Snapshots of Georgia: Candler County [June 1994]

Numbers on map are the Council ofEconomic Development Organizations (CEDO) Regions

SNAPSHOTS OF County Description

G E O R G

A Candler County, the 148th county formed in Georgia, was created in 1914 from parts ofBulloch,

Emanuel, and Tattnall counties. It was named for former Governor Allen D. Candler who spent a

tremendous portion of his retirement years compiling the state's Colonial, Revolutionary, and

Confederate records.

The county has an area of 251 square miles, ranking it 125th in size among Georgia's counties.

The county is located in CEDO Region 8 and the Altamaha Georgia Southern Regional Development Center.

Community Candler County
Metter Pulaski

Candler County is in the 1st U.S. Congressional District, the 20th State Senatorial District, and

Population

Growth

the 145th State House District.

19701 6412 2912
230

19801 7518 3531 257

1990 1910-1980 I 1980-1990

7744

17.2%

3.0%

3707

21.3%

5.0%

264

11.7%

2.7%

The county has two incorporated municipalities: Metter and Pulaski. The largest, and county seat, is Metter with a population of about 3,700.

Demographics

200o/o-,------------------,---, Candler County's population increased by only 3.3% during the 1980s,

much slower than the regional (14%) and statewide (18.6%) averages.

c::

:8
s m

150% +--+--i----'-----~,,:,:i'.'""""~---'----i

0.

The county's 1990 population was 68.6% white, 31.1% black, and 0.3% with other racial backgrounds. This racial makeup is similar to what i

0

~ 100% .....=--;---'----------------------i found in both the region and the state.

r--
0>
- 0 50% -+----->--~-----j
,!!.

State County

A higher percentage of the county's population is 65 years of age or older than in the region or the state as a whole-16.4% for the county, versus 11.3% for the region and 10% for the state.

1970

1980

1990

2000 2010 Median household income

100%~---------~----- for the county in 1989 was

m

E

$19,375, or67% ofthe statewide

0
~ 75% +--~------->--~-~-~ median household income of

~ C.

$29,021.

(3 a5

50% +---'----""-==----__;_-__;__1-----------'



Per capita income for the

ll..

cri

State

county was $12,796 in 1990,

::j 25%

lower than the state and national

o

-

County

,!!.

income levels of $17,045 and

1970

1980

1990

2000 2010 $18,696, respectively. While the

county's per capita income was roughly 68% of the

nation's in 1990, it did increase a little over 12% relative

to that of the U.S. during the 1980s.

County CJ State

cl $150,000+
~ $100-149,999
rzz!! $75-99,999

$50-74,999 :r:

------- 0c::

$40-49,999

1/J (I)

:::;

0
$3(}-39 ,999 C:

5"

$20-29,999

0 0

3

$10-19,999 (I)

$5-9,999

<$5,000

24% 18% 12% 6% % of Households

Although the county's 1989 poverty rate of 24.1 % was higher than the 14.7% average for the state as a whole, its rates ofinfant mortality (7.4) and low birth weight babies (4.4) were lower than the statewide rates of 11.4 and 8.6, respectively.

Demographics-cont'd
In 1991, 27.4% ofthe crimes reported in the county were ofa violent nature, more than twice the statewide figure of 11.5%.
Forty-six percent of the county's adults age 25 or older have not completed high school, compared to 29.1 % statewide. Only 24% have either some college
education or a college degree, significantly below the 41.3% average for the state.

County
LLl State

C A N D L E R C OU NT Y
Coll Grad+ Coll Not Grad HS Grad HS Not Grad

The county's 1991-92 dropout rate for grades 8-12 was 8.4%, higher than the statewide rate of 5.3%.
Thirty-six percent of the county's workforce commutes outside of the county for employment.

40o/o 30% 20% 10% % of Population Age 25+

0-8 10%



Work in County

Commute
Ill Outside County

The sector providing the largest percentage of jobs in the county is services (20.87%), with retail (17.78%) being the next largest provider.
Between 1980 and 1991, the county's unemployment rate averaged 5.86%, and the state's

State

-

County

8%

0 ~

C

5%

::, CD

3

""C

0

3%

'<
CD

Cl.

averaged 6.14%.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -1-98-0 - - 1982 - - - 1984 1986 1988 1990

Governments

$$$ Per Capita

500

Candler County has a traditional commission form of government, with a five member board.

In FY 1993, the county generated slightly more revenue than other counties in the same

population group-$410.86 per capita, compared to an average of $391.39. For general fund

375

operating expenditures, the county expended $278.29 per capita, while the other counties in the

population group expended $320.67.

The county collects both a Local Option Sales Tax and a Special Purpose Local Option Sales
250
Tax (SPLOST). The SPLOST is being collected for capital outlay projects.

The county had $389.83 per capita in outstanding debt in FY 1993. Most of this debt ($344.95 per capita) was in the form of "other" long-term debt such as GEFA and FmHA loans.
At the end of FY 1993, the county had $274.41 per capita in cash and investment assets. The other counties in the same population group had an average of $250.98 per capita.
Candler County and the City of Metter are currently considering consolidating their governments.
The county is a participating member of an eleven-county recycling program/regional Keep America Beautiful System initiative, one of the first of its kind in the nation.

125 Candler
IBM All Counties
General General Revenues Operating
Expenditures

The county and each of its incorporated municipalities have, or are part of, an approved and adopted solid waste management plan, making them currently eligible for solid waste grants, loans, and permits.

Candler County and all of its municipalities have an approved and adopted joint comprehensive plan. The county is also in compliance with river Corridor Protection requirements.

Concludes on back page ~