Elbert County
Community
Profile
13th in order of
county creation
Dec. 10, 1790
Prepared for Elbert County Cooperative Extension
by The Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Elbert County
21,734
2010 Trend CAED
20,966
20,908
2010 Proj. OPB
2004 Est.
20,511
2000
18,949
18,758
1990
1980
17,262
17,835
18,585
1970
1960
1950
19,618
18,485
1940
1930
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; CAED (Center for
Agribusiness & Economic Development); OPB (State Office of Planning & Budget).
25,000
Population Composition by Age
Elbert County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
5.8
7.5
14.9
16.2
36.4
32.5
0%
35.0
29.3
9.2
19.8
29.1
31.0
10.9
13.5
22.5
20.0
28.7
29.2
33.3
25.7
15.2
20.2
35.0
22.4
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
14.9
+3.4
23.6
-1.8
33.2
22.0
10.4
12.1
10.9
8.7
7.5
7.3
6.4
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2004 Estimated Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Elbert Co. = 37.3 yrs.
-0.3
-0.4
-0.9
GA = 33.8 yrs.
2004 County Population Comparisons
County
Total
Density
Total
% Chg.
per sq.mi. land
Rank
2000-04
area
Rank of
% Chg.
ELBERT
20,908
86
56.7
1.9
104
HART
23,369
74
100.6
1.6
108
LINCOLN
8,398
139
39.8
0.6
122
MADISON
27,312
61
96.2
6.1
61
OGLETHORPE
13,557
108
30.7
7.3
53
WILKES
10,583
123
22.5
-1.0
138
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
Population Change: 1930-2000
30
Percentage Change
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
1930-40
1940-50
1950-60
U.S.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
1960-70
Georgia
1970-80
1980-90
Elbert Co.
1990-2000
Components of Population Change: 2000-2004
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
Numerical
Change
# Natural
Increase
(BirthsDeaths)
Rate of
Natural
Increase
# Net
Migration
Rate of
Net Migration
ELBERT
397
104
1.2
304
3.5
HART
369
-20
-0.2
400
4.1
LINCOLN
50
-82
-2.3
137
3.8
MADISON
1,582
539
4.8
1,051
9.3
OGLETHORPE
922
205
3.7
727
13.1
WILKES
397
104
1.2
304
3.5
4,041
1,878
4.8
2,156
8.4
GEORGIA
642,567
298,562
8.3
342,818
9.5
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau
* Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
Average annual estimates of annual rates per 1,000 population
Area
Avg. GA Co.
Population Change: 2000-2004
LOSS
0 – 4.3%
4.3 – 7.8%
7.8 – 15.7%
15.7 – 34%
GA = 7.8%
US = 4.3%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Vital Statistics
2003 Rates
12.1
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.6
50.4
Unwed per 100 total births
38.1
28.3
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
Deaths per 1,000 pop
35.1
11.5
7.6
10.9
Induced terminations per
1,000 females age 15-44
Low birth weight per 100
births
Infant deaths per 1,000 births
10-yr. rates 1994-2003
16.8
9.1
8.8
8.0
Elbert Co.
Georgia
8.8
2003 Elbert Co. Natality Data
2003 Elbert Co. Mortality Data
250 total births, 126 unwed births 237 total deaths
39 induced terminations
5 infant deaths
42 teen pregnancies
30 low birth weight babies
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
3.5
Grad or Prof Degree
8.3
6.3
Bachelor's degree
16.0
3.9
5.2
Associate degree
14.3
Some college, no degree
20.4
39.2
HS Grad
28.7
21.7
9th-12th no diploma
Elbert Co.
Georgia
13.8
11.0
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Elbert Co.
Not completing HS = 32.8%
With a bachelor’s + degree = 9.8%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2003-04
48.2
51.8
55.5
Teachers w/adv degrees
College prep certif
73.4
54.6
Class '04 Grad Rate
65.4
6.8
8.2
12.0
12.1
Gifted
Special Ed
Free/Reduc lunch
46.4
Retained in grade
3.9
Absent >15 days
7.0
9.5
7.8
5.1
HS Dropout rate
0
57.2
10
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
Elbert Co.
Georgia
13.8
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Percentage
Elbert Co.
Enrollment, K12 = 3,591
H.S. dropouts = 93
General Fund expenditures per pupil = $6,546
Per Capita Income: 1998-2003
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
1998
1999
2000
Elbert Co.
2003 PCI
Elbert Co. = $22,274
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
2001
Georgia
2002
2003
U.S.
Georgia = $29,000
U.S. = $31,472
Per Capita Income: 1998-2003
Percentage Change
8
Percentage
6
4
2
0
1998-99
1999-2000
Elbert Co.
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
2000-01
2001-02
Georgia
2002-03
U.S.
Per Capita Income: 2003
PCI
Rank of
PCI
% PCI of
GA Total
% Change
in PCI
1998-2003
ELBERT
$22,274
79
76.8
16.9
HART
$21,663
91
74.7
13.1
LINCOLN
$21,156
97
73.0
18.3
MADISON
$24,349
39
84.0
12.5
OGLETHORPE $22,979
65
79.2
19.4
WILKES
$20,598
111
71.0
6.6
GA Avg. Co.
$22,879
--
78.9
15.5
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Median Household Income
2002 Model-Based Estimates
US
$42,409
GEORGIA
$42,359
GA Avg. Co.
$34,153
$29,219
ELBERT
$32,187
HART
$30,806
LINCOLN
$36,301
MADISON
$35,619
OGLETHORPE
$26,945
WILKES
$0
$9,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
$18,000
$27,000
$36,000
$45,000
Transfer Receipts: 2003
Elbert Co. Total = $111,660,000
38.2
35.8
Retirement/Disab
Medicare
19.2
18.3
18.9
Pub Med Assist
3.7
2.7
Supp Sec Inc
0.4
0.6
2.2
2.5
Family Assist
Food Stamps
All Other
Georgia
Elbert Co.
$5,394 per capita
transfer receipts
2.9
3.2
2.1
3.4
4.8
Veteran Benefit
Elbert Co.
5.6
5.6
Other Inc Maint
Unemp
21.9
24.2% of total personal income
-1.0% change in total 2002-2003
8.2
0
5
10
15
20
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
25
30
35
40
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2002 Model-Based Estimates
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
ELBERT
3,143
15.3
72
HART
3,192
13.8
52
LINCOLN
1,255
14.8
62
MADISON
3,365
12.5
38
OGLETHORPE
1,679
12.6
39
WILKES
1,802
17.0
85
GA Avg. Co.
6,964
16.5
--
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
Persons Living Below the Poverty Level
2002 Model-Based Estimates
4.4 – 11.7%
11.7 – 15.0%
15.0 – 18.4%
18.4 – 21.6%
21.6 – 30.2%
GA = 13.0%
Weighted
average poverty
threshold for a
family of 4
persons in 2002
= $18,392
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
US = 12.1%
Unemployment Rates
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
10
Elbert Co.
Georgia
U. S.
8
6
4
2
0
1995
1996
1997
2004 Rates
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
1998
1999
2000
Elbert Co. = 5.2
2001
2002
GA = 4.6
2003
2004
US = 5.5
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Elbert County 2004 Annual Averages, % of Total
Estab
Emp
Wages
Agriculture
Manufacturing
Transp-warehous
Prof-Sci-Tech Svc
Accom/Food Svc
All Other
Mining
Whlsle trade
Information
Admin-waste svc
All other svc
Construction
Retail trade
Finance/Insur
Health svc
Govt
Employment Comparisons by Industry: 2004
Total GOODS
Producing
Agriculture
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Total SERVICE
Producing
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Finance-Ins
Transp-warehous
Information
Prof-Sci-Tech
Adm-Waste svc
Health-Soc Svcs
Accomo-Food svc
All other svcs
17.7
0.7
0.7
2.3
0.2
2.3
5.2
35.3
37.2
11.7
8.0
5.4
9.4
11.6
1.3
3.9
0.5
3.1
2.4
4.1
1.3
5.0
0.1
6.9
5.9
8.8
5.9
8.4
2.3
8.2
Total
GOVERNMENT
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
40.6
Elbert Co.
Georgia
16.5
22.0
65.4
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2004
Elbert Co. Total Value = $67,595,233
Poultry-Egg
74.0%
All other
3.0%
Ornamental
Horticulture
3.6%
Forestry
2.6%
Livestock
11.3%
Row-Forage crops
5.5%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2004
Elbert Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $499,523,094
34.9
Residential
Ag/Pref/Environ
6.3
15.8
13.1
Commercial
52
25.9
22.6
8.1
7.7
7.1
Industrial
Utility
20.7
40.6
3.9
5.7
3.9
Motor Vehicle
9.5
8.9
7.4
1.5
Mobile Home
1.5
0.5
0.5
Timber
1.1
0.2
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Elbert Co.
GA Avg. Co. (prelim)
GA Total (prelim)
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2004
County
% Resi- % Agri- % Com- % In- % Motor
%
dential cultural mercial dustrial Vehicle Other
ELBERT
34.9
25.9
15.8
8.1
9.5
5.8
HART
54.1
18.1
6.2
11.5
6.4
3.7
LINCOLN
52.8
26.9
5.1
0.4
8.8
6.0
MADISON
46.8
26.4
6.5
0.8
10.6
8.8
OGLETHORPE 39.4
40.2
4.5
0.7
8.9
6.4
WILKES
26.8
37.7
14.8
4.7
8.2
7.8
Avg. GA Co.
40.6
20.7
13.1
7.7
8.9
8.3
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax
’03
Countywide
Millage*
’03
School
Millage*
’03 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales
Tax Rate
LOST
Type*
ELBERT
27.35
16.90
$11,739
7
LSE
HART
18.30
12.95
$16,513
7
LSE
LINCOLN
22.02
12.00
$6,442
7
LSE
MADISON
27.75
16.72
$15,085
7
LSE
OGLETHORPE
20.92
13.50
$7,702
7
LSE
WILKES
24.73
16.69
$7,541
7
LSE
County
as of 10/05 as of 10/05
*All tax districts are assessed an additional .250 state millage. Taxes Levied,
but not necessarily collected. L=Local Option Sales Tax, S=Special Purpose,
E=Educational
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Retail Sales Analysis: 2004
Elbert Co. Total Retail Sales = $204,251,000
1.07
Total Retail Sales
2.48
Health-Personal Care
0.59
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
Gas stations
1.30
1.26
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
0.43
0.78
Clothing & Accessories
1.00
General Merchandise
0.87
Food Services-Drinking Places
1.26
Food-Beverage Stores
0
1
2
3
Sales Activity Index-Wealth Factor
A “pull factor” of 1.0 means that the county’s sales are what would be expected
based upon the number of residents and their relative wealth.
Primary data sources: “2005 Georgia Outshopping Report,” SBDC, Applied Research, The University of Georgia.
Commuting to Work: 2000
Percentage of:
Residents working in
county
72.7
Residents working
out of county
27.3
Workers coming into
county
19.6
Residents driving to
work alone
77.5
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
15.0
2.4
Elbert County
Mean travel time to work = 21.2 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 0.65
Resident workers 16+ = 8,576
Residents working in county = 6,238
Residents working out of county = 2,338
Total working in county = 7,762
Workers commuting into county = 1,524
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
This study was developed
to assist community leadership
with their future planning
and decision making.
Special County Area Report
# 06-02 January, 2006
Prepared for Elbert County Cooperative Extension
by Susan R. Boatright and Emily Olliff
Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Georgia Cooperative Extension
706-542-0760 • 706-542-8938
www.caed.uga.edu AND www.georgiastats.uga.edu