Laurens County
Community
Profile
34th in order of
county creation
December 10, 1807
Prepared for Laurens County Cooperative Extension
by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Laurens County
49,917
48,098
47,848
44,874
39,988
36,990
32,738
32,313
33,123
2015 CAED Trend
2010 CAED Trend
2008 Estimate
2000
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
33,606
32,693
1940
1930
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; CAED TREND revised 3/09
(Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development).
Population Composition by Age
Laurens County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
4.6
14.1
6.0
8.4
33.9
12.5
13.9
22.2
19.5
18.8
28.1
33.2
36.3
13.3
- 0.6
15.3
19.7
36.2
10.6
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
35.3
30.7
29.4
30.8
22.8
34.2
30.2
26.6
23.6
22.8
12.7
11.7
8.9
8.2
7.4
6.9
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2008 Estimated Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
- 2.1
- 0.8
11.1
0%
+ 4.0
Laurens Co. = 36.6 yrs.
- 0.5
GA = 34.9 yrs.
2008 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-08
Rank of
% Chg.
Laurens
47,848
41
58.9
6.6
86
Bleckley
12,683
113
58.3
8.7
73
Dodge
20,116
90
40.2
4.9
100
Johnson
9,550
131
31.4
11.6
57
Treutlen
7,076
143
35.3
3.2
107
Twiggs
10,257
127
28.5
-3.1
142
Wheeler
6,877
146
23.1
11.3
58
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (3/09)
Population Change: 1930-2000
30
Percentage Change
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
1930-40
1940-50
U.S.
1950-60
1960-70
Georgia
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses
1970-80
1980-90
1990-2000
Laurens Co.
Components of Population Change
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
2000-2008
Numerical
Change*
2000-2008
# Natural
Increase
(Births-Deaths)
2000-2008
# Net
Migration
2007-08
1-yr Natural
Increase
Rate
2007-08
1 yr Net
Migration
Rate
Laurens
2,974
1,726
1,473
4.6
4.9
Bleckley
1,017
200
908
3.1
2.3
Dodge
945
366
699
3.2
2.9
Johnson
990
127
899
2.8
1.4
Treutlen
Twiggs
Wheeler
222
-333
698
9,427
1,498,932
149
168
166
3,806
605,129
110
-454
556
4,941
785,691
2.8
1.4
5.4
5.3
8.3
13.3
-2.0
10.1
5.9
8.7
Area
Avg. County
GEORGIA
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau (3/09)
* Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
Population Change: 2000-2008
LOSS
0 – 7.2%
7.2 – 18.3%
18.3 – 36%
36 – 70.8%
Avg. GA
County = 11.2%
GA = 18.3%
US = 7.2%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (3/09)
Selected Vital Statistics
2007 Rates
16.3
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.8
50.6
Unwed per 100 total births
43.8
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
Deaths per 1,000 pop
Induced terminations per
1,000 females age 15-44
Low birth weight per 100
births
Infant deaths per 1,000 births
10-yr. rates 1998-2007
47.6
35.3
11.2
7.1
7.7
14.9
10.8
9.1
Laurens Co.
10.4
Georgia
8.4
2007 Laurens Co. Natality Data
773 total births, 390 unwed births
73 induced terminations
152 teen pregnancies
80 low birth weight babies
2007 Laurens Co. Mortality Data
532 total deaths
9 infant deaths
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health, OASIS
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
5.5
Grad or Prof Degree
8.3
8.9
Bachelor's degree
16.0
3.9
5.2
Associate degree
14.9
Some college, no degree
20.4
37.1
HS Grad
28.7
19.1
9th-12th no diploma
Laurens Co.
Georgia
13.8
10.6
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Laurens Co.
Not completing HS = 29.7%
With a bachelor’s + degree = 14.4%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2006-07
Teachers w/adv degrees
56.3
61.2
College prep certif
31.5
HOPE Eligible
66.0
75.0
38.1
65.6
Class '07 Grad Rate
72.3
6.9
8.7
Gifted
12.8
11.7
Special Ed
Econ Disadvantaged
61.4
50.0
4.1
4.3
Retained in grade
Laurens Co. & Dublin City
Georgia
8.6
10.0
Absent >15 days
4.8
4.1
HS Dropout rate
0
10
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
20
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
80
Laurens Co. & Dublin City
K12 enrollment = 8,823
HS dropouts = 140
General Fund Expenditures per FTE = $7,595
Per Capita Income: 2002-2007
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2002
2003
2004
Laurens Co.
2007 PCI
Laurens Co. = $26,487
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)
2005
2006
Georgia
Georgia = $33,499
US = $38,615
2007
US
Per Capita Income: 2002-2007
Percentage Change
8
Percentage
6
4
2
0
2002-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
Laurens Co.
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)
2005-2006
Georgia
2006-2007
US
Per Capita Income: 2007
PCI
Rank of
PCI
% PCI of
GA Total
% Change
in PCI
2002-2007
Laurens
$26,487
60
79.1
17.2
Bleckley
$25,472
77
76.0
7.8
Dodge
$21,718
136
64.8
15.3
Johnson
$19,430
154
58.0
7.1
Treutlen
$19,145
155
57.2
18.4
Twiggs
$23,432
109
69.9
21.3
Wheeler
$17,718
159
52.9
20.7
GA Avg. Co.
$26,299
--
78.5
17.1
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)
Median Household Income
2007 Model-Based Estimates
$50,740
US
GEORGIA
$49,080
GA Avg. Co.
$40,170
$36,092
Laurens
$38,711
Bleckley
Dodge
$32,393
Johnson
$28,310
$29,442
Treulten
$36,096
Twiggs
$31,707
Wheeler
$0
$10,000
$20,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/08)
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
Transfer Receipts: 2007
Laurens Co. Total = $302,446,000
33.6
35.3
Retirement/Disab
22.4
23.2
Medicare
18.3
16.6
Pub Med Assist
3.1
2.4
Supp Sec Inc
Laurens Co.
0.6
0.5
Family Assist
Georgia
3.2
2.6
Food Stamps
8.4
7.0
Other Inc Maint
1.5
1.6
Unemp
24.1% of total personal income
6.8% change in total 2006-2007
4.2
3.4
4.7
Veteran Benefit
All Other
Laurens Co.
$6,385 per capita
transfer receipts
7.3
0
5
10
15
20
25
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)
30
35
40
45
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2007 Model-Based Estimates
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
Laurens
10,565
23.0
119
Bleckley
1,996
18.0
75
Dodge
3,972
21.8
110
Johnson
2,482
31.9
157
Treutlen
1,765
27.2
146
Twiggs
1,965
19.5
88
Wheeler
1,569
31.0
154
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
Laurens Co.
8
Georgia
U. S.
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1999
2000
2008 Rates
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Laurens Co. = 7.1
GA = 6.2
Avg. GA County = 6.9
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
2007
2008
US = 5.8
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Laurens 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 = 1,126 Monthly Employment = 20,089 Weekly Wage = $611
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Selected Employment Comparisons by Industry: 2007
Total GOODS
Producing
Agriculture
0.3
0.6
Construction
16.8
7.6
5.4
Manufacturing
Total SERVICE
Producing
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Transp-warehous
Information
Fin/Ins/RE
Prof-Sci-Tech
Adm-Waste svc
2.6
3.9
1.0
2.8
2.0
4.0
1.4
5.4
5.4
7.1
Health-Soc Svcs
Accomo-Food svc
RE&Rent&Lease
Total
GOVERNMENT
17.1
10.6
2.9
5.4
0.8
1.6
25.0
52.0
13.0
11.7
Laurens Co.
12.0
9.2
7.8
8.7
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
16.5
Georgia
23.0
66.4
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2008
Laurens Co. Total Value = $55,685,262
Row-Forage crops
35.6%
Other
10.7%
Livestock
22.8%
Fruits-Nuts-Veges
1.1%
Ornamental
Horticulture
2.1%
Forestry
27.7%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA (5/09)
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2008
Laurens Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $1,397,841,052
35.0
Residential
16.2
Ag/Pref/Environ
8.2
12.6
Commercial
6.9
6.7
Industrial
Utility
24.5
18.4
20.3
16.9
3.1
4.8
3.2
Motor Vehicle
42.4
8.3
7.1
6.3
0.8
1.0
Mobile Home
0.4
0.9
Timber 0.7
0.14
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue (preliminary avg. and total)
Laurens Co.
GA Avg. Co.
GA Total
54.8
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2008
County
Laurens
Bleckley
Dodge
Johnson
Treutlen
Twiggs
Wheeler
Georgia
Avg. GA Co.
% Resi- % Agri- % Comdential cultural mercial
35.0
43.4
34.4
23.9
29.4
30.3
18.0
54.9
42.4
16.2
27.7
34.2
53.0
46.9
27.0
49.9
6.8
23.8
% Industrial
18.4 16.9
11.5 3.1
11.1 3.7
7.6 1.6
5.1 0.5
6.7 15.9
14.7 0.5
22.2 6.3
12.7 7.0
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue (preliminary avg. and total)
% Mo%
%
% UtilMotor bile
Timity
Veh Home ber
3.1
2.9
4.3
3.2
4.8
7.8
6.1
3.2
5.0
8.3
9.1
8.4
7.3
9.5
8.8
7.3
6.0
7.2
0.8
1.8
2.4
1.6
1.3
1.9
1.5
0.4
1.1
0.88
0.51
1.48
1.82
2.54
1.54
2.09
0.2
0.9
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax Rate
County
Laurens
Bleckley
Dodge
Johnson
Treutlen
Twiggs
Wheeler
’08 Countywide
Millage*
22.68
31.45
24.28
27.39
27.16
39.60
32.47
’08 School
Millage*
’07 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales Tax
Rate as of
LOST
Type*
7/09
as of 7/09
11.94
11.50
9.70
10.02
12.00
20.00
15.50
$27,561
$6,648
$7,664
$3,984
$3,021
$6,916
$4,348
7
7
7
7
7
7
6
LSE
LSE
LSE
LSE
LSE
LSE
LE
*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: 2008
Laurens Co. Total Retail Sales = $685,661,000
1.14
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
2.04
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
2.18
Gas stations
1.44
0.65
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
0.40
0.56
Clothing & Accessories
General Merchandise
1.46
Food Services-Drinking Places
0.72
Food-Beverage Stores
1.09
0
1
2
3
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, 2008;” 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
18.7
Residents driving to
work alone
79.6
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
16.4
1.4
Resident workers 16+ = 18,986
Residents working in county = 16,046
Residents working out of county = 2,940
Total working in county = 19,735
Workers commuting into county = 3,689
Laurens County
Mean travel time to work = 23.6 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 1.25
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
# 0917
July, 2009
Prepared for Laurens 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