Wilkes County
Community
Profile
1st in order of
county creation
February 5, 1777
Prepared for Wilkes County Cooperative Extension
by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Wilkes County
10,415
10,678
10,457
10,687
10,597
10,951
10,184
10,961
12,388
2010 Trend CAED
2010 Proj. OPB
2005 Est.
2000
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
15,084
15,944
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 & estimate; CAED (Center for
Agribusiness & Economic Development); OPB (State Office of Planning & Budget).
Population Composition by Age
Wilkes County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
6.9
16.6
32.5
33.4
9.6
17.2
29.9
31.6
11.6
12.8
20.1
22.6
26.7
31.2
27.5
29.3
14.5
21.2
31.9
25.0
17.0
17.1
+ 0.1
+ 4.1
20.0
33.9
22.5
24.1
- 2.0
31.9
- 1.4
21.1
10.6
11.6
10.4
7.9
7.4
6.5
5.8
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
0%
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
- 0.6
2005 Estimated Median Age Wilkes Co. = 39.9 yrs. GA = 33.8 yrs.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
2005 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-05
Rank of
% Chg.
WILKES
10,457
123
22.2
-2.2
142
ELBERT
20,799
85
56.4
1.4
116
OGLETHORPE
13,609
109
30.9
7.7
59
GREENE
15,693
104
40.4
8.9
53
TALIAFERRO
1,826
159
9.3
-12.1
159
WARREN
6,101
149
21.4
-3.7
150
McDUFFIE
21,743
82
83.7
2.4
104
LINCOLN
8,207
139
38.9
-1.7
139
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
Population Change: 1930-2000
30
25
Percentage Change
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15
-20
-25
1930-40
1940-50
1950-60
U.S.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
1960-70
Georgia
1970-80
1980-90
1990-2000
Wilkes Co.
Components of Population Change: 2000-2005
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
Area
Numerical
Change
WILKES
-230
ELBERT
288
OGLETHORPE
974
GREENE
1,287
TALIAFERRO
-251
WARREN
-235
McDUFFIE
512
LINCOLN
-141
GA Avg. Co.
5,571
GEORGIA
885,760
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau
# Natural
Increase
(births-deaths)
Rate of
Natural
Increase
# Net
Migration
Rate of
Net Migration
-40
141
251
218
-19
59
483
-90
2,365
376,105
-0.7
1.3
3.6
2.8
-1.9
1.8
4.3
-2.1
4.8
8.3
-170
173
751
1,088
-225
-275
57
-31
2,676
425,510
-3.1
1.6
10.9
13.8
-22.0
-8.4
0.5
-0.7
7.7
9.4
* Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
Average annual estimates of annual rates per 1,000 population
Population Change: 2000-2005
LOSS
0 – 5.3%
5.3 – 10.8%
10.8 – 21.6%
21.6 – 42.7%
Avg. GA
County =
7.2%
GA = 10.8%
US = 5.3%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Vital Statistics
2004 Rates
11.7
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.7
54.8
Unwed per 100 total births
39.2
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
51.7
34.7
13.9
Deaths per 1,000 pop
7.4
Induced terminations per
1,000 females age 15-44
Low birth weight per 100
births
Infant deaths per 1,000 births
11.8
16.2
9.5
8.8
10.7
Wilkes Co.
Georgia
8.7
10-yr. rates 1995-2004
2004 Wilkes Co. Natality Data
124 total births, 68 unwed births
29 induced terminations
35 teen pregnancies
12 low birth weight babies
2004 Wilkes Co. Mortality Data
147 total deaths
1 infant death
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
4.2
Grad or Prof Degree
8.3
7.8
Bachelor's degree
16.0
2.8
Associate degree
5.2
14.2
Some college, no degree
20.4
35.9
HS Grad
28.7
22.4
9th-12th no diploma
13.8
Wilkes Co.
Georgia
12.7
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Wilkes Co.
Not completing HS = 35.0%
With a bachelor’s + degree = 12.0%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2004-05
40.2
Teachers w/adv degrees
53.6
48.3
College prep certif
73.8
73.1
69.6
Class '05 Grad Rate
5.7
Gifted
8.4
13.6
12.1
Special Ed
Free/Reduc lunch
64.3
47.9
4.5
4.4
Retained in grade
Wilkes Co.
Georgia
9.0
10.6
Absent >15 days
0.4
HS Dropout rate
5.0
0
10
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
20
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
80
Wilkes Co.
K12 enrollment = 1,715
HS dropouts = 2
Per Capita Income: 1999-2004
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
1999
2000
2001
Wilkes Co.
2004 PCI
Wilkes Co. = $21,622
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/06)
2002
2003
Georgia
Georgia = $29,782
US = $33,050
2004
US
Per Capita Income: 1999-2004
Percentage Change
8
Percentage
6
4
2
0
-2
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
Wilkes Co.
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/06)
2002-2003
Georgia
2003-2004
US
Per Capita Income: 2004
County
PCI
Rank of
PCI
WILKES
ELBERT
OGLETHORPE
GREENE
TALIAFERRO
WARREN
McDUFFIE
LINCOLN
GA Avg. Co.
$21,622
$22,253
$23,544
$25,585
$20,298
$20,899
$25,184
$22,208
$23,588
104
93
68
34
135
118
39
95
--
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/06)
% PCI of
GA Total
% Change
in PCI
1999-2004
72.6
74.7
79.1
85.9
68.2
70.2
84.6
74.6
79.2
7.9
12.5
14.2
13.8
22.4
26.6
19.6
18.5
14.6
Median Household Income
2003 Model-Based Estimates
US
$43,318
GEORGIA
$42,421
GA Avg. Co.
$34,859
WILKES
$27,306
ELBERT
$29,776
OGLETHORPE
$36,710
GREENE
$33,463
$23,212
TALIAFERRO
$27,776
WARREN
$32,677
McDUFFIE
LINCOLN
$0
$31,236
$9,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
$18,000
$27,000
$36,000
$45,000
Transfer Receipts: 2004
Wilkes Co. Total = $67,149,000
35.3
34.8
Retirement/Disab
26.3
Medicare
20.0
16.5
Pub Med Assist
Supp Sec Inc
3.0
2.6
Family Assist
0.8
0.8
2.5
2.7
Food Stamps
Wilkes Co.
19.8
Georgia
Wilkes Co.
$6,361 per capita
transfer receipts
6.4
5.7
Other Inc Maint
2.3
1.9
2.7
3.3
4.3
Unemp
Veteran Benefit
All Other
29.4% of total personal income
6.7% change in total 2003-2004
8.4
0
5
10
15
20
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/06)
25
30
35
40
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2003 Model-Based Estimates
County
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
WILKES
ELBERT
OGLETHORPE
GREENE
TALIAFERRO
WARREN
McDUFFIE
LINCOLN
GA Avg. Co.
1,770
3,347
1,674
2,758
402
1,239
3,758
1,247
7,246
16.9
16.1
12.4
17.8
21.4
20.1
17.5
14.9
16.0
84
74
40
98
139
126
92
64
--
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
Persons Living Below the Poverty Level
2003 Model-Based Estimates
5.2 – 9.4%
9.4 – 13.4%
13.4 – 17.0%
17.0 – 20.1%
20.1 – 24.7%
Weighted
average poverty
threshold for a
family of 4
persons in 2003
= $18,810
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Georgia
1,152,089
persons
13.3%
------------US = 12.5%
Unemployment Rates
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
10
Wilkes Co.
Georgia
U. S.
8
6
4
2
0
1996
1997
2005 Rates
1998
1999
2000
2001
Wilkes Co. = 7.0
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
2002
2003
GA = 5.3
2004
2005
US = 5.1
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Wilkes County 2004 Annual Averages, % of Total
Estab
Emp
Wages
Agriculture
Whlsle trade
Information
Admin-waste svc
All other svc
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Construction
Retail trade
Finance/Insur
Health svc
Govt
Manufacturing
Transp-warehous
Prof-Sci-Tech Svc
Accom/Food Svc
All Other
Employment Comparisons by Industry: 2004
Total GOODS
Producing
Agriculture
Construction
3.8
0.7
2.7
5.2
Manufacturing
Total SERVICE
Producing
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Finance-Ins
Transp-warehous
Information
Prof-Sci-Tech
Adm-Waste svc
Health-Soc Svcs
Accomo-Food svc
All other svcs
23.7
11.7
3.5
5.4
30.2
17.7
44.3
11.2
11.6
1.5
3.9
2.9
3.1
2.8
4.1
1.4
5.0
3.0
6.9
8.4
8.8
6.2
8.4
3.4
8.2
Total
GOVERNMENT
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Wilkes Co.
Georgia
16.5
25.5
65.4
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2005
Wilkes Co. Total Value = $59,330,632
Poultry-Egg
26.6%
Row-Forage crops
6.4%
Other
5.1%
Ornamental
Horticulture
3.0%
Livestock
41.9%
Forestry
17.0%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2005
Wilkes Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $318,357,290
26.9
Residential
21.6
Ag/Pref/Environ
6.4
14.6
13.3
Commercial
4.2
Industrial
Utility
Motor Vehicle
Mobile Home
Timber
41.4
53.3
37.7
22.2
7.7
7
3.0
5.4
3.7
7.7
8.3
6.8
2.0
1.3
0.4
3.6
1.1
0.2
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Wilkes Co.
GA Avg. Co.
GA Total
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2005
County
WILKES
ELBERT
OGLETHORPE
GREENE
TALIAFERRO
WARREN
McDUFFIE
LINCOLN
Avg. GA Co.
% Resi- % Agri- % Com- % In- % Motor
%
dential cultural mercial dustrial Vehicle Other
26.9
36.7
40.5
67.0
14.3
21.4
44.2
53.3
41.4
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
37.7
25.6
39.0
13.9
68.0
31.0
12.6
27.1
21.6
14.6
15.2
4.5
8.2
2.7
6.7
14.2
5.9
13.3
4.2
7.5
0.7
3.1
0.2
16.2
14.7
0.4
7.7
7.7
8.9
9.4
4.7
3.8
8.1
8.4
7.8
8.3
8.7
6.2
5.8
3.1
11.0
16.7
5.9
5.5
7.8
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax
’05 Countywide
Millage*
’05
School
Millage*
’04 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales
Tax Rate
LOST
Type*
as of 7/06
as of 7/06
WILKES
25.191
16.330
$7,541
7
LSE
ELBERT
25.755
16.651
$11,739
7
LSE
OGLETHORPE
23.870
15.500
$7,702
7
LSE
GREENE
17.827
11.000
$19,213
7
LSE
TALIAFERRO
26.370
11.500
$1,994
7
LSE
WARREN
32.980
16.980
$4,424
7
LSE
McDUFFIE
23.100
15.300
$10,793
7
LSE
LINCOLN
26.604
15.000
$6,442
7
LSE
County
*All tax districts are assessed an additional .250 state millage. Taxes Levied, but not
necessarily collected. L=Local Option Sales Tax, S=Special Purpose, E=Educational
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Retail Sales Analysis: 2004
Wilkes Co. Total Retail Sales = $97,228,000
1.05
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
3.09
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
1.53
Gas stations
0.98
0.45
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
0.29
Clothing & Accessories
1.50
General Merchandise
0.27
Food Services-Drinking Places
0.64
1.91
Food-Beverage Stores
0
1
2
3
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: “2005 Georgia Outshopping Report,” SBDC, Applied Research, The University of Georgia.
Commuting to Work: 2000
Percentage of:
Residents working in
county
77.7
Residents working
out of county
22.3
Workers coming into
county
23.7
Residents driving to
work alone
74.0
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
18.7
3.4
Wilkes County
Mean travel time to work = 21.6 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 1.08
Resident workers 16+ = 4,457
Residents working in county = 3,464
Residents working out of county = 993
Total working in county = 4,539
Workers commuting into county = 1,075
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
# 06 -19
August, 2006
Prepared for Wilkes 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
www.caed.uga.edu AND www.georgiastats.uga.edu