Forsyth County
Community
Profile
81st in order of
county creation
Dec. 3, 1832
Prepared for Forsyth County Cooperative Extension
by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Forsyth County
169,206
183,430
2010 Trend CAED
2010 Proj. OPB
131,865
2004 Est.
98,407
2000
44,083
27,958
16,928
12,170
11,005
11,322
10,624
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
1940
1930
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; CAED (Center for
Agribusiness & Economic Development); OPB (State Office of Planning & Budget).
200,000
Population Composition by Age
Forsyth County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
5.3
14.6
33.8
34.3
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
7.1
8.2
7.7
8.4
8.9
7.1
-1.8
16.0
17.7
18.6
18.1
19.9
21.8
+1.9
32.7
31.5
34.1
42.6
41.4
-1.2
21.0
20.3
-0.7
+1.8
32.1
31.5
29.2
38.6
27.2
12.0
12.1
11.1
10.4
7.7
7.7
9.5
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
0%
2004 Estimated Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Forsyth Co. = 33.9 yrs.
GA = 33.8 yrs.
2004 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-04
Rank of
% Chg.
FORSYTH
131,865
13
584.0
34.0
1
CHEROKEE
174,680
9
412.3
23.1
5
DAWSON
19,064
90
90.3
19.2
9
FULTON
814,438
1
1,540.6
-0.2
128
GWINNETT
700,794
2
1,619.5
19.1
11
HALL
160,925
10
408.8
15.5
19
PICKENS
27,771
59
119.6
20.8
7
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
Population Change: 1930-2000
140
120
Percentage Change
100
80
60
40
20
0
-20
1930-40
1940-50
1950-60
U.S.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
1960-70
Georgia
1970-80
1980-90
1990-2000
Forsyth Co.
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
FORSYTH
33,458
6,184
12.6
27,350
55.9
CHEROKEE
32,777
7,696
11.4
25,175
37.4
DAWSON
3,065
498
6.7
2,581
34.6
FULTON
-1,368
31,820
9.2
-36,062
-10.4
GWINNETT
112346
37,941
13.8
74,771
27.3
HALL
21,610
7,757
12.2
13,699
21.5
PICKENS
4,788
467
4.3
4,341
40.2
Avg. GA Co.
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
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
2004 Rates
18.1
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.7
13.9
Unwed per 100 total births
39.2
17.1
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
Deaths per 1,000 pop
34.7
4.8
7.4
8.2
Induced terminations per
1,000 females age 15-44
Low birth weight per 100
births
Infant deaths per 1,000 births
10-yr. rates 1995-2004
16.2
6.6
Forsyth Co.
Georgia
8.8
5.1
8.7
2004 Forsyth Co. Natality Data
2,388 total births, 333 unwed births
174 induced terminations
143 teen pregnancies
194 low birth weight babies
2004 Forsyth Co. Mortality Data
635 total deaths
15 infant deaths
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
8.5
8.3
Grad or Prof Degree
26.1
Bachelor's degree
16.0
6.0
5.2
Associate degree
21.6
20.4
Some college, no degree
23.5
HS Grad
28.7
8.7
9th-12th no diploma
13.8
5.6
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
Forsyth Co.
Georgia
20
25
30
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Forsyth Co.
Not completing HS = 14.3%
With a bachelor’s + degree = 34.6%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2003-04
50.0
51.8
Teachers w/adv degrees
College prep certif
Class '04 Grad Rate
65.4
13.9
8.2
12.4
12.1
13.0
Gifted
Special Ed
Free/Reduc lunch
46.4
2.4
3.9
Retained in grade
Forsyth Co.
Georgia
9.5
9.5
Absent >15 days
3.0
5.1
HS Dropout rate
0
10
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
73.4
78.0
88.7
20
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
80
90
Forsyth Co.
K12 enrollment = 21,907
HS dropouts = 171
General Fund expenditures per pupil = $6,560
Per Capita Income: 1998-2003
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
1998
1999
2000
Forsyth Co.
2003 PCI
Forsyth Co. = $30,555
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
2001
2002
Georgia
Georgia = $29,000
U.S. = $31,472
2003
U.S.
Per Capita Income: 1998-2003
Percentage Change
8
6
4
Percentage
2
0
-2
-4
-6
-8
-10
-12
1998-99
1999-2000
Forsyth 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
FORSYTH
$30,555
7
105.4
-5.4
CHEROKEE
$30,059
9
103.7
10.3
DAWSON
$28,010
16
96.6
16.7
FULTON
$48,647
1
167.7
22.9
GWINNETT
$30,277
8
104.4
4.9
HALL
$25,132
31
86.7
11.7
PICKENS
$27,730
18
95.6
10.1
GA Avg. Co.
$22,879
--
78.9
15.5
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Median Household Income
2003 Model-Based Estimates
$43,318
US
$42,421
GEORGIA
$34,859
GA Avg. Co.
$72,945
FORSYTH
$63,616
CHEROKEE
$49,909
DAWSON
$45,744
FULTON
$56,636
GWINNETT
$44,334
HALL
$44,905
PICKENS
$0
$20,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
$40,000
$60,000
$80,000
Transfer Receipts: 2003
Forsyth Co. Total = $248,613,000
49.0
Retirement/Disab
35.8
20.3
19.2
Medicare
Forsyth Co.
11.3
Pub Med Assist
18.9
0.9
2.7
0.1
Family Assist
0.6
0.8
Food Stamps
2.5
0.7
Other Inc Maint
Georgia
Supp Sec Inc
Forsyth Co.
$2,002 per capita
transfer receipts
5.6
3.7
3.2
Unemployment
6.6% of total personal income
5.3% change in total 2002-2003
0.6
3.4
Veteran Benefit
12.7
All Other
8.2
0
10
20
30
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
40
50
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2003 Model-Based Estimates
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
FORSYTH
7,500
5.7
2
CHEROKEE
11,212
6.4
3
DAWSON
1,750
9.2
11
FULTON
128,398
16.2
75
GWINNETT
57,163
8.2
8
HALL
19,069
12.0
31
PICKENS
2,811
10.2
18
GA Avg. Co.
7,246
16.0
--
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
Persons Living Below the Poverty Level
2003 Model-Based Estimates
5.2 – 9.4%
9.4 – 13.4%
13.4 – 17.0%
17.0 – 20.1%
20.1 – 24.7%
Weighted
average poverty
threshold for a
family of 4
persons in 2003
= $18,810
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Georgia
1,152,089
persons
13.3%
------------US = 12.5%
Unemployment Rates
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
7
Forsyth Co.
Georgia
U. S.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1995
1996
1997
2004 Rates
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
1998
1999
2000
Forsyth Co. = 3.1
2001
2002
GA = 4.6
2003
2004
US = 5.5
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Forsyth County 2004 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: 2004
Total GOODS
Producing
Agriculture
Construction
17.7
0.1
0.7
5.2
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
5.4
31.6
14.3
17.1
11.7
56.9
8.8
10.0
11.6
1.1
3.9
1.5
3.1
3.2
4.1
6.2
5.0
6.2
6.9
6.3
8.8
7.7
8.4
6.0
8.2
11.3
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Forsyth Co.
Georgia
16.5
65.4
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2004
Forsyth Co. Total Value = $71,713,870
Poultry-Egg
75.4%
Other
0.5%
Ornamental
Horticulture
7.4%
Livestock
16.3%
Row-Forage crops
0.4%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2004
Forsyth Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $6,449,062,732
40.6
Residential
Ag/Pref/Environ
2.9
10.8
13.1
9.9
7.7
7.1
Industrial
1.3
5.7
3.9
7.2
Motor Vehicle
8.9
7.4
0.3
1.5
Mobile Home
0.5
0.0
Timber
1.1
0.2
Utility
52
20.7
6.3
Commercial
67.7
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
22.6
Forsyth Co.
GA Avg. Co.
GA Total
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2004
County
% Resi- % Agri- % Com- % In- % Motor
%
dential cultural mercial dustrial Vehicle Other
FORSYTH
67.7
2.9
10.8
9.9
7.2
1.6
CHEROKEE
55.8
18.2
12.9
2.7
8.2
2.2
DAWSON
57.8
20.5
14.0
0.4
5.5
1.8
FULTON
53.9
0.2
36.8
1.9
4.7
2.6
GWINNETT
55.5
1.0
25.9
8.5
7.5
1.5
HALL
55.4
6.8
16.5
10.8
8.1
2.5
PICKENS
58.2
15.6
12.5
2.1
7.6
4.0
Avg. GA Co.
40.6
20.8
13.2
7.9
9.0
8.4
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax
’05 Countywide
Millage*
’05
School
Millage*
’04 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales
Tax Rate
as of 1/06
as of 1/06
FORSYTH
22.633
14.708
$141,365
7
LSE
CHEROKEE
26.590
18.450
$155,898
6
SE
DAWSON
22.184
13.646
$22,660
7
LSE
FULTON
34.483
17.825
$1,570,084
7
MLE
GWINNETT
32.020
19.250
$789,715
6
SE
HALL
24.410
16.300
$126,111
7
LSE
PICKENS
21.280
15.120
$22,287
7
LSE
County
LOST
Type*
*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,
M=MARTA
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Retail Sales Analysis: 2004
Forsyth Co. Total Retail Sales = $1,381,319,000
0.54
Total Retail Sales
0.37
Health-Personal Care
1.24
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
Gas stations
0.52
0.36
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
0.24
Clothing & Accessories
0.21
0.72
General Merchandise
0.40
Food Services-Drinking Places
0.56
Food-Beverage Stores
0
1
2
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
41.1
Residents working
out of county
58.9
Workers coming into
county
50.5
Residents driving to
work alone
81.6
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
11.2
5.4
Forsyth County
Mean travel time to work = 33.2 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 0.71
Resident workers 16+ = 51,224
Residents working in county = 21,039
Residents working out of county = 30,185
Total working in county = 42,509
Workers commuting into county = 21,470
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
# 06-07
March, 2006
Prepared for Forsyth 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