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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