Whitfield County
Community
Profile
98th in order of
county creation
December 30, 1851
Prepared for Whitfield County Cooperative Extension
by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Whitfield County
98,479
96,930
92,999
83,525
72,462
65,789
55,108
2010 Trend CAED
2010 Proj. OPB
2006 Est.
2000
1990
1980
1970
42,109
34,432
1960
1950
26,105
20,808
1940
1930
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; CAED (Center for
Agribusiness & Economic Development); OPB (State Office of Planning & Budget).
100,000
Population Composition by Age
Whitfield County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
4.3
5.8
6.5
7.1
8.6
14.0
14.8
18.1
18.1
18.2
38.3
33.0
37.4
29.8
33.1
30.6
35.0
29.7
38.6
9.9
10.3
+ 0.4
20.0
21.5
+ 1.5
40.6
37.9
- 2.7
- 0.2
26.7
22.3
22.1
10.4
12.3
11.7
10.2
7.9
7.1
8.2
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
0%
2006 Estimated Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
Whitfield Co. = 33.6 yrs.
+ 1.1
GA = 34.6 yrs.
2006 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-06
Rank of
% Chg.
WHITFIELD
92,999
25
320.7
11.3
55
CATOOSA
62,016
37
382.3
16.5
33
CHATTOOGA
26,442
66
84.4
3.8
97
DADE
16,233
103
93.3
7.1
72
GORDON
51,419
39
144.6
16.6
32
MURRAY
41,398
47
120.2
13.4
42
WALKER
64,606
31
144.7
5.8
84
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
Population Change: 1930-2000
35
Percentage Change
30
25
20
15
10
5
1930-40
1940-50
1950-60
U.S.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
1960-70
Georgia
1970-80
1980-90
1990-2000
Whitfield Co.
Components of Population Change: 2000-2006
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
Numerical
Change
# Natural
Increase
(BirthsDeaths)
Rate of
Natural
Increase
# Net
Migration
Rate of
Net Migration
WHITFIELD
9,441
6,900
12.5
2,757
5.0
CATOOSA
8,764
1,666
4.6
7,223
20.1
972
281
1.7
753
4.6
1,079
234
2.4
882
9.0
8.4
8.8
1.5
4.5
8.0
4,963
2,854
3,158
3,816
606,673
16.6
11.7
8.0
8.7
11.1
Area
CHATTOOGA
DADE
GORDON
MURRAY
WALKER
Avg. GA Co.
GEORGIA
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau
7,315
2,498
4,895
2,151
3,553
590
7,403
2,761
1,777,125 438,939
* Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
Average annual estimates of annual rates per 1,000 population
Population Change: 2000-2006
LOSS
0 – 6.4%
6.4 – 14.4%
14.4 – 34%
34 – 53.4%
Avg. GA
County = 9.1%
GA = 14.4%
US = 6.4%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (3/07)
Selected Vital Statistics
2006 Rates
20.4
Total births per 1,000 pop
14.6
42.9
Unwed per 100 total births
46.7
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
Deaths per 1,000 pop
50.6
38.4
7.6
9.2
Induced terminations per
1,000 females age 15-44
6.8
Low birth weight per 100
births
6.4
Infant deaths per 1,000 births
8.6
Whitfield Co.
Georgia
9.5
6.8
9.4
10-yr. rates 1997-2006
2006 Whitfield Co. Natality Data
1,891 total births, 813 unwed births
101 induced terminations
316 teen pregnancies
148 low birth weight babies
2006 Whitfield Co. Mortality Data
707 total deaths
48 infant deaths
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health, OASIS
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
4.9
Grad or Prof Degree
8.3
Whitfield Co.
Georgia
8.0
Bachelor's degree
16.0
3.9
Associate degree
5.2
17.2
Some college, no degree
20.4
29.0
28.7
HS Grad
18.8
9th-12th no diploma
13.8
18.2
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Whitfield Co.
Not completing HS = 37.0%
With a bachelor’s + degree =12.8%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2005-06 (Whitfield Co. + Dalton City)
68.1
Teachers w/adv degrees
55.2
66.4
College prep certif
73.9
68.8
70.8
Class '06 Grad Rate
8.9
8.6
10.6
11.9
Gifted
Special Ed
Free/Reduc lunch
76.2
49.8
5.1
4.3
8.1
9.8
7.1
4.7
Retained in grade
Absent >15 days
HS Dropout rate
0
10
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
Whitfield Co.
Georgia
20
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
80
Whitfield Co./Dalton
K12 enrollment = 19,042
HS dropouts = 427
General Fund Expenditures per FTE = $7,172
Per Capita Income: 2000-2005
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2000
2001
2002
Whitfield Co.
2005 PCI
Whitfield Co. = $29,747
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/07)
2003
2004
Georgia
Georgia = $30,914
US = $34,471
2005
US
Per Capita Income: 2000-2005
Percentage Change
6
Percentage
4
2
0
-2
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2003
Whitfield Co.
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/07)
2003-2004
Georgia
2004-2005
US
Per Capita Income: 2005
PCI
Rank of
PCI
% PCI of
GA Total
% Change
in PCI
2000-2005
WHITFIELD
$29,747
16
99.9
17.2
CATOOSA
$24,759
65
83.1
10.7
CHATTOOGA $19,763
147
66.4
9.8
DADE
$23,167
90
77.8
11.4
GORDON
$25,007
59
84.0
13.8
MURRAY
$22,102
112
74.2
10.9
WALKER
$23,942
78
80.4
9.7
GA Avg. Co.
$24,592
--
82.6
14.7
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/07)
Median Household Income
2005 Model-Based Estimates
$46,242
US
GEORGIA
$45,564
GA Avg. Co.
$37,147
$41,203
WHITFIELD
$45,840
CATOOSA
CHATTOOGA
$33,065
DADE
$38,428
GORDON
$38,718
$37,792
MURRAY
$35,761
WALKER
$0
$10,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (1/08)
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
Transfer Receipts: 2005
Whitfield Co. Total = $397,448,000
38.2
Retirement/Disab
35.0
20.8
20.5
20.2
20.3
Medicare
Pub Med Assist
2.0
2.8
0.3
0.6
1.7
2.8
Supp Sec Inc
Family Assist
Food Stamps
Whitfield Co.
Georgia
Whitfield Co.
$4,363 per capita
transfer receipts
6.3
6.8
Other Inc Maint
1.5
1.4
1.9
3.1
Unemp
Veteran Benefit
14.7% of total personal income
7.2% change in total 2004-2005
7.1
6.8
All Other
0
5
10
15
20
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/07)
25
30
35
40
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2005 Model-Based Estimates
County
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
WHITFIELD
11,507
12.9
35
CATOOSA
6,825
11.4
23
CHATTOOGA
4,580
18.5
75
DADE
1,915
12.6
31
GORDON
6,431
13.0
36
MURRAY
5,984
14.8
49
WALKER
9,302
14.9
51
GA Avg. Co.
7,996
18.7
--
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (1/08)
Persons Living Below the Poverty Level
2005 Model-Based Estimates
4.3 – 12.6%
12.6 – 16.5%
16.5 – 20.8%
20.8 – 24.5%
24.5 – 33.0%
Weighted
average poverty
threshold for a
family of 4
persons in 2005
= $19,971
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (1/08)
Georgia
1,271,409
persons
14.5%
------------US = 13.3%
Unemployment Rates
Rate per 100 in Labor Force
7
Whitfield Co.
Georgia
U. S.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1997
1998
2006 Rates
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Whitfield Co. = 4.5
GA = 4.6
Avg. GA County = 5.0
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
2005
2006
US = 4.6
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Whitfield County 2006 Annual Averages, % of Total
Estab
Emp
Wages
Agriculture
Whlsle trade
Information
Admin-waste svc
All other svc
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Construction
Retail trade
Finance/Insur
Health svc
Govt
Manufacturing
Transp-warehous
Prof-Sci-Tech Svc
Accom/Food Svc
All Other
Employment Comparisons by Industry: 2006
Total GOODS
Producing
Agriculture
Construction
0.3
0.6
1.9
17.4
5.4
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
Total
GOVERNMENT
38.1
11.1
5.4
5.4
40.5
50.8
10.3
11.7
4.7
3.9
0.9
2.9
1.2
4.0
7.9
5.2
6.9
7.1
6.0
9.0
4.8
8.5
2.7
8.2
8.7
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Whitfield Co.
Georgia
16.3
65.9
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2006
Whitfield Co. Total Value = $48,846,039
Poultry-Egg
65.3%
Other
2.1%
Fruits-NutsVeggies
0.2%
Ornamental
Horticulture
5.5%
Forestry
2.5%
Livestock
23.4%
Row-Forage crops
0.9%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2006
Whitfield Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $3,235,749,917
36.5
Residential
3.3
6.6
12.8
7.6
6.6
Industrial
54.3
22.5
Ag/Pref/Environ
Commercial
41.9
22.0
22.2
28.5
2.1
Utility
Motor Vehicle
5.3
3.6
6.7
7.4
6.1
0.7
1.2
Mobile Home
0.4
0.0
Timber
1.1
0.2
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Whitfield Co.
GA Avg. Co.
GA Total
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2006
County
WHITFIELD
CATOOSA
CHATTOOGA
DADE
GORDON
MURRAY
WALKER
Avg. GA Co.
% Resi- % Agri- % Com- % In- % Motor
%
dential cultural mercial dustrial Vehicle Other
36.5
58.8
40.5
53.7
37.4
42.9
61.0
41.9
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
3.3
6.7
18.7
17.9
14.5
9.2
8.6
22.5
22.0
16.0
9.9
11.2
17.8
14.6
8.7
12.8
28.5
7.8
19.5
6.2
20.1
18.4
10.3
7.6
6.7
7.5
7.3
6.8
7.6
7.6
7.8
7.4
2.9
3.1
4.2
4.1
2.6
7.3
3.7
7.7
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax
County
WHITFIELD
CATOOSA
CHATTOOGA
DADE
GORDON
MURRAY
WALKER
’06 Countywide
Millage*
’06
School
Millage*
’06 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales
Tax Rate
21.400
21.127
18.407
16.980
26.970
21.895
22.081
15.934
15.578
9.768
12.500
16.302
15.500
17.550
$82,075
$27,488
$10,401
$5,790
$32,406
$20,453
$27,540
6
7
7
7
7
7
7
LOST
Type*
as of 11/07 as of 11/07
LE
LSE
LSE
LSE
LSE
LSE
LSE
*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: 2006
Whitfield Co. Total Retail Sales = $1,855,886,000
1.52
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
1.13
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
1.24
Gas stations
2.06
1.53
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
3.59
0.45
Clothing & Accessories
General Merchandise
2.20
Food Services-Drinking Places
0.63
Food-Beverage Stores
1.05
0
1
2
3
4
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, 2006;” pull factor calculations by Center for
Agribusiness and Economic Development.
Commuting to Work: 2000
Percentage of:
Residents working in
county
86.9
Residents working
out of county
13.1
Workers coming into
county
40.4
Residents driving to
work alone
77.0
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
18.2
1.7
Resident workers 16+ = 38,909
Residents working in county = 33,796
Residents working out of county = 5,113
Total working in county = 56,711
Workers commuting into county = 22,915
Whitfield County
Mean travel time to work = 20.8 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 4.48
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
# 0806
February, 2008
Prepared for Whitfield 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