Union County
Community
Profile
83rd in order of
county creation
Dec. 3, 1832
Prepared for the Union County Cooperative Extension Service
by The Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Union County
22,917
21,588
19,119
17,289
2010 Trend CAED
2010 Proj. OPB
2003 Est.
2000
11,993
1990
9,390
6,811
6,510
7,318
1980
1970
1960
1950
7,680
6,340
1940
1930
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; CAED (Center for Agribusiness &
Economic Development); OPB (State Office of Planning & Budget).
Population Composition by Age
Union County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
6.3
14.1
7.2
10.3
15.2
21.7
21.4
18.4
16.3
20.7
32.9
13.3
21.6
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
+3.2
24.1
28.2
31.3
+4.1
27.3
28.4
32.5
-4.5
32.4
27.9
34.3
32.7
31.6
29.3
24.8
-2.0
19.5
17.5
12.4
12.5
10.1
7.3
6.1
5.6
4.8
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
0%
2000 Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Union Co. = 44.8 yrs.
-0.8
GA = 33.4 yrs.
2003 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
UNION
19,119
90
59.3
10.6
24
DAWSON
18,575
91
88.0
16.1
8
FANNIN
21,234
83
55.0
7.3
41
LUMPKIN
23,185
73
81.5
10.3
25
TOWNS
9,901
130
59.4
6.2
50
WHITE
22,815
75
94.4
14.4
12
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
% Chg.
2000-03
Rank of
% Chg.
Population Change: 1930-2000
50
Percentage Change
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
1930-40
1940-50
1950-60
U.S.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
1960-70
Georgia
1970-80
1980-90
Union Co.
1990-2000
Components of Population Change: 2000-2003
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
Area
UNION
DAWSON
FANNIN
LUMPKIN
TOWNS
WHITE
Avg. GA Co.
GEORGIA
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau
Numerical
Change
# Natural
Increase
(BirthsDeaths)
Rate of
Natural
Increase
# Net
Migration
Rate of
Net Migration
1,830
2,576
1,436
2,199
582
2,871
3,133
498,198
-83
468
-56
444
-134
237
1,405
225,616
-1.4
8.3
-0.8
6.2
-4.3
3.4
4.8
8.2
1,872
2,053
1,464
1,713
697
2,570
1,680
267,059
31.6
36.5
22.0
23.9
22.3
37.0
8.4
9.7
* Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
Average annual estimates of annual rates per 1,000 population
Population Change: 2000-2003
LOSS
0 – 3.3%
3.3 – 6.1%
6.1 – 12.0%
12.0 – 29.9%
GA = 6.1%
US = 3.3%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Vital Statistics
2002 Rates
9.6
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.6
25.0
Unwed per 100 total births
37.8
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
19.9
36.3
12.4
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 1993-2002
7.6
5.0
17.4
7.0
8.7
8.3
Union Co.
Georgia
9.0
2002 Union Co. Natality Data
176 total births, 44 unwed births
14 induced terminations
21 teen pregnancies
19 low-birth-weight babies
2002 Union Co. Mortality Data
227 total deaths
0 infant deaths
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
5.0
Grad or Prof Degree
8.3
7.5
Bachelor's degree
16.0
5.7
5.2
Associate degree
20.9
20.4
Some college, no degree
35.1
HS Grad
28.7
16.7
9th-12th no diploma
Union Co.
Georgia
13.8
9.1
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Union Co.
Not completing HS = 25.8%
With a bachelor’s + degree = 12.5%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2002-03
64.5
Teachers w/adv degrees
50.0
79.1
College prep certif
71.5
81.2
Class '03 Completion
63.2
46.5
45.1
Econ. disadvantaged
15.2
12.2
Students w/disab
4.2
4.1
Retained in grade
Union Co.
Georgia
22.0
Absent >15 days
13.8
1.9
5.5
HS Dropout rate
0
10
20
Primary data sources: Governor’s Office of Student
Achievement, and GA Dept. of Education
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
80
90
Union Co.
Enrollment, K-12 = 2,598
H.S. dropouts, grades 9-12 = 15
Expenditures per pupil = $7,567
Per Capita Income: 1997-2002
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
1997
1998
1999
Union Co.
2002 PCI
Union Co. = $23,270
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
2000
Georgia
2001
2002
U.S.
Georgia = $28,821
U.S. = $30,906
Per Capita Income: 1997-2002
Percentage Change
8
Percentage
6
4
2
0
1997-98
1998-99
Union Co.
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
1999-2000
2000-01
Georgia
2001-02
U.S.
Per Capita Income: 2002
PCI
Rank of
PCI
% PCI of
GA Total
% Change
in PCI
1997-2002
UNION
$23,270
58
81.6
26.8
DAWSON
$27,106
18
95.0
18.0
FANNIN
$22,300
80
78.2
27.0
LUMPKIN
$22,356
77
78.4
16.2
TOWNS
$25,588
26
89.7
29.4
WHITE
$22,816
67
80.0
9.1
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Median Household Income
2000 Model-Based Estimates
US
$41,990
GEORGIA
$42,433
GA Avg. Co.
$34,563
$32,699
UNION
$48,455
DAWSON
FANNIN
$31,033
$39,683
LUMPKIN
$32,808
TOWNS
$36,759
WHITE
$0
$10,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
Transfer Receipts: 2002
Union Co. Total = $108,807,000
45.3
Retirement/Disab
34.1
21.8
Medicare
18.5
17.8
Pub Med Assist
1.6
2.6
Family Assist 0.1
0.6
0.8
Food Stamps
2.0
2.3
Other Inc Maint
Union Co.
21.9
Georgia
Supp Sec Inc
Union Co.
$5,918 per capita
transfer receipts
4.9
1.5
3.2
3.3
3.1
Unemp
Veteran Benefit
25.4% of total personal income
14.0% change in total 2001-2002
5.4
All Other
9.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
30
35
40
45
50
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2000 Model-Based Estimate
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
UNION
2,262
13.0
50
DAWSON
1,592
9.5
18
FANNIN
2,843
14.0
60
LUMPKIN
2,583
12.5
48
TOWNS
1,123
12.3
45
WHITE
2,395
11.7
35
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2000 Model-Based Estimates
3.8 – 11.2%
11.2 – 14.5%
14.5 – 17.9%
17.9 – 21.1%
21.1 – 28.6%
GA = 12.3%
US = 11.3%
Poverty level
for a family
of 4 persons
in 2000 =
$17,603
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Unemployment Rates
Rate per 100 in Labor Force
8
Union Co.
Georgia
U. S.
6
4
2
0
1994
1995
1996
2003 Rates
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
1997
1998
1999
Union Co. = 3.4
2000
2001
GA = 4.7
2002
2003
US = 5.8
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Union County 2002 Annual Averages, % of Total
Estab
Emp
Wages
Construction
Retail trade
Admin-waste svc
All other svc
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Manufacturing
Finance/Insur
Health svc
Govt
Whlsle trade
Prof-Sci-Tech Svc
Accom/Food Svc
All Other
Employment Comparisons by Industry: 2002
GOODS Producing
15.9
18.3
disclosed
Agriculture not
0.7
7.3
Construction
5.2
5.4
Manufacturing
12.3
SERVICE Producing
1.4
Wholesale trade
5.4
17.9
Retail trade
11.9
5.8
Finance-Ins
4.0
2.9
Prof-Sci-Tech
5.0
2.2
Adm-Waste svc
6.6
6.1
Health-Soc Svcs
8.2
8.6
Accomo-Food svc
7.9
13.0
All other svcs
16.0
GOVERNMENT
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
16.3
57.9
Union Co.
Georgia
25.6
65.0
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2003
Union Co. Total Value = $23,728,220
Poultry-Egg
36.1%
Row-Forage crops
4.6%
Other
4.4%
Livestock
19.2%
Fruits-Nuts
1.5%
Ornamental
Horticulture
27.7%
Forestry
0.2%
Veges
6.3%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2003
Union Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $732,421,171
65.3
Residential
50.7
11.7
Ag/Pref/Environ
6.2
11.5
Commercial
Industrial
Utility
23.2
0.9
7.4
2.1
3.8
7.8
7.9
Motor Vehicle
Mobile Home
0.7
0.5
Timber
0.0
0.2
Union Co.
GA Avg.
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2003
County
UNION
DAWSON
FANNIN
LUMPKIN
TOWNS
WHITE
Avg. GA Co.
% Resi- % Agri- % Com- % In- % Motor
%
Dential cultural mercial dustrial Vehicle Other
65.3
58.5
67.5
38.1
74.5
53.3
40.0
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
11.7
16.4
9.5
37.0
4.6
24.0
20.4
11.5
15.7
10.3
11.7
10.8
10.0
13.4
0.9
0.4
0.9
2.6
0.2
0.7
8.3
7.8
6.8
9.4
6.6
6.7
8.2
9.5
2.8
2.1
2.4
3.9
3.2
3.7
8.4
County Millage Rates: 2002
County
CountyWide
UNION
DAWSON
FANNIN
LUMPKIN
TOWNS
WHITE
13.584
22.285
18.919
20.733
10.500
21.665
Primary data source:
GA Dept. of Revenue
School
Unincorporated
Incorporated
Other*
8.294
12.746
12.950
13.250
4.000
14.415
5.290
9.139
5.969
7.483
6.500
6.800
5.290
9.139
5.969
8.360
6.500
6.800
0.000
0.400
0.000
0.000
0.000
0.450
*All tax districts are assessed an additional .250 state millage.
“Other” may include bonds, hospital, recreation, fire protection,
water, industrial authority, economic development, etc.
Retail Sales Analysis: 2003
Union Co. Total Retail Sales = $180,251,000
0.92
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
1.78
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
1.70
Gas stations
1.05
0.55
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
0.51
0.22
Clothing & Accessories
General Merchandise
0.51
Food Services-Drinking Places
1.02
Food-Beverage Stores
1.41
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: “Demographics USA” Pull factor calculations by Center for Agribusiness & Economic
Development.
Commuting to Work: 2000
Percentage of:
Residents working in
county
69.0
Residents working out
of county
31.0
Workers coming into
county
21.7
Residents driving to
work alone
77.6
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
17.1
3.6
Union County
Mean travel time to work = 27.3 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 0.62
Resident workers 16+ = 7,090
Residents working in county = 4,891
Residents working out of county = 2,199
Total working in county = 6,246
Workers commuting into county = 1,355
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
# 05 -03
January, 2005
Prepared for the Union County
Cooperative Extension Service
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 Service
706-542-0760 • 706-542-8938
www.caed.uga.edu AND www.georgiastats.uga.edu