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
43,480
42,261
41,685
38,407
34,998
32,862
27,288
23,487
22,645
2010 Trend CAED
2010 Proj. OPB
2006 Est.
2000
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
18,599
16,068
1940
1930
0
9,000
18,000
27,000
36,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; CAED (Center for
Agribusiness & Economic Development); OPB (State Office of Planning & Budget).
45,000
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
+ 3.6
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%
2006 Estimated Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
Tift Co. = 33.4 yrs.
- 0.2
GA = 34.6 yrs.
2006 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-06
Rank of
% Chg.
TIFT
41,685
46
157.3
8.6
65
BERRIEN
16,756
97
37.0
3.2
105
COLQUITT
44,821
45
81.2
6.6
75
COOK
16,333
102
71.3
3.6
100
IRWIN
10,403
127
29.2
4.8
92
TURNER
9,322
133
32.6
-1.9
138
WORTH
21,938
82
38.5
-0.3
131
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
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: 2000-2006
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
Numerical
Change
# Natural
Increase
(BirthsDeaths)
Rate of
Natural
Increase
# Net
Migration
Rate of
Net Migration
3,295
1,689
6.7
1,749
7.0
BERRIEN
521
442
4.3
130
1.3
COLQUITT
2,783
1,673
6.2
1,259
4.6
562
358
3.6
263
2.6
1.4
4.2
3.3
4.5
8.0
427
-402
-445
3,816
606,673
6.7
-6.8
-3.2
8.7
11.1
Area
TIFT
COOK
IRWIN
TURNER
WORTH
Avg. GA Co.
GEORGIA
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau
472
87
-182
247
-62
451
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
2005 Rates
16.5
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.5
53.3
Unwed per 100 total births
40.7
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
52.3
34.2
8.7
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 1996-2005
7.2
1.9
10.7
11.2
8.9
10.2
Tift Co.
Georgia
8.5
2005 Tift Co. Natality Data
672 total births, 358 unwed births
17 induced terminations
156 teen pregnancies
89 low birth weight babies
2005 Tift Co. Mortality Data
356 total deaths
6 infant deaths
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health
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 2005-06
49.1
Teachers w/adv degrees
55.2
66.7
College prep certif
73.9
56.3
Class '06 Grad Rate
70.8
7.8
8.6
12.2
11.9
Gifted
Special Ed
Free/Reduc lunch
49.8
5.4
4.3
Retained in grade
Tift Co.
Georgia
9.8
9.8
7.9
4.7
Absent >15 days
HS Dropout rate
0
10
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
61.1
20
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
80
Tift Co.
K12 enrollment = 7,431
HS dropouts = 179
General Fund Expenditures per FTE = $6,202
Per Capita Income: 2000-2005
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2000
2001
2002
Tift Co.
2005 PCI
Tift Co. = $24,589
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/07)
2003
Georgia
2004
2005
US
Georgia = $30,914
US = $34,471
Per Capita Income: 2000-2005
Percentage Change
7
Percentage
5
3
1
-1
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2003
Tift 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
TIFT
$24,589
68
82.6
12.4
BERRIEN
$23,843
81
80.1
13.9
COLQUITT
$21,833
115
73.3
13.6
COOK
$19,663
149
66.0
9.5
IRWIN
$20,607
138
69.2
7.3
TURNER
$21,504
123
72.2
21.9
WORTH
$24,210
74
81.3
19.1
GA Avg. Co.
$24,592
--
82.6
14.7
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/07)
Median Household Income
2004 Model-Based Estimates
US
$44,334
GEORGIA
$42,679
GA Avg. Co.
$35,708
$32,134
TIFT
$31,559
BERRIEN
$27,983
COLQUITT
COOK
$28,201
$29,954
IRWIN
$26,081
TURNER
$32,414
WORTH
$0
$10,000
$20,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/06)
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
Transfer Receipts: 2005
Tift Co. Total = $210,010,000
31.8
Retirement/Disab
35.0
18.9
20.5
22.4
20.3
Medicare
Pub Med Assist
3.3
2.8
Supp Sec Inc
Tift Co.
Georgia
0.6
0.6
Family Assist
Tift Co.
$5,156 per capita
transfer receipts
2.9
2.8
Food Stamps
8.3
6.8
Other Inc Maint
1.0
1.4
Unemployment
21.0% of total personal income
7.2% change in total 2004-2005
3.1
3.1
Veteran Benefit
7.8
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
2004 Model-Based Estimates
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
TIFT
7,316
18.5
101
BERRIEN
2,853
17.2
83
COLQUITT
8,681
20.1
120
COOK
2,962
18.3
99
IRWIN
1,707
17.9
92
TURNER
2,164
23.1
147
WORTH
3,900
17.7
90
GA Avg. Co.
7,658
16.6
--
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/06)
Persons Living Below the Poverty Level
2004 Model-Based Estimates
5.3 – 11.9%
11.9 – 15.4%
15.4 – 18.2%
18.2 – 21.2%
21.2 – 26.3%
Weighted
average poverty
threshold for a
family of four
persons in 2004
= $19,307
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (12/06)
Georgia
1,217,686
persons
13.7%
------------US = 12.7%
Unemployment Rates
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
7
Tift Co.
Georgia
U. S.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1997
1998
1999
2006 Rates
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Tift Co. = 5.1
GA = 4.6
Avg. GA County = 5.0
2005
2006
US = 4.6
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Tift 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
4.3
0.6
3.8
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
5.4
5.4
17.421.5
13.4
11.1
55.9
12.8
11.7
7.2
3.9
0.8
2.9
1.9
4.0
3.7
5.2
1.5
7.1
6.5
9.0
11.6
8.5
4.7
8.2
Total
GOVERNMENT
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Tift Co.
Georgia
16.3
22.5
65.9
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2006
Tift Co. Total Value = $153,492,579
Row-Forage crops
16.5%
Livestock
4.4%
Forestry
2.2%
Poultry-Egg
0.3%
Other
5.3%
Fruits-Nuts
0.8%
Ornamental
Horticulture
9.4%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA
Veges
61.0%
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2006
Tift Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $1,141,860,627
35.9
Residential
11.9
Ag/Pref/Environ
6.6
12.8
Commercial
7.6
6.6
Industrial
Utility
Timber
22.5
23.5
22.2
15.4
3.0
5.3
3.6
9.1
7.4
6.1
Motor Vehicle
Mobile Home
41.9
1.2
1.2
0.4
0.2
1.1
0.2
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Tift Co.
GA Avg. Co.
GA Total
54.3
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2006
County
TIFT
BERRIEN
COLQUITT
COOK
IRWIN
TURNER
WORTH
Avg. GA Co.
% Resi- % Agri- % Com- % In- % Motor
%
dential cultural mercial dustrial Vehicle Other
35.9
27.8
40.8
31.8
29.6
20.9
33.2
41.9
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
11.9
38.5
15.6
27.8
38.3
42.3
38.4
22.5
23.5
16.7
21.1
19.7
7.8
18.9
9.0
12.8
15.4
1.9
4.4
7.9
4.0
3.4
3.1
7.6
9.1
8.8
10.5
7.3
9.3
7.5
9.3
7.4
4.3
6.4
7.4
5.5
11.0
7.0
7.0
7.7
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax
’06 Countywide
Millage*
’06
School
Millage*
’06 Taxes
TIFT
26.957
14.464
$26,174
7
LSE
BERRIEN
32.000
14.000
$7,745
7
LSE
COLQUITT
26.462
8.662
$20,352
7
LSE
COOK
23.715
14.150
$8,107
7
LSE
IRWIN
30.530
16.690
$6,325
7
LSE
TURNER
32.699
13.500
$6,237
7
LSE
WORTH
27.330
15.000
$11,650
7
LSE
County
Levied*
($000)
Sales
Tax Rate
LOST
Type*
as of 11/07 as of 11/07
*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
Tift Co. Total Retail Sales = $845,336,000
1.78
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
1.59
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
1.15
3.97
Gas stations
1.85
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
1.10
0.86
Clothing & Accessories
General Merchandise
1.95
Food Services-Drinking Places
1.47
1.26
Food-Beverage Stores
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
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
# 0731
December, 2007
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