Berrien County
Community
Profile
116th in order of
county creation
February 25, 1856
Prepared for Berrien County Cooperative Extension
by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development
The University of Georgia • Athens, GA
Total Population
Berrien County
16,991
17,133
16,722
16,235
14,153
13,525
11,556
12,038
13,966
2010 CAED Trend
2010 OPB Proj.
2007 Estimate
2000
1990
1980
1970
1960
1950
15,370
14,646
1940
1930
0
3,000
6,000
9,000
12,000
15,000
18,000
Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; OPB (State Office of Planning &
Budget); CAED (Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development) 3/08.
Population Composition by Age
Berrien County
100%
65 +
45-64
20-44
5-19
<5
4.3
5.8
13.4
14.9
34.9
34.5
33.7
32.0
7.9
19.1
10.1
11.5
12.7
12.5
21.6
19.5
20.2
22.9
29.7
34.6
36.0
34.8
- 0.2
+ 2.7
29.6
32.1
29.5
26.7
23.5
22.7
13.5
11.4
9.1
7.7
7.6
7.1
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
0%
2006 Estimated Median Age
- 1.2
- 0.8
12.9
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Change in
proportion
1990-2000
Berrien Co. = 36.3 yrs.
- 0.5
GA = 34.6 yrs.
2007 County Population Comparisons
Total
Total
Rank
Density
per sq.mi.
land area
% Chg.
2000-07
Rank of
% Chg.
BERRIEN
16,722
97
37.0
3.0
104
ATKINSON
8,223
139
24.3
8.1
75
COFFEE
40,085
50
66.9
7.1
79
COOK
16,432
101
71.7
4.2
97
IRWIN
9,934
128
27.8
0.0
125
LANIER
7,947
141
42.5
9.8
61
TIFT
41,610
47
157.0
8.4
73
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (3/08)
Population Change: 1930-2000
30
Percentage Change
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
-10
-15
1930-40
1940-50
1950-60
U.S.
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
1960-70
Georgia
1970-80
1980-90
1990-2000
Berrien Co.
Components of Population Change
Natural Increase & Net Migration*
2000-2007
Numerical
Change*
2000-2007
# Natural
Increase
(Births-Deaths)
2000-2007
# Net
Migration
2006-07
1-yr Natural
Increase
Rate
2006-07
1 yr.Net
Migration
Rate
BERRIEN
487
573
-13
6.5
-3.9
ATKINSON
614
649
2
12.9
5.3
2,673
2,096
751
6.8
--
COOK
661
514
225
5.3
4.9
IRWIN
LANIER
TIFT
3
706
3,220
8,540
1,357,934
99
277
2,096
3,283
521,982
-42
451
1,317
4,564
725,733
2.0
5.9
8.4
5.3
8.3
-32.7
32.8
-3.3
6.6
13.3
Area
COFFEE
Avg. County
GEORGIA
Primary data source:
U. S. Census Bureau (3/08)
Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.
-- represents zero or rounds to zero
Population Change: 2000-2007
LOSS
0 – 7.2%
7.2 – 16.6%
16.6 – 39.0%
39.0 – 61.5%
Avg. GA
County = 9.9%
GA = 16.6%
US = 7.2%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (3/08)
Selected Vital Statistics
2006 Rates
15.7
Total births per 1,000 pop
14.6
47.5
Unwed per 100 total births
46.7
Teen pregnancy per 1,000
females age 10-19
45.7
38.4
10.6
Deaths per 1,000 pop
9.2
Induced terminations per
1,000 females age 15-44
Low birth weight per 100
births
Infant deaths per 1,000 births
0.9
8.6
8.2
Berrien Co.
Georgia
9.5
8.9
9.4
10-yr. rates 1997-2006
2006 Berrien Co. Natality Data
263 total births, 125 unwed births
1 induced terminations
54 teen pregnancies
29 low birth weight babies
2006 Berrien Co. Mortality Data
177 total deaths
3 infant deaths
Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health, OASIS
Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000
4.1
Grad or Prof Degree
8.3
5.3
Bachelor's degree
16.0
4.6
5.2
Associate degree
17.4
Some college, no degree
20.4
34.6
HS Grad
28.7
22.2
9th-12th no diploma
Berrien Co.
Georgia
13.8
11.8
< 9th grade
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Percent of Persons Age 25+
Berrien Co.
Not completing HS = 34.0%
With a bachelor’s + degree = 9.4%
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau
Selected Public School Statistics
School Year 2006-07
50.5
Teachers w/adv degrees
College prep certif
56.3
58.0
75.0
40.4
38.1
HOPE Eligible
77.3
72.3
Class '06 Grad Rate
7.2
8.7
Gifted
12.8
11.7
Special Ed
Econ Disadvantaged
50.0
4.8
4.3
Retained in grade
Berrien Co.
Georgia
9.0
10.0
Absent >15 days
4.7
4.1
HS Dropout rate
0
10
Primary data source:
Governor’s Office of Student Achievement
60.8
20
30
40
50
Percentage
60
70
80
Berrien Co.
K12 enrollment = 3,031
HS dropouts = 50
General Fund Expenditures per FTE = $6,624
Per Capita Income: 2001-2006
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2001
2002
2003
Berrien Co.
2006 PCI
Berrien Co. = $24,961
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/08)
2004
2005
Georgia
Georgia = $32,095
US = $36,714
2006
US
Per Capita Income: 2001-2006
Percentage Change
6
5
Percentage
4
3
2
1
0
-1
2001-2002
2002-2003
2003-2004
Berrien Co.
Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/08)
2004-2005
Georgia
2005-2006
US
Per Capita Income: 2006
PCI
Rank of
PCI
% PCI of
GA Total
% Change
in PCI
2001-2006
BERRIEN
$24,961
73
77.8
15.2
ATKINSON
$19,993
151
62.3
5.7
COFFEE
$22,492
112
70.1
8.0
COOK
$20,133
150
62.7
8.3
IRWIN
$20,404
148
63.6
2.9
LANIER
$23,696
95
73.8
22.6
TIFT
$24,733
83
77.1
10.0
GA Avg. Co.
$25,483
--
79.4
14.5
County
Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/08)
Median Household Income
2005 Model-Based Estimates
US
$46,242
GEORGIA
$45,564
GA Avg. Co.
$37,147
$33,786
BERRIEN
$27,657
ATKINSON
COFFEE
$31,289
COOK
$30,227
IRWIN
$30,517
LANIER
$31,091
$34,013
TIFT
$0
$10,000
$20,000
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (1/08)
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
Transfer Receipts: 2006
Berrien Co. Total = $107,368,000
31.0
Retirement/Disab
35.1
28.5
Medicare
23.2
17.8
16.8
Pub Med Assist
3.0
2.5
Supp Sec Inc
Berrien Co.
Family Assist 0.3
0.5
Georgia
2.7
2.7
Food Stamps
Berrien Co.
$6,436 per capita
transfer receipts
6.6
6.8
Other Inc Maint
0.9
1.5
Unemp
25.8% of total personal income
8.1% change in total 2005-2006
4.2
3.4
4.9
Veteran Benefit
All Other
7.6
0
5
10
15
20
25
Percentage
Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/08)
30
35
40
45
Persons Living Below Poverty Level
2005 Model-Based Estimates
# of
Persons
% of all
Persons
Rank
of %
BERRIEN
2,911
17.7
70
ATKINSON
2,020
25.4
130
COFFEE
8,707
23.2
118
COOK
3,227
20.1
90
IRWIN
1,907
20.1
91
LANIER
1,447
19.8
87
TIFT
8,405
21.5
105
GA Avg. Co.
7,996
18.7
--
County
Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (1/08)
Persons Living Below the Poverty Level
2005 Model-Based Estimates
4.3 – 12.6%
12.6 – 16.5%
16.5 – 20.8%
20.8 – 24.5%
24.5 – 33.0%
Weighted
average poverty
threshold for a
family of 4
persons in 2005
= $19,971
Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (1/08)
Georgia
1,271,409
persons
14.5%
------------US = 13.3%
Unemployment Rates
Berrien Co.
Rate per 100 in Labor Forc
7
Georgia
U. S.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1998
1999
2007 Rates
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Berrien Co. = 4.3
GA = 4.4
Avg. GA County = 4.9
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
2006
2007
US = 4.6
Business Establishments, Employment and Wages
Berrien County 2006 Annual Averages, % of Total
Estab
Emp
Wages
Agriculture
Whlsle trade
Finance/Insur
Health svc
Govt
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Construction
Retail trade
Prof-Sci-Tech Svc
Accom/Food Svc
All Other
Manufacturing
Transp-warehous
Admin-waste svc
All other svc
Employment Comparisons by Industry: 2006
Total GOODS
Producing
Agriculture
Construction
2.2
0.6
2.8
5.4
Manufacturing
Total SERVICE
Producing
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Transp-warehous
Information
Fin/Ins/RE
Prof-Sci-Tech
Adm-Waste svc
Health-Soc Svcs
Accomo-Food svc
All other svcs
38.8
37.7
11.1
3.0
5.4
44.0
17.4
11.8
11.7
0.4
3.9
0.0
2.9
3.1
4.0
2.8
5.2
0.8
7.1
7.9
9.0
5.5
8.5
2.4
8.2
Total
GOVERNMENT
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor
Berrien Co.
Georgia
18.2
16.3
65.9
Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2007
Berrien Co. Total Value = $88,897,058
Poultry-Egg
24.4%
Row-Forage crops
33.2%
Other
10.6%
Fruits-Nuts
5.7%
Ornamental
Horticulture
4.8%
Veges
7.8%
Forestry
5.1%
Livestock
8.3%
Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA (4/08)
Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2007
Berrien Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $411,067,325
28.7
Residential
23.8
Ag/Pref/Environ
6.8
15.0
12.7
Commercial
1.8
Industrial
Utility
42.4
38.8
22.2
7.0
6.3
3.5
5.0
3.2
Motor Vehicle
6
9.4
7.2
1.7
1.1
Mobile Home
0.3
1.1
Timber
0.9
0.1
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
Berrien Co.
GA Avg. Co.
GA Total
54.9
County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2007
County
BERRIEN
ATKINSON
COFFEE
COOK
IRWIN
LANIER
TIFT
Avg. GA Co.
% Resi- % Agri- % Comdential cultural mercial
28.7
20.9
31.3
32.1
24.3
41.3
37.1
42.4
Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue
38.8
42.5
26.1
27.4
49.3
35.8
11.8
23.8
15.0
6.1
20.3
20.1
6.1
7.5
24.0
12.7
% Industrial
1.8
10.1
7.5
6.2
3.1
0.2
13.0
7.0
% Mo%
%
% UtilMotor bile
Timity
Veh Home ber
3.5
4.2
3.4
3.6
5.8
3.6
3.3
5.0
9.4
9.9
8.9
8.2
7.8
7.3
9.6
7.2
1.7
2.7
1.8
1.7
1.5
2.3
1.2
1.1
1.1
3.5
0.8
0.6
2.0
2.0
0.2
0.9
Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax Rate
County
’07 County’07 School
wide
Millage*
Millage*
’07 Taxes
Levied*
($000)
Sales Tax
Rate as of
LOST
Type*
4/08
as of 4/08
BERRIEN
32.250
14.000
$10,425
7
LSE
ATKINSON
30.002
15.391
$3,729
7
LSE
COFFEE
23.464
15.214
$22,089
7
LSE
COOK
23.965
14.150
$9,124
7
LSE
IRWIN
29.390
15.690
$6,048
7
LSE
LANIER
30.500
17.160
$5,456
7
LSE
TIFT
27.207
14.464
$28,140
7
LSE
*Countywide Includes .250 state millage. School includes bonds, if any. 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
Berrien Co. Total Retail Sales = $198,074,000
1.09
Total Retail Sales
Health-Personal Care
0.91
Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies
1.10
Gas stations
2.10
1.12
Motor Vehicle-parts
Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance
0.59
0.11
Clothing & Accessories
General Merchandise
0.28
Food Services-Drinking Places
0.23
Food-Beverage Stores
2.37
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, 2006;” pull factor calculations by Center for
Agribusiness and Economic Development.
Commuting to Work: 2000
Percentage of:
Residents working in
county
55.3
Residents working
out of county
44.7
Workers coming into
county
26.1
Residents driving to
work alone
79.8
Residents carpooling
Residents working at
home
14.2
2.9
Resident workers 16+ = 7,286
Residents working in county = 4,026
Residents working out of county = 3,260
Total working in county = 5,450
Workers commuting into county = 1,424
Berrien County
Mean travel time to work = 21.9 min.
Ratio of IN to OUT = 0.44
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
# 0823
June, 2008
Prepared for Berrien 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