Snapshots of Georgia: Treutlen County, 1994 June

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

SNAPSHOTS OF County Description

G E O R G

A 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's 202 square miles make it the state's 138th largest county.

Community Treutlen County
Soperton

Population
19701 19801 5647 6087

Growth

1990 1910-1980 I 1980-1990

5994

7.8%

-1.5%

The county seat and sole incorporated municipality is Soperton, with a 1990 population of 2,797.

2596

2981

2797

14.8%

-6.2% Treutlen County is in CEDO Region 8 and

the Heart of Georgia Regional Development Center.

The county is in the 8th U.S. Congressional District, the 20th State Senatorial District, and the 144th State House District.

The Oconee River forms a natural border along the southwestern section of the county.

200%
C
2 150%
Ill
"S
0. 0
~ 100%
" m
0 50%
:,g
0

1970

1980

100%

i

a>
E
0

. -" I -""

0
E

75%

--a.l!!.
Ill
0 50% a<.i.i

en =>

25%

0

:,g
0

1970

1980

Demographics

Treutlen County's population decreased 1.5% in the 1980's vs. the statewide growth rate of 19%.

The county's 1990 population was 66.9% white and 33.1% black. Approximately 15% ofthe county's population is age 65 and over vs. 109.. statewide.

Treutlen County's 1989

median household income was

-

County

$17,391 vs. the state's $29,021.

1990

2000 2010 Almost three quarters (74.8%)

of the county's households had

I

annual incomes of less than $30,000 vs. the state rate of

51.4%.

The county's 1990percapita

County
[!l State

d $150,000+
cz $100-149,999

c;_z!! $75-99,999

$50-74,999 I

0

C

$40-49,999

en
:a:>r

$30-39,999 a0:

5"

$20-29,999

0 0

3

$10-19,999 a>

1990

State County

income was $10,556, compared to $17,045 for the state. Only three counties in the state have

2000 2010 lower per capita incomes.

24% 18% 12% 6%

$5-9,999 <$5,000 % of Households

Treutlen County's 1990 per capita income was 56% of that of the U.S., only a 2% improvement

from 1980's 54%.

About 27% of the county's population have incomes below the poverty level vs. 14.7% statewide. About 48% of the county's female-headed households live in poverty vs. the state average of 34.3%.

Demographics-cont'd

T REUT L EN

C OUN T Y

Forty-seven percent of the county's adult population have not completed high school, compared

i i i to 29. I% statewide. Only about 19% have at least some college education,

___

.c====:::r====:--i1~rr=-:::=-:::=::=::=. .~J,~.

County

1~

_

coll Grad+

compared to the state average of 41.3%.

[I3 State
The county's 1991-92 dropout rate for grades 8-12 (7.2%) exceeded the

Coll Not Grad

statewide rate of 5.3%.

HS Grad

Approximately 45% of the county's workforce

HS Not Grad

commute to work-31 % to Toombs County and 22.5%

0-8

to neighboring Emanuel County.

40% 30% 20% 10%

Manufacturing is the dominant sector in the

% of Population Age 25+

county's economy, with almost 28% of the county's

D Work in County
Commute
Ill Outside County

jobs and 24% of its total earnings. State and local government and the retail sector respectively provide about 16% and 15% of the county's jobs.
In 1970, farming provided 26% of the county's jobs and 23% oftotal earnings. By 1990, it was only 13% of the jobs and earnings. In 1987 constant

dollars, farm earnings declined from $3.6 million to $3.2 million. Harvested cropland declined over 67% between 1982 and 1987.
Between 1986 and 1991, Treutlen County's unemployment rate was 24%

5% Cal

State

3
"'O
I 0
= 3%

-

County

higher than the state's.

1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990

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

$$$ Per Capita 500

The county's FY 1993 per capita total general revenues were less than the average for all small

counties, $373.78 versus $391.39.

375

The county collects a Local Option Sales Tax but does not collect a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.

Treutlen County's FY 1993 per capita total general operating expenditures were comparable to

250

the population group average, $322.14 versus $320.67.

In FY 1993, the county reported $36.12 in per capita long-term debt, held in the form oflease financing. It also reported $22.64 in per capita short-term debt.
The county reported$ IO1.50 in 1993 per capita cash and investment assets (not including assets held in bond and sinking funds), almost identical to the average of $101.14 for all small counties.
The county and city have an approved and adopted solid waste management plan and are eligible for solid waste grants, loans, and permits.
Treutlen County's comprehensive plan has been completed and its Qualified Local Government Status extended.

125 Treutlen
IJ@ All Counties
General General Revenues Operating
Expenditures

Concludes on back page~

!"'..,,''**TM"*"'-~'*"'~*~\*"'~''"'"""';:;:::;::,imm-::..~x::":&m%~,,-:::*'*~~~mmm:::~~-~~~~=*'::iW<l:'!,iW~::c.,;:;i:.~*Wi'=,=:~W<i:::.-)W:'.':x,'-=-~-.::-:;:.x::::":&iii,;..-.::,:i,":&,~~,,<c,:s::;;;:;i:::::;:;$.~m::,m~~*"'-~~i,

I t

-G-ov-e-rn-m-e-nt-s--co-n-t'd-

I i

- - - - - - - - - - - The county is a participating member ofan eleven-county recycling program/regional Keep America

IiIi

I!.
~

Beautiful System initiative, one of the first of its kind in the nation.
-DC-A-F-in-a-nc-ia-l -As-s-is-ta-nc-e- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I;
i

i

Between July 1, 1990 and May 15, 1994, Treutlen County and Soperton received $442,900 in

I

financial assistance from DCA, of which $400,000 were Community Development Block Grant

(CDBG) funds.

ource Community Develop
LocalAssi Local Development Fund

Amount ,000
32,900 10,000

Number of Grants 1 1 1