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
102,647
96,353
93,835
83,525
72,462
65,789
55,108
42,109
34,432
26,105
20,808
2015 CAED Trend
2010 CAED Trend
2008 Estimate
2000
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
1940
1930
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; CAED TREND revised 3/09
(Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development).
Population Composition by Age
Whitfield County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
4.3
5.8
14.0
14.8
38.3
33.0
37.4
29.8
6.5
7.1
8.6
18.1
18.1
18.2
33.1
30.6
35.0
29.7
38.6
26.7
9.9
10.3
+ 0.4
20.0
21.5
+ 1.5
40.6
37.9
- 2.7
22.3
22.1
- 0.2
10.4
12.3
11.7
10.2
7.9
7.1
8.2
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
0%
2008 Estimated Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
Whitfield Co. = 34.0 yrs.
+ 1.1
GA = 34.9 yrs.
2008 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-08
Rank of
% Chg.
WHITFIELD
93,835
27
323.6
12.3
55
CATOOSA
62,825
36
387.3
18.0
38
CHATTOOGA
26,801
67
85.5
5.2
97
FLOYD
95,980
24
187.0
6.0
92
GORDON
52,800
39
148.5
19.7
34
MURRAY
40,304
50
117.0
10.4
65
WALKER
64,799
33
145.1
6.1
90
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (3/09)
Population Change: 1930-2000
35
Percentage Change
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
1930-40
1940-50
U.S.
1950-60
1960-70
Georgia
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses
1970-80
1980-90
1990-2000
Whitfield Co.
Components of Population Change
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
2000-2008
Numerical
Change*
2000-2008
# Natural
Increase
(Births-Deaths)
2000-2008
# Net
Migration
2007-08
1-yr Natural
Increase
Rate
2007-08
1 yr Net
Migration
Rate
WHITFIELD
10,280
9,142
1,566
12.7
0.5
CATOOSA
9,573
2,116
7,659
4.9
6.6
CHATTOOGA
1,331
337
1,112
0.8
-1.1
2,484
5,370
1,179
3,351
4,941
785,691
4.4
9.0
7.8
1.8
5.3
8.3
1.6
9.7
-12.8
3.7
5.9
8.7
Area
FLOYD
GORDON
MURRAY
WALKER
Avg. County
GEORGIA
5,415
3,408
8,696
3,560
3,798
2,839
3,749
672
9,427
3,806
1,498,932 605,129
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau (3/09)
* Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
Population Change: 2000-2008
LOSS
0 – 8.0%
8.0 – 18.3%
18.3 – 36%
36 – 70.8%
Avg. GA
County = 11.2%
GA = 18.3%
US = 8.0%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (3/09)
Selected Vital Statistics
2007 Rates
20.4
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.8
46.9
Unwed per 100 total births
43.8
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
Deaths per 1,000 pop
52.1
35.3
8.3
7.1
Induced terminations per
1,000 females age 15-44
6.7
Low birth weight per 100
births
6.6
Infant deaths per 1,000 births
14.9
9.1
6.7
Whitfield Co.
Georgia
8.4
10-yr. rates 1998-2007
2007 Whitfield Co. Mortality Data
2007 Whitfield Co. Natality Data
1,905 total births, 856 unwed births 771 total deaths
10 infant deaths
135 induced terminations
321 teen pregnancies
148 low birth weight babies
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health, OASIS
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
4.9
Grad or Prof Degree
8.3
8.0
Bachelor's degree
16.0
3.9
5.2
Associate degree
17.2
Some college, no degree
20.4
29.0
28.7
HS Grad
18.8
9th-12th no diploma
Whitfield Co.
Georgia
13.8
18.2
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
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 County Public School Statistics
School Year 2007-08
Teachers w/adv degrees
67.9
70.9
57.6
64.3
College prep certif
75.4
36.7
40.7
38.5
HOPE Eligible
74.3
77.4
75.4
Class '08 Grad Rate
8.9
8.5
9.0
10
8
11.2
Gifted
Special Ed
57.5
Econ Disadvantaged
71.7
51.0
3.8
8.1
4.1
5.3
5.4
9.5
4.8
0.4
3.6
Retained in grade
Absent >15 days
HS Dropout rate
0
10
87.4
Whitfield Co.
Dalton City
Georgia
20
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
Whitfield Co.
K12 FTE enrollment
13,428
HS dropouts
211
Primary data source: Governor’s Office
of Student Achievement
General Fund Expenditures per FTE
$7,594
80
90
Dalton City
6,364
N/A
$9,035
Per Capita Income: 2002-2007
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2002
2003
2004
Whitfield Co.
2007 PCI
Whitfield Co. = $31,323
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)
2005
2006
Georgia
Georgia = $33,499
US = $38,615
2007
US
Per Capita Income: 2002-2007
Percentage Change
8
Percentage
6
4
2
0
2002-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
Whitfield Co.
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)
2005-2006
Georgia
2006-2007
US
Per Capita Income: 2007
PCI
Rank of
PCI
% PCI of
GA Total
% Change
in PCI
2002-2007
WHITFIELD
$31,323
22
93.5
16.9
CATOOSA
$26,863
54
80.2
15.1
CHATTOOGA
$20,481
150
61.1
8.3
FLOYD
$29,199
32
87.2
15.9
GORDON
$25,978
70
77.5
14.7
MURRAY
$23,863
102
71.2
16.7
WALKER
$26,003
69
77.6
18.6
GA Avg. Co.
$26,299
--
78.5
17.1
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)
Median Household Income
2008 Model-Based Estimates
US
$52,029
GEORGIA
$50,834
GA Avg. Co.
$41,186
$44,060
WHITFIELD
$47,990
CATOOSA
CHATTOOGA
$34,249
FLOYD
$41,865
$43,789
GORDON
$42,588
MURRAY
$39,360
WALKER
$0
$10,000
$20,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (11/09)
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
Transfer Receipts: 2007
Whitfield Co. Total = $459,849,000
37.5
35.3
Retirement/Disab
24.6
23.2
Medicare
17.3
16.6
Pub Med Assist
1.8
2.4
0.3
0.5
1.8
2.6
Supp Sec Inc
Family Assist
Food Stamps
Whitfield Co.
Georgia
Whitfield Co.
$4,964 per capita
transfer receipts
7.1
7.0
Other Inc Maint
1.7
1.6
1.9
3.4
Unemp
Veteran Benefit
15.8% of total personal income
7.4% change in total 2006-2007
6.2
7.3
All Other
0
5
10
15
20
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)
25
30
35
40
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2008 Model-Based Estimates
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
WHITFIELD
13,076
14.1
36
CATOOSA
7,112
11.4
20
CHATTOOGA
4,470
17.9
70
FLOYD
16,862
18.4
73
GORDON
6,771
13.0
29
MURRAY
5,472
13.7
32
WALKER
9,623
15.2
44
GA Avg. Co.
8,736
19.1
--
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (11/09)
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
8
Whitfield Co.
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
7
Georgia
U. S.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1999
2000
2008 Rates
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Whitfield Co. = 7.7
GA = 6.2
Avg. GA County = 6.9
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
2007
2008
US = 5.8
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Whitfield Co. 2008 Annual Averages, % of Total
Estab
Emp
Wages
Goods Producing
Agriculture, Mining,
Construction,
Manufacturing
Service Providing
Government
Retail-Wholesale Trade, Transportation-Warehousing,
Information, Finance-Insurance-Real Estate,
Professional-SciTech Serv., Admin-Waste Serv., HealthSocial Serv., Accommodation-Food Serv., & others
Federal,
State,
Local
2008 Averages
# Establishments = 2,602 Monthly Employment = 58,865 Weekly Wage = $675
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Selected Employment Comparisons by Industry: 2008
Total GOODS
Producing
16.0
0.0
0.6
1.9
Construction
5.1
38.3
Agriculture
Manufacturing
10.1
Total SERVICE
Providing
5.9
5.4
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Transp-warehous
Information
Fin/Ins/RE
4.6
4.0
0.9
2.7
1.2
3.9
Prof-Sci-Tech
Adm-Waste svc
Health-Soc Svcs
Accomo-Food svc
RE&Rent&Lease
Total
GOVERNMENT
35.9
0.6
1.5
52.3
66.6
11.3
11.5
7.8
5.7
5.7
6.8
6.7
9.5
5.0
8.7
9.4
Whitfield Co.
Georgia
17.1
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor (zero may indicate no employment in sector, or undisclosed data.
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2008
Whitfield Co. Total Value = $34,226,636
Poultry-Egg
65.1%
Other
1.0%
Ornamental
Horticulture
8.4%
Veges
0.1%
Forestry
2.1%
Livestock
20.7%
Row-Forage crops
2.7%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA (5/09)
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2008
Whitfield Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $3,635,570,660
38.5
Residential
3.4
24.5
Ag/Pref/Environ
8.2
12.6
Commercial
6.9
6.7
Industrial
42.4
21.3
20.3
27.0
2.0
4.8
3.2
7.2
Motor Vehicle
7.1
6.3
0.6
1.0
Mobile Home
0.4
0.0
Timber 0.7
0.14
Utility
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue (preliminary avg. and total)
Whitfield Co.
GA Avg. Co.
GA Total
54.8
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2008
County
% Resi- % Agri- % Comdential cultural mercial
% Industrial
% Mo%
%
% UtilMotor bile
Timity
Veh Home ber
WHITFIELD
38.5
3.4
21.3 27.0
2.0
7.2
0.6 0.04
CATOOSA
59.3
6.1
16.3
7.5
2.2
7.6
0.6 0.00
CHATTOOGA
39.0
23.6
8.9
17.5
2.6
7.2
1.0 0.10
FLOYD
45.1
7.1
17.9 11.1 11.2
7.1
0.5 0.09
GORDON
34.9
14.6
19.5 22.2
1.9
6.6
0.3 0.09
MURRAY
43.3
12.2
14.7 17.2
2.6
7.9
2.1 0.06
WALKER
61.3
8.5
9.0
9.9
2.2
8.0
1.2 0.02
GEORGIA
54.9
6.8
22.2
6.3
3.2
6.0
0.4
0.2
Avg. GA Co.
42.4
23.8
12.7
7.0
5.0
7.2
1.1
0.9
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue (preliminary avg. and total)
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax Rate
’08
Countywide
Millage*
WHITFIELD
’08 School
Millage*
’08 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales Tax
Rate as of
LOST
Type*
10/09
as of 10/09
24.59
14.76
$88,000
3
LSE
CATOOSA
25.29
16.77
$36,942
3
LSE
CHATTOOGA
23.35
9.77
$11,403
3
LSE
FLOYD
29.72
18.59
$90,907
3
LSE
GORDON
29.78
17.50
$46,382
3
LSE
MURRAY
25.30
15.50
$21,705
3
LSE
WALKER
27.48
17.45
$32,418
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
Retail Sales Analysis: 2008
Whitfield Co. Total Retail Sales = $1,984,814,000
1.50
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
1.21
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
1.38
Gas stations
1.65
1.86
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
2.89
0.34
Clothing & Accessories
General Merchandise
1.69
Food Services-Drinking Places
0.99
Food-Beverage Stores
1.29
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
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
# 10-08
January 2010
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