Tift County
Community Profile
141st in order of
county creation
August 17, 1905
Prepared for Tift County Cooperative Extension
by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Tift County
42,839
42,261
41,610
38,407
34,998
32,862
27,288
23,487
22,645
2010 CAED Trend
2010 OPB Proj.
2007 Estimate
2000
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
18,599
16,068
1940
1930
0
9,000
18,000
27,000
36,000
45,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; OPB (State Office of Planning &
Budget); CAED (Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development) 3/08.
Population Composition by Age
Tift County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
4.6
5.7
14.1
14.5
39.0
31.7
36.3
30.1
7.3
8.0
10.2
11.3
11.7
+ 0.4
18.1
18.8
17.2
17.5
21.1
+ 4.4
36.0
- 2.3
29.0
33.3
29.9
33.8
35.4
38.3
- 1.6
28.8
25.0
23.4
10.7
13.5
12.3
9.5
8.4
7.9
7.7
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
0%
2007 Estimated Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
Tift Co. = 33.4 yrs.
- 0.2
GA = 34.7 yrs.
2007 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-07
Rank of
% Chg.
TIFT
41,610
47
157.0
8.4
73
BERRIEN
16,722
97
37.0
3.0
104
COLQUITT
44,814
45
81.1
6.6
82
COOK
16,432
101
71.7
4.2
97
IRWIN
9,934
128
27.8
0.0
125
TURNER
9,270
133
32.4
-2.5
139
WORTH
21,285
85
37.4
-3.3
143
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (3/08)
Population Change: 1930-2000
30
Percentage Change
25
20
15
10
5
0
1930-40
1940-50
1950-60
U.S.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
1960-70
Georgia
1970-80
1980-90
1990-2000
Tift Co.
Components of Population Change
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
2000-2007
Numerical
Change*
2000-2007
# Natural
Increase
(Births-Deaths)
2000-2007
# Net
Migration
2006-07
1-yr Natural
Increase
Rate
2006-07
1 yr.Net
Migration
Rate
3,220
2,096
1,317
8.4
-3.3
BERRIEN
487
573
-13
6.5
-3.9
COLQUITT
2,776
1,921
1,049
6.1
7.3
661
514
225
5.3
4.9
3
-234
-715
8,540
1,357,934
99
308
530
3,283
521,982
-42
-502
-1,151
4,564
725,733
2.0
5.1
2.4
5.3
8.3
-32.7
-11.3
-10.9
6.6
13.3
Area
TIFT
COOK
IRWIN
TURNER
WORTH
Avg. County
GEORGIA
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau (3/08)
* Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
Population Change: 2000-2007
LOSS
0 – 7.2%
7.2 – 16.6%
16.6 – 39.0%
39.0 – 61.5%
Avg. GA
County = 9.9%
GA = 16.6%
US = 7.2%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (3/08)
Selected Vital Statistics
2006 Rates
17.8
Total births per 1,000 pop
14.6
54.0
Unwed per 100 total births
46.7
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
41.8
38.4
8.2
Deaths per 1,000 pop
9.2
Induced terminations per
1,000 females age 15-44
Low birth weight per 100
births
Infant deaths per 1,000 births
2.7
8.6
11.3
9.5
Tift Co.
9.2
Georgia
9.4
10-yr. rates 1997-2006
2006 Tift Co. Natality Data
741 total births, 400 unwed births
27 induced terminations
129 teen pregnancies
90 low birth weight babies
2006 Tift Co. Mortality Data
342 total deaths
6 infant deaths
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health, OASIS
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
6.4
Grad or Prof Degree
8.3
9.2
Bachelor's degree
16.0
6.3
5.2
Associate degree
15.6
Some college, no degree
20.4
30.3
28.7
HS Grad
20.4
9th-12th no diploma
Tift Co.
Georgia
13.8
11.7
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Tift Co.
Not completing HS = 32.1%
With a bachelor’s + degree = 15.6%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2006-07
50.4
Teachers w/adv degrees
56.3
63.3
College prep certif
32.4
HOPE Eligible
75.0
38.1
63.1
Class '07 Grad Rate
72.3
7.5
8.7
Gifted
12.9
11.7
Special Ed
Econ Disadvantaged
50.0
5.2
4.3
8.4
10.0
7.5
4.1
Retained in grade
Absent >15 days
HS Dropout rate
0
10
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
57.6
Tift Co.
Georgia
20
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
80
Tift Co.
K12 enrollment = 7,397
HS dropouts = 176
General Fund Expenditures per FTE = $7,033
Per Capita Income: 2001-2006
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2001
2002
2003
Tift Co.
2006 PCI
Tift Co. = $24,733
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/08)
2004
Georgia
2005
2006
US
Georgia = $32,095
US = $36,714
Per Capita Income: 2001-2006
Percentage Change
6
5
Percentage
4
3
2
1
0
-1
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
Tift Co.
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/08)
2004-2005
Georgia
2005-2006
US
Per Capita Income: 2006
PCI
Rank of
PCI
% PCI of
GA Total
% Change
in PCI
2001-2006
TIFT
$24,733
83
77.1
10.0
BERRIEN
$24,961
73
77.8
15.2
COLQUITT
$22,331
114
69.6
11.6
COOK
$20,133
150
62.7
8.3
IRWIN
$20,404
148
63.6
2.9
TURNER
$22,212
119
69.2
16.6
WORTH
$25,155
69
78.4
19.8
GA Avg. Co.
$25,483
--
79.4
14.5
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/08)
Median Household Income
2007 Model-Based Estimates
US
$50,740
GEORGIA
$49,080
GA Avg. Co.
$40,170
$37,335
TIFT
$34,460
BERRIEN
COLQUITT
$33,024
COOK
$30,607
$33,902
IRWIN
$30,582
TURNER
$37,643
WORTH
$0
$10,000
$20,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/08)
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
Transfer Receipts: 2006
Tift Co. Total = $221,100,000
32.6
Retirement/Disab
35.1
22.1
23.2
Medicare
18.8
16.8
Pub Med Assist
2.8
2.5
Supp Sec Inc
Tift Co.
0.4
0.5
Family Assist
Georgia
2.8
2.7
Food Stamps
8.9
Other Inc Maint
6.8
1.1
1.5
3.2
3.4
Unemp
Veteran Benefit
21.6% of total personal income
5.2% change in total 2005-2006
7.3
7.6
All Other
0
5
10
Tift Co.
$5,341 per capita
transfer receipts
15
20
25
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/08)
30
35
40
45
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2007 Model-Based Estimates
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
TIFT
11,612
28.9
152
BERRIEN
3,112
18.9
84
COLQUITT
9,721
22.2
113
COOK
3,715
22.9
118
IRWIN
3,387
36.2
159
TURNER
2,236
24.6
132
WORTH
3,875
18.3
80
GA Avg. Co.
8,359
18.6
--
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/08)
Persons Living Below the Poverty Level
2007 Model-Based Estimates
5.2 – 12.2%
12.2 – 16.9%
16.9 – 20.6%
20.6 – 24.0%
24.0 – 36.2%
Weighted
average poverty
threshold for a
family of 4
persons in 2007
= $21,203
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (12/08)
Georgia
1,329,161
persons
14.3%
------------US = 13.0%
Unemployment Rates
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
7
Tift Co.
Georgia
U. S.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1998
1999
2000
2007 Rates
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Tift Co. = 5.2
GA = 4.4
Avg. GA County = 4.9
2006
2007
US = 4.6
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Tift Co. 2007 Annual Averages, % of Total
Estab
Emp
Wages
Goods Producing
Agriculture, Mining,
Construction,
Manufacturing
Service Producing
Government
Retail-Wholesale Trade, Transportation-Warehousing,
Information, Finance-Insurance-Real Estate,
Professional-SciTech Serv., Admin-Waste Serv., HealthSocial Serv., Accommodation-Food Serv., & others
Federal,
State,
Local
2007 Averages
# Establishments = 1,224 Monthly Employment = 19,576 Weekly Wage = $582
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Selected Employment Comparisons by Industry: 2007
Total GOODS
Producing
Agriculture
Construction
3.1
0.6
3.8
5.4
Manufacturing
Total SERVICE
Producing
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Transp-warehous
Information
Fin/Ins/RE
Prof-Sci-Tech
Adm-Waste svc
Health-Soc Svcs
Accomo-Food svc
RE&Rent&Lease
Total
GOVERNMENT
5.5
5.4
19.1
16.8
12.3
10.6
55.7
12.8
11.7
7.5
3.9
0.9
2.8
2.0
4.0
3.3
5.4
1.6
7.1
6.9
9.2
10.9
8.7
1.3
1.6
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Tift Co.
Georgia
16.5
25.2
66.4
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2007
Tift Co. Total Value = $164,122,497
Row-Forage crops
17.3%
Livestock
4.0%
Forestry
2.4%
Poultry-Egg
0.3%
Other
5.2%
Fruits-Nuts
0.7%
Ornamental
Horticulture
8.5%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA (4/08)
Veges
61.6%
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2007
Tift Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $1,152,851,392
37.1
Residential
11.8
Ag/Pref/Environ
6.8
12.7
Commercial
7.0
6.3
Industrial
Utility
42.4
23.8
24.0
22.2
13.0
3.3
5.0
3.2
Motor Vehicle
6
9.6
7.2
1.2
1.1
Mobile Home
0.3
0.2
Timber
0.9
0.1
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Tift Co.
GA Avg. Co.
GA Total
54.9
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2007
County
TIFT
BERRIEN
COLQUITT
COOK
IRWIN
TURNER
WORTH
GEORGIA
Avg. GA Co.
% Resi- % Agri- % Comdential cultural mercial
37.1
28.7
42.2
32.1
24.3
20.7
33.2
54.9
42.4
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
11.8
38.8
15.6
27.4
49.3
41.2
37.6
6.8
23.8
% Industrial
24.0 13.0
15.0 1.8
20.2 4.2
20.1 6.2
6.1 3.1
19.8 3.1
9.5 2.7
22.2 6.3
12.7 7.0
% Mo%
%
% UtilMotor bile
Timity
Veh Home ber
3.3
3.5
3.9
3.6
5.8
5.3
3.6
3.2
5.0
9.6
9.4
10.8
8.2
7.8
8.1
9.7
6.0
7.2
1.2
1.7
2.4
1.7
1.5
1.0
2.7
0.4
1.1
0.2
1.1
0.7
0.6
2.0
0.8
1.0
0.2
0.9
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax Rate
County
’07 Countywide
Millage*
TIFT
BERRIEN
COLQUITT
COOK
IRWIN
TURNER
WORTH
27.207
32.250
26.403
23.965
29.390
33.449
27.580
’07 School
Millage*
’07 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales Tax
Rate as of
LOST
Type*
1/09
as of 1/09
14.464
14.000
8.463
14.150
15.690
14.000
15.000
$28,140
$10,425
$23,415
$9,124
$6,048
$6,559
$12,219
7
7
7
7
7
7
7
LSE
LSE
LSE
LSE
LSE
LSE
LSE
*Countywide Includes .250 state millage. School includes bonds, if any.
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: 2007
Tift Co. Total Retail Sales = $934,133,000
1.83
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
1.45
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
1.40
Gas stations
4.11
2.03
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
0.95
Clothing & Accessories
0.89
General Merchandise
1.70
Food Services-Drinking Places
1.45
Food-Beverage Stores
1.14
0
1
2
3
4
5
Pull 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: “Demographics USA, County Edition, 2007;” pull factor calculations by Center for
Agribusiness and Economic Development.
Commuting to Work: 2000
Percentage of:
Residents working in
county
84.5
Residents working
out of county
15.5
Workers coming into
county
32.0
Residents driving to
work alone
77.3
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
16.2
1.6
Resident workers 16+ = 16,912
Residents working in county = 14,291
Residents working out of county = 2,621
Total working in county = 21,019
Workers commuting into county = 6,728
Tift County
Mean travel time to work = 17.9 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 2.57
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
This study was developed to assist
community leadership with their
future planning and decision making.
Special Area Report
# 0906
February, 2009
Prepared for Tift County Cooperative Extension
by Susan R. Boatright
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
To learn more about your county, click on
“Georgia Statistics System” at our website:
www.caed.uga.edu