Harris County
Community Profile
72nd in order of
county creation
December 14, 1827
Prepared for Harris County Cooperative Extension
by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Harris County
2010 Trend CAED
31,413
30,975
28,785
2010 Proj. OPB
2006 Est.
23,695
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
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; CAED (Center for
Agribusiness & Economic Development); OPB (State Office of Planning & Budget).
35,000
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
21.4
22.8
21.4
11.9
26.9
26.8
32.5
30.9
34.0
37.1
- 3.8
33.3
+ 0.2
32.3
25.6
21.9
22.1
10.8
13.3
11.4
8.3
6.9
6.4
5.9
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
0%
2006 Estimated Median Age
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
- 1.4
+ 5.5
26.9
34.0
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
Harris Co. = 37.8 yrs.
- 0.5
GA = 34.6 yrs.
2006 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-06
Rank of
% Chg.
HARRIS
28,785
58
62.1
21.5
21
CHATTAHOOCHEE
14,041
107
56.4
-5.7
156
MERIWETHER
22,881
78
45.5
1.6
115
MUSCOGEE
188,660
9
872.4
1.3
119
TALBOT
6,605
147
16.8
1.6
113
TROUP
63,245
33
152.8
7.6
69
UPSON
27,676
63
85.0
0.3
125
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau
Population Change: 1930-2000
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
1990-2000
Harris Co.
Components of Population Change: 2000-2006
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
Numerical
Change
# Natural
Increase
(BirthsDeaths)
Rate of
Natural
Increase
# Net
Migration
Rate of
Net Migration
HARRIS
5,090
542
3.3
4,608
28.1
CHATTAHOOCHEE
-841
1,305
14.4
-2,535
-28.0
MERIWETHER
353
334
2.4
83
0.6
MUSCOGEE
2,369
7,512
6.4
-4,746
-4.1
TALBOT
TROUP
UPSON
Avg. GA Co.
GEORGIA
107
4,466
79
7,403
1,777,125
3
1,810
-301
2,761
438,939
0.1
4.7
-1.7
4.5
8.0
127
2,863
474
3,816
606,673
3.1
7.5
2.7
8.7
11.1
Area
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau
* Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
Average annual estimates of annual rates per 1,000 population
Population Change: 2000-2006
LOSS
0 – 6.4%
6.4 – 14.4%
14.4 – 34%
34 – 53.4%
Avg. GA
County = 9.1%
GA = 14.4%
US = 6.4%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (3/07)
Selected Vital Statistics
2005 Rates
10.4
Total births per 1,000 pop
15.5
24.8
Unwed per 100 total births
40.7
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
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
17.0
34.2
8.0
7.2
6.4
10.7
8.9
8.9
9.2
Harris Co.
Georgia
8.5
10-yr. rates 1996-2005
2005 Harris Co. Natality Data
290 total births, 72 unwed births
28 induced terminations
32 teen pregnancies
30 low birth weight babies
2005 Harris Co. Mortality Data
222 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
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 2005-06
61.2
Teachers w/adv degrees
55.2
70.2
73.9
76.3
70.8
College prep certif
Class '05 Grad Rate
13.0
8.6
8.7
11.9
Gifted
Special Ed
33.3
Free/Reduc lunch
49.8
2.9
4.3
4.9
Retained in grade
Absent >15 days
Harris Co.
Georgia
9.8
3.6
4.7
HS Dropout rate
0
10
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
20
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
80
Harris Co.
K12 enrollment = 4,499
HS dropouts = 54
General Fund Expenditures per FTE = $6,807
Per Capita Income: 2000-2005
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2000
2001
2002
Harris Co.
2005 PCI
Harris Co. = $36,416
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/07)
2003
Georgia
2004
2005
US
Georgia = $30,914
US = $34,471
Per Capita Income: 2000-2005
Percentage Change
8
7
Percentage
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
-1
2000-2001
2001-2002
2002-2003
Harris Co.
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/07)
2003-2004
Georgia
2004-2005
US
Per Capita Income: 2005
% PCI of
GA Total
% Change
in PCI
2000-2005
County
PCI
Rank of
PCI
HARRIS
CHATTAHOOCHEE
MERIWETHER
MUSCOGEE
TALBOT
$36,416
$25,619
$22,153
$31,431
$20,954
4
50
109
12
133
122.3
86.0
74.4
105.5
70.4
19.3
62.7
8.6
25.4
18.9
TROUP
UPSON
GA Avg. Co.
$26,427
$21,744
$24,592
37
118
--
88.7
73.0
82.6
9.8
8.1
14.7
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/07)
Median Household Income
2004 Model-Based Estimates
US
$44,334
GEORGIA
$42,679
GA Avg. Co.
$35,708
$52,175
HARRIS
$35,472
CHATTAHOOCHEE
MERIWETHER
$30,994
MUSCOGEE
$35,130
$28,830
TALBOT
$36,438
TROUP
$30,946
UPSON
$0
$10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/06)
Transfer Receipts: 2005
Harris Co. Total = $107,414,000
44.8
Retirement/Disab
35.0
15.0
Medicare
20.5
Harris Co.
13.3
Pub Med Assist
20.3
1.6
2.8
0.4
0.6
1.5
2.8
Supp Sec Inc
Family Assist
Food Stamps
Georgia
Harris Co.
$3,878 per capita
transfer receipts
5.9
6.8
Other Inc Maint
1.2
1.4
Unemp
10.6% of total personal income
11.6% change in total 2004-2005
6.9
Veteran Benefit
3.1
9.4
All Other
6.8
0
5
10
15
20
25
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/07)
30
35
40
45
50
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2004 Model-Based Estimates
County
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
HARRIS
CHATTAHOOCHEE
MERIWETHER
MUSCOGEE
TALBOT
TROUP
UPSON
GA Avg. Co.
2,353
1,656
4,059
30,327
1,269
9,548
4,662
7,658
8.5
16.8
18.0
17.1
18.9
15.8
17.1
16.6
8
75
94
81
105
70
80
--
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/06)
Persons Living Below the Poverty Level
2004 Model-Based Estimates
5.3 – 11.9%
11.9 – 15.4%
15.4 – 18.2%
18.2 – 21.2%
21.2 – 26.3%
Weighted
average poverty
threshold for a
family of 4
persons in 2004
= $19,307
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (12/06)
Georgia
1,217,686
persons
13.7%
------------US = 12.7%
Unemployment Rates
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
7
Harris Co.
Georgia
U. S.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1997
1998
2006 Rates
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Harris Co. = 3.7
GA = 4.6
Avg. GA County = 5.0
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
2005
2006
US = 4.6
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Harris County 2006 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: 2006
Total GOODS
Producing
Agriculture
Construction
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
16.3
17.4
1.3
0.6
5.4
4.7
2.1
5.4
5.9
10.4
11.1
52.9
11.7
1.8
3.9
0.4
2.9
1.9
4.0
2.4
5.2
4.1
7.1
4.8
9.0
8.5
8.6
8.2
Total
GOVERNMENT
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Harris Co.
Georgia
20.7
16.3
30.5
65.9
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2006
Harris Co. Total Value = $17,683,198
Row-Forage crops
8.7%
Livestock
25.5%
Poultry-Egg
1.1%
Forestry
16.2%
Other
14.2%
Veges
2.5%
Fruits-Nuts
3.1%
Ornamental
Horticulture
28.8%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2006
Harris Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $993,291,933
41.9
Residential
Commercial
54.3
20.5
22.5
Ag/Pref/Environ
6.6
4.7
57.3
12.8
22.2
1.4
Industrial
Utility
Motor Vehicle
Mobile Home
Timber
7.6
6.6
7.5
5.3
3.6
8.0
7.4
6.1
0.3
1.2
0.4
0.3
1.1
0.2
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Harris Co.
GA Avg. Co.
GA Total
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2006
County
% Resi- % Agri- % Com- % In- % Motor
%
dential cultural mercial dustrial Vehicle Other
HARRIS
57.3
20.5
4.7
1.4
8.0
8.2
CHATTAHOOCHEE
34.3
18.7
15.3
0.9
18.6
12.2
MERIWETHER
31.8
43.0
8.1
4.3
7.3
5.3
MUSCOGEE
48.2
0.5
31.0
10.5
7.2
2.6
TALBOT
19.8
44.0
2.5
21.5
4.5
7.6
TROUP
42.0
9.1
15.9
23.0
7.3
2.7
UPSON
38.1
19.0
14.4
16.3
7.5
4.8
Avg. GA Co.
41.9
22.5
12.8
7.6
7.4
7.7
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax
’06 Countywide
Millage*
’06
School
Millage*
’06 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales
Tax Rate
LOST
Type*
as of 7/07
as of 7/07
HARRIS
24.460
15.910
$21,261
7
LSE
CHATTAHOOCHEE
22.110
16.400
$1,075
7
LSE
MERIWETHER
31.000
18.000
$16,145
7
LSE
MUSCOGEE
41.280
23.370
$139,360
7
LSE
TALBOT
29.829
13.080
$6,250
7
LSE
TROUP
29.410
18.850
$50,290
7
LSE
UPSON
27.140
14.340
$16,844
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: 2006
Harris Co. Total Retail Sales = $55,895,000
0.12
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
0.04
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
0.16
Gas stations
0.39
0.01
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
0.05
Clothing & Accessories
0.01
General Merchandise
0.01
Food Services-Drinking Places
0.17
Food-Beverage Stores
0.23
0
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, County Edition, 2006;” pull factor calculations by Center for
Agribusiness and 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
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
Harris County
Mean travel time to work = 29.9 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 0.28
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
# 0729
September, 2007
Prepared for Harris 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