Snapshots of Georgia: Gwinnett County, 1994 June

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

SNAPSHOTS OF County Description

G E O R G

A Gwinnett County was formed in 1818 from lands obtained through treaty with the Creek and

Cherokee Indians. It was the 42nd county created in the state and named after 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."

Community
Gwinnett County
Berkeley Lake Buford Dacula Duluth
Grayson Lawrenceville
Lilburn Norcross Rest Haven Snellville Sugar Hill Suwanee

The graves of seven soldiers who were killed in a battle with Indians in the 1830s are located

Population 19701 19801 73349 166808

Growth
1990 1910-1980 I 1980-1990
352910 127.4% 111.6%

on the courthouse grounds.
The county is the 50th largest county in the state, with 437 square miles in area

219

503

791

129.7%

57.3% The county is located in CEDO Region 3

4640

6697

8771

44.3%

31.0% and the Atlanta Regional Commission.

782

1577

2217

101.7%

40.6%

1810

2956

9029

63.3% 205.4% Gwinnett County is in the 4th, 6th, and 10th

366

464

529

26.8%

14.0% U.S. Congressional Districts; the 5th, 9th, 41 st,

5207

8928 16848

71.5%

88.7% 48th, and 56th State Senatorial Districts; and

1668 2755
188 1990 1745 615

3765 3317
231 8514 2340 1026

9301 5947
176 12084 4557 2412

125.7% 20.4% 22.9% 327.8% 34.1% 66.8%

147.0% 79.3% -23.8% 41.9% 94.7% 135.1%

the 25th and 76th through 86th State House Districts.
The county has 12 municipalities. Lawrenceville, the largest of these, has : population of almost 17,000.

The county has one of the best and most recognized Clean and Beautiful programs in the state.

Demographics

1000%

During the 1980s, Gwinnett County was the third fastest growing

C:

county in the state. Its population increased nearly 112%, compared with

0
15

750%

the statewide rate of almost 19%.

"S

C.
a0.. 500%

The county is approximately 92% white, 5% black, and 3% with other

0 I'Cl)
0 250%
-;s?_
0
100%

racial backgrounds.
. The county has a lower

I

'

County

percentage of its population El. State

F'<"

65up
55-64

over the age of 55 than is

1970

1980

1990

2000 2010 found statewide (9.9% vs.

45-54
een
C.
35-44

17.7%), but a higher percent between the ages of 25 and 44 (42.1% vs. 33.7%).

C)
25-34 ~
<(

The county is the sixth most densely populated

15-24

county in the state.

5-14

Per capita income exceeds that of the state and

0-4

nation. Per capita income in the county is $19,861 vs. $17,045 statewide and $18,696 nationally.

20% 15% 10% 5% % of Population

Demographics-cont'd
In 1991, the county ranked 132nd in the state in the number of crimes reported, or in the highest 25% of counties.

GWINNETT COUNT Y

Four percent of the county's population lived below the poverty level in 1989, compared to a statewide rate of 14.7%. Only two other counties had a smaller percentage of its population living below the poverty level.

The county's rates ofinfant mortality and low birth weight babies are below that of the state. In 1991, the county's rate of infant mortality was 7.7 [per 1,000 live births], compared to a statewide average of 11.4; its rate oflow birth weight babies was 6.6, compared to 8.6 statewide.

Adult residents ofGwinnett County are relatively well educated. Sixty-one percent have either attended or graduated from college, compared to 41.3% statewide.
For the 1991-92 school year, the county's drop out rate in grades 8-12 was 2.8%. This compares to a statewide rate of 5.3%.
Fifty-three percent of the county's work force is employed outside of the county.

<HS Grad HS Grad ID Coll Not Grad
Coll Grad+

Workin County

Between 1980 and 1991, the county's annual unemployment rate was lower than the state's, averaging 4.02% vs. the state's average of 6.14%.

Commute
I] Outside
County

Services is the largest employment sector in the county, providing 21 % of the county's jobs. Retail is next largest, providing about 20%.

From 1985 to 1990, the number of businesses in

-

County

thecountyincreased48.1%. Forthestateasawhole,thisfigurewas13.3%. 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990

Governments
Gwinnett County has a commission-manager form of government.

$$$ Per Capita 800

Data from the Report of Local Government Finances indicates that the county had a general fund operational surplus in each of the past six years (FY 1987 through FY 1992). For its airport enterprise fund, however, the county had six consecutive years of deficits.

The county generated $843.46 per capita in general operating revenues in FY 1993 and expended

$578.01 in general operating expenditures. For the other counties in the same population group,

400

these revenues and expenditures averaged $690.93 and $498.50, respectively.

The county had $1,240.93 per capita in outstanding debt in 1993, compared to $768.59 for counties of similar size with debt. This debt was in the form of revenue bonds ($674.51 per capita), G.O. bonds ($297.87 per capita), and long-term loans ($268.56 per capita).
Gwinnett County is one of only six counties in the state that do not collect a Local Option Sales Tax. It does collect a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for roads, streets, and bridges.

200 Gwinnett
(I All Counties

The county has an approved and adopted solid waste management plan and is currently eligible for solid waste grants, loans, and permits.

General General Revenues Operating
Expenditures
Concludes on back page ~

Governments-cont'd
Gwinnett County and its municipalities of Berkeley Lake, Buford, Dacula, Lilburn, Norcross, Snellville, and Sugar Hill have approved and adopted comprehensive plans. The cities of Duluth, Grayson, Lawrenceville, and Rest Haven have temporarily lost their Qualified Local Government status because they failed to adopted a comprehensive plan before their recertification deadline of June, 1993. River Corridor Protection requirements do not apply to the county or its municipalities.

DCA Financial Assistance

Between July 1, 1990 and May 15, 1994, Gwinnett County and its municipalities received $152,884 in financial assistance from DCA.

Source Appalachian Regional Commission
Local Assistance Grant Local Development Fund
Total

Amount 25,000 100,000 27,884 $152,884

Number of Grants 1 1 4 6

Lawrenceville received the Appalachian Regional Commission Grant for an adult literacy program, Buford a Local Assistance Grant to acquire property, and Duluth a Local Development Fund (LDF) grant to purchase playground equipment for handicapped children.
The county received LDF grants to make improvements to the North Gwinnett baseball complex, construct a storage building, and develop a transportation impact fee schedule/ordinance.

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