Population Trends in Cherokee County
Population Trends 1990 Census 2000 Census 2003 Estimate 2004 Estimate Growth Rate
2003-04
Ball Ground 905 730 779 791 1.5
Canton 4,817 7,709 13,195 15,094 13.9
Holly Springs 2,406 3,195 4,420 4,699 6.6
Nelson 486 626 693 722 3.1
Waleska 700 616 718 726 1.1
Woodstock 4,361 10,050 14,889 17,214 15.9
County 90,204 141,903 166,639 174,680 4.6
State 6,478,216 8,186,453 8,864,715 8,829,389 1.8

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2005


Georgia's Top Ten Fastest Growing Counties by Percentage
County Name April 1, 2000 July 1, 2004 % Change
Forsyth County 98,407 131,865 34%
Henry County 119,404 159,506 33.6%
Newton County 62,001 81,524 31.5%
Paulding County 81,647 105,936 29.7%
Cherokee County 141,903 174,680 23.1%

Source: United States Census, 2005

Georgia's Fastest Growing Cities with Population over 10,000
City Name July 1, 2002 July 1, 2001 % Change
Canton 11,338 9,554 18.7
Woodstock 13,192 11,518 14.5
Newnan 19,365 17,292 12.0
Acworth 16,605 15,024 10.5
Riverdale 14,508 13,231 9.7

Source: United States Census, 2003

Fastest Growing Cities in the U.S. with Population over 10,000
City Name % Change
(2001-2002)		    
El Mirage, AZ 71.0%
Lincoln, CA 23.5%
Leander, TX 20.9%
Goodyear, AZ 19.3%
Canton, GA 18.7%
Avondale, AZ 17.0%
Cedar Park, TX 16.8%
Surprise, AZ 16.3%
McKinney, TX 15.6%
Evans, CO 15.6%
Marana, AZ 15.3%
America Canyon, CA 15.3%
Syracuse, UT 15.1%
Spring Hill, TN 15.1%
Woodstock, GA 14.5%


Infant Mortality Rate

Registered Voters

 


  • According to the 2000 Census, in Cherokee County, 92.4% of the residents were white and 2.5% were black. Hispanics, who can be identified as either white or black in the Census data, made up 5.4% of the county's population. Statewide, 65.1% of residents were white, 28.7% were black and 5.3% were Hispanic.

  • In Cherokee County, 28.3% of the county’s residents were age 18 or younger, while 6.6% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 26.5% were age 18 or younger and 9.6% were age 65 or older.

  • The 2000 Census reports 5.0% of Cherokee County's households were headed by females with children under 18 years of age, compared with 9.0% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 41.4% of all households in the county and 35.0% of those in the state.
  • Between 1996 and 2000, Cherokee County school system reported an average high school dropout rate of 4.1%, for students in grades 9 to 12. Statewide, this rate is 6.8% for the same period of time.

  • Cherokee County spent an average of $5,367 per student for public education each year between 1996 and 2000. This expenditure was greater than the state wide average of $5,285

  • Based on the 2000 graduating class for Cherokee County school system, 72.5% of the students were eligible for the HOPE Scholarship Program. The scholarship is available to eligible students to attend a post-secondary school in Georgia. Statewide, 57.9% of the graduating students were eligible for the HOPE scholarship.

  • Between 1995 and 1998, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 5.4 for the county. The statewide rate was 9.2 during the same period.

  • In 2000, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 0.8, compared with the 1.9 state average. Cherokee County had 0.6 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 2000, which was less than the statewide average of 3.1 beds per 1,000 population.

  • The 2000 index crime rate (crimes per 1,000) for Cherokee County was 1.8. Statewide, in 2000, the rate was 3.4. Of the total index crimes reported, 4.7% were violent crimes, while 95.3% were property crimes.

  • In 2000, 71.7% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered voters, 73.3% voted in the 2000 general election. Statewide, in 2000, 64.1% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 69.6% voted in the general election that year.

Unemployment Rate


Employment Sector Pie Chart

Top Employers - 1999
General Electric Credit Corp
Kroger Company
Publix Super Markets Inc
Seaboard Farms Inc
Wal-Mart Associates Inc
In alphabetical order.

  • In the year 2000, the average weekly wage for all the employment sectors in the county was $506. This amount was less than the statewide average of $622.

  • In Cherokee County, Services is the largest employment sector providing 32.0% of the jobs. The other predominant employment sectors are Retail trade and Manufacturing. Statewide, the service industry is the largest employment sector, contributing 25.6% of the state's jobs.

  • Between 1996 and 2000, Cherokee County's annual unemployment rate was less than the state's rate, averaging 2.3% compared with the state's average of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate for the same period averaged 4.8%.

  • The county per capita personal income in 1999 was $25,900, as compared with $27,324 for Georgia and $28,546 for the United States.

  • Cherokee County's median household income in 1997 was $54,423. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $36,372 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1999 was $37,005.

  • During 1997, 5.9% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with Georgia's rate of 14.7% and the national rate of 13.3%. In addition, 9.0% of the children under the age of 18 lived below the poverty level in Cherokee County. Nationally, 19.9% of the population under the age of 18 years lived below the level of poverty.

  • Residents of Cherokee County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,177 per capita in 1999, compared with $3,302 per capita statewide. Transfer payments include retirement and disability insurance benefit payments, medical benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, and veteran's benefits payments.

  • According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Cherokee County's assessed property value amounted to $3.3 billion in 1999, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $24,402. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1999 equaled $24,462.

Economic Overview of Cherokee County
With its rapidly increasing population now exceeding 160,000, Cherokee County is averaging 10% business growth annually. Interstate-575 forms the county’s economic and transportation spine-providing exceptional accessibility and connectivity to the Atlanta and Southeast markets.

Cherokee County, nestled at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains, has the highest mountains and most undeveloped land in metro Atlanta. The county’s adopted Township Plan has been heralded as the design of the future, providing room for quality growth while protecting the area’s many natural resources, scenic vistas, and comfortable residential lifestyle. Cherokee County, Georgia is the new signature address for technology companies seeking a power base in the Southeast to position themselves for new global expansion.

Location
Cherokee County, Georgia is approximately 25 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta, in the hub of the New South. Cherokee is a key part of the five county, North Atlanta suburban economic engine that leads the nation in growth. The county was rated by the American Business Chronicle as one of the counties with the greatest growth potential in America. At the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and on the rise of the Piedmont, Cherokee County offers pristine woodlands, beautiful lakes and convenient access to metropolitan Atlanta, U.S., and world markets. Served by excellent Interstate roadways, the Georgia Northeastern Railroad, and the Cherokee County Airport, businesses have convenient and efficient access to multiple transport modes.

The Development Authority of Cherokee County
The Development Authority was chartered to recruit and promote quality commercial and industrial development within the county. The Authority progressively oversees the county’s economic development, including the Authority’s two high quality industrial parks. It is also spearheading development of several other exciting new business-industrial parks and community projects. Cherokee County is home to such corporate titans as Timken, a division of English giant Ingersol Rand and aerospace leader Universal Alloy Corporation. Cherokee County’s strong business economy (“15th nationally in potential business growth” -- American Business Chronicle) makes this an ideal location for companies desiring to combine sound business investment with excellent accessibility and quality work and living environments.

The Bluffs of Technology Park
The Bluffs was named 2000 Land Deal of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle for its quality and scope. The project is an outstanding example of private and intergovernmental cooperation. The development was conceived through the joint effort of the Cherokee County Commission, the Development Authority of Cherokee County, the City of Canton, and Technology Park/Atlanta Inc. This property features office, service and technology space for lease or purchase in low and mid-rise buildings. The Bluffs is modeled on the developer’s successful Johns Creek project. The Bluffs, a 700-acre property, is ideal for build-to-suits and corporate campuses. A build out of five million square feet within 15 years is anticipated. Incorporating smart growth principles and maintaining significant green space, The Bluffs is designed to create a major regional employment center convenient to residents of Cherokee County and north metro Atlanta.

I-575/Airport Industrial Park
This 122-acre industrial park is conveniently located off Exit 24 in the Interstate-575 corridor. Utilities, paved streets and curbing are in place to support new and expanding development. Adjacent airport facilities, fiber optic cabling, covenants, planned site development, recreational amenities and designated green spaces make the I-575/Airport Industrial Park an excellent choice for new and relocating businesses. Located in unincorporated Cherokee County, the I-575/Airport Industrial Park is home to ULMA, SMB Machinery and DLI II. Property remains available in this development.

Canton-Cherokee Business & Industrial Park
This 120-acre park is within the City of Canton. Its location, accessibility and support facilities, including spur service by the Georgia Northeastern Railroad and the Cherokee County Airport, have made this a demand location. Companies located in the Canton- Cherokee Business & Industrial Park include Morrison Products, Piolax Corporation, Quill Corporation, Universal Alloy Corporation and Wadeken Industries. For a complete listing of companies located in the Canton-Cherokee Business & Industrial Park, contact the Development Authority at the number provided.

Private Business and Industrial Parks
Cherokee County has a number of private business and industrial parks ready to accommodate the needs of new and expanding businesses.