Snapshots of Georgia: Camden County [June 1994]

Numbers on map are the Council ofEconomic Deve/.opment Organizations (CEDO) Regions

SNAPSHOTS GEO RG
Community Camden County
Kingsland SL Marys Woodbine

OF County Description
A Camden County was the second Georgia county organized. The county dates to 1777 as a political entity. The county was named after the Earl of Camden, Charles Pratt. Pratt was an outspoken proponent of home rule for the colonies when he was Lord Chancellor of England.

Population

19701 1980I

11334 13371

1831 2008

3408 3596

1002

910

Growth
1990 1910-1980 I 1980-1990

30167

18.0% 125.6%

4699

9.7% 134.0%

8187

5.5% 127.7%

1212

-9.2%

33.2%

The county seat is Woodbine. The county includes two other municipalities, Kingsland and St Marys.
The county is 783 square miles in area; the 6th largest county in the state.

Camden County is in CEDO Region 11 and the Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center.

The county is in the 1st U.S. Congressional District, the 7th State Senatorial District, and the 175th State House District

Camden County includes unspoiled Cumberland Island. Largely owned by the U.S. Department ofthe Interior, the island is accessible only by boat orplane. Nevertheless, Cumberland Island had 38,000 visitors in 1993.

The Georgia Department ofTransportation staff recommended that Kingsland receive almost $300,000 in !STEA funds for landscaping and bicycle paths along the waterfront.

Camden County is the site of the Kings Bay Submarine Base. Construction of the base made Camden County the fastest growing county in the state during the 1980s.

Demographics

400% r;::======:::;--;---,.----:--.....,-, Camden County experienced explosive growth in the 1980s; growing

C
,g 300%

~al

-

R 0 200% I

C)

o 100%
*

almost 126% between 1980 and 1990. In 1980, the county's population was 13,371. By 1990, its population exceeded 30,000.
Kings Bay Submarine Base has had a major impact on the county. In 1970, almost 53% of the jobs in the county were in manufacturing. By 1990, manufacturing jobs accounted for about 16% of the county's jobs and the Federal military sector accounted for about 25% of the jobs. The distribution ofjobs across sectors in the county is very positive. The Base

1970

1980

1990

2000 2010 has given the county more employment diversity, but does not dominate

the county's economy in the same way that Fort Benning dominates

Chattahoochee County, where 75% of the county's jobs are military.

.S! C.
al
0 50% a~ .
:e:n, 25%
0
* 1970

A relatively small proportion of Camden County's population have

incomes below the poverty level; 11.5% vs. about 15% statewide. At the

same time, percapitaincome was only about 60% ofU.S. per capitaincome

-{'nf:u$M

State
County

in 1990, $11,186 compared to $18,696 nationally. As a percentage ofU.S. per capita income, Camden County's per capita income fell in the 1980s, from about 82% of the national level, most likely due to the influx of the

--'--------'--~-_;__-'-- --~' relatively low paid (in money income) enlisted personnel.

1980

1990

2000 201

Demographics-cont'd

C AMDEN

C OUNTY Median household income is $28,212 in the county, in the top 25% in the state. About 24% of

the county's households are in the $20,000 to $29,999 inco~e range. Statewide, 17% of Georgia's

households are in that income range.
The county's population is young, only 5% are age 65 or over. About 78% of the population is white.
In 1989, 74.4% of the county's acreage was in forest land; the county ranks in the top one-third of counties in forested land.
About 29% of Camden County's earnings are from manufacturing. The county's manufacturing establishments are concentrated in the lumber and wood industry.

County
ii State

~ $150,000+

: Gd $100-149,999

l $75-99,999

$50-74,999

:c
0

$40-49,999

Ca,:
Cl)

~

0

$30-39,999 C:

5"

$20-29,999

C,
0

!

3

$10-19,999 Cl)

<HS Grad lilll HS Grad

Twenty percent of the county's adult population have not

.:.~.....

graduated from high school, compared to 29% statewide. The

county ranks 9th on this measure of educational attainment; only25% 20% 15% 10% 5%

eight Georgia counties have a lower percentage ofnon-graduates.

% of Households

$5-9,999 <$5,000

m Coll Not Grad The Georgia Department of Revenue ranked the county 50th on its

,___

Coll Grad+
_ _ _ ___,

Master Economic Rank for 1992, based on taxable sales, automobile registrations, income reported for tax purposes, and net property tax digest

Governments
Camden County has a traditional commission form of government, with a five member board
The county collects both the Local Option Sales Tax and Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). The SPLOST is being collected for roads, streets, and bridges.
In 1993, Camden County reported raising $443.32 per capita in general revenues, compared to $380.40 among similarly sized counties and $525.46 for all counties. In particular, its revenues from both property taxes and the SPLOST were higher than average for similarly sized counties.
In 1993, the county's per capita general operating expenditures were greater than those of similarly sized counties - $309.27 per capita for Camden County compared to $297.19 for all counties in its population group. The county reported spending significantly more per capita for highways, streets and drainage than similarly sized counties - $31.51 per capita for Camden County, compared to $13.31 per capita for all counties in its population group - reflecting the importance of the SPLOST.
The county reported having $14.92 in per capita general obligation debt outstanding in 1993 and $75.25 in per capita short-term debt.
The county and cities have an approved and adopted solid waste management plan and are currently eligible for solid waste grants, loans, and permits.
Camden County and all ofits municipalities have an approved and adoptedjointcomprehensive plan. The county is also in compliance with River Corridor Protection requirements.

$$$ Per Capita 500
375
250
125 Camden
lli] All Counties
General General Revenues Operating
Expenditures

Concludes on back page ll@r'

DCA Financial Assistance

Between July 1, 1990 and May 15, 1994, Camden County and its municipalities received $211,160 in financial assistance from DCA; $186,160 of that assistance was for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project.

Source

Amount Number of Grants

Community Development Block Grant

186,160

1

Local Development Fund

10,000

1

Local Government Efficiency Grant

15,000

1

Total $211,160

3

CDBG funds were awarded for a drainage improvement project in Woodbine.

The Local Government Efficiency Grant is being used to assess the feasibility of consolidating fire services in the county under the direction of the Camden County Public Service Authority.

Kingsland recently received a Local Development Fund grant to develop marlceting materials and a Newcomer's Guide.

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
SPECIAL PROJECTS SECTION
1200 Equitable Building 100 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30303 (404) 656-3851
An Equal Opportunity Employer
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