Laurens CountyLaurens CountyCommunityCommunityProfileProfile

34th in order of county creation

December 10, 1807

Prepared for Laurens County Cooperative Extensionby the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development

The University of Georgia • Athens, GA

32,69333,60633,123

32,31332,738

36,99039,988

44,87447,84848,098

49,917

0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2008 Estimate

2010 CAED Trend

2015 CAED Trend

Primary data sources: U.S. Census Bureau, decennial censuses & estimate; CAED TREND revised 3/09 (Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development).

Total PopulationLaurens County

Population Composition by AgeLaurens County

11.1

33.9

36.2

14.1

4.6

12.7

30.7

35.3

15.3

6.0

11.7

30.8

29.4

19.7

8.4

8.9

30.2

28.1

22.2

10.6

8.2

26.6

33.2

19.5

12.5

7.4

23.6

36.3

18.8

13.9

6.9

22.8

34.2

22.8

13.3

0%

100%

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

65 + 45-64 20-44 5-19 < 5

2008 Estimated Median Age Laurens Co. = 36.6 yrs. GA = 34.9 yrs.

Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau

- 0.6

+ 4.0

- 2.1

- 0.8

- 0.5

Change in proportion 1990-2000

2008 County Population Comparisons

County Total TotalRank

Densityper sq.mi.land area

% Chg.2000-08

Rank of% Chg.

Laurens 47,848 41 58.9 6.6 86Bleckley 12,683 113 58.3 8.7 73Dodge 20,116 90 40.2 4.9 100Johnson 9,550 131 31.4 11.6 57Treutlen 7,076 143 35.3 3.2 107Twiggs 10,257 127 28.5 -3.1 142Wheeler 6,877 146 23.1 11.3 58

Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (3/09)

Population Change: 1930-2000

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1930-40 1940-50 1950-60 1960-70 1970-80 1980-90 1990-2000

Perc

enta

ge C

hang

e

U.S. Georgia Laurens Co.

Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses

Components of Population ChangeNatural Increase & Net Migration*

Area2000-2008NumericalChange*

2000-2008# NaturalIncrease

(Births-Deaths)

2000-2008# Net

Migration

2007-081-yr Natural

IncreaseRate

2007-081 yr Net

Migration Rate

Laurens 2,974 1,726 1,473 4.6 4.9Bleckley 1,017 200 908 3.1 2.3Dodge 945 366 699 3.2 2.9Johnson 990 127 899 2.8 1.4Treutlen 222 149 110 2.8 13.3Twiggs -333 168 -454 1.4 -2.0Wheeler 698 166 556 5.4 10.1Avg. County 9,427 3,806 4,941 5.3 5.9GEORGIA 1,498,932 605,129 785,691 8.3 8.7

* Numerical change includes “residual” not represented in either NI or NM.Primary data source:U. S. Census Bureau (3/09)

Population Change: 2000-2008LOSS0 – 7.2%7.2 – 18.3%18.3 – 36%36 – 70.8%

Avg. GA County = 11.2%

GA = 18.3%US = 7.2%

Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (3/09)

16.3

47.6

11.2

7.7

10.8

10.4

15.8

43.8

35.3

7.1

14.9

8.4

50.6

9.1

Total births per 1,000 pop

Unwed per 100 total births

Teen pregnancy per 1,000females age 10-19

Deaths per 1,000 pop

Induced terminations per1,000 females age 15-44

Low birth weight per 100births

Infant deaths per 1,000 birthsLaurens Co. Georgia

Selected Vital Statistics

2007 Laurens Co. Natality Data773 total births, 390 unwed births73 induced terminations152 teen pregnancies80 low birth weight babies

2007 Laurens Co. Mortality Data532 total deaths9 infant deaths

Primary data source: GA Dept. Public Health, OASIS

2007 Rates

10-yr. rates 1998-2007

7.610.6

13.819.1

28.737.1

20.414.9

5.23.9

16.08.9

8.35.5

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Percent of Persons Age 25+

< 9th grade

9th-12th no diploma

HS Grad

Some college, no degree

Associate degree

Bachelor's degree

Grad or Prof Degree

Laurens Co.Georgia

Highest Level of Educational Attainment: 2000

Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau

Laurens Co. Not completing HS = 29.7%With a bachelor’s + degree = 14.4%

Selected Public School StatisticsSchool Year 2006-07

4.14.8

10.08.6

4.34.1

50.061.4

11.712.8

8.76.9

72.365.6

38.131.5

75.061.2

56.366.0

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80Percentage

HS Dropout rate

Absent >15 days

Retained in grade

Econ Disadvantaged

Special Ed

Gifted

Class '07 Grad Rate

HOPE Eligible

College prep certif

Teachers w/adv degrees

Laurens Co. & Dublin CityGeorgia

Primary data source:Governor’s Office of Student Achievement

Laurens Co. & Dublin CityK12 enrollment = 8,823

HS dropouts = 140General Fund Expenditures per FTE = $7,595

Per Capita Income: 2002-2007

Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)

2007 PCILaurens Co. = $26,487

Georgia = $33,499US = $38,615

$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$35,000

$40,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Laurens Co. Georgia US

Per Capita Income: 2002-2007Percentage Change

0

2

4

6

8

2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007

Perc

enta

ge

Laurens Co. Georgia US

Primary data source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)

Per Capita Income: 2007

County PCI Rank ofPCI

% PCI ofGA Total

% Changein PCI

2002-2007

Laurens $26,487 60 79.1 17.2Bleckley $25,472 77 76.0 7.8Dodge $21,718 136 64.8 15.3Johnson $19,430 154 58.0 7.1Treutlen $19,145 155 57.2 18.4Twiggs $23,432 109 69.9 21.3Wheeler $17,718 159 52.9 20.7GA Avg. Co. $26,299 -- 78.5 17.1

Primary data source: U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)

$31,707

$36,096

$29,442

$28,310

$32,393

$38,711

$36,092

$40,170

$49,080

$50,740

$0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000

US

GEORGIA

GA Avg. Co.

Laurens

Bleckley

Dodge

Johnson

Treulten

Twiggs

Wheeler

Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/08)

Median Household Income2007 Model-Based Estimates

7.34.7

3.44.2

1.61.5

7.08.4

2.63.2

0.50.6

2.43.1

16.618.3

23.222.4

35.333.6

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Percentage

All Other

Veteran Benefit

Unemp

Other Inc Maint

Food Stamps

Family Assist

Supp Sec Inc

Pub Med Assist

Medicare

Retirement/Disab

Laurens Co.Georgia

Transfer Receipts: 2007Laurens Co. Total = $302,446,000

Laurens Co.$6,385 per capitatransfer receipts

24.1% of total personal income6.8% change in total 2006-2007

Primary data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis (5/09)

Persons Living Below Poverty Level2007 Model-Based Estimates

County# of

Persons% of all Persons

Rankof %

Laurens 10,565 23.0 119Bleckley 1,996 18.0 75Dodge 3,972 21.8 110Johnson 2,482 31.9 157Treutlen 1,765 27.2 146Twiggs 1,965 19.5 88Wheeler 1,569 31.0 154GA Avg. Co. 8,359 18.6 --

Primary data source: U. S. Census Bureau (12/08)

Persons Living Below the Poverty Level2007 Model-Based Estimates

5.2 – 12.2%12.2 – 16.9%16.9 – 20.6%20.6 – 24.0%24.0 – 36.2%

Georgia1,329,161persons14.3%

-------------US = 13.0%

Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau (12/08)

Weighted average poverty threshold for a

family of 4 persons in 2007

= $21,203

Unemployment Rates

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Rat

e pe

r 100

in L

abor

For

c

Laurens Co. Georgia U. S.

2008 Rates Laurens Co. = 7.1 GA = 6.2 US = 5.8Avg. GA County = 6.9

Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor

Estab

Emp

Wages

Goods Producing Service Producing Government

Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor

Business Establishments, Employment and WagesLaurens Co. 2007 Annual Averages, % of Total

Agriculture, Mining, Construction, Manufacturing

Retail-Wholesale Trade, Transportation-Warehousing, Information, Finance-Insurance-Real Estate, Professional-SciTech Serv., Admin-Waste Serv., Health-Social Serv., Accommodation-Food Serv., & others

Federal, State, Local

2007 Averages# Establishments = 1,126 Monthly Employment = 20,089 Weekly Wage = $611

Selected Employment Comparisons by Industry: 200725.0

7.617.1

52.02.9

13.02.6

1.02.01.4

5.412.0

7.80.8

23.0

16.80.6

5.410.6

66.45.4

11.73.9

2.84.0

5.47.1

9.28.7

1.616.5

0.3AgricultureConstruction

Manufacturing

Wholesale tradeRetail trade

Transp-warehousInformation

Fin/Ins/REProf-Sci-Tech

Adm-Waste svcHealth-Soc Svcs

Accomo-Food svcRE&Rent&Lease

Laurens Co.Georgia

Primary data source: GA Dept. of Labor

Total GOODS Producing

Total SERVICE Producing

Total GOVERNMENT

Farm Gate Value by Commodity Group: 2008Laurens Co. Total Value = $55,685,262

Other10.7%

Fruits-Nuts-Veges1.1%

Ornamental Horticulture

2.1%

Forestry27.7%

Livestock22.8%

Row-Forage crops35.6%

Primary data source: Center for Agribusiness & Economic Development, UGA (5/09)

Components of Gross Property Tax Digest: 2008Laurens Co. Gross Digest (40% Value) = $1,397,841,052

18.4

16.9

3.1

8.3

0.8

0.9

24.5

12.6

6.9

4.8

1.0

0.7

54.8

8.2

20.3

6.7

3.2

6.3

0.4

0.14

35.0

16.2

42.4

7.1

Residential

Ag/Pref/Environ

Commercial

Industrial

Utility

Motor Vehicle

Mobile Home

Timber

Laurens Co.GA Avg. Co. GA Total

Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue (preliminary avg. and total)

County Property Tax Digest Comparisons: 2008

County% Resi-dential

% Agri-cultural

% Com-mercial

% In-dus-trial

% Util-ity

% MotorVeh

% Mo-bile

Home

% Tim-ber

Laurens 35.0 16.2 18.4 16.9 3.1 8.3 0.8 0.88Bleckley 43.4 27.7 11.5 3.1 2.9 9.1 1.8 0.51Dodge 34.4 34.2 11.1 3.7 4.3 8.4 2.4 1.48Johnson 23.9 53.0 7.6 1.6 3.2 7.3 1.6 1.82Treutlen 29.4 46.9 5.1 0.5 4.8 9.5 1.3 2.54Twiggs 30.3 27.0 6.7 15.9 7.8 8.8 1.9 1.54Wheeler 18.0 49.9 14.7 0.5 6.1 7.3 1.5 2.09Georgia 54.9 6.8 22.2 6.3 3.2 6.0 0.4 0.2Avg. GA Co. 42.4 23.8 12.7 7.0 5.0 7.2 1.1 0.9

Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue (preliminary avg. and total)

Millage Rates, Taxes Levied, & Sales Tax Rate

County

’08 County-wide

Millage*’08 School

Millage*

’07 TaxesLevied*($000)

Sales Tax Rate as of

7/09

LOST Type*

as of 7/09

Laurens 22.68 11.94 $27,561 7 LSEBleckley 31.45 11.50 $6,648 7 LSEDodge 24.28 9.70 $7,664 7 LSEJohnson 27.39 10.02 $3,984 7 LSETreutlen 27.16 12.00 $3,021 7 LSETwiggs 39.60 20.00 $6,916 7 LSEWheeler 32.47 15.50 $4,348 6 LE

Primary data source: GA Dept. of Revenue

*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

1.09

0.72

1.46

0.56

0.40

0.65

1.44

2.18

2.04

1.14

0 1 2 3Pull Factor

Food-Beverage Stores

Food Services-Drinking Places

General Merchandise

Clothing & Accessories

Furniture-Home Furn-Appliance

Motor Vehicle-parts

Gas stations

Bldg Mat-garden equip-supplies

Health-Personal Care

Total Retail Sales

A “pull factor” of 1.0 means that the county’s sales are what would be expectedbased upon the number of residents and their relative wealth.

Primary data sources: “Demographics USA, County Edition, 2008;” pull factor calculations by Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.

Retail Sales Analysis: 2008Laurens Co. Total Retail Sales = $685,661,000

84.5

18.7

79.6

16.4

1.4

15.5

Residents working incounty

Residents workingout of county

Workers coming intocounty

Residents driving towork alone

Residents carpooling

Residents working athome

Percentage of:

Commuting to Work: 2000

Resident workers 16+ = 18,986Residents working in county = 16,046Residents working out of county = 2,940Total working in county = 19,735Workers commuting into county = 3,689

Primary data source: U.S. Census Bureau

Laurens CountyMean travel time to work = 23.6 min.Ratio of IN to OUT = 1.25

Prepared for Laurens County Cooperative Extensionby Susan R. Boatright

Center for Agribusiness and Economic DevelopmentCollege of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

The University of Georgia • Athens, GAGeorgia Cooperative Extension

706-542-0760 • 706-542-8938To learn more about your county, click on

“Georgia Statistics System” at our website:www.caed.uga.edu

This study was developed to assist community leadership with their

future planning and decision making.

Special Area Report# 0917 July, 2009