Bleckley County
Community
Profile
147th in order of
county creation
November 5, 1912
Prepared for Bleckley County Cooperative Extension
by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Bleckley County
14,501
13,760
13,063
11,666
10,430
10,767
2020 OPB Proj.
2015 OPB Proj.
Census 2010
2000
1990
1980
10,291
9,642
9,218
1970
1960
1950
9,655
9,133
1940
1930
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses; GA Office of Planning & Budget projections.
Population Composition by Age
Bleckley County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
Change in
proportion
2000-2009
5.0
6.5
7.8
9.3
11.5
13.4
13.6
13.6
14.5
16.0
17.5
19.3
19.3
19.9
22.1
23.9
35.5
33.0
30.6
-2.4
29.1
24.3
25.0
25.7
+0.7
-0.1
35.3
34.3
32.6
32.8
30.7
32.9
28.6
34.8
33.3
10.9
12.2
11.2
8.0
6.8
6.8
6.4
6.3
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2009
est.
0%
2009 Estimated Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Bleckley Co. = 33.8 yrs.
0
+1.8
GA = 34.9 yrs.
2010 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-10
Rank of
% Chg.
BLECKLEY
13,063
115
60.5
12.0
81
DODGE
21,796
85
44.0
13.7
72
HOUSTON
139,900
15
372.5
26.3
31
LAURENS
48,434
42
60.0
7.9
97
PULASKI
12,010
118
48.2
25.3
34
TWIGGS
9,023
135
25.2
-14.8
155
WILKINSON
9,563
129
21.4
-6.4
151
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (3/11)
Population Change: 1930-2010
30
Percentage Change
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
1930-40
1940-50
1950-60
U.S.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
1960-70
1970-80
Georgia
1980-90
1990-00
2000-10
Bleckley Co.
Population Change: 2000-2010
LOSS
Gain < US
Gain > US but < GA
Gain > GA
Gain > 2X GA
Avg. GA County
= 14.2%
GA = 18.3%
US = 9.7%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (3/11)
Components of Population Change
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
Area
BLECKLEY
DODGE
HOUSTON
LAURENS
PULASKI
TWIGGS
WILKINSON
Avg. County
GEORGIA
2000-2009
Numerical
Change*
2000-2009
# Natural
Increase
(Births-Deaths)
2000-2009
# Net
Migration
2008-09
1-yr Natural
Increase
Rate
2008-09
1 yr Net
Migration
Rate
1,189
578
24,950
3,421
309
-479
-144
260
376
9,474
1,969
62
168
497
987
312
15,946
1,713
303
-589
-594
4.6
0.6
7.8
3.7
2.2
0.5
5.1
1.0
-1.6
9.0
2.8
9.8
-9.5
0.9
10,330
1,642,430
4,305
684,445
5,340
849,133
4.8
7.8
1.0
5.5
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau (3/10) * Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
Selected Vital Statistics
2007 Rates
14.1
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.8
47.7
Unwed per 100 total births
43.8
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
36.5
35.3
9.5
Deaths per 1,000 pop
7.1
Induced terminations per
1,000 females age 15-44
Low birth weight per 100
births
Infant deaths per 1,000 births
5.4
14.9
11.1
9.1
Bleckley Co.
7.8
Georgia
8.4
10-yr. rates 1998-2007
2007 Bleckley Co. Natality Data
174 total births, 83 unwed births
15 induced terminations
38 teen pregnancies
25 low birth weight babies
2007 Bleckley Co. Mortality Data
117 total deaths
1 infant deaths
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health, OASIS
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
4.9
Grad or Prof Degree
8.3
7.6
Bachelor's degree
16.0
7.1
Associate degree
5.2
16.4
Some college, no degree
20.4
35.8
HS Grad
28.7
15.4
13.8
9th-12th no diploma
Bleckley Co.
Georgia
12.9
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Bleckley Co.
Not completing HS = 28.3%
With a bachelor’s + degree = 12.5%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2008-09
60.0
59.5
Teachers w/adv degrees
44.2
College prep certif
30.8
HOPE Eligible
75.7
38.0
83.2
78.9
Class '09 Grad Rate
4.8
Gifted
9.3
16.6
Special Ed
10.6
Econ Disadvantaged
48.2
53.9
5.6
3.8
10.4
8.7
4.2
3.8
Retained in grade
Absent >15 days
HS Dropout rate
0
10
20
Georgia
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
30
40
50
60
Bleckley Co.
70
80
Percentage
Bleckley Co.
K12 enrollment = 2,340
HS dropouts = 35
General Fund Expenditures per FTE = $7,945
Per Capita Income: 2003-2008
$45,000
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2003
2004
2005
Bleckley Co.
2008 PCI
Bleckley Co. = $27,724
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (4/10)
2006
2007
Georgia
Georgia = $34,849
US = $40,166
2008
US
Per Capita Income: 2003-2008
Percentage Change
8
Percentage
6
4
2
0
-2
-4
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
Bleckley Co.
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (4/10)
2006-07
Georgia
2007-08
US
Per Capita Income: 2008
PCI
Rank of
PCI
% PCI of
GA Total
% Change
in PCI
2003-2008
BLECKLEY
$27,724
80
79.6
10.7
DODGE
$24,418
134
70.1
21.7
HOUSTON
$32,577
25
93.5
17.8
LAURENS
$29,099
58
83.5
21.7
PULASKI
$29,939
45
85.9
8.8
TWIGGS
$25,827
106
74.1
28.9
WILKINSON
$25,157
119
72.2
16.7
GA Avg. Co.
$28,543
--
81.9
20.1
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (4/10)
Median Household Income
2009 Model-Based Estimates
$50,221
US
$47,469
GEORGIA
GA Avg. Co.
$38,972
$38,610
BLECKLEY
$32,743
DODGE
$50,733
HOUSTON
$36,476
LAURENS
$35,180
PULASKI
$34,000
TWIGGS
$34,660
WILKINSON
$0
$10,000
$20,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/10)
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
Transfer Receipts: 2008
Bleckley Co. Total = $86,159,000
28.7
Retirement/Disab
33.3
27.6
Medicare
23.1
13.1
Pub Med Assist
15.5
2.6
2.2
0.5
0.4
2.4
2.7
Supp Sec Inc
Family Assist
Food Stamps
Bleckley Co.
Georgia
6.2
6.8
Other Inc Maint
1.9
2.6
2.3
3.4
Unemp
Veteran Benefit
14.8
All Other
Bleckley Co.
$6,743 per capita
transfer receipts
25.5% of total personal income
11.7% change in total 2007-08
10.0
0
5
10
15
20
25
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (4/10)
30
35
40
45
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2009 Model-Based Estimates
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
BLECKLEY
2,285
20.2
72
DODGE
4,187
23.4
103
HOUSTON
18,099
13.7
25
LAURENS
10,465
22.4
91
PULASKI
1,982
23.2
100
TWIGGS
2,286
23.1
98
WILKINSON
2,074
20.9
79
GA Avg. Co.
9,969
21.0
--
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/10)
Persons Living Below the Poverty Level
2009 Model-Based Estimates
5.5 – 15.5%
15.5 – 19.9%
19.9 – 23.0%
23.0 – 26.5%
26.5 – 40.8%
Weighted
average poverty
threshold for a
family household
of 4 persons in
2009 = $21,954
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (12/10)
Georgia
1,585,116
Persons
16.6%
------------US = 14.3%
Unemployment Rates
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
14
Bleckley Co.
Georgia
U. S.
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
2001
2002
2010 Rates
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Bleckley Co. = 12.2
GA = 10.2
Avg. GA County = 11.1
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
2009
2010
US = 9.6
Establishments, Employment & Wages: 2009 Averages
Avg. #
Establishments
Avg. Monthly
Employment
Avg. Wage
Weekly
30
959
$426
Ag, forestry, fishing
8
42
$785
Construction
17
158
$700
Manufacturing
5
--
--
149
1,442
$396
Wholesale trade
4
31
$853
Retail trade
51
382
$418
Transp/Warehousing
5
--
--
Finance/Insurance
11
104
$644
Professional/Sci/Tech
11
64
$520
Admin/Suppt/WasteMgmt/Remediation
4
--
--
Health care/Soc Svcs
20
252
$423
Accommodations/Food Svc
17
391
$233
TOTAL GOVERNMENT
28
1,221
$556
TOTAL ALL INDUSTRIES
208
3,622
$458
Bleckley CoUNTY
TOTAL GOODS PRODUCING
TOTAL SERVICE PROVIDING
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor (8/10)
Employment Comparisons by Industry Group: 2009
Bleckley Co.
Avg. GA County
Georgia
26.5
Goods Producing
22.1
14.6
39.8
Service Providing
50.2
67.4
33.7
Government
27.3
17.9
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor (8/10)
Components of 2009 Property Tax Gross Digest
Bleckley County
Residential
43.2%
Ag-PreferentialEnviron-Conserv
27.2%
Timber *
0.7%
Commercial
11.2%
Mobile Home
1.4%
Public Utility
Motor Vehicle
2.9%
9.4%
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Industrial
3.9%
40% Assessment Value of Property
Gross Digest = $321,613,730
Homestead & Property Exemptions = $38,953,246
Net M&O Digest = $282,660,484
Value of exempt property = $23,401,339
* Timber taxed at 100% based on previous year sales
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax Rate
2010
County-wide
Millage*
’08 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales Tax
Rate as of
LOST
Type*
1/11
as of 1/11
BLECKLEY
25.802
$7,255
3
LSE
DODGE
22.250
$8,556
3
LSE
HOUSTON
LAURENS
24.720
22.550
$102,916
$28,545
3
3
LSE
LSE
PULASKI
28.063
$6,887
3
LSE
TWIGGS
32.450
$7,194
3
LSE
WILKINSON
32.350
$12,485
3
LSE
County
*Countywide Includes .250 state millage. School includes bonds, if any. Taxes
levied, but not necessarily collected. Sales Tax: 4% State not included; L=Local
Option, S=Special Purpose, E=Educational
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2009
Bleckley Co. Total Value = $27,818,246
Row-Forage crops
47.9%
Poultry-Egg
8.0%
Other
12.8%
Ornamental
Horticulture
1.8%
Veges
0.3%
Forestry
14.7%
Livestock
14.5%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA (5/10)
Retail Sales Analysis: 2008
Bleckley Co. Total Retail Sales = $112,739,000
0.70
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
2.68
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
0.49
Gas stations
0.91
0.67
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
0.30
0.03
Clothing & Accessories
General Merchandise
0.41
Food Services-Drinking Places
0.73
Food-Beverage Stores
0.51
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
55.0
Residents working
out of county
45.0
Workers coming into
county
33.6
Residents driving to
work alone
80.7
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
12.9
3.0
Bleckley County
Mean travel time to work = 26.1 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 0.62
Resident workers 16+ = 4,699
Residents working in county = 2,583
Residents working out of county = 2,116
Total working in county = 3,891
Workers commuting into county = 1,308
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
# 1105
April 2011
Prepared for Bleckley 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