Fayette County
Community
Profile
Old Fayette County Courthouse
51st in order of
county creation
May 15, 1821
Prepared for Fayette County Cooperative Extension
by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Fayette County
153,081
132,165
2020 OPB Proj.
2015 OPB Proj.
106,788
91,263
2009 Estimate
2000
62,415
1990
29,043
1980
11,364
8,199
7,978
8,170
8,665
1970
1960
1950
1940
1930
0
20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000140,000 160,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; GA Office of Planning & Budget
projections.
Population Composition by Age
Fayette County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
5.7
7.5
8.9
7.9
16.6
16.3
18.2
19.2
6.1
17.3
7.2
8.9
12.2
+3.3
33.0
+5.2
20.4
27.8
32.8
31.1
28.2
32.1
40.4
Change in
proportion
2000-2009
40.4
-6.8
31.8
25.0
33.3
32.7
32.8
31.3
29.2
25.0
25.7
24.8
-0.9
-0.7
11.6
12.4
12.0
9.6
7.1
7.1
5.8
5.1
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2009
est.
0%
2009 Estimated Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Fayette Co. = 42.2 yrs.
GA = 34.9 yrs.
2009 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-09
Rank of
% Chg.
FAYETTE
106,788
22
541.9
17.0
43
CLAYTON
275,772
5
1,933.6
16.6
45
COWETA
127,111
17
287.2
42.5
10
FULTON
1,033,756
1
1,955.4
26.7
24
HENRY
195,370
9
605.4
63.7
3
MERIWETHER
22,783
80
45.3
1.1
119
SPALDING
64,708
34
326.9
10.8
65
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (3/10)
Population Change: 1930-2009
160
Percentage Change
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
-20
1930-40
1940-50
1950-60
U.S.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
1960-70
1970-80
Georgia
1980-90
1990-00
2000-09
Fayette Co.
Components of Population Change
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
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
FAYETTE
15,525
3,190
12,844
3.3
0.6
CLAYTON
39,252
30,733
10,012
11.2
-12.2
COWETA
37,896
8,842
29,284
9.3
19.8
FULTON
217,929
69,932
44,899
8.4
11.4
HENRY
76,032
15,689
MERIWETHER 255
548
SPALDING
6,291
3,204
Avg. County
10,330
4,305
GEORGIA
1,642,430 684,445
60,406
-158
3,400
5,340
849,133
11.2
1.0
5.1
4.8
7.8
13.8
-7.3
4.1
1.0
5.5
Area
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau (3/10)
* Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
Population Change: 2000-2009
LOSS
0 – 9.1%
9.1 – 20.1%
20.1 – 40.0%
40.0 – 77.4%
Avg. GA
County = 12.0%
GA = 20.1%
US = 9.1%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (3/10)
Selected Vital Statistics
2007 Rates
9.1
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.8
26.9
Unwed per 100 total births
43.8
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
Deaths per 1,000 pop
15.6
35.3
5.9
7.1
Induced terminations per
1,000 females age 15-44
Low birth weight per 100
births
Infant deaths per 1,000 births
9.5
14.9
6.5
9.1
5.3
Fayette Co.
Georgia
8.4
10-yr. rates 1998-2007
2007 Fayette Co. Mortality Data
2007 Fayette Co. Natality Data
966 total births, 257 unwed births 627 total deaths
6 infant deaths
216 induced terminations
125 teen pregnancies
71 low birth weight babies
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health, OASIS
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
12.3
Grad or Prof Degree
8.3
23.9
Bachelor's degree
16.0
7.2
Associate degree
5.2
25.0
Some college, no degree
20.4
24.0
HS Grad
28.7
5.4
9th-12th no diploma
Fayette Co.
Georgia
13.8
2.2
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Fayette Co.
Not completing HS = 7.6%
With a bachelor’s + degree = 36.2%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2008-09
64.6
59.5
Teachers w/adv degrees
College prep certificate
75.7
HOPE Eligible
56.0
38.0
Class '09 Grad Rate
78.9
16.7
9.3
9.3
10.6
19.3
Gifted Program
Special Ed Program
Econ Disadvantaged
85.6
94.0
53.9
2.3
3.8
7.2
8.7
0.9
3.8
Retained in grade
Absent >15 days
HS Dropout rate
0
10
20
30
Georgia
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
40
50
60
70
Fayette Co.
80
90
Percentage
Fayette Co.
K12 enrollment = 21,889
HS dropouts = 76
General Fund Expenditures per FTE = $8,359
Per Capita Income: 2003-2008
$50,000
$45,000
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2003
2004
2005
Fayette Co.
2008 PCI
Fayette Co. = $45,474
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (4/10)
2006
Georgia
2007
2008
US
Georgia = $34,849
US = $40,166
Per Capita Income: 2003-2008
Percentage Change
10
Percentage
8
6
4
2
0
-2
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
Fayette 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
FAYETTE
$45,474
3
130.5
16.5
CLAYTON
$24,307
137
69.7
6.9
COWETA
$31,931
28
91.6
13.5
FULTON
$53,579
1
153.7
16.2
HENRY
$30,278
41
86.9
10.5
MERIWETHER $24,846
125
71.3
17.7
SPALDING
$28,045
76
80.5
14.4
GA Avg. Co.
$28,543
--
81.9
20.1
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (4/10)
Median Household Income
2008 Model-Based Estimates
$52,029
US
GEORGIA
$50,834
GA Avg. Co.
$41,186
FAYETTE
$82,678
CLAYTON
$46,293
COWETA
$61,199
FULTON
$62,682
HENRY
$63,199
MERIWETHER
$35,566
SPALDING
$0
$41,450
$20,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (11/09)
$40,000
$60,000
$80,000
Transfer Receipts: 2008
Fayette Co. Total = $468,224,000
47.7
Retirement/Disab
33.3
24.4
23.1
Medicare
6.9
Pub Med Assist
15.5
0.7
2.2
Family Assist 0.2
0.4
Food Stamps 0.92.7
3.6
Supp Sec Inc
Other Inc Maint
Fayette Co.
Georgia
Fayette Co.
$4,401 per capita
transfer receipts
6.8
1.3
2.6
4.1
3.4
Unemp
Veteran Benefit
9.7% of total personal income
10.5% change in total 2007-08
10.3
10.0
All Other
0
5
10
15
20
25
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (4/10)
30
35
40
45
50
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2008 Model-Based Estimates
County
FAYETTE
CLAYTON
COWETA
FULTON
HENRY
MERIWETHER
SPALDING
GA Avg. Co.
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
4,981
39,619
11,675
146,956
15,418
4,174
11,167
8,736
4.7
14.7
9.6
14.9
8.1
18.7
17.9
19.1
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (11/09)
Rank
of %
(1 = lowest)
1
41
10
42
7
77
68
--
Persons Living Below the Poverty Level
2008 Model-Based Estimates
4.7 – 13.7%
13.7 – 17.8%
17.8 – 21.1%
21.1 – 24.8%
24.8 – 35.2%
Weighted
average poverty
threshold for a
family household
of 4 persons in
2008 = $22,025
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (11/09)
Georgia
1,388,959
persons
14.7%
------------US = 13.2%
Unemployment Rates
10
Fayette Co.
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
9
Georgia
U. S.
8
8.1
7
6
5
4
5.2
4.5
3
2
2.6
2.8
2000
2001
3.5
3.6
3.7
2002
2003
2004
3.9
3.9
2006
2007
1
0
2009 Rates
2005
Fayette Co. = 8.1
GA = 9.6
Avg. GA County = 10.5
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
2008
2009
US = 9.3
Establishments, Employment & Wages: 2009 Averages
Avg. #
Establishments
Avg. Monthly
Employment
Avg. Wage
Weekly
532
5,031
$971
5
39
$954
Construction
397
2,350
$883
Manufacturing
128
2,619
$1,052
2,609
25,884
$658
Wholesale trade
274
2,094
$1,090
Retail trade
388
5,955
$427
Transportation/Warehousing
85
1,790
$1,087
Finance/Insurance
182
968
$1,009
Professional/Scientific/Technology
428
2,032
$1,001
Admin/Suppt/WasteMgmt/Remediation
184
1,089
$562
Health care/Social Services
282
4,515
$802
Accommodations/Food Service
183
3,930
$254
67
5,514
$820
3,341
36,498
$727
Fayette County
TOTAL GOODS PRODUCING
Ag, forestry, fishing
TOTAL SERVICE PROVIDING
TOTAL GOVERNMENT
TOTAL ALL INDUSTRIES
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor (8/10)
Employment Comparisons by Industry Group: 2009
Fayette Co.
Avg. GA County
Georgia
13.8
Goods Producing
22.1
14.6
70.9
Service Providing
50.2
67.4
15.1
Government
27.3
17.9
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor (8/10)
Components of 2009 Property Tax Gross Digest
Fayette County
Residential
67.9%
Mobile Homes,
Timber, Heavy
Equipment
0.1%
Motor Vehicle
6.9%
Ag-PreferentialEnviron-Conserv
2.2%
Public Utility
1.2%
Industrial
5.8%
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Commercial
15.9%
40% Assessment Value of Property
Gross Digest = $5.748 billion
Homestead & Property Exemptions = $290 million
Net M&O Digest = $5.458 billion
Value of exempt property = $365.5 million
* Timber taxed at 100% based on previous year sales
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax Rate
County
’09 County’09 School
wide
Millage*
Millage*
’08 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales Tax
Rate as of
LOST
Type*
10/10
as of 10/10
FAYETTE
31.61
23.42
$173,983
2
LE
CLAYTON
35.59
20.00
$284,538
3
LSE
COWETA
28.74
18.59
$119,792
3
LSE
FULTON
36.19
17.50
$2,062,601
3
MLE
HENRY
37.28
23.06
$257,367
3
LSE
MERIWETHER
30.47
18.00
$17,086
3
LSE
SPALDING
37.16
18.80
$56,247
3
LSE
*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, O=Other Local Option, M=MARTA. City of
Atlanta=1%
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2009
Fayette Co. Total Value = $19,350,780
Row-Forage crops
0.9%
Livestock
20.7%
Forestry
2.9%
Veges
8.4%
Other
1.6%
Fruits-Nuts
1.7%
Ornamental
Horticulture
63.9%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA (5/10)
Retail Sales Analysis: 2008
Fayette Co. Total Retail Sales = $1.703 billion
0.63
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
0.91
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
0.69
Gas stations
0.26
0.21
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
1.11
0.64
Clothing & Accessories
General Merchandise
0.52
Food Services-Drinking Places
0.76
Food-Beverage Stores
1.18
0
1
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
37.5
Residents working
out of county
62.5
Workers coming into
county
51.5
Residents driving to
work alone
84.5
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
9.4
3.7
Fayette County
Mean travel time to work = 30.6 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 0.64
Resident workers 16+ = 45,231
Residents working in county = 16,977
Residents working out of county = 28,254
Total working in county = 35,036
Workers commuting into county = 18,059
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
# 1024
November 2010
Prepared for Fayette 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