -14.6 3.6 -10.2 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Flint Electric Membership, Mf & H Textiles Inc., and Taylor Orchards are among the largest non-government employers in Taylor County. State and local government employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Taylor County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.2% compared to the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,55% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 45%, commuted out of Taylor County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Taylor County's per capita income was $14,400, as compared to $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Taylor County's median household income in 1989 was $16,210. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $16,208 per capita. This amount was greater than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Taylor County had 134 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 3%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Taylor County's assessed property value amounted to $83.4 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,915. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Taylor County is The Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989, 30% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared to a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 41 % of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 33% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Taylor County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,961 per capita in 1992, compared to $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Taylor County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T !il Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -L_-'-- ==.- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T ~ ~ 9 ... 6 , m-----t;;{ ~ --m 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ----!)j--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Taylor County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Taylor County's average own source revenue per capita was $292. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Taylor County collected an average of $120 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 40% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Taylor County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $301 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Taylor County had an average of $217,900 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $29. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Taylor was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Taylor County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce NA Central Library (912) 847-3468 County Commission (912) 862-3336 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Telfair County Telfair County, the 35th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1807. The county was named for Governor Edward Telfair, who came to Savannah from Scotland in 1766, eventually serving in the Continental Congress and as governor of Georgia. The county has six incorporated municipalities, including McRae, the county seat. McRae was named for a pioneering Scottish family. The other communities are Helena, Jacksonville, Lumber City, Milan, and Scotland. The county was primarily settled by Scottish Presbyterians from the Carolinas. Jacksonville was the first seat of government and remained an important river trading center until after the Civil War. Lumber City, in the eastern part of the county, is known for its 50 artesian wells. Eugene and Herman Talmadge-a father and son who each served as governor of Georgia-were from Telfair County. Herman Talmadge was also a U.S. Senator. While governor, he was known for his progressive programs of school, hospital and road building projects. At the intersection of state highways 341, 23,441,319, and 280 is what is known as "Liberty Square," where the county has its own replica of the Statue of Liberty. The statue, which stands about 35 feet high, is one twelfth of the size of the original. Also located here is the old McRae fire bell, refurbished to look like the original Liberty Bell. The world record for the largest largemouth bass ever caught is held by George Perry of Telfair County, who caught a fish that weighed 22 pounds, 4 ounces in 1932. The record still stands. Some of the local area festivals include the George Perry Wiggle Fish Festival and Tournament, the Milan Fall Festival, and the Spanish Moss Festival. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Telfair County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) .... 50 - - CTY ~ GA - ~ 40 30 20 tt ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 20------ 15--- 10 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Telfair County was 11,000 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 3.9% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 11,671 persons. In Telfair County, 66% of the residents were white and 34% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either black or white in the Census data. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 18% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Telfair County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.5% of the adult population in Telfair County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 19.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Telfair County spent an average of $4,061 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was slightly greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 18.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.7, compared with the .8 state average. Telfair County had 4.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 65% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $31,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,125. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Telfair County ranked number 100. Of this five year average, 20% were violent crimes, while 80% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 82% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 76% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Telfair County Helena Jacksonville Lumber City McRae Milan Scotland 1970 11,394 1,230 227 1,377 3,151 1,084 261 Population 1980 1990 11,445 1,390 206 1,426 3,409 1,115 222 11,000 1,256 128 1,429 3,007 1,056 244 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 0.4 13.0 -9.3 3.6 8.2 2.9 -14.9 -3.9 -9.6 -37.9 0.2 -11.8 -5.3 9.9 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Amercord Inc., Coordinated Apparel Group, and WCI Outdoor Products are among the largest non-government employers in Telfair County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 36% of the jobs and 43% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 11 % ofthe jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Telfair County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.1 % compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 72% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 28%, commuted out of Telfair County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Telfair County's per capita income was $13,246, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Telfair County's median household income in 1989 was $16,573. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $6,418 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Telfair County had 229 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county did not change. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Telfair County's assessed property value amounted to $132 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,999. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Telfair County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989,27% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 35% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 34% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Telfair County received total government transfer payments amounting to $4,093 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Telfair County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990> T III Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - 3 ---------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY mp.u GA Georgia County Snapshots Telfair County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ...- 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Telfair County's average own source revenue per capita was $209. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Telfair County collected an average of $112 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 46% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Telfair County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $221 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Telfair County had an average of $357,800 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $33. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Telfair was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Telfair County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. 200 0- .--ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 868-6365 Central Library (912) 868-2978 County Commission (912) 868-5688 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Terrell County GA Terrell County was carved from portions of Randolph and Lee counties in 1856. C/fQ5 Georgia's l13th county was named for Dr. ~Si William Terrell of Sparta, who had served 56 in both the state legislature and Congress. Dawson, the county seat, was named for William C. Dawson, jurist, congressman, and U.S. Senator. Terrell County has three other municipalities: Bronwood, Parrott and Sasser. Shortly after Atlanta's capture in the Civil War, Governor Joseph E. Brown arranged for a refugee camp at Dawson to shelter some 300 women and children who had fled the city. The "Exile Camp" was later used to house a detachment of 50 Union soldiers assigned to keep order in the area. Their kind behavior toward local citizens was long noted by the community. Parrott is a picturesque little town that has been used for several western movies including "The Long Riders." There are two sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These are the Terrell County courthouse and the Garden Club House. Another interesting building is the Chickasawhatchee Primitive Baptist Church which was built in 1858. It is the oldest church still standing on its original site in Terrell County. The Battle of Echouanotchaway Swamp was fought here in 1836. This battle was part of the Creek Indian uprisings after the burning of Richmond. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 SHmte~ ,..---J if I l t Georgia County Snapshots Terrell County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - CTY lZl G A - - ~ 40 -----------{ 30 ------!---jt'""~ 20lp--C;~.f~- ;---+----I 10..----+----+----1 o '---_ _.1--_ _--'---_ _-' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 5 o GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Terrell County was 10,653 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at an 11.4% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 10,474 persons. In Terrell County, 40% of the residents were white and 60% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Terrell County, the 1990 Census reports 12% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 28.8% of the adult population in Terrell County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 23.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.8% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Terrell County spent an average of $4,010 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 13.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.3, compared with the .8 state average. Terrell County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 58% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $41,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 4,393. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Terrell County ranked number 33. Of this five year average, 29% were violent crimes, while 71 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 78% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 60% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Terrell County Bronwood Dawson Parrott Sasser 1970 11,416 500 5,383 222 339 Population 1980 1990 12,017 524 5,699 222 407 10,653 513 5,295 140 335 Growth (%) 1970-1980 19801990 5.3 -11.4 4.8 -2.1 5.9 -7.1 0.0 -36.9 20.1 -17.7 --"'-., Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Cargill, Inc., Dawson Industries, and Oxford Industries are among the largest non-government employers in Terrell County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 28% of the jobs and 29% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Terrell County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 72% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 28%, commuted out of Terrell County for employment. Terrell County's 1992 per capita income was $13,588, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Terrell County's median household income in 1989 was $18,036. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,070 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Terrell County had 190 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 5%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Terrell County's assessed property value amounted to $105.6 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,911. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Terrell County is the Albany Herald. The county is considered part of the Albany television market. During 1989,29% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 44% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 28% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989, 20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents ofTerrell County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,574 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Terrell County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) ... l:l Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'--_--l-_-'*'="'--_ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('98-'94) ... 12 - - - - - - - - - 3--------- 0--------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---.@ow GA Georgia County Snapshots Terrell County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average C19911995} ... 60------ 30 15 o ~. ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita C1991-1995} T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Terrell County's average own source revenue per capita was $262. This amount was less than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Terrell County collected an average of $126 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 44% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Terrell County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $287 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Terrell County had an average of $12,800 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of slightly more than $1. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Terrell was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Terrell County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. 300 200 _. 100 o- ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently Phone Numbers of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. Chamber of Commerce Central Library County Commission GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF (912) 995-2011 (912) 995-2902 (912) 995-4476 ~ .. ~\ COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Thomas County &A Thomas County was created in 1825 from portions of Decatur and Irwin CLfCf5 counties. Georgia's 63rd county, and its ,Sj county seat, Thomasville, were named for a hero of the War of 1812, General Jett Sic Thomas. In addition to his military career, General Thomas built the first university building in Athens. The county has seven municipalities, the largest is Thomasville. Others include Barwick, Boston, Coolidge, Meigs, Ochlocknee, and Pavo. Ochlocknee is named for the river flowing through Thomas County. Meigs was named for Josiah Meigs, the first president of the University of Georgia at Athens. Pavo is Latin for Peacock, which was the name of the first postmaster in the area. Thomasville was a popular, turn-of-thecentury, winter resort for wealthy northern families. Non-residents still maintain many large estates and hunting preserves. Many of these estates are listed on the National Register of Historic Places including the Susina Plantation Inn and the Lapham-Patterson House. The latter is a large, Victorian house, that was built by a survivor of the great fire of Chicago. He designed the house with 45 doors, 26 of which were exterior. Every room had its own fire extinguisher. Thomasville is known for its annual Rose Festival; for the "Big Oak," which has a limb spread of 175 feet; and for the McKinley Memorial Tree planted in 1896 as a salute to candidate William McKinley, who became the 25th President of the United States. Bailey White, a National Public Radio essayist and author of Mama Makes Up Her Mind, is from Thomas County. Limestone sinks are common in this section which was once part of the ocean floor. A great limestone aquifer in subterranean south Georgia offers a nearly limitless fresh water supply. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Thomas County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 40 - - . CTY m GA-- ~ 30 ------ftJ,---doJ,., 20 m,:.r---I~--+---------1 10 f---+----+-----j o '----'------'-------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ o -.'.,;,;";,,;,,,.. ' GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Thomas County was 38,986 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 2.3%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 42,296 persons. In Thomas County, 61 % of the residents were white and 38% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Thomas County, the 1990 Census reports 10% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.1 % of the adult population in Thomas County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 30.2% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Thomas County spent an average of $3,556 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.5 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 2.6, compared with the .8 state average. Thomas County had 6.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 62% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $46,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 5,319. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Thomas County ranked number 25. Of this five year average, 11 % were violent crimes, while 89% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 62% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 70% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 19801990 Thomas County 34,562 38,098 38,986 10.2 2.3 Barwick 432 413 385 -4.4 -6.8 Boston 1,443 1,424 1,395 -1.3 -2.0 Coolidge 717 736 610 2.6 -17.1 Meigs 1,226 1,231 1,120 0.4 -9.0 Ochlocknee 611 627 588 2.6 -6.2 .......-:." Pavo 775 830 774 7.1 -6.7 Thomasville 18,155 18,463 17,457 1.7 -5.4 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the county's largest non-government employers include: John D. Archbold, Sunnyland Inc., and Warner Bros. Co. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 23% of the jobs and 27% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Thomas County's annual unemployment rate was slightly lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.6% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 88% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 12%, commuted out of Thomas County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Thomas County's per capita income was $16,141, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Thomas County's median household income in 1989 was $20,901. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $7,112 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Thomas County had 1,026 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Thomas County's assessed property value amounted to $495.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $12,716. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Thomas County is the Thomasville Times-Enterprise. The county is considered to be part of the Tallahassee television market. During 1989,23% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 33% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 26% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Thomas County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,618 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Thomas County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T [J1J Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,OOO/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---lBj--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Thomas County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) .... 400------ 200 100 _. 0-. ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Thomas County's average own source revenue per capita was $281. This amount was less than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Thomas County collected an average of $124 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 45% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Thomas County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $208 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Thomas County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Thomas was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Thomas County has an eight member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Thomasville averaged $448 per capita in own source revenues and $615 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 15% ofthe city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $65 for residents of Thomasville. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Thomasville had an average of $4.8 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $274. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Thomasville has a council-manager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 225-1422 Central Library (912) 225-5252 County Commission (912) 225-4100 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Tift County GA Tift County was created in 1905 from portions of Berrien County. The county C}+Q5 was named for Nelson Tift, who had S i helped found the city ofAlbany, served as that city's mayor, and later served as a 56 congressman. His nephew founded the city of Tifton in 1872 when he opened a sawmill there. The county has three municipalities: Omega, TyTy, and Tifton, the county seat. The county's courthouse was constructed in 1912. TyTy was named for the trees lining the banks of a nearby creek: the Ironwood (white titi) and Buckwheat (black titi) trees. Located in the heart of one of the state's prime agricultural areas, Tift County has become a center for farm experimentation and agricultural education. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the University of Georgia's Rural Development Center are located there. In 1976, the Agrirama was developed in the county by the State Department of Agriculture. Here, at the state's Living History Museum, people can experience daily life on a recreation of a working farm of the 1800s, including cooking, planting and caring for animals. Tift has many festivals and special events including the Love Affair Fine Arts Festival, the Folk Life Festival & Fiddler's Jamboree, and the Victorian Christmas. Tift County is known as the "Plant Capital of the World," with many plants and vegetables grown here being shipped worldwide for replanting. Tift County is home to a tree said to be the largest Southern Magnolia in Georgia and among the oldest anywhere. It has long been a special meeting place for county residents; in 1991 they formed the Magnolia Tree Foundation to help preserve and protect it for future generations. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Tift County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over {1990} .... 40 CTY ri!!I GA l'f 30 - - - - - - { ; i } - - - - - , . f . , 10 I----+----+-----j o '--------'------'------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 15------ 10 - ~~~~~~~~~ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Tift County was 34,998 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 6.5%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 38,743 persons. In Tift County, 71 % of the residents were white and 26% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 3% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 33% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Tift County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Totalhouseholds with children under 18 comprised 38% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 27% of the adult population in Tift County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 34.3% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.6% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Tift County spent an average of $3,317 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.5 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.7, compared with the .8 state average. Tift County had 5.1 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 60% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $51,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 6,742. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Tift County ranked number 12. Of this five year average, 16% were violent crimes, while 84% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,51 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 76% voted in the 1992 general electionStatewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Tift County Omega Tifton TyTy 1970 27,288 835 12,179 447 Population 1980 1990 32,862 996 13,749 618 34,998 912 14,215 579 Growth {%} 1970-1980 1980-1990 20.4 6.5 19.3 -8.4 12.9 3.4 38.3 -6.3 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Tift County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Tift County include: Burlen Corp., Queen Carpet Co., and Tifton Aluminum Co. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 17% of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Tift County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.7% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 89% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 11 %, commuted out of Tift County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Tift County's per capita income was $15,603, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Tift County's median household income in 1989 was $22,421. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $11,901 per capita. This amount was greater than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Tift County had 1,009 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 16%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Tift County's assessed property value amounted to $391.7 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,190. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Tift County is the Tifton Gazette. The county is considered part of the Albany television market. During 1989,23% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 29% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 25 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Tift County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,909 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T E!! Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'-_--'----_..w=>=< __ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY n-m-- GA Georgia County Snapshots Tift County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average C1991-1995} ... 60------ 45 30 15 o ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita C1991-1995} T 400------ 200 o ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Tift County's average own source revenue per capita was $320. This amount was greater than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Tift County collected an average of $128 per capita in property tax during the past five years, equal to the average for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 37% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Tift County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $298 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Tift County had an average of $1.3 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $36. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Tift was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Tift County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Tift County has a seven member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Tifton averaged $400 per capita in own source revenues and $434 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 13% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $53 for residents of Tifton. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Tifton had an average of $2.8 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $200. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Tifton has a councilmanager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (800) 550-8438 Central Library (912) 386-3400 County Commission (912) 386-7850 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Toombs County GA Toombs County, the 142nd county formed in Georgia, was created in 1905 from parts C4QS of Emanuel, Tattnall and Montgomery "Si counties. The county was named for 'Sio Robert Toombs, the Confederacy's Brigadier General and Secretary of State. Toombs had served in both houses of the U.S. Congress, but was a leading secession advocate at the Secession Convention at Milledgeville. The county has three incorporated municipalities: Vidalia, Lyons, and Santa Claus. Lyons is the county seat, while Vidalia is the largest and is the location of the Southeastern Technical Institute. Toombs County is most famous for its sweet Vidalia onions, the state vegetable of Georgia. In fact, Vidalia is known as the "Sweet Onion Capital of the World." Plain onion seeds, when planted in the sandy loam soil of Toombs County, grow onions that are sweeter and juicier than the average onion. Some of the special events in Toombs County are the Vidalia Onion Festival, held every spring, the Southeastern Georgia Soapbox Derby, and the Franklinia Playhouse. Toombs County and Vidalia are one of four designated Governor's All-Star Communities. The Ladson Genealogical Library, located in Toombs County, is one of the largest of such libraries in the Southeastern United States. The Altamaha River forms the county's southern border. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Toombs County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over C1990}T 50 - - CTY l2l GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - - - " r 30 - - - - - - . - - - r l l 10 ~--+_---+-----1 o '--------'-------'------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'9S): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Toombs County was 24,072 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 6.6%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 26,521 persons. In Toombs County, 74% of the residents were white and 23% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 3% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 13% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Toombs County, the 1990 Census reports 9% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 38% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 31.7% of the adult population in Toombs County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 27.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 12.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Toombs County spent an average of $3,413 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.1, compared with the .8 state average. Toombs County had 3.5 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 57% ofthe housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $49,100. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,093. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Toombs County ranked number 72. Of this five year average, 13% were violent crimes, while 87% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 66% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 67% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Toombs County Lyons Santa Claus Vidalia 1970 19,151 3,739 118 9,507 Population 1980 1990 22,592 4,203 167 10,393 24,072 4,502 154 11,078 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 18.0 6.6 12.4 7.1 41.5 -7.8 9.3 6.6 Economy According to the Georgia Department ofLabor, Bruno's, Oxford Industries, and Runners Diversified are among the largest non-government employers in Toombs County. Retail trade employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 23% ofthe jobs and 21 % of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 17% of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Toombs County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.8% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 77% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 23%, commuted out of Toombs County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Toombs County's per capita income was $14,941, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Toombs County's median household income in 1989 was $19,473. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $10,069 per capita, slightly less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Toombs County had 635 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 16%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Toombs County's assessed property value amounted to $211.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $8,779. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Toombs County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,24% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 32% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 34% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Toombs County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,663 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Toombs County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T El Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ---,-_-,-_.w="..__ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - 3 ---------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --m -- - GA Georgia County Snapshots Toombs County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ~ 60------ 15 0ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Toombs County's average own source revenue per capita was $197. This amount was less than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Toombs County collected an average of $70 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 30% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Toombs County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $162 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Toombs County had an average of $204,000 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $8. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Toombs was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Toombs County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Toombs County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Vidalia averaged $546 per capita in own source revenues and $390 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 24% ofthe city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $131 for residents ofVidalia. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Vidalia had an average of $4.3 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $390. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Vidalia has a mayorcouncil form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 537-4466 Central Library (912) 537-9283 County Commission (912) 526-3311 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Towns County Towns County, the 117th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1856 from parts of Union and Rabun counties. It was named for George Washington Bonaparte Towns, who was governor of Georgia from 1847 to 1851. The county seat is Hiawassee; the only other incorporated municipality is Young Harris. Hiawassee is a Cherokee word meaning "meadow." Chatuge Lake is located in the northern part of the county and reaches into North Carolina. It is a storage facility for the Tennessee Valley Authority, and is also a public preserve. Hiawassee and the lake area have long been popular tourist areas. In the l800s through the 1930s, wealthy families from the lowlands would "summer in the mountains" to escape the heat and disease more prevalent in the larger population areas. Young Harris was originally named Young Harris College in honor of Judge Young Loftin Gerdine Harris of Athens. It was soon shortened to Young Harris, although there is still a Young Harris College located there. Towns County and Young Harris are the home of Governor Zell Miller. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 rro , @ \ \ J ? i" Georgia County Snapshots Towns County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY !ill GA-- 40 30 E 20 .' !~ ~ 10 ~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 20------ 15--- According to the 1990 Census, the population of Towns County was 6,754 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 19.8%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 8,739 persons. In Towns County, 100% of the residents were white, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either black or white in the Census data. In addition, 23% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 24% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Towns County, the 1990 Census reports 3% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 24% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 31.7% of the adult population in Towns County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 26.4% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 4.4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Towns County spent an average of $3,482 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 16.9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.7, compared with the .8 state average. Towns County had 5.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 54% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $69,400. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 843. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Towns County ranked number 145. Of this five year average, 6% were violent crimes, while 94% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 88% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 76% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Towns County Hiawassee Young Harris 1970 4,565 415 544 Population 1980 5,638 491 687 1990 6,754 547 604 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 23.5 19.8 18.3 11.4 26.3 -12.1 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Blue Ridge Electric, Hiawassee Garment, and Young Harris College are among the largest non-government employers in Towns County. Retail trade employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Towns County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,57% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 43%, commuted out of Towns County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Towns County's per capita income was $13,440, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Towns County's median household income in 1989 was $19,356. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $7,014 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Towns County had 151 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 26%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Towns County's assessed property value amounted to $139.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $20,607, reflecting the presence of power plants in the area. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Towns County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 14% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 14% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 14% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Towns County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,550 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Towns County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T '" Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,00011992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'---'----.<=""'-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---{']l---. GA Georgia County Snapshots Towns County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) .... 60------ 45 30 0ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Towns County's average own source revenue per capita was $361. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Towns County collected an average of $192 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 50% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Towns County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $367 per capita. This amount was greater than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Towns County had an average of $242,600 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $36. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Towns was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Towns County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Towns County has a sole commissioner form of government. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 896-4966 Central Library (706) 379-3732 County Commission (706) 896-2276 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Treutlen County Treutlen County, the 152nd county formed in Georgia, was created in 1917 from parts of Emanuel and Montgomery counties, territory that had been settled as early as 1784. The county was named for John Adam Treutlen who, after serving in the Provincial Congress of 1775, became the state's first governor, although the Crown regarded him only as a rebel governor. The county seat, and sole incorporated community, is Soperton. The town was named for a construction engineer with the Macon, Dublin and Savannah Railroad. Soperton is known as the "Million Pines City" because of James Fowler. Mr. Fowler planted over 7,000,000 pine seedlings on 10,000 acres of the county. Pine by-products are now an important part of the local economy. The big special event in Treutlen County is the annual Million Pines Arts & Crafts Festival held every November to honor James Fowler. The elaborate granite tomb of Georgia Governor George M. Troup is located on his plantation near the Oconee River in the county. The Million Pines Visitor Center is located off 1-16 in the Curt Barwick House, a log cabin built in 1845. The Treutlen County Courthouse, built in 1920, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On March 31, 1933 the Soperton News printed its newspaper on pine-pulp paper, becoming the first paper in the U.S. to do so. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Treutlen County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY Ii2l G A - - ~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ------Wl---rn 20>:l81l,.,,_ _-+fiJ_ _-+-_--I '"1 ~ 10 1----+---+-----1 ~ o '--------'------'------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 20------ 15 - - - - 5 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population ofTreutlen County was 5,994 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at a 1.5% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 6,402 persons. In Treutlen County, 67% of the residents were white and 33% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in Census data. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 9% of Treutlen County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county as well as 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.9% of the adult population in Treutlen County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 18.9% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.9% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Treutlen County spent an average of $3,366 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 19.6 for the county. The statewide average was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the .8 state average. Treutlen County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, compared with the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 64% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $33,300. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,468. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Treutlen County ranked number 126. Of this five year average, 26% were violent crimes, while 74% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 89% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 61 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Treutlen Soperton 1970 5,647 2,596 Population 1980 6,087 2,981 1990 5,994 2,797 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 7.8 -1.5 14.8 -6.2 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Ailey Manufacturing Co., General Fibers & Fabrics, and Treutlen Co. Nursing are among the largest non-government employers in Treutlen County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 29% of the jobs and 25% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 20% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Treutlen County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.7% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 55% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 45%, commuted out of Treutlen County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Treutlen County's per capita income was $12,527, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Treutlen County's median household income in 1989 was $17,391. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $3,309 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Treutlen County had 93 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 6%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Treutlen County's assessed property value amounted to $43.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $7,216. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Treutlen County is the Dublin Courier Herald. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,27% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 35% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 34% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents ofTreutlen County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,617 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Treutlen County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T t FJ Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - 1 " < : - - - - 9----f----..--- 6[;1- 8',/ -~ 3 ---------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- @--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Treutlen County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Treutlen County's average own source revenue per capita was $263. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Treutlen County collected an average of $139 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 49% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Treutlen County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $262 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Treutlen County had an average of $121,100 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $20. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Treutlen was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Treutlen County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Treutlen County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 529-6868 Central Library (912) 529-6683 County Commission (912) 529-3664 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Troup County Troup County was the 70th county organized; it was a landlot county acquired from the Creek Indians in 1826. The county was named for Governor George M. Troup, 'The Hercules ofState Rights," and an ardent advocate of "Indian Removal" despite being a cousin of Chief William McIntosh. The county seat, LaGrange, is named for the ancestral home of Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette. In addition to LaGrange, the county has two other municipalities: Hogansville and West Point. Lafayette Fountain, a replica of the Lafayette statue in LePoy, France, also salutes the Marquis de Lafayette. It stands on the courthouse square in LaGrange. Local lore has it that in the closing days of the Civil War, the women of LaGrange Female Academy, now LaGrange College, formed a military company to protect the town from Union soldiers. The Union commander-coincidentally named LaGrange-avoided the town and the possibility of having to do battle with young women. West Point Lake is located in Troup County. It is a 26,900 acre reservoir on the Chattahoochee River built by the U.S. Corps of Engineers for $155 million. One of the festivals in the county is the "Affair of the Square" Arts Festival, held annually in late April. This event is sponsored by the Chattahoochee Valley Art Association which houses contemporary American works of art in an 1892 Victorian building, originally the county jail. A National Historic Landmark of note is Belleview, the Benjamin Harvey Hill House, built from 1853-1855. It is a significant example of the "domesticated temple" form of the Greek Revival style. Some other tourist attractions include the Callaway Memorial Tower, built in 1929 to honor Fuller E. Callaway, Sr., a textile magnate of the area. It was modeled after the Campanile of St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy. Both LaGrange College, a private, 4-year, Methodist college founded in 1831, and the Troup County Area Technical School provide opportunities for higher education in the county. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS \ October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Troup County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY i;JJ G A - - 40 - - - - - - - - -..... 30 - - - - - - _ (~';'}-----mt" ! 20l:!'lB',;,jr----+---+---1 ~ 10 1 - - - + - - - + - - - - 1 o L -_ _.L-_ _....l-_ _---' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15 - - - - - - GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Troup County was 55,536 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 11.1 %, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 64,355 persons. In Troup County, 69% of the residents were white and 30% were black, according to 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 9% of Troup County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county as well as in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 32.4% of the adult population in Troup County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 28.5% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of7.5% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Troup County spent an average of $3,411 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 13.4 for the county. The statewide average was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.2, compared with the .8 state average. Troup County had 5.0 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 58% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $54,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 6,964. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Troup County ranked number 11. Of this five year average, 10% were violent crimes, while 90% were non-violent crimes. In 1992,58% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Troup County Hogansville LaGrange West Point 1970 44,466 3,075 23,301 4,232 Population 1980 1990 50,003 3,362 24,204 4,294 55,536 2,976 25,597 3,571 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 12.5 ILl 9.3 -11.5 3.9 5.8 1.5 -16.8 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Freudenberg-Nok, Milliken & Company, and West Point Pepperell are among the largest non-government employers in Troup County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 34% of the jobs and 44% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 15% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% ofthe state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Troup County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,87% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 13%, commuted out of Troup County for employment. The county's per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Troup County's per capita income was $16,243, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Troup County's median household income in 1989 was $24,788. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $10,096 per capita. This amount was slightly less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Troup County had 1,301 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 5%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Troup County's assessed property value amounted to $796.2 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $14,337. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Troup County is the LaGrange Daily News. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 16% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 22% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 21 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Troup County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,054 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Troup County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T Ell Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'----'-- US GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - - 3--------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ----8--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Troup County Property Tax as %01 OWn Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ 300 200 100 ~~ o -" ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Troup County's average own source revenue per capita was $257. This amount was less than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Troup County collected an average of $137 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 49% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Troup County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $227 per capita. This amount was less than the overall cc::.nty average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Troup County had an average of $54,100 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $1. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Troup was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Troup County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of LaGrange averaged $485 per capita in own source revenues and $737 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $517 per capita in own source revenues and $550 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 33% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $158 for residents of LaGrange. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 30% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of LaGrange had an average of $46.1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $1,803. This amount was higher than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $852 per capita average for the 9 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of LaGrange has a councilmanager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 884-8671 Central Library (706) 882-7784 County Commission (706) 883-1610 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Turner County GA Turner County was created in 1905 from parts of Doo1y, Irwin, Wilcox and Worth C4-95 counties. Georgia's 143rd county was .Sj named after Henry Gray Turner, a captain in the Confederate Army who was S~ captured at Gettysburg and later served in the state legislature, on the State Supreme Court, and in the U.S. Congress. The county has three incorporated municipalities: the county seat ofAshburn, Rebecca and Sycamore. Rebecca was named for the daughter of a prominent local family, while Sycamore was named for the tree. Ashburn was named for w.w. Ashburn who, in 1890, purchased a portion of the future town site for ten dollars. Until the 1920s, when the boll weevil struck, Turner County farmers planted over 30,000 acres of cotton. Unable to continue growing cotton, Turner County instituted Georgia's first "cow-hog-hen" programs, beginning an age of diversified farming that spread throughout the state. Shingler Heights, five blocks of residential buildings and one institutional building in Ashburn, was constructed from 1895 to 1937. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its most elaborate structure is "Sparrow's Nest," built by a local turpentine and agriculture entrepreneur, J.S. Shingler. Many of the homes in the historic district were built by Shingler's relatives. Other entries on the National Register are the Ashburn Heights-Hudson College Avenue area and the Ashburn Commercial Business District. Turner County is home to endangered species on the Protected list including the Panther, the Indigo Snake, and Southern Bald Eagle. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Turner County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 50 - - . CTY m GA-- ~~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - J 30 -------I11'I------rn 20 ""1Je----!"...---+-----J 10 f---+-----j-----J ~ o L -_ _l..-_ _...!-_ _--.J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 20------ 15 - - - - 10 5 O......>;:;-~- GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Turner County was 8,703 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 at an 8.5% rate, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 8,09Lpersons. In Turner County, 59% of the residents were white and 41 % were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. Hispanics may also be identified as either white or black in Census data. In addition, 35% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 12% of Turner County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 35.1 % of the adult population in Turner County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 20.2% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.2% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Turner County spent an average of $3,911 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 18.7 for the county. The statewide average was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.4, compared with the .8 state average. Turner County had no hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 59% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $37,000. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) for the county was 2,394. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Turner County ranked number 94. Of this five year average, 19% were violent crimes, while 81 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 67% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 76% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Thrner County Ashburn Rebecca Sycamore 1970 8,790 4,209 266 547 Population 1980 9,510 4,766 272 474 1990 8,703 4,827 148 417 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 8.2 13.2 2.3 -13.3 -8.5 1.3 -45.6 -12.0 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Turner County include: Golden Peanut Co., M&W Sportswear Inc., and Stanwood Corp. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and 15% of employment earnings. Farming is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 23% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Turner County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.5% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,68% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 32%, commuted out of Turner County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Turner County's per capita income was $15,193, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Turner County's median household income in 1989 was $17,766. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,773 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Turner County had 173 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 5%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Turner County's assessed property value amounted to $102.4 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $11,765. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Turner County is the Tifton Gazette. The county is considered part of the Albany television market. During 1989, 31 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 48% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 28% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Turner County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,639 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Turner County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990> ... IJ] Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) ... 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) ... 12 - - - - - - - - - - 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---rn- -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Turner County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) T 60------ 30 15 o -- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Turner County's average own source revenue per capita was $365. This amount was greater than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Turner County collected an average of $177 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 44% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Turner County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $304 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Turner County had an average of $1.1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $126. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Turner was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Turner County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Turner County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 567-9696 Central Library (912) 567-4027 County Commission (912) 567-4313 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Twiggs County GA C~5 T f 'l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,OOO/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- {!j, h' GA Georgia County Snapshots Walker County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ Long Term Debt: Average $$$s Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Walker County's average own source revenue per capita was $158. This amount was less than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Walker County collected an average of $49 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of$153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 28% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Walker County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $138 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Walker County had an average of $8.1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $139. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Walker was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Walker County has a sole commissioner. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 375-7702 Central Library (706) 638-2992 County Commission (706) 638-1437 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Walton County Walton County which was created by the Lottery Act of 1818, was organized in 1819. Georgia's 46th county was named for George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who served as governor of Georgia and U.S. Senator. The county has seven municipalities, the largest of which is Monroe, the county seat. Others include Between, Good Hope, Jersey, Loganville, Social Circle, and Walnut Grove. The Walton County courthouse, built in 1883, is an outstanding example of the architectural style known as Second Empire. Some of the communities in Walton County have very interesting names. Between was named by a postmaster because it was halfway between Monroe and Loganville, and Social Circle was possibly named for the first group of settlers who considered themselves a social circle and often passed around a "jug" of spirits. Walton County has an unusually rich assemblage of historic sites and structures. Near Monroe is Jacks Creek, the site of the massacre by whites of a large encampment of Creek Indians in 1787. Some other historical sites worth visiting are the Kilgore Mill Covered Bridge, Casulon Plantation, Brodnax House and Thompson's Mill. There are several famous citizens ofWalton County including seven other Georgia governors: James Boynton, Howell Cobb, Alfred Colquitt, Wilson Lumpkin, Henry McDaniel, Richard Russell, Jr., and Clifford Walker. Also notable was Moira B. Michael, known as the "Poppy Lady." She developed the symbol of the red Flanders Field Poppy as a memorial emblem for the veterans of wars. The largest festival in Walton County is Monroe's Crepe Myrtle Festival held in September. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Walton County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY rn GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 -------@..----ffi 20 ~n--+------1 , ~ 10...----+----+-----1 o '-------'--------'-----' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Walton County was 38,586 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 23.6%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 47,893 persons. In Walton County, 81 % of the residents were white and 18% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 11 % were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports that 7% of Walton County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 39% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 31.6% of the adult population in Walton County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 26.3% ofthe county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.6% of the county's students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Walton County spent an average of $3,197 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 13 for the county. The statewide average was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.7, compared with the .8 state average. Walton County had 1.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was less than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 65% of the county's housing units were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $66,700. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,910. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Walton County ranked number 76. Of this five year average, 7% were violent crimes, while 93% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 61 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Walton County Between Good Hope Jersey Loganville Monroe Social Circle Walnut Grove 1970 23,404 94 202 180 1,318 8,071 1,961 175 Population 1980 1990 31,211 87 200 201 1,841 8,854 2,591 387 38,586 82 181 149 3,180 9,759 2,755 458 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 33.4 -7.4 -1.0 11.7 39.7 9.7 32.1 121.1 23.6 -5.7 -9.5 -25.9 72.7 10.2 6.3 18.3 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Walton County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Oxford Industries, Universal-Rundle Corporation, and Walton Manufacturing are among the largest non-government employers in Walton County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 23% of the jobs and 27% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 16% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% ofthe state's jobs and earnings. In Walton County, jobs in the rubber and miscellaneous plastic products fields provide the highest average weekly wage of $681. The engineering and management services sector provides the next highest average weekly wage of $651. Between 1990 and 1994, Walton County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,44% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 56%, commuted out of Walton County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Walton County's per capita income was $15,923, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Walton County's median household income in 1989 was $28,198. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $8,368 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Walton County had 528 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 7%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Walton County's assessed property value amounted to $579.9 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $15,029. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Walton County is the Atlanta Journal/Constitution. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 13% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 16% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 23% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Walton County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,516 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990> T [l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,OOO/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -'---'---' us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 6' . ~ mV '" ""~ 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---1]--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Walton County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average C1991-1995} .... 60 - - - - 45 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita C1991-1995} T 400------ 300 - 200 Government Over the past five years, Walton County's average own source revenue per capita was $328. This amount was greater than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Walton County collected an average of $210 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 60% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Walton County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $326 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Walton County had an average of $2.1 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $54. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Walton was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Walton County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $1,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Walton County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. 0ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (770) 267-6594 Central Library (770) 267-4630 County Commission (770) 267-1301 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Ware County GA o Ware County was created in 1824 from a C. lfCJ5 part of the original landlot county of Appling. Georgia's 60th county is named .Si for Nicholas Ware, who served as mayor Sb of Augusta and a U.S. Senator. o The county seat, and only municipality in the county, is Waycross, an employment and commercial center for the region. Originally known as Tebeauville, the city's current name derives from its location at a key railroad junction. Lines from six directions meet at the city. o Ware County is the largest county, in area, in Georgia. Waycross is often referred to as the largest city, in the largest county, in the largest state east of the Mississippi. o Ware County contains a significant portion of the Okefenokee Swamp, which is roughly 20 by 40 miles in size. The swamp was called the "Land of Quaking Earth" by the Indians, and served as a hiding place for both the Indians and escaped slaves. Laura S. Walker State Park, located near Waycross, is one of the few state parks in Georgia named for a woman. She was a Georgia writer, teacher, civic leader and naturalist who worked diligently to preserve the trees and habitats around her. o There are over 25 special events in the county including the Okefenokee Swamp Fling, Pogofest and the Paul Azinger Golf Classic. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Ware County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY ~ GA~~ I~ 20l'--" ..---+------1 10..----+----+-------1 o '---_ _.L.-_ _---'--_ _--J Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Ware County was 35,471 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 by 4.6%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 36,391 persons. In Ware County, 73% ofthe residents were white and 26% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 30% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports 8% of the county's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equal to the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 34% of the adult population in Ware County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 27.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 8.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Ware County spent an average of $3,871 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.5 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.6, compared with the .8 state average. Ware County had 6.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 70% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $41,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes perl00,000 population) was 5,744. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Ware County ranked number 20. Of this five year average, 9% were violent crimes, while 91 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992,57% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 71 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Communny 1970 Ware 33,525 Waycross 18,996 Population 1980 1990 37,180 35,471 19,371 16,410 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 10.9 -4.6 2.0 -15.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Concerted Services, John H. Swisher & Son, and Memorial Hospital are among the largest non-government employers in Ware County. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 23% of the jobs and employment earnings. Retail trade employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 18% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Ware County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,87% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 13%, commuted out of Ware County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Ware County's per capita income was $14,354, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Ware County's median household income in 1989 was $20,426. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $8,715 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Ware County had 956 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the total number of business establishments in the county increased by 1%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Ware County's assessed property value amounted to $313.0 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $8,825. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Ware County is the Waycross Journal Herald. The county is considered part of the Jacksonville television market. During 1989,21 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 29% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 23% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Ware County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,972 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Ware County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) .... {:.'l Outside County Mlnside County Per Capita Income (S,OOO/1992) .... 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) .... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- ~o '91 ~2 ~3 ~4 CTY ---[jJ.-- GA Georgia County Snapshots Ware County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 100 o ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Ware County's average own source revenue per capita was $304. This amount was greater than the average of $295 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Ware County collected an average of$125 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $128 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount ofcounty property tax collectedin Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 40% ofthe county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Ware County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $248 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was also $248 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Ware County had an average of $3.8 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $108. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $100 per capita average for the 22 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Ware was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Ware County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Ware County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Waycross averaged $536 per capita in own source revenues and $445 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 19% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $99 for residents ofWaycross. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Waycross had an average of$9.3 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $569. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City ofWaycross has a councilmanager form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 283-3742 Central Library (912) 287-4978 County Commission (912) 287-4300 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Warren County Warren County was created in 1793 from parts of Columbia, Hancock, Richmond and Wilkes counties. Georgia's 20th county was named for Revolutionary War hero, General Joseph Warren, who was killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill. The county has three municipalities; the largest of which is Warrenton, the county seat. The other two communities are Camak and Norwood. Camak was named for James Camak, a newspaper editor in Athens and the first president of the Georgia Railroad. General LaFayette visited Warrenton in 1824, and a ball was held in his honor at a local home which is still standing. Warren County claims to have had the first Rural Free Delivery system, initiated in 1868 by several farmers near Norwood. The six men hired someone to deliver the mail to their farms in return for room and board. Warren County shares the 24,OOO-acre Ogeechee Wildlife Management Area with Hancock County. The Ogeechee River forms the western boundary of the county. There are several local parks in Warren County and hunting is a major pastime. J There are also many well-known hunting clubs in the county, and deer are plentiful. 47 .~J ......~-O:'.~... '"";""" SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1996 Georgia County Snapshots Warren County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over n990} .... 60 - - . CTY m GA-- 50 40 30 20 l;l 10 ~ o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'9S): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births .... 25------ 20--- 15--- According to the 1990 Census, the population ofWarren County was 6,078 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 by 7.7%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 6,589 persons. In Warren County, 40% of the residents were white and 60% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % ofresidents were white and 27% were black. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the state's population. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 17% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Warren County, the 1990 Census reports 11 % of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.3% of the adult population in Warren County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 12.5% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Warren County spent an average of $3,847 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 22.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the.8 state average. Warren County had no hospital beds in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 74% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $33,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 651. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Warren County ranked number 149. Of this five year average, 15% were violent crimes, while 85% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 77% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 64% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Warren Camak Norwood Warrenton 1970 6,669 224 272 2,073 Population 1980 6,583 283 306 2,172 1990 6,078 220 238 2,056 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 -1.3 -7.7 26.3 -22.3 12.5 -22.2 4.8 -5.3 Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Health Tex Inc., Jebco Inc., and Providence Health are among the largest non-government employers in Warren County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 40% of the jobs and 44% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 12% of the jobs and 13% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Warren County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.4% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,45% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 55%, commuted out of Warren County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Warren County's per capita income was $12,830, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Warren County's median household income in 1989 was $17,284. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,478 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Warren County had 81 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county did not change. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Warren County's assessed property value amounted to $73.4 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $12,075. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Warren County is the Augusta Chronicle. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989,33% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 47% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 39% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents ofWarren County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,705 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Warren County Commuting, %01 Workforce Employed (1990) T f Ell Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 0-,--...1...-_'== us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - 3 ---------- o ---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---m--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Warren County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) ... 400------ Government Over the past five years, Warren County's average own source revenue per capita was $290. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Warren County collected an average of $140 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 46% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Warren County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $265 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Warren County had an average of $669,600 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $110. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Warren was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Warren County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Warren County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 465-9604 Central Library (706) 465-2656 County Commission (706) 465-2171 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY SNAPSHOTS Washington County Washington County, the 10th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1783. One of Georgia's original counties, it was the first in the nation to be named for President George Washington. Its first settlers were Revolutionary War veterans, who were given land grants for their service to the country. The county has seven municipalities: Sandersville, the county seat, Davisboro, Deepstep, Harrison, Oconee, Riddleville, and Tennille. Washington County is the "Kaolin Capital of the World." One of Georgia's most important minerals, kaolin is a white, alumina-silicate clay used in hundreds of products ranging from paper to cosmetics to the nose cones of rockets. The Official State of Georgia Historical Plates, depicting events and people from the state's history, were designed by Sandersville native Louise Irwin in 1933. The plates are made in England by Wedgewood and are available for sale at the Sandersville Public Library. Two of Georgia's governors called Washington County home: Jared Irwin and Thomas W. Hardwick. About two dozen historical markers are placed throughout the county, most relating to the Civil War. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places are the Francis Plantation, Washington County Courthouse, the Old City Cemetery, North Harris Street Historic District, and Charles Edward Choate Historic District. Hamburg State Park offers a 225acre lake with tent and trailer sites, a museum, grist mill fishing, boats and canoes. Annual events are "Canoe the Ogeechee," Fall Harvest Festival, and the Kaolin Festival. Other recreational opportunities in the county include rodeos, horse shows and dog trials. Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Washington County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 50 - - . CTY llIIl GA-- 40 ~~ 30 20 H~ ~If~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Washington County was 19,112 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 1.4%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 20,740 persons. In Washington County, 48% of the residents were white and 52% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white and 27% were black. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the state's population. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 14% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Washington County, the 1990 Census reports 10% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county, as well as in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 36.5% of the adult population in Washington County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 21.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 10.9% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Washington County spent an average of $3,913 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 12.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .7, compared with the .8 state average. Washington County had 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1992, which was less than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 72% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $39,600. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,563. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Washington County ranked number 51. Ofthis five year average, 14% were violent crimes, while 86% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 71 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 71 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 1970-1980 1980-1990 Washington County 17,480 18,842 19,112 7.8 1.4 Davisboro 476 433 407 -9.0 -6.0 Deepstep 107 120 111 12.1 -7.5 Harrison 329 456 414 38.6 -9.2 Oconee 262 306 234 16.8 -23.5 Riddleville 143 154 79 7.7 -48.7 Sandersville 5,546 6,137 6,290 10.7 2.5 "-.-, Tennille 1,753 1,709 1,552 -2.5 -9.2 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Washington County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Washington County include: CT. Harris Inc., ECC International, and Thiele Kaolin Co. Mining is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 17% of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 15% of the jobs and employment earnings. Service employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 14% of the jobs and 11 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Washington County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.2% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 84% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 16%, commuted out of Washington County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Washington County's per capita income was $16,392, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Washington County's median household income in 1989 was $21,460. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $8,819 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Washington County had 365 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 7%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Washington County's assessed property value amounted to $299 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $15,644. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Washington County is The Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989,22% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 26% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 32% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Washington County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,504 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) .... 13 Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) .... 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) .... 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- m -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Washington County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ~ 60------ 30 0ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Washington County's average own source revenue per capita was $318. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Washington County collected an average of $169 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 46% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Washington County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $307 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Washington County had an average of $331,200 in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $17. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Washington was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Washington County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Washington County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 552-3288 Central Library (912) 552-5710 County Commission (912) 552-2325 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Wayne County Georgia's 28th county, Wayne County, was created in 1803 from Creek Indian land. The county bears the name of a flamboyant Pennsylvania commander in the Revolutionary War, General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. Unti11850, the county bragged that it had no jails and needed none. Wayne County includes three incorporated municipalities: Jesup, Odum and Screven. The county seat was moved to Jesup in 1874. The current courthouse, built in 1803, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Often called "the town that trains made," Jesup's history is full of railway lore. In 1890, 57 trains per day made stops in Jesup, passenger fares collected averaged $1,000 per day, and the rail yard could hold 500 cars. Residents relied on the trains to set their clocks, provide entertainment, and sound alarms in emergencies. By 1924, Jesup was known as the railway center of South Coast Georgia. Trains still stop for passenger service three times daily. Wayne County hosts four annual festivals: Jesup's Dogwood Arts & Crafts Festival, the Fourth of July Celebration in Screven, Odum's Homecoming Day, and the autumn Altamaha River Heritage Festival. For recreation, residents ofWayne County may choose from many water sports. The Altamaha River offers canoeing, boating and fishing. Skiing competitions on Lake Kenedy attract national athletes. One of Wayne County's swimmers, David Larsen, became an Olympic Gold Medalist. Wayne County is home to two Wildlife ManagementAreas: Little Satilla and Tyler Tract. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Wayne County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY liiil GA-- ~~ 30 - - - - - - . - - - . 69 If 20 1'7':,~r---~---~ -__+_--__I 1O.---~--__+_--__I o '------'-------'------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ According to the 1990 Census, the population of Wayne County was 22,356 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 7.7%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 24,326 persons. In Wayne County, 80% of the residents were white and 19% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports 8% ofWayne County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equalling the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 39% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 35.6% ofthe adult population in Wayne County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 27.3 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.7% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was also 6.7% for the same time period. 10 5 o GA CTY Wayne County spent an average of $3,425 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) for the county was 9.3. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1, compared with the .8 state average. Wayne County had 5.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 72% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $44,500. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 3,170. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Wayne County ranked number 67. Of this five year average, 15% were violent crimes, while 85% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 68 % of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 70% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Population Growth (%) Community 1970 1980 1990 19701980 1980-1990 Wayne County 17,858 20,750 22,356 16.2 7.7 Jesup 9,091 9,418 8,958 3.6 -4.9 Odum 379 401 388 5.8 -3.2 Screven 936 872 819 -6.8 -6.1 _..., Economy According to the Georgia Department ofLabor, Ashley Manufacturing, ITT Rayonier Inc., and Stanton of Georgia are among the largest non-government employers in Wayne County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 23 % of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 19% of the jobs and employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 17% of the jobs and 10% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Wayne County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 8.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 80% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 20%, commuted out of Wayne County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Wayne County's per capita income was $14,230, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Wayne County's median household income in 1989 was $23,311. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $7,260 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Wayne County had 440 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county did not change. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Wayne County's assessed property value amounted to $323.5 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $14,470. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Wayne County is the Savannah News-Press. The county is considered part of the Savannah television market. During 1989,21 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 28% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 27% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents ofWayne County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,375 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Wayne County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T 131 Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 12 - - - - - - - - - - 3--------- 0--------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- m- u GA Georgia County Snapshots Wayne County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) .... 60 - - - - 45 15 ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Wayne County's average own source revenue per capita was $296. This amount was greater than the average of $283 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Wayne County collected an average of $185 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $151 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 60% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Wayne County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $309 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $259 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Wayne County had an average of $72,800 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $3. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $75 per capita average for the 28 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Wayne was designated tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Wayne County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. 300 200 ~. 100 o _. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 427-2028 Central Library (912) 427-2500 County Commission (912) 427-5900 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Webster County GA (4-95 .S\ Si-, Webster County was created in 1853 from part of Stewart County. Georgia's 103rd county originally had an Indian name, Kinchafoonee, for a principal creek that crosses it. After outsiders made fun of the name, the county's citizens petitioned to change it to honor Daniel Webster. The first Confederate flag to fly in Georgia was raised on the Webster County Courthouse lawn in 1861. At the end of the war, Union troops cut down and destroyed the flagpole. For a short period during World War II, the belvedere atop the courthouse was used to watch for any enemy aircraft that might be headed toward nearby Fort Benning. Preston, the county seat, was known as Lannahassee and was the first white settlement after Creek Indians left the area. When the county was created, its name changed to honor William O. Preston of South Carolina. Weston is the only other incorporated municipality. Walter F. George, who served as a U.S. Senator for 34 years, ambassador to NATO, and a special advisor to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, was born near Preston in 1878. Endangered species found in Webster County are the southern bald eagle and the red-cockaded woodpecker. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Webster County Demographics EducatiDnal Attainment: %DI PDpulatiDn Age 25 and Over (1990) T rn 50 - - CTY GA---. 40 - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ------%---ry,:. 10 I----~---I---- ~ o '--------'----------'--------' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant MDrtality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 35------ 30 - - - - 25 - - - - 20 - - - - 15 - - - - GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population ofWebster County was 2,263 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 by 3.3%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 2,204 persons. In Webster County, 50% of the residents were white and 50% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white and 27% were black. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the state's population. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Webster County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.5% of the adult population in Webster County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 16.8% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Because Webster County does not have a public high school, the five year average drop-out rate for students in grades 8 to 12 could not be calculated. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts between 1991 and 1995 was 6.7%. Webster County spent an average of $4,503 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 33.6 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, Webster County had no physicians in the county, compared with the state average of.8 physicians per 1,000 population. Webster County also had no hospital beds in 1994, compared with the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 80% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $30,900. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 309. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Webster County ranked number 157. Of this five year average, 20% were violent crimes, while 80% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 79% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 71 % voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. CDmmunity Webster Preston Weston 1970 2,362 226 73 PDpulatiDn 1980 2,341 429 109 1990 2,263 388 42 GrDwth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 -0.9 -3.3 89.8 -9.6 49.3 -61.5 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Webster County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Adams Food Pride, McGraw-Edison Company, and Tolleson Lumber Company are among the largest non-government employers in Webster County. Farming is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 27% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 33% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 16% of the jobs and 15 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23 % of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Webster County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,36% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 64%, commuted out of Webster County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Webster County's per capita income was $14,825, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Webster County's median household income in 1989 was $19,028. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,096 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Webster County had 24 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 4%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Webster County's assessed property value amounted to $41.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $18,232. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Webster County is the Columbus Ledger Enquirer. The county is considered part of the Columbus television market. During 1989, 23 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 29% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 33% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents ofWebster County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,946 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T r EJ Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o ----'-----'-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 6~_.,-. 1lZl-- g "./'---Iilil 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ---0--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Webster County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average <1991-1995) ... 75------ 60 - - - - 30 0- ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita <1991-1995) ....- 400------ Government Over the past five years, Webster County's average own source revenue per capita was $292. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Webster County collected an average of $198 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 61 % ofthe county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Webster County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $301 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Webster County had no long-term debt outstanding. In 1996, Webster was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Webster County has a four member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce NA Central Library (912) 828-5740 County Commission (912) 8282105 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Wheeler County GA C/f'i6 .Si Slo Wheeler County, the 146th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1912 from part of Montgomery County. The county was named for General Joseph Wheeler, who served in the Confederate Calvary and later as a U.S. Army officer in the SpanishAmerican War. There are two municipalities in Wheeler County-Glenwood, and Alamo, the county seat, which was named for the Texas mission that was the site of the famous battle in the Texas Revolution. The Little Ocmulgee River forms a natural border on the western side of the county, the Ocmulgee River forms the southern tip of the county, and the Oconee River forms the eastern border. They flow together into the Altamaha River. The area is often referred to as the "three rivers" area. Little Ocmulgee State Park provides a recreation and conservation area for Wheeler County. Its features include a lodge, restaurant, conference center, 18hole golf course, lake, fishing, cottages, camp sites, picnic shelters, miniature golf, and playground. Wheeler County has two locations listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Wheeler County Courthouse, built in 1915, is a large brick structure featuring columns across the entrance and marble corridors. The Woodland Plantation, constructed in 1870, is a 19-room private residence featuring imported Italian black marble fireplaces, a multi-gabled roof, and ornate mahogany molding. Another site of historical significance is the Milly Troup Tomb and the Big Oak Tree. According to legend, a young slave who died in 1863 was buried near the home of her master, and an oak tree was planted to shade the grave; however, it is more likely that the young woman was buried near an existing tree. The tombstone is still there, and the tree now measures 30 feet in circumference, with a canopy that spreads 141 feet. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Wheeler County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (l990) T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ------.-IDv----l!tl.1'l 20 __---.'Enll ---+-----1 10 ~r---+----t------1 o '-----_ _-L-_ _---'---_ _---' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 5 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population ofWheeler County was 4,903 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 by 4.9%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 5,293 persons. In Wheeler County, 68 % of the residents were white and 30% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 32% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 16% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Wheeler County, the 1990 Census reports 7% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 36% of all households in the county and the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.6% of the adult population in Wheeler County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 23.2% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 4.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Wheeler County spent an average of $3,933 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 11.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .2, compared with the .8 state average. Wheeler County had 8.3 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 76% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $29,700. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,431. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Wheeler County ranked number 129. Of this five year average, 25% were violent crimes, while 75% were non-violent crimes. In the 1992 general election, 46% of those registered in the county voted. Statewide, 73% of those registered, voted in the general election that year. Community Wheeler County Alamo Glenwood 1970 4,596 833 670 Population 1980 5,155 993 824 1990 4,903 855 881 Growth (%) 19701980 1980-1990 12.2 -4.9 19.2 -13.9 23.0 6.9 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Wheeler County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia Pacific Company, Oxford Industries, and Wheeler County Hospital are among the largest non-government employers in Wheeler County. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 18% of employment earnings. Farming is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 24% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 18% of the jobs and 21 % of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23 % of the state's jobs and earnings. In Wheeler County, jobs in federal government provide the highest average weekly wage of $484. The transportation and public utilities sector provides the next highest average weekly wage of $425. Between 1990 and 1994, Wheeler County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 7.3% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,47% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 53%, commuted out of Wheeler County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Wheeler County's per capita income was $13,306, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Wheeler County's median household income in 1989 was $16,585. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $4,303 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Wheeler County had 59 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 5%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Wheeler County's assessed property value amounted to $47.3 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $9,644. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Wheeler County is The Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989, 30% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 39% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 41 % of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents ofWheeler County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,869 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T f Ell Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income (S,OOO/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'--_--"---_""=::;s.__ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- t:}- -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Wheeler County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 15 0ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 -. 100 o _. ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Wheeler County's average own source revenue per capita was $179. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Wheeler County collected an average of $96 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 51 % of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Wheeler County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $187 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Wheeler County had an average of $6,200 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $1. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Wheeler was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Wheeler County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $3,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Wheeler County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 868-6365 Central Library (912) 568-7321 County Commission (912) 568-7135 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY White County GA C4-QS c;:.:> \ Slo White County, the l23rd county formed in Georgia, was created in 1857 from a part of the original landlot county of Habersham. The county was named for Newton County Representative David T. White, who helped a Habersham representative successfully attain passage of an act creating the new county. The county seat of White County is Cleveland. Helen is the only other incorporated community. Cleveland was named after Colonel Ben Cleveland, who served in the Revolutionary War. Helen, in the northern part of the county, had formerly been a summer resort but was destroyed by fire. Later, the town was rebuilt and transformed into an alpine village. It has become a major North Georgia tourist attraction and thriving community. Helen is also home to one of the nation's largest Oktoberfests, held in September and October of each year. Gold was found in White County in the late l820s on the Nacoochee River, then known as Duke's Creek. This area originally belonged to the Cherokee Indians. However, miners and settlers pressured the U.S. government to such a degree that eventually the Cherokee were totally removed from North Georgia to a reservation in Oklahoma. During the gold mining years, nine gold mines operated in the county. Commercial gold operations remained profitable until as late as 1940. Truett-McConnell College, a two-year, private Baptist College, is located in White County. Its 1990 enrollment was 902. Cleveland is the site of Babyland General Hospital where all of the Cabbage Patch KidsTM baby dolls are "born." SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots White County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T 40 - - . CTY m GA-~ 20 __---..i.~ ---+-----1 10 1---+----+----1 o '--_ _-L-_ _---'-_ _--' Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ 10 GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of White County was 13,006 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 28.5%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 16,015 persons. In White County, 96% of the residents were white and 3% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 1% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 27% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 15% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In White County, the 1990 Census reports 4% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 33% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 30.3% of the adult population in White County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 32.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 5.3% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. White County spent an average of $3,888 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 8.8 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number ofphysicians in the county per 1,000 population was.7, compared with the .8 state average. White County had no hospital beds in 1994; the statewide average is 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 82% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $69,700. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,695. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, White County ranked number 81. Of this five year average, 6% were violent crimes, while 94% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 72% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community White County Cleveland Helen 1970 7,742 1,353 252 Population 1980 1990 10,120 1,578 265 13,006 1,653 300 Growth (%) 19701980 1980-1990 30.7 28.5 16.6 4.8 5.2 13.2 Economy Georgia County Snapshots White County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Acro-Iga Inc., Clark Schwebel, and Orbit Industries are among the largest non-government employers in White County. Retail trade employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 22% of the jobs and 17% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 21 % of the jobs and 19% of employment earnings. Manufacturing is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, White County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,61 % of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 39%, commuted out of White County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. White County's per capita income was $17,293, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. White County's median household income in 1989 was $24,234. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $9,988 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. White County had 395 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county decreased by 12%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, White County's assessed property value amounted to $324.4 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $24,943. This figure reflects the presence of power plants in the area. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in White County is the Gainesville Times. The county is considered part of the Atlanta television market. During 1989, 13% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 14% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 24% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of White County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,986 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T , Gl Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'---'-- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY --- -@~ -- GA Georgia County Snapshots White County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) .... 60------ 45 30 15 o _. ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average 888s Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, White County's average own source revenue per capita was $406. This amount was greater than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. White County collected an average of $171 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $162 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 38% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, White County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $312 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operati"6 expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, White County had an average of $2.4 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $184. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, White was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, White County has a three member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. ALL CTY Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 865-5356 Central Library (706) 878-2438 County Commission (706) 865-2235 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Whitfield County Whitfield County was formed from part of Murray County in 1851. Georgia's 97th county was named for the Reverend George Whitefield, the founder of the Bethesda Orphan House in Savannah. The spelling of the county's name was changed to reflect the way it was pronounced. There are four municipalities: the largest is Dalton, the county seat. Dalton is known as the "Carpet Capital of the World." The other three municipalities are Cohutta, Tunnel Hill and Varnell. Dalton is the gateway to the 150 mile Chieftain's Trail which traces the path of the Cherokee Indian sites located in northwest Georgia. Tunnel Hill is named for the Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel which was cut through Chatoogeta Mountain and terminated at the site of the city. The Creative Arts Guild, the DaltonWhitfield Commission for the Arts, is the oldest local community arts agency in Georgia. The North Whitfield Middle School, Dalton Junior High and Dalton Senior High schools have all been named National Schools of Excellence. Dalton College, a two-year unit of the University System of Georgia, is also located in the county. Some of the local festivals include the Fall Arts Festival, Springfest, and the Red Carpet Festival. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Whitfield County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990) ... 40 - - + CTY m GA----l 30 ~~ 1~ W 20 ~ 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births ... 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Whitfield County was 72,462 persons. The county's population growth between 1980 and 1990 was 10.2%, compared with a state average during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 83,593 persons. In Whitfield County, 93% of the residents were white and 4% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 3% of the county's population. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white, 27% were black and 2% were Hispanic. In addition, 29% ofthe county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 10% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Whitfield County, the 1990 Census reports 6% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 37% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 28.2% of the adult population in Whitfield County had completed high school, which was less than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 31.6% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 6.2% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Whitfield County spent an average of $3,845 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 8.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 1.3, compared with the .8 state average. Whitfield County had 3.9 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was the same as the statewide average. According to the 1990 Census, 67% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $61,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 4,608. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Whitfield County ranked number 32. Of this five year average, 8% were violent crimes, while 92% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 55% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 76% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992,67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Whitfield County Cohutta Dalton Tunnel Hill Varnell 1970 55,108 393 18,872 1,146 314 Population 1980 1990 65,775 407 20,939 936 282 72,462 529 21,761 970 358 Growth (%) 1970-1980 1980-1990 19.4 10.2 3.6 30.0 11.0 3.9 -18.3 3.6 -10.2 27.0 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Whitfield County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in the county include: Aladdin Mills Inc., Cumberland Yarns, and Shaw Industries Inc. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 48% of the jobs and 52% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 14% of the jobs and employment earnings. Retail trade employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs and 9% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Whitfield County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 5.2% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,90% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 10%, commuted out of Whitfield County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 was slightly less than that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Whitfield County's per capita income was $18,531, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Whitfield County's median household income in 1989 was $27,797. This .amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $15,154 per capita. This amount was greater than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Whitfield County had 2,264 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 11 %. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Whitfield County's assessed property value amounted to $1.4 billion in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $19,078. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Whitfield County is the Dalton Citizen-News. The county is considered part of the Chattanooga television market. During 1989, 11 % of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 12% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 22% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Whitfield County received total government transfer payments amounting to $2,306 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed C1990}T Iil1l Outside County Inside County Per Capita Income ($,OOO/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o -----L_...L.-_.~ us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------'90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY uvW -- GA Georgia County Snapshots Whitfield County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ..... 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average $$$s Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 - 200 100 0- ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Whitfield County's average own source revenue per capita was $334. This amount was less than the average of $355 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Whitfield County collected an average of $81 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $153 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 24% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Whitfield County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $268 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $278 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Whitfield County had an average of $3.1 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $43. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $175 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Whitfield was designated as a tier three county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Whitfield County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Between 1991 and 1995, the City of Dalton averaged $677 per capita in own source revenues and $519 per capita in general operating expenditures. Overall, similarly sized cities averaged $528 per capita in own source revenues and $492 per capita in general operating expenditures during the same five year period. From 1991 to 1995, property taxes contributed an average of 48% of the city's own source revenues, resulting in an average per capita property tax burden of $328 for residents of Dalton. During the same period, similarly sized cities relied on property taxes for 32% of their own source revenues. Over the past five years, the City of Dalton had an average of $15.9 million in longterm debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $729. This amount was lower than the $1,299 per capita average among the 41 cities with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $868 per capita average for the 27 similarly sized cities with outstanding debt. According to the Georgia Municipal Association, the City of Dalton has a mayorcouncil form of government. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 278-7373 Central Library (706) 278-4507 County Commission (706) 275-7500 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Wilcox County Wilcox County was created from Dooly, Irwin, and Pulaski counties in 1857. Georgia's 124th county was named for General Mark Wilcox, state legislator and one of the founders of the Georgia Supreme Court. The county has four municipalities, the largest of which is Rochelle. Abbeville, the county seat, is located in the extreme eastern portion of the county. Other communities include Pineview and Pitts. The Ocmulgee River forms the county's eastern boundary. Guided wild boar hunts are available along its banks. Poor Robin Spring, located near Abbeville, was named for an Indian chief who was said to have been healed after bathing in its icecold waters. A venison ham more than 100 years old was taken from the depths of the spring and found to be petrified. Wilcox is primarily an agricultural community. It is the state's second largest producer of watermelons and among the top producers of cantaloupe. Other products include peanuts, cotton, broilers, and timber. The Ocmulgee Wild Hog Festival is held in Abbeville each May. Visitors enjoy big plates of barbeque, a womanless beauty pageant, arts and crafts, a hog baying contest, and displays of wild boars. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Wilcox County Demographics Educational Attainment: %01 Population Age 25 and Over (1990) T m 50 - - . CTY GA--~ 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ,.;' 20lf 10 ~ 0 Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Inlant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Uve Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Wilcox County was 7,008 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 by 8.8%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 7,456 persons. In Wilcox County, 68% of the residents were white and 32% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white and 27% were black. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the state's population. In addition, 31 % of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 17% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Wilcox County, the 1990 Census reports 8% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equalling the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 34% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.4% of the adult population in Wilcox County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 19.4% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.1 % of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Wilcox County spent an average of $3,792 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 8.2 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .3, compared with the .8 state average. Wilcox County had no hospital beds in 1994. The state average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 76% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $32,000. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 616. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Wilcox County ranked number 150. Of this five year average, 18% were violent crimes, while 82% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 90% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 60% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Wilcox County Abbeville Pineview Pitts Rochelle 1970 6,998 781 528 345 1,380 Population 1980 7,682 985 564 384 1,626 1990 7,008 907 594 214 1,510 Growth (%) 19701980 19801990 9.8 -8.8 26.1 -7.9 6.8 5.3 11.3 -44.3 17.8 -7.1 ~"-''''.,>. Economy According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Ithaca Industries, Pineview Health Care, and River Willows Nursing are among the largest non-government employers in Wilcox County. Manufacturing employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 16% of employment earnings. Service is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 20% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. Farming is also important to the county's economy, providing 19% of the jobs and 27% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Wilcox County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 6.0% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,59% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 41 %, commuted out of Wilcox County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Wilcox County's per capita income was $14,580, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Wilcox County's median household income in 1989 was $16,333. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $2,768 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Wilcox County had 104 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 2%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Wilcox County's assessed property value amounted to $75.8 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $10,818. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Wilcox County is the Cordele Dispatch. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989, 29% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 39% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 30% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents ofWilcox County received total government transfer payments amounting to $4,072 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Georgia County Snapshots Wilcox County Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T , !'J Outside County _Inside County Per Capita Income (8,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 - 12 - - 6- - o --'---'-- ==----'---"- us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9---------- 3---------- 0---------- ~O '91 ~2 ~3 ~4 CTY ---~--. GA Georgia County Snapshots Wilcox County Property Tax as %01 Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ..- 60------ ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ Government Over the past five years, Wilcox County's average own source revenue per capita was $245. This amount was less than the average of $304 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $43l. Wilcox County collected an average of $144 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $171 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 55% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Wilcox County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $244 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general opera,',: expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Wilcox County had an average of $36, 100 in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $5. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and less than the $109 per capita average for the 36 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Wilcox was designated as a tier one county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $2,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Wilcox County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by members of the commission. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (912) 365-2509 Central Library (912) 467-2075 County Commission (912) 467-2737 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Wilkes County Wilkes County, the 8th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1777. Originally including Lincoln, Elbert and parts of Hart, Madison, McDuffie, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro and Warren counties, Wilkes County was named for John Wilkes, a member of the British Parliament who supported the colonies' cause. The county has two municipalities, the largest of which is Washington, the county seat. Washington is said to be the first community in the nation to be incorporated under the name in honor of George Washington, and has more ante-bellum homes than any other city of its size in the state. The community was originally named Heard's Fort after the family that settled it in 1773. They were neighbors of George Washington in Virginia. The other municipality, Tignall, was incorporated in 1907, and was originally known as "Little Atlanta." The world's first cotton gin was developed by Eli Whitney on a Wilkes County plantation in 1794. The county is also the site of the first cotton mill in the south. Washington is the site of the CooperSanders-Wickersham House where Jefferson Davis formally dissolved the Confederacy on May 5, 1865. Among notable citizens of Wilkes County are: Elijah Clark, a pioneer settler and hero of the Revolution; Alexander H. Stephens who was the Vice President of the Confederacy and a Georgia governor; Robert A. Toombs, a U.S. Senator and the Secretary of State for the Confederacy; and John Springer, a Minister and Educator who taught at Princeton and fought in the Revolution. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Wilkes County Demographics EducatiDnal Attainment: %Df PDpulatiDn Age 25 and Over (1990) T 50 - - . CTY ID GA-- 40 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 30 ------l'l:.t--~ 20 Ffdt---- 10..---+-----+---1 o L -_ _.L.-_ _--'--- _ Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant MDrtality, Five Year Average ('89'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population ofWilkes County was 10,597 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 by 3.2%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 10,825 persons. In Wilkes County, 54% of the residents were white and 46% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white and 27% were black. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the state's population. In addition, 29% ofthe county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 17% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. The 1990 Census reports 8% ofWilkes County's households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, equal to the statewide rate. Total households with children under 18 comprised 32% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 33.5% of the adult population in Wilkes County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of29.6%. A total of 23.1 % of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 3.4% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Wilkes County spent an average of $3,498 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was less than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 8.9 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was.7, compared with the.8 state average. Wilkes County had 4.7 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 1994, which was greater than the statewide average of3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 77% of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $42,200. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 1,832. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Wilkes County ranked number 112. Of this five year average, 9% were violent crimes, while 91 % were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 69% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 74% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. CDmmunity Wilkes County Tignall Washington 1970 10,184 756 4,094 PDpulatiDn 1980 1990 10,951 733 4,662 10,597 711 4,279 GrDwth (%) 19701980 19801990 7.5 -3.2 -3.0 -3.0 13.9 -8.2 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Wilkes County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in Wilkes County include: Clark Schwebel, Concord Fabrics Inc., and Delta Apparel Inc. Manufacturing is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 36% of the jobs and 39% of employment earnings. Service employment is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 14% of the jobs and 12% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 13% of the jobs and employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Wilkes County's annual unemployment rate was higher than the state's mark, averaging 5.5% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990, 76% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 24%, commuted out of Wilkes County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Wilkes County's per capita income was $15,912, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Wilkes County's median household income in 1989 was $18,629. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $7,294 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Wilkes County had 287 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 9%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Wilkes County's assessed property value amounted to $168.7 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $15,918. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Wilkes County is the Augusta Chronicle. The county is considered part of the Augusta television market. During 1989,23% ofthe county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 28% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 29% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Wilkes County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,369 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed (1990) T [;;] Outside County -Inside County Per Capita Income ($,000/1992) T 24 - - - - - - - - - 18 12 6 o --'---'-- i0m us GA CTY Unemployment Rate: ('90-'94) T 9--------- 3---------- 0---------- '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 CTY ----lr:J--- GA Georgia County Snapshots Wilkes County Property Tax as %of Own Source Revenues: Five Year Average (1991-1995) ... 60------ 45 30 15 o _. ALL CTY Long Term Debt: Average SSSs Per Capita (1991-1995) T 400------ 300 200 _. 100 o _. ALL CTY Government Over the past five years, Wilkes County's average own source revenue per capita was $388. This amount was greater than the average of $318 per capita reported by other counties of similar size and was less than the overall county average of $431. Wilkes County collected an average of $233 per capita in property tax during the past five years. This amount was greater than the average of $167 per capita for other similarly sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $223. On average, property taxes accounted for 55% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1991 to 1995. Between 1991 and 1995, Wilkes County's yearly general operating expenditures averaged $293 per capita. This amount was less than the overall county average of $347 per capita during the same period. The average yearly general operating expenditures per capita for similarly sized counties was $297 between 1991 and 1995. Over the past five years, Wilkes County had an average of $1.7 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $159. This amount was lower than the $312 per capita average among the 136 counties with outstanding debt during the period and greater than the $77 per capita average for the 21 similarly sized counties with outstanding debt. In 1996, Wilkes was designated as a tier two county under Georgia's Job Tax Credit Program. Under this classification, eligible companies may receive $1,500 in tax credits for each new job created in the county. Due to Wilkes County's participation in a Joint Development Authority, those companies may receive an additional $500 in tax credits, bringing the total to $2,000 per job created. According to the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, Wilkes County has a five member board of commissioners, with the chairman elected by the voters. Sources for Georgia County Snapshots are listed in a separate bibliography. Ifyou wish to distribute this county's Snapshot independently of the entire publication, DCA requests that you also attach a copy of the bibliography. GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS 60 Executive Park South, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30329-2231 (404) 679-4950 Phone Numbers Chamber of Commerce (706) 678-2013 Central Library (706) 678-7736 County Commission (706) 678-2511 The phone numbers listed above were obtained from the: Georgia Chamber of Commerce, (404) 223-2264 Public Library Services, (404) 657-6220 Association County Commissioners of Georgia, (404) 522-5022 GEORGIA COUNTY Wilkinson County Wilkinson County, the 29th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1803. The county was named for General James Wilkinson, an officer of the Revolutionary War and native of Maryland. The county has six municipalities, the largest of which is Gordon. Irwinton is the county seat, and the others include Allentown, Ivey, McIntyre and Toomsboro. Irwinton was named for Georgia governor Jared Irwin. Gordon was named for the first president of the Central Georgia Railroad, William Washington Gordon (for whom Gordon County is also named). Allentown is situated at the junction of four counties: Wilkinson, Twiggs, Laurens and Bleckley. Wilkinson County has substantial kaolin deposits, which are important to the local economy. Wilkinson county has lost courthouses to fire in 1829, 1854, 1864 and 1924. Wilkinson County shares the Beaver Dam Wildlife Management Area with Laurens County, to the southeast. The Oconee River forms the county's eastern border. Several interesting attractions include the Swampland Opera House in Toomsboro, and Beaver Creek at Ivy Station, which has a restored caboose, a cane mill and Civil War memorabilia. SNAPSHOTS Published by the GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS October 1998 Georgia County Snapshots Wilkinson County Demographics Educational Attainment: %of Population Age 25 and Over (1990)T 50 - - . CTY m GA-- 40 30 I] , 20 ... 10 o Call Some HS No Deg Call Deg HS Deg Infant Mortality, Five Year Average ('89-'93): Rate Per 1,000 Live Births T 15------ GA CTY According to the 1990 Census, the population of Wilkinson County was 10,228 persons. The county's population declined between 1980 and 1990 by 1.4%, compared with a state average growth rate during the period of 13.2%. The county's projected population for the year 2000 is 10,797 persons. In Wilkinson County, 58% ofthe residents were white and 42% were black, according to the 1990 Census. Statewide, 71 % of residents were white and 27% were black. Hispanics, who may also be identified as either white or black in the Census data, constituted 2% of the state's population. In addition, 33% of the county's residents were age 19 or younger, while 12% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 30% were age 19 or younger and 10% were age 65 or older. In Wilkinson County, the 1990 Census reports 10% of households were headed by females and had children under 18 years of age, compared with 8% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 38% of all households in the county and 36% of those in the state. The 1990 Census indicates that 39.3% of the adult population in Wilkinson County had completed high school, which was greater than the state average of 29.6%. A total of 22.7% of the county's population had at least some college level education compared with the 41.3% state average. Between 1991 and 1995, an average of 7.5% of students in grades 8 to 12 dropped out of school each year in the county. Statewide, the average percentage of dropouts was 6.7% for the same time period. Wilkinson County spent an average of $4,016 per pupil for public education each year between 1990 and 1994. This expenditure was greater than the statewide average of $4,002. Between 1989 and 1993, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 6.1 for the county. The statewide rate was 11.3 during the same period. In 1992, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was .1, compared with the.8 state average. Wilkinson County had no hospital beds in 1994. The statewide average was 3.9 beds per 1,000 population. According to the 1990 Census, 81 % of the housing units in the county were owner occupied. The median value of these units was $40,000. Across the state, 76% of housing units were owner occupied, with a median value of $70,700. Between 1990 and 1994, the county's index crime rate (crimes per 100,000 population) was 2,334. Statewide, when moving from the highest index crime rate to the lowest, Wilkinson County ranked number 96. Of this five year average, 25% were violent crimes, while 75% were non-violent crimes. In 1992, 76% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered, 75% voted in the 1992 general election. Statewide, in 1992, 67% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 73% voted in the general election that year. Community Population 1970 1980 1990 Growth (%) 1970-1980 19801990 Wilkinson County Allentown Gordon Irwinton Ivey McIntyre Toomsboro 9,393 295 2,553 757 245 471 682 10,368 321 2,768 841 455 386 673 10,228 594 2,468 641 1,053 552 617 10.4 8.8 8.4 11.1 85.7 -18.0 -1.3 -1.4 85.0 -10.8 -23.8 131.4 43.0 -8.3 Economy Georgia County Snapshots Wilkinson County According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the largest non-government employers in the county include: Dundee Mills Inc., Englehard Corp., and Springhill Services Inc. Service employment is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 37% of the jobs and 41 % of employment earnings. Manufacturing is the next largest contributor to employment in the county, providing 24% of the jobs and 27% of employment earnings. State and local government employment is also important to the county's economy, providing 10% of the jobs and 8% of employment earnings. Statewide, service employment is the largest employment sector, contributing 23% of the state's jobs and earnings. Between 1990 and 1994, Wilkinson County's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's mark, averaging 4.9% compared with the state's average of 5.7%. Nationwide, unemployment for the same period averaged 6.5%. In 1990,53% of the county's workforce was employed within the county while the balance, 47%, commuted out of Wilkinson County for employment. The county per capita income in 1992 trailed that of the state and was less than that of the nation. Wilkinson County's per capita income was $14,415, as compared with $18,549 for the state and $20,105 for the United States. Wilkinson County's median household income in 1989 was $25,166. This amount was less than the state's median household income of $29,021 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1989 was $30,056. In 1993, taxable sales in the county amounted to $5,121 per capita. This amount was less than the $10,636 per capita figure for the state as a whole. Wilkinson County had 165 business establishments in 1991. In the six year period of 1986-1991, the number of business establishments in the county increased by 8%. Statewide, the number of business establishments increased by almost 6% during the same period. According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Wilkinson County's assessed property value amounted to $186 million in 1992, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $18,181. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1992 equaled $16,112. The newspaper with the largest daily circulation in Wilkinson County is the Macon Telegraph. The county is considered part of the Macon television market. During 1989, 15% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, comparable to the statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%. In addition, 22% of the children under the age of 18 in the county lived in poverty and 17% of the elderly, persons over age 65, lived below the poverty level. Statewide, in 1989,20% of all children and 20% of the elderly lived in poverty. Nationally, 19% of all children and 11 % of the elderly were considered to be impoverished. Residents of Wilkinson County received total government transfer payments amounting to $3,139 per capita in 1992, compared with $2,708 per capita statewide. Commuting, %of Workforce Employed