Harris County
Community
Profile
72nd in order of
county creation
Dec. 14, 1827
Prepared for the Harris County Cooperative Extension Service
by The Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Harris County
30,228
29,647
25,891
23,695
2010 Trend CAED
2010 Proj. OPB
2003 Est.
2000
17,788
15,464
11,520
11,167
11,265
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
11,428
11,140
1940
1930
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
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
Harris County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
7.1
8.1
9.6
16.3
16.9
18.3
31.9
30.8
11.1
12.2
13.3
11.9
21.4
22.8
21.4
26.9
30.9
34.0
37.1
33.3
25.6
21.9
22.1
32.3
13.3
11.4
8.3
6.9
6.4
5.9
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
0%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
+5.4
-3.8
32.5
10.8
2000 Median Age
-1.4
26.8
26.9
34.0
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
Harris Co. = 38.5 yrs.
+0.2
-0.5
GA = 33.4 yrs.
2003 County Population Comparisons
Density
% Chg. Rank of
per sq.mi.
2000-03 % Chg.
land area
Total
Total
Rank
25,891
65
55.8
9.3
30
MERIWETHER 22,786
76
45.3
1.1
109
MUSCOGEE
185,702
8
858.7
-0.3
133
TALBOT
6,562
147
16.7
1.0
112
TROUP
60,218
33
145.5
2.4
85
County
HARRIS
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
Population Change: 1930-2000
40
35
Percentage Change
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
1930-40
1940-50
1950-60
U.S.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
1960-70
Georgia
1970-80
1980-90
Harris Co.
1990-2000
Components of Population Change: 2000-2003
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
Area
HARRIS
MERIWETHE
R
MUSCOGEE
TALBOT
TROUP
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
2,196
224
2.8
1,927
23.9
252
288
3.9
-24
-0.3
-589
4,277
7.1
-4,841
-8.0
64
42
2.0
28
1.3
1,439
812
4.2
673
3.5
4.8
8.2
1,680
267,059
8.4
9.7
3,133
1,405
498,198 225,616
* 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
11.5
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.6
29.2
Unwed per 100 total births
37.8
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
Deaths per 1,000 pop
17.9
36.3
9.1
7.6
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
12.0
17.4
8.2
8.7
9.9
Harris Co.
Georgia
9.0
2002 Harris Co. Natality Data
288 total births, 84 unwed births
58 induced terminations
32 teen pregnancies
31 low-birth-weight babies
2002 Harris Co. Mortality Data
229 total deaths
3 infant deaths
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
7.3
8.3
Grad or Prof Degree
13.8
Bachelor's degree
16.0
5.9
5.2
Associate degree
22.5
Some college, no degree
20.4
29.4
28.7
HS Grad
13.7
13.8
9th-12th no diploma
Harris Co.
Georgia
7.3
7.6
< 9th grade
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Harris Co.
Not completing HS = 21.0%
With a bachelor’s + degree = 21.1%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2002-03
57.7
Teachers w/adv degrees
50.0
66.4
College prep certif
71.5
71.9
Class '03 Completion
63.2
35.1
Econ. disadvantaged
45.1
9.2
12.2
Students w/disab
2.7
4.1
Retained in grade
Harris Co.
Georgia
12.1
13.8
Absent >15 days
4.4
5.5
HS Dropout rate
0
10
Primary data sources: Governor’s Office of Student
Achievement, and GA Dept. of Education
20
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
80
Harris Co.
Enrollment, K-12 = 4,411
H.S. dropouts, grades 9-12 = 58
Expenditures per pupil = $6,738
Per Capita Income: 1997-2002
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
1997
1998
1999
Harris Co.
2002 PCI
Harris Co. = $31,554
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
Harris 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
$31,554
6
110.6
23.0
MERIWETHER $20,764
111
72.8
21.2
MUSCOGEE
$27,892
15
97.8
30.0
TALBOT
$19,801
126
69.4
32.5
TROUP
$25,121
30
88.1
20.9
County
HARRIS
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
$49,714
HARRIS
$31,890
MERIWETHER
$34,529
MUSCOGEE
TALBOT
$27,596
$36,409
TROUP
$0
$9,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
$18,000
$27,000
$36,000
$45,000
$54,000
Transfer Receipts: 2002
Harris Co. Total = $88,793,000
43.2
Retirement/Disab
34.1
14.2
Medicare
18.5
Harris Co.
15.9
Pub Med Assist
21.9
1.7
2.6
0.4
0.6
1.3
2.0
Supp Sec Inc
Family Assist
Food Stamps
Georgia
Harris Co.
$3,538 per capita
transfer receipts
4.8
4.9
Other Inc Maint
2.1
3.2
Unemp
11.2% of total personal income
14.2% change in total 2001-2002
6.4
Veteran Benefit
3.1
10.0
9.2
All Other
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 %
HARRIS
2,152
8.9
13
MERIWETHER
3,693
16.7
81
MUSCOGEE
28,628
16.1
77
TALBOT
1,217
18.3
100
TROUP
8,046
13.8
58
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
Harris Co.
Georgia
U. S.
6
4
2
0
1994
1995
1996
2003 Rates
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
1997
1998
1999
Harris Co. = 3.2
2000
2001
GA = 4.7
2002
2003
US = 5.8
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Harris County 2002 Annual Averages, % of Total
Estab
Emp
Wages
Agriculture
Retail trade
Admin-waste svc
All other svc
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Construction
Finance/Insur
Health-Soc svc
Govt
Whlsle trade
Prof-Sci-Tech Svc
Accom-Food Svc
All Other
Employment Comparisons by Industry: 2002
GOODS Producing
Agriculture
0.8
0.7
Construction
18.3
5.7
5.2
Manufacturing not disclosed
12.3
SERVICE Producing
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Finance-Ins
Prof-Sci-Tech
Adm-Waste svc
Health-Soc Svcs
1.2
33.0
5.4
5.2
1.5
4.0
1.0
5.0
2.8
6.6
3.9
8.2
Accomo-Food svc
All other svcs
GOVERNMENT
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
7.9
44.9
11.9
Harris Co.
11.7
17.6
16.0
21.9
16.3
Georgia
65.0
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2003
Harris Co. Total Value = $15,220,384
Livestock
20.0%
Row-Forage crops
6.9%
Forestry
23.1%
Poultry-Egg
1.8%
Other
13.1%
Veges
1.6%
Fruits-Nuts
1.8%
Ornamental
Horticulture
31.8%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2003
Harris Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $718,559,249
48.1
50.7
Residential
24.6
Ag/Pref/Environ
6.2
5.7
Commercial
Industrial
23.2
1.8
7.4
8.4
Utility
3.8
10.5
7.9
Motor Vehicle
Mobile Home
0.5
0.5
Timber
0.4
0.2
Harris Co.
GA Avg.
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2003
County
% Resi- % Agri- % Com- % In- % Motor
%
Dential cultural mercial dustrial Vehicle Other
HARRIS
48.1
24.6
5.7
1.8
10.5
9.3
MERIWETHER
31.6
36.2
8.5
6.7
10.2
6.8
MUSCOGEE
45.4
0.5
30.9
11.8
8.6
2.7
TALBOT
19.3
34.2
2.9
28.6
6.3
8.7
TROUP
38.9
6.5
18.1
25.1
8.3
3.2
Avg. GA Co.
40.0
20.4
13.4
8.3
9.5
8.4
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
County Millage Rates: 2002
County
HARRIS
MERIWETHER
MUSCOGEE
TALBOT
TROUP
CountyWide
24.460
24.615
40.000
30.630
26.610
School
Unincorporated
Incorporated
Other*
15.910
16.672
23.370
13.080
17.780
7.900
7.943
-16.550
8.830
7.900
9.373
15.810
16.550
8.830
0.650
0.000
0.820
1.000
0.000
*All tax districts are assessed an additional .250 state millage.
“Other” may include bonds, hospital, recreation, fire protection,
water, industrial authority, economic development, etc.
Primary data source:
GA Dept. of Revenue
Retail Sales Analysis: 2003
Harris Co. Total Retail Sales = $38,846,000
0.10
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
0.05
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
0.08
Gas stations
0.32
0.01
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
0.10
Clothing & Accessories
0.02
General Merchandise
0.01
Food Services-Drinking Places
0.20
Food-Beverage Stores
0.25
0
0.5
1
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
24.3
Residents working
out of county
75.7
Workers coming into
county
46.3
Residents driving to
work alone
84.9
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
11.8
2.0
Harris County
Mean travel time to work = 29.9 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 0.28
Resident workers 16+ = 11,811
Residents working in county = 2,867
Residents working out of county = 8,944
Total working in county = 5,334
Workers commuting into county = 2,467
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 -01
January, 2005
Prepared for the Harris 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